When Life is Blurry

by Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth
I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands. (Isaiah 49:15-16, NASB)

Friend to Friend
Have you ever felt alone, scared, angry, confused, and hurt all at the same time? Ever felt like running away from a difficult situation? I have. There was a time when I wanted to run--hard and fast--from life as I knew it.
I was a young mom with three babies that had been born within three and a half years. (A maternal trifecta!) Then, to everybody’s surprise, my husband got a promotion that moved our seedling family across the country to a place where we didn’t know anybody.

I jokingly refer to that time as the “blurry era.” I had two babies in diapers that carried around their blankies, and one “big boy” who was potty training and struggling to say goodbye to his binky. There was always a diaper to change, a mouth to feed, or a mess to clean up.

My days were a blur and my emotions were overloaded.

I was tired 24/7.

Each day, my husband Brad wore a suit, smelled of cologne, and drove to a sleek metropolitan high rise. I wore sweats, smelled of either throw up, baby food, or formula, and stayed home with three little humans who constantly cried, ate, played, made a mess, or slept (but never at the same time).

Brad earned his company’s President’s Club Award that year.

I earned our family’s Pouter Club Award.

I had left the work force and surrendered my weekly paycheck to wipe little bottoms and snotty noses. While I love my children dearly and did enjoy many sweet mommy moments, life didn’t seem fair at the time.

As a young mom, I regularly wrestled with my role in our family. My identity felt muted. Chained down. I felt that to embrace my position as a stay-at-home mom was the equivalent of hugging a porcupine. I didn’t want to do it! I associated my worth with my work...and wrongly so.

I allowed my self-worth to be determined by variable factors.

I felt less valuable as a woman, and I felt alone.

Post partum depression was my reality. In darker moments, I felt invisible and insignificant. As if the world might be better without me.

So many women struggle with these same feelings. Perhaps you are wrestling with feelings of insignificance right now. Allow these words of Jesus to turn your heart to the truth of your value:

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

I struggled to view myself as God did.

During that season Scripture was essential to teach my heart truth. (It still is!) God also used a friend to remind me of my value. He answered prayers that never even made it past my lips when he sent me a priceless girlfriend named Peg. She was a young mom who had also just left the workforce. We laughed together, cried together, prayed together, watched each other’s children, and encouraged one another. She was a true blessing in that desperate season of life.

Do you have friends like Peg? Are you that friend to anyone else?

Christian community makes such a difference. It’s important that we don’t push people away and isolate. It’s important that we don’t push God away. When we open our hearts and homes to others, and embrace the truth of who God says we are, we become vessels of encouragement.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Thanks for the beauty of friendship and for reminding me that I am never beyond Your sight or Your reach. Help me to face blurry and emotionally charged days with a courage that is firmly routed in your strength.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Everyday? Sermon Illustrations

 

Today's Bible Verse...

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.    —Colossians 3:13

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

How can I not forgive a brother or sister for whom Christ died, when I know what God paid to forgive me?

My Prayer...

Holy Father, I commit today to release any grudge or bitterness that I have against one of your children. I am sorry for not reflecting your grace and mercy which you lavished on me. Abba Father, I need the help of your Holy Spirit to relinquish my claim on the wrongs committed against me and to treat those who have hurt me as full siblings in your family. Please empower me as I commit to follow your example in forgiving, even when it is hard. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

Today's Verse Illustrated

 

Nature’s Witness

As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. Genesis 8:21-22, niv

In spite of the sin and rebellion that God knew lurked in the very next generation of Noah’s sons and would increase with every subsequent generation, God committed Himself to spare the earth His previous judgments. While He did not remove the curse He had placed on Planet Earth following Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden, He vowed He would not increase the curse. And He promised that never again would He destroy all life on the planet as He had done during the Flood.

As evidence that He was good and would keep His promise, God pointed to the very cycles in nature. As you and I see the winter snows give way to spring flowers and the summer’s heat give way to autumn’s briskness, we are reminded that in back of the changes is the God Who never changes. The sun that rises every morning and sets every evening, the stars that come out in the night sky, and the moon that goes through its monthly phases--all reveal the glory of God, Who is good! How do your daily habits and lifestyle bear witness to the glory of God?

God’s Story, (Nashville: W Publishing, 1997). 

Putting Others' Problems First

 

 

Today's Bible Verse...

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.—1 John 1:9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Confessing our sins means that we view our sin the same way that God does — the same revulsion and disdain for them. This kind of confession opens our hearts to the flood of heaven's grace (see Psalm 51). God shares with us the sweet liberation from sin that Jesus purchased at Calvary; our sins are not only forgiven, but we are purified. We are no longer sinners and the stain of that sin is removed as well. We are clean, perfect, and without spot because of God's purifying grace (Col. 1:21-22). Now let's live in a way that is reflective of this incredible gift!

My Prayer...

Father, I do confess to you my sins! Please forgive me for... (please verbalize to God specifically your sins) Thank you for letting me be honest with you and share with you my frustration and my sorrow for them. Please liberate me from their power in my life and give me the confidence that you have not only forgiven them, but that you have made me pure and holy. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

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God Said So

Dr. Tony Evans

In His Presence: Matthew 4:1-11

“The tempter came and said to [Jesus], ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” ’ ’’(Matthew 4:3-4).

What should we do when we face Satan’s lies, especially the lie that God’s Word cannot be true? Jesus was faced with a legitimate need--the need to eat to sustain Himself. His need wasn’t wrong. Jesus had the power to do what was suggested, but to do it at the demand of Satan would have been satisfying Himself apart from God.

What proceeds out of God’s mouth must be our foundation for everything. It must be the foundation for counseling, for work, for our families, and for our finances. God has given us His definitive Word, and His Word addresses everything that is relevant to us today. Christians who do not believe His Word and obey it do not see His power demonstrated today. God does not want us to pay homage to Him; He wants us to believe Him and act on faith. Faith believes God in the absence of empirical evidence.

In the Garden of Eden, Eve stumbled over this type of faith. She failed the test because she did not believe something she had never seen--death. When it’s difficult to believe God but we place our faith in Him anyway, that’s faith.

One Minute Please

Faith is believing something is so, even when it is not visibly so, that it might be so simply because God said so.

Counseling Blunder 

 

Today's Bible Verse...

He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.—Micah 6:8

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Sometimes what we need to do is very simple and plain, isn't it? I need to handle those around me justly — practicing patience and dealing with others in fairness, without partiality. I need to practice mercy — blessing others in need with what they don't deserve but so greatly need. I need to walk humbly with my Abba Father — knowing that without his grace and help I will fail.

My Prayer...

Father, please make of me what you will. As you fashion me, please bless me as I seek to be a person of justice, mercy, and humility. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

 

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God Sees You

by shani4jc

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain…” Acts 2:23

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that God was very aware of what Jesus was going to endure through the time of His crucifixion and death on the cross.  It’s easy to think that God only focused on the end result, our salvation, but we cannot dismiss the fact that it was His Son who we are talking about. Don’t for a second think God didn’t know every single ounce of struggling Jesus was going through as He prayed in the garden asking Him to remove the cup from Him if possible. Don’t think God didn’t watch every time the whip sliced into His Son’s back. Don’t think He didn’t see every drop of blood pour forth from His beloved  child as He was best beyond recognition. Don’t think He didn’t know the exact weight of the cross Jesus had to carry. Don’t think He didn’t know the precise depth each and every thorn pierced into Jesus’ head. Never doubt that He watched as His child was mocked, spit upon, and found guilty even though He had done nothing wrong. Never doubt that God knows the exact weight upon Jesus as the sins of the world were poured upon Him. Don’t think that God didn’t hear when Jesus asked why He had forsaken Him. Don’t think He wasn’t affected when His Son breathed His last breath. God knew every detail of the plan from start to finish. Nothing escaped Him! And never forget that God sees you, too! He knows your every struggle. He knows where every piece of your shattered heart is. He has counted every single tear you have cried. He sees you when the Hutu is so deep you cannot even cry out to Him. He sees you when you are doing everything in your power to have faith in Him even though every cell in your being tells you not to. He sees your hurts, your heartaches, and your despair. And He will stay with you through it all. He will not let you go. You, like Jesus, are His beloved and He sees you!

Is the Coast Clear? 

 

 

Today's Bible Verse...

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  —Matthew 7:7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God wants us to seek his blessings. This is not because he wants to manipulate our lives, but because he longs to bless us and have us know the gifts in our lives come from him. So let's seek his presence, his grace, and his blessing.

My Prayer...

Dear Father, I do need your blessing and guidance. Please bless me in several areas that weigh heavily on my heart... (share with God some things that are on your heart). In addition, dear Father, I need your wisdom in the following matters... Finally, dear God, please make your presence in my life very clear to me this week. I don't doubt your love for me, but I really do need to be reassured of your nearness as I face the challenges that lie before me at this time. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

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Come and See!

Verse: Psalms 66

In Psalms 65 and 66, the psalmist recounts all that God has done and all that he has created. In jubilant psalms of praise, the psalmist describes God’s “awesome and righteous deeds” (Ps 65:5), God’s power displayed in his creation, God’s abundance in caring for the land and watering it, God’s bounty in providing for humankind and animals alike. “Come and see what God has done,” he says in Psalm 66. “his awesome deeds for mankind” (Ps 66:5). Physician and author J. Matthew Sleeth invites us to share the healing that comes from bearing witness to the miracle of God’s creation:

When the psalmists advise us how to heal spiritually, they do not tell us to purchase a television, car, house, self-help book, or exercise equipment. God, they say, is to be found in the natural world that he created, a world filled with the grandeur, beauty, and peace that are so often lacking in our material world.

What remedy does God prescribe for our souls? [Quiet] waters and green pastures (see Ps 23:2). Find a place where there is nothing man-made in sight. Sit or lie down. Be still, and know who God is (see Ps 46:10). Do not pray. Do not worry. Do not think. Your house, your cell phone, and your new kitchen do not give glory to God. The Bible states that if it is God-made (streams, mountains, birds, trees), it praises God ... When only God-made things surround you, you are in a fellowship of praise.

If you live in a city, try to find one small area that consists of only God-made things. If you must, lie on your stomach and stare at a one-square-foot area. If there is noise or highway sound, put your hands over your ears. You will hear the sound of your own pulse and breath. That’s okay. And that’s the point. You are God-made. We have forgotten that we have far more in common with a honeybee than we do with our SUV or DVD ...

Perhaps many of our problems, including those of depression and anxiety, are warning signals that we are living a lifestyle that God does not sanction or want us to lead. The response to mental pain and discomfort should be to seek restoring connection with God. In seeking quiet moments, green pastures, and still waters, we may find just what our souls need.

Do you know in which direction the Milky Way traverses the sky? As the phases of the moon progress, does the light go from right to left, or left to right? Can you identify a greater number of trees or cars? If the Bible says God knows every flower and bird, why do we spend so much effort knowing the names of man-made items? Maybe we’re paying attention to the wrong things. Maybe this is why life seems so hard. If this is our Father’s world, maybe we should pay more attention to it.

Think About It

*   In what ways does your culture and lifestyle distract you from God’s created world?

*  In what ways does God’s creation reflect his glory?

*   What within you needs healing?

Act on It

Follow Sleeth’s advice. Get outside this week and surround yourself with only God-made things. Worship God in the company of his creation.

Ignoring the Gossip 

 

Today's Bible Verse...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

—Proverbs 3:5-6

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Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Trust. It can't be half-hearted. Either it is full trust or it is clouded with suspicion. So as we face the everyday challenges of life, or as we look for answers in deep and difficult problems, let's put our full trust in the LORD. Let's ask for his wisdom and guidance as we make our choices. Let's give him praise for the good in our life and seek his blessing for the days ahead. Why? Because he longs to bless us with life, both now, and forevermore.

My Prayer...

O LORD, my Lord, I place my trust in you. Please guide my steps as I seek to bring you glory. Help me in the decisions I face. Give me discernment as I seek to influence others and to share your grace with them. Give me the right words to say so that I can have a redemptive influence on my family, with my friends, and among my co-workers. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

 

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Remarkable

by Max Lucado

Every day I have the honor of sitting down with a book that contains the words of the One who created me. Every day I have the opportunity to let him give me a thought or two on how to live.

If I don’t do what he says, he doesn’t burn the book or cancel my subscription. If I disagree with what he says, lightning doesn’t split my swivel chair or an angel doesn’t mark my name off the holy list. If I don’t understand what he says, he doesn’t call me a dummy.

In fact, he calls me “Son,” and on a different page explains what I don’t understand.

Remarkable.

At the end of the day when I walk through the house, I step into the bedrooms of three little girls. And one by one, I bend over and kiss the foreheads of the angels God has loaned me. Then I stand in the doorway and wonder why in the world he would entrust a stumbling, fumbling fellow like me with the task of loving and leading such treasures.

Remarkable.

Then I go and crawl into bed with a woman far wiser than I ... a woman who deserves a man much better looking than I ... but a woman who would argue that fact and tell me from the bottom of her heart that I’m the best thing to come down her pike.

After I think about the wife I have, and when I think that I get to be with her for a lifetime, I shake my head and thank the God of grace for grace and think, Remarkable.

I’m learning not to take these everyday miracles for granted.

I’m discovering many things: traffic jams eventually clear up, sunsets are for free, Little League is a work of art, and most planes take off and arrive on time. I’m learning that most folks are good folks who are just as timid as I am about starting a conversation.

I’m meeting people who love their country and their God and their church and would die for any of the three.

I’m learning that if I look ... if I open my eyes and observe ... there are many reasons to take off my hat, look at the Source of it all, and just say thanks.

From In the Eye of the Storm Copyright 1991, Max Lucado

Selfishly Using the Pastor 

 

Today's Bible Verse...

[Bless the LORD] who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

—Psalm 103:5

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God is a God of renewal and blessing. His desire to renew and bless us is not just a desire to bless us once with our salvation. God desires to bless us daily. His steadfast love is new every morning as he faithfully pours out his blessings (cf. Lam. 3:23). But more than just giving us what we want, he satisfies us with good things. He brings us what we need and what truly fills our emptiness.

My Prayer...

Abba Father, Almighty God, I praise you for your power, majesty, glory, faithfulness, mercy, wisdom, and grace. Thank you for blessing me with your salvation, the gift of your Holy Spirit, the blessings of your church family, the promise of a home with you, and for the daily assurance of your renewing presence. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

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The Woeful Song of Frightened Sheep

I have observed that few inner battles are more fierce than the daily grind of uncertainty. No doubt you, too, have encountered one or more of its many faces as you have struggled with a career choice, new direction in life, purpose in pain, job security, financial pressures, physical handicaps, relational snags, and a dozen other confusing puzzles not quickly or easily solved. It is for the dark hours of uncertainty that David penned a song we know as Psalm 23. This brief song composed by a former shepherd has endeared itself to people in every circumstance of life: The soldier in battle, fearing injury and possible death The grieving widow standing before a fresh grave, wondering how she can go on with her life The guilty wanderer seeking forgiveness and direction The lonely stranger longing for love and companionship The suffering saint strapped to a bed of pain The destitute and the forgotten The depressed and the jobless The prison inmate and the persecuted The prodigal and the orphaned All have endured the daily grind of uncertainty. When the trials of life push us to the limit and our hearts are heaviest, this magnificent "Psalm of the Shepherd" offers comfort and assurance, especially for those who lack the secure feeling of God's perpetual presence. Because of the popularity of this song and the numerous truths that are hidden in it, we will consider the analogy of sheep to the children of God, the theme of constant provision by our Shepherd-Lord, and an explanation of each verse. So, then, let's begin with the analogy at the center of David's song. Psalm 23 is the woeful song of a frightened sheep, as though it were considering its life with its shepherd and recording its experiences. Consider some of the similarities between helpless sheep and God's feeble children: 1. Sheep lack a sense of direction. Unlike cats and dogs, sheep can get lost easily--even in the familiar environment of their own territory. So it is with believers--we cannot guide ourselves. We must rely completely on the Word of God and the voice of our Shepherd-Savior. 2. Sheep are virtually defenseless. Most animals have a rather effective means of defense--sharp claws; teeth; speed; ability to hide; keenness of smell, sight, and hearing; great strength; ferocity. But sheep are awkward, weak, and ignorant; they have spindle legs and tiny hoofs, and are pitifully slow, even devoid of an angry growl. Defenseless! The only sure protection for the sheep is the ever watchful shepherd. So it is with the believer, who is admonished to be strong--"in the Lord" (Ephesians 6:10). 3. Sheep are easily frightened. Being ignorant, unimpressive in stature, and very much aware of their weakness, sheep find comfort only in their shepherd's presence, including his reassuring songs in the night. Psalm 27:1 also refers to this type of Shepherd-Lord relationship that we have with God. 4. Sheep are, by nature, unclean. Other animals lick, scrape, and roll in the grass to cleanse themselves--but not sheep. They will remain filthy indefinitely unless the shepherd cleanses them. We, too, by nature are unclean and filthy. Apart from our tender Shepherd's cleansing (1 John 1:7–9) we would remain perpetually dirty. 5. Sheep cannot find food or water. While most animals have a keen sense of smell, sheep depend upon their shepherd completely. If left to themselves, sheep will eat poisonous weeds and die--and when one does it, the others will follow the leader. Again, as children of God, we are equally dependent. 6. The sheep's wool does not belong to the sheep. While sheep may produce wool, the shepherd owns their wool. All bona fide spiritual production in the life of the Christian belongs to the Lord. The Lord, by means of the Holy Spirit, provides for all such production. In every way, you see, we are indeed "His people and the sheep of His pasture" (Psalm 100:3). All genuine spiritual production by a Christian is by means of the Holy Spirit and belongs to the Lord. Coveting Humility    Today's Bible Verse... Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. —Romans 6:3-4 Subscribe - Thoughts on Today's Verse... Baptism is far more than getting wet or checking off another thing on our obedience to do list. You see, what saves is Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-5). God has given us the incredible grace (Rom. 6:1,14,15) of being able to share in Jesus' saving work through faith and experience it in baptism (Gal. 3:26-27). We die to the old way of life and bury it in the past. It no longer holds us. This death is the death that matters most. Raised to a new life, our life is now joined to Christ and his future becomes our own (cf. Col. 3:1-4). The life we now live is to glorify God and to live with him forever. That means the Gospel is not just something preached; it is something we experience by grace. My Prayer... Thank you Father, for raising me from death to your new life for me in Jesus. Thank you for your grace in sending Jesus. Thank for your grace in making Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection something I have experienced. May my life reflect your powerful grace given to me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

How You Can Live Free from Fear

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7

At one point during World War II, General George Patton met with a high-ranking allied official in Sicily. The man praised Patton for his courage and bravery. But Patton told him, “Sir, I am not a brave man... I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn’t so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands.”

Years later in his autobiography, General Patton revealed the secret to his bravery. He wrote, “I have learned early in my life never to take counsel of my fears.”

It’s astonishing just how much fear influences our daily decisions. Think about it. How many decisions do you make daily based on a negative event in the future that may or may not come to pass? And then, how many of those fears actually materialize?

So how can we diagnose fear when we see it? By looking at its source. Fear comes from either a lack of trust in God’s power, or a belief that He doesn’t have your best interest at heart. When you fall into one of those mindsets, you’re operating in fear, not trust.

As believers, we can overcome our fears in any situation by asking the simple question, “What would I do here if I fully trusted God’s power and goodness?” When we answer that and take action on it, we’ll be well on our way to operating free from fear!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would expose areas of your life where you’re operating in fear, rather than trust in Him.

Questions for Thought

As you think about today’s devotional, what areas of your life come to mind where you’ve been operating in fear rather than trust?

How might your daily decisions look differently if you fully trusted God’s power and goodness?

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Got No Spiritual Gifts 

 

Today's Bible Verse...

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.   —Proverbs 16:3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The real question behind this promise is very simple: How do I define success for my plans? The answer is very simple as well: bringing glory to God for his grace (see Eph. 1:6, 12, 14). Committing our works and plans to God means surrendering them to God's will (James 4:13-15), trusting that God will be glorified in them (Col. 3:17), and recognizing that it is not in our power to properly guide our own steps (Prov. 16:9). God longs to bless us and empower us — not for our own selfish ambition (James 3:16), but for our eternal good (Rom. 8:28) and God's glory. Like Jesus, when we commit our plans and works to the Lord, we are saying, "Not my will, Father, but yours be done!"

My Prayer...

Father, I want your will to be my plans. I want your glory to be my goal. I have things that I want to do. However, if these plans are not for your glory, if these plans are not a blessing to my family or those over whom I have influence, then please defeat me in those plans and please guide me into other areas of blessing. I want you to be glorified in what I do. I want to go where your grace leads. I commit my ways, my plans, and my works to you and to your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

A Call to Godly Living

Romans 12:1

The apostle Paul lived in an age when sensuality, the pursuit of pleasure, and rebellion against the Lord were prevalent. In response, he wrote letters urging Christians not to follow in the ways of the world. Like those early believers, we are to pursue godliness by...

1. Presenting our bodies to God. Our total being--mind, will, emotions, personality, and physical body--are to be turned over to our heavenly Father (James 4:7a). Submitting ourselves to the Lord requires a definite decision to give Him control and a daily commitment to remain under His authority. By surrendering to Him, we will position ourselves for godly living.


2. Becoming living sacrifices. The Christian life is built around the concept of sacrifice. Jesus left the perfection of heaven to dwell among a sinful people so He might reconcile us to God. He offered up His life to make payment for our sins (1 John 3:16) and brought us into His family. As believers, we are to follow His example. Paul called it a living sacrifice, because it is ongoing--one that is repeated daily.

Life is full of options. Many decisions involve a choice between following God's way or our own. Maturing Christians will increasingly sacrifice their own desires and embrace His will.

A life of godliness is characterized by a heart and mind bent toward the things of God. Although we will live imperfectly, our focus is to be on obeying His will and pleasing Him. Let's commit to becoming more like Jesus, the One who willingly gave Himself to God as a sacrifice for us.

from Dr. Charles Stanley

Addressing Real Needs

 

Today's Bible Verse...

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.   —Galatians 6:2

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

This is just another way of saying, "Love your neighbor as yourself!" Jesus came to bear our burdens and carry away the stain and pain of our sin. (Read Isaiah 53 for a powerful description of God's Suffering Servant, a passage quoted in the New Testament in reference to Jesus.) He now asks us to live redemptively, in practical ways, toward those around us. More than just praying, or asking what we can do to help, we are called to serve, minister, and assist others who are burdened.

My Prayer...

Holy and merciful God, please give me eyes to see, a heart willing to serve, and hands ready to help the people in my path that need a burden lifted. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

It Starts with One

The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” (Isaiah 57:15 NLT)

As we look at revivals in the Bible and at historical revivals, we see they often began with one individual, one person who decided to do something. Jeremiah Lanphier was a businessman who began a lunchtime prayer meeting on Fulton Street in downtown New York. A handful of people showed up at the first meeting on September 23, 1857 at North Dutch Church. Lanphier was persistent, however, and the group continued to meet for prayer and continued to grow.

Then something dramatic took place: The New York stock market crashed. Suddenly the prayer meeting began to explode. Prayer meetings quickly popped up throughout New York City, and within six months, ten thousand people were gathering for prayer in the Big Apple. It was unexplainable. They were renting concert halls and Broadway theatres for daily 6:00 AM, 9:00 AM, and noon meetings, packing them out as men and women called on the name of the Lord. And God began to work.

It was reported that 50,000 New Yorkers came to know the Lord during a period of three months in 1858, from March to May. Ten thousand people were added to church membership rolls weekly. The revival spread to other cities as well, and when it was all over, an estimated one million people had come to faith in Christ.

This revival from 1857 to 1859 became part of what is known as the Third Great Awakening in the United States. The revival wasn’t orchestrated. It wasn’t a campaign planned by people. It simply was a work of God in which God poured out His Spirit. We need to see that today.

Jeremiah Lanphier was not a great preacher. He was not a famous person. He was just an ordinary person who decided to pray. And you can do the same.

Copyright (c) 2018 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

 

Today's Verse...

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?     —Romans 6:1

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Grace doesn't mean that we are sloppy with sin. We have died to sin when we surrendered our lives to the Lordship of Christ. We don't want sin, or its power, to have control over us. We don't want to take lightly the awful cost Jesus paid to cover our sin. The apostle Paul uses the strongest language possible ("By no means!" is way too tame a translation: "God forbid!" "Unthinkable!" "Abomination!" would all be much more accurate.) As those saved by grace, we realize that sin is more than breaking a divine command. Sin is making light of Jesus' love for us by choosing our sin over his sacrifice. Sin is rebelling against the Father who paid such a high price to adopt us into his family. Sin is breaking our Father's heart because we are choosing our sin over our love for him. Finally, sin is choosing our own will rather than God; a choice that leads us down a path of self-destruction.

My Prayer...

Father, thank you for your incomparable generous grace lavished upon me through Jesus' death on the Cross and the salvation that I have received through him. Please make my own sin abhorrent to me. Give me a passion for holiness and a deeper appreciation of what it cost you to make me holy. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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