Promise for Today - Regular Checkups

I don’t mean to say I am perfect. I haven’t learned all I should even yet, but I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be. 

Philippians 3:12-13 (TLB-The Living Bible)

Paul knew the importance of humbly growing and learning. When Paul wrote this, he was an older man in prison in Rome. He was at the end of his life. He was an incredibly mature person. Yet he said he hadn’t arrived. If anybody had the right to say, “I’ve arrived spiritually,” it would be the guy who wrote so much of the New Testament. But Paul said, “No, I haven’t arrived. I’m still growing, learning, and becoming more like Christ.”

The Bible says in The Message paraphrase, “Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith . . . Give yourselves regular checkups” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Do you give yourself regular checkups? Try this: Wake up every day and ask God, “What do I need to work on today?” This takes humility, but it’s a habit that will lead to happiness. Humble people are happy people. Why? Because they never stop growing and learning.

Pride is the trap that so often keeps Christians from following Paul’s example and continuing to grow in Christ. Why? Because when you think you’ve got it all together, it’s harder to make an effort to grow in spiritual maturity. Humility, on the other hand, leads to happiness because it makes you teachable.

Happiness and humility go together because you’re compelled to ask, “How can I be a better follower of Jesus? How can I be a better spouse? How can I be a better friend? How can I be a better boss? ” When you aren’t asking these questions, you’re missing out because you’ve stopped growing—and God made you to grow.

Take a step toward happiness today by humbly praying Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV): “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” 

Talk It Over

Who in your life do you consider a happy person? How do they also model humility?

How have you grown spiritually in the last year? What evidence of growth can others see in you?

Why is it important to have the support of a small group as you strive to grow spiritually?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us into all truth and show us things to come, according to Your Word (John 16:13). Help us to grow in You by taking Your Word into our hearts. We pray for spiritual growth according to the promises in Your written Word.

Ephesians 3:16, Strengthen us in our inner man.

Ephesians 3:17, That we may be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.

Ephesians 3:18, Let us grasp God’s love – the breadth and length and height and depth of it.

Ephesians 3:19, That we might be filled through all our being with the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:19, That we might become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself.

Philippians 3:10, That we may know You and the power of Your resurrection.

Ephesians 1:17, That You might grant us a spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Ephesians 1:18, That the eyes of our hearts be flooded with light.

Ephesians 1:19, That we might know the greatness of Your power in us.

Philippians 1:10, That we may learn to sense what is vital and of real value.

Philippians 1:11, That we may abound and be filled with the fruits of righteousness.

John 17:12, That You will keep and protect us from the evil one.

Colossians 1:9, That we may know Your will.

Colossians 1:11-12, That we may be strengthened with all power, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Invested

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death. 

Philippians 3:10 (NLT)

Happiness is found in getting to know God more every day.

Another translation says that Paul became “thoroughly acquainted” (AMP) with God because he had a relationship with him and took the time to get to know him. He understood the difference between knowing ABOUT someone and actually knowing someone—and Paul wanted to really know Christ.

You don’t become thoroughly acquainted with God by accident. You don’t just wake up and accidentally fall into a relationship with Jesus. Paul says it’s a determined purpose. It’s something you have to do something about. You have to invest your time in it. You have to invest your heart in it. You have to invest your resources and your energy. Getting to know God requires the best of everything you have!

One trap that can keep you from getting to know God better is busyness. Just like busyness can destroy your relationships, it can also destroy your relationship with God.

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

To grow in your relationship with God, you need to make time for him and be still. Just a few minutes of focused time every day can make all the difference in the world. I’m not saying you have to spend an hour in prayer every day. You can start with 10 or 15 minutes each morning, reading the Bible and talking with God.

The most important thing is to make it a habit and commit to getting to know God. Only then will you, like Paul, begin understanding the wonders of God with greater clarity.

Make this your daily prayer: “Lord, if I don’t do anything else today, I want to get to know you a little bit better and I want to love you a little bit more.” As you pray and live this out, you’ll begin to experience greater happiness in your life.

Talk It Over

What are some things you do every day for at least 15 minutes? Do you do them because they’re essential or just because they’ve become habitual?

What distractions can keep you too busy to spend time with God?

How will you adjust your schedule so that you can spend more time with God?
- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for loving us every moment of every day since before we were born. Help us to keep our focus on what is the most important part of our lives - to love You back. To spend time with You. To learn Your ways and to know You more. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Love You Most

We Christians glory in what Christ Jesus has done for us and realize that we are helpless to save ourselves. 

Philippians 3:3 TLB

Realizing there’s nothing you can do to make God love you more is one of the most liberating feelings in the world—and it’s a key to happiness. He already loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). Each time you forget this truth and think you’ve got to somehow earn God’s love, that’s legalism, and it robs you of happiness.

Legalism is trusting in what you can do for God instead of trusting in what Jesus has already done for you. Legalism is following a list of rules and regulations to try to prove yourself worthy, and it’s a trap that keeps you from relaxing in God’s grace.

Paul knew how to relax in God’s grace. He said in Philippians 3:9, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ” (NLT). In other words, the way you earn the love of God is this: You don’t earn it. It’s not about your performance; it’s about his pardon.

How do you know when you’re being legalistic? When you realize you’re often judgmental of other people. That’s because it’s easier to be critical of others when you don’t feel accepted and loved yourself. Why would you want other people to feel good about themselves when you don’t feel good about yourself?

On the other hand, how do you know when you’re living by grace? When you’re living by grace, you’re gracious to others. You find it easier to forgive because you recognize that God continues to forgive you. And since you’re not trying to earn your way to heaven, you can relax.

Every morning, remind yourself of God’s grace by praying, “Lord, today I’m thankful that I am completely forgiven. There’s nothing I can do to make you love me more. And there’s nothing I could do that would make you love me less!”

The more you live by grace, the more joy you’ll have.

Let's talk about this. Have you trusted Jesus with your life?
The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. You cannot earn your way into heaven: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you’re ready to confess your sins and trust Jesus with your life, start with this prayer:

Dear God,
You have promised that if I believe in Jesus, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day. I believe Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and then rose from the grave. And through His death and resurrection, my sins are forgiven, and I can have a relationship and a forever home with You. I confess the ways I’ve sinned against you and lived for myself, and I submit to Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Jesus, I want to follow you and serve you. I commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

From Pastor Rick:
If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

Promise for Today - Grateful Prayer

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

In Philippians 4:6-7, you’ll find one of the most difficult teachings to obey in the entire Bible. It’s not easy to stop worrying about the often-scary, everyday parts of your life, but God tells you how. He says you should pray about everything and thank him for all he has done. Grateful prayer brings peace. God says that when you start to worry, you should pray.

Parents understand the power of being grateful. Most parents wouldn’t appreciate their children always making requests and never saying “thank you” for the things they’ve received. God sees it the same way. He is waiting for you to ask him for what you need and want. More than 20 times in the New Testament, you’re told to “ask” him. But he wants you to ask with gratefulness. [Vs 7 says THEN you will experience God's peace. When we remind ourselves of all that God has done for us as we thank Him for it, we can be at peace knowing the Father has - and will always - care for us, giving us what we need.]  The more thankful you are, the easier it is to see God at work in your life. The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of his people. He uses your thanksgiving as an instrument of power in your life.

The Bible urges you to be specific in your requests—and in your praises. Instead of a simple “thank you for everything,” God wants you to tell him what you’re grateful for.

When I say to my wife, “I’m so grateful for you,” she tells me to be specific. She likes to hear what I appreciate about her and what makes me grateful for her. God does, too. So when you pray, tell God what you’re thankful for, and be specific.

Something that can require an even bigger step of faith is when you thank God in advance. When you have the faith to thank God ahead of time—before you can see how he’s working—miracles happen.

So, take a moment now, and tell God what you’re grateful for. Then keep going, moment by moment, practicing gratitude for who God is, what he has done, and all that you believe he will do. [according to His Word}

Talk It Over

How does gratitude draw you closer to Jesus and help you reflect his character?

Have you ever tried journaling your prayers and your gratitude? What difference do you think it would make?

What are some ways you believe God will bless you in the future? Thank God for those things, even before they happen.

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for bearing our burdens and carrying us day by day. Thank You for loading us with blessings and giving us our daily bread. You are a great God. Of Your goodness and kindness, there is no end. Lord, teach us to offer You a heart of thanksgiving and praise in all our daily experiences. Change our outlook and attitude into joyful contentment. We trust You and thank You for Your peace in all of it, which goes beyond our understanding. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for us. We never want to be complacent about Your saving grace and the redeeming Blood of Jesus. Thank You for spiritual growth in Christ and help us to keep walking in You by faith all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

          

Promise for Today - His Will for Us

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV (emphasis mine)

In many cultures around the world, people set aside certain days or seasons for giving thanks. But God wants you to be intentional about your thankfulness every day. He wants you to develop this spiritual habit, one that is reflected in the life of a faithful follower of Jesus. Because the closer you get to Jesus, the more deeply you understand God’s love, and the more grateful you’re going to be.

What does it mean to be radically grateful?

The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (NIV). In every circumstance, give thanks—that’s radical gratitude.

How can you be thankful even IN difficult circumstances? You can thank God IN every circumstance because he is in control. He can bring good out of evil. He can turn around the worst mistakes you’ve made. No matter what happens, God isn’t going to stop loving you.

You can find a hundred things to be thankful for IN any circumstance, even when the circumstance stinks.

Radical gratitude—being thankful IN all circumstances—is God’s will because it creates fellowship. What do I mean by that? Gratitude always builds deeper relationships between you and other people and between you and God.

If you want to get closer to someone, start expressing gratitude to that person. Maybe you’re feeling distant from your spouse. You’ve lost that spark because you stopped doing the things that created the spark early on—and now you take each other for granted. Start doing what you did when you were dating: Express gratitude. Write little notes of kindness and encouragement. Call or text during the day, just to tell your spouse that you’re thankful for them.

Do you want to build better connections in your small group? Don’t just go to your gathering. During the week, contact the people in your group. Say, “I’m grateful for you, and here’s why.” You’ll find that the more grateful you are for your group, the more your group will bond—and the more you’ll grow in radical gratitude.

Let us “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5 NIV).

Talk It Over

In what circumstance is it difficult for you to give thanks right now? What’s one thing you can give thanks for in that circumstance?

What are some simple, specific ways you can express your gratitude to your spouse, a friend, or a small group member?


As you develop an attitude of gratitude, what changes do you think you will see in yourself and your relationships?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to clearly see the difference between IN all circumstances and FOR all circumstances when cultivating radical gratitude. Holy Spirit, lead us into Your Truth and remind us to encourage those around us to look for Your goodness and mercy and grace IN all circumstances. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Teamwork of Happiness

I feel that I must send Epaphroditus—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier—back to you. You sent him as your personal representative to help me in my need.

Philippians 2:25 GW

The church in Philippi sent a man named Epaphroditus to help Paul while he was in prison in Rome. By calling Epaphroditus his brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, Paul was using three relational metaphors that represent teamwork. Life together is a family, a fellowship, and a fight. Epaphroditus didn’t shut himself off from the world and become a lone ranger. He chose to be a team member in these three ways.

To live a happier life, you need to learn how to work well with others. I call this the skill of collaboration. It’s an important skill not often taught in schools, but when learned, it can exponentially increase a person’s happiness. Happiness isn’t a matter of luck. It’s a matter of learning! 

What do you need to learn in order to work well with other people?

First, learn to cooperate with others. As believers, we are in the same fight together against satan, so we need to cooperate with one another—no matter how different we are. The best place to learn how to do that is in the church.

Second, learn to be considerate. Paul mentioned Epaphroditus again in Philippians 2:26: “He has been longing to see all of you and is troubled because you heard that he was sick”. Notice how Paul used two examples of consideration: Paul was considerate of his coworker’s homesickness, and Epaphroditus was considerate of the Philippians’ concern.

When you learn to be considerate of other people’s needs, fears, and doubts, you’ll be a happier person. For instance, if you are considerate of your spouse, you’ll have a happy marriage. But if you’re not thoughtful with your words and actions, you’ll have an unhappy marriage.

The Bible says in The Message paraphrase, “You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Cultivating a life with a common goal of Christ-likeness takes work. Like a garden that requires cultivation to bear fruit, you’ll see how your effort bears the fruit of happiness and strong relationships.

Talk It Over

Why is it sometimes hardest to get along with or work well with people with whom you minister in the church?

What new practices can you adopt to foster cooperation and consideration within your small group or among coworkers?

In what specific ways will you show more consideration for your family this week, and how can you make it a habit?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          John reminds us in Your Word to "continue to love one another, for love comes from You." And that the world will know we are Christ followers by our love. Forgive us when we allow petty annoyances to distract us and make us forget the Good News of the Gospel and our roles as Your ambassadors. Holy Spirit, please convict us when we overreact to the shortcomings of others. Remind us that it is written, we are to be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. Please strengthen and equip us to love others as You have loved us.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - What God Gives

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 

Philippians 2:13 NLT

God is working in you. The word “working” in Greek is the word "energos", from which we get our word “energy.” God is the energy driver in your life. You’re not just going on willpower. You’re not just going on your own power. God says he will give you the power you need, no matter what you’re facing.

Not only is he working in you, but he is also with you. The Bible says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. . . . On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:18, 20 NIV). That’s quite a promise! The Bible says that Christ is in you, that you’re sheltered with him, and that you’re sealed with the Holy Spirit. That means that, for the devil to get to you, he’s got to get through the Trinity. That’s pretty good protection and a great relief from fear.

Not only is God with you and in you, but God is also for you. Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (ESV).

When a shepherd leads the sheep, guard dogs are always at the back, keeping watch and making sure the sheep move in the right direction. The Bible says that the guard dogs in your life are God’s goodness and mercy. God’s goodness and mercy are always at work in your life. God gives you the things you don’t deserve—that’s his goodness. And he doesn’t give you the punishment you deserve for your sins—that’s his mercy.

His goodness includes the blessings you experience now but also the gift of your salvation: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

No matter what you’re going to face today, this week, or next year, you won’t face it alone. God is with you, he’s working in you, and he is for you. That’s good news! It helps you let go of fear about what you’re facing and replace it with happiness.

Talk It Over

What does it look like when you switch from living in your own power to living in God’s power?

When do you doubt God’s presence the most? Ask God for faith to see him at work in this specific area of your life.

How does your perspective of a difficult situation change when you know God is for you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You that You’re going to be with us today, that You’re going to be working in us today, and that You are for us today and every day. We cannot do this life without You. Manifest Your Word in us today, giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen