Praying in the Spirit

Promise for Today - Day 6 of 10 sharing The Christian's Armor devotional by Alistair Begg.
Today's devotional is titled, Praying in the Spirit

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Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
Ephesians 6:17–18

What does it mean to pray “in the Spirit”?

One answer is to tie this text to 1 Corinthians 12 and speaking in tongues, but that was probably not Paul’s intention. Paul certainly did not speak in tongues “at all times” as he prayed. Instead of thinking of this as one way to pray among many, we should recognize that praying “in the Spirit” is the only way to pray.

Jesus’ exchange with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 is instructive for us on this point. During their dialogue, the woman raises the issue of Gerizim and Jerusalem as potential places of public worship, over which there was disagreement between Samaritans and Jews. In response, Jesus says, “The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23).

People sometimes suggest that what Jesus is saying here is that anyone can worship anywhere, as long as they’re sincere. But He’s not actually saying that! Instead, He’s revealing that only those who receive the Holy Spirit can worship God at all. It is only in the Spirit, by the Spirit, and through the Spirit that worship—and, by extension, prayer—that is pleasing to God can even take place.

Paul also illuminates what he means for us in Romans 8:15-16: “You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” God has given us His Spirit, and it is by His Spirit in us that we cry out to Him, even—perhaps especially—in our weakness (v 26).

This is why “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). Sure, someone might say the words “Jesus is Lord,” but no one can really mean them apart from the work of the Spirit in his or her life. So it is with prayer: our adoption into the family of God, including our receiving of the Holy Spirit, is the foundation of our prayer life.

When you come to God in prayer today, then—perhaps even as you finish this reading—and call God “Father,” you will be “praying in the Spirit.” Depend on the Spirit, who by faith lives in you. He will help you. He will prompt you. He will guide you. And He will remind you of what a wonderful, undeserved joy it is to be able to speak to the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and address Him as your Abba, Father.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT

 How is God calling me to think differently?

 How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

 What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

Take Up Your Sword - Alistair Begg

Day 5 of 10 Sharing The Christians's Armor devotional written by Alistair Begg.
Today's devotional is titled, Take Up Your Sword

Take the … sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
 Ephesians 6:17

The devil knows the Bible. He knows what it says, and he can quote it with ease—better than most of us, undoubtedly. Satan quoted Scripture to Jesus when He was fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)—though notice that Satan also twisted what the Bible says for his own deceitful schemes. This shouldn’t surprise us, since the best lies usually have at least a bit of truth in them.

In that encounter, when Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, he enticed Him with an appeal to a spectacular, angelic rescue. But the devil misused Psalm 91 by taking it out of context (Matthew 4:5-6), and Jesus rebuked him by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16: “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test.” The Son of God repeatedly quoted Scripture to Satan, and he eventually fled (Matthew 4:11).

Our best defense against Satan, then, is Scripture rightly understood and rightly applied. This is why Paul tells us that in order to stand firm against “all the flaming darts of the evil one,” we must “take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:16, 17). There is no better tool to resist temptation and devilish ploys than the Bible. God’s word is what we use to resist the devil, and the overwhelming spiritual power of that word is precisely why he flees (James 4:7).

Psalm 119:11 encourages God’s people to store up God’s word in their hearts in order that we might not sin against Him. This might sound like a nice, gentle invitation at first—but while it may prove true that the Bible can be consumed and meditated upon in the comfortable company of a warm beverage and a cozy chair, the call to memorize Scripture is in fact a call to arms. Every soldier needs a weapon. Every Christian needs the word of God. Think about the temptations to sin that you regularly face (and, perhaps, give in to). What verses of Scripture do you need to deliberately memorize and then deploy against the devil’s half-truths and lies? Think about the times when the Evil One suggests that you are not really a child of God, not really forgiven. What parts of Scripture will you fling back at him in those moments? The word of God is your sword against Satan. Take it up today, and make him flee.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT

How is God calling me to think differently?

How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

Shielded by Faith - Alistair Begg

Day 4 of 10 - Sharing The Christians's Armor devotional written by Alistair Begg.
Today's devotional is titled, "Shielded by Faith"

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:16

You are under attack.

We might not feel as though this is the case, but in reality we face a spiritual onslaught in which the Evil One daily employs any tactic in his arsenal to undermine our identity and our unity in Jesus Christ. His fiery arrows are constantly being loosed against the people of God. What is a Christian to do in the face of such assaults?

When warfare reaches us—and it will—we must reach for our shields. We are to “take up the shield of faith.” The shield Paul’s readers would have imagined when they heard these words was no small shield, for in Roman times a soldier’s shield was four feet long by two and a half feet wide. Wielding one would have been like walking around with a door. It was not a Frisbee-like toy but a formidable piece of armor.

The key to understanding the proper use of our shields is that when we come to trust in Christ, He grants to us gospel armor. Having died in our place, He clothes us with His righteousness. So when we take up the shield of faith, we are actively trusting the gospel to shield us from Satan’s lies. The only way we can deal with the hostilities of ongoing spiritual warfare is to find our strength—our spiritual weapons and armor—in the Lord Jesus.

John Newton, in a seldom-sung hymn, pictures an encounter with the devil like this:
When Satan appears to stop up our path
And fills us with fears, we triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
The heart-cheering promise, “The Lord will provide.” [1]

Christ has already triumphed and, by faith, He invites us to share in His spoils. This victory is what led one of the Westminster Divines, William Gouge, to pen in his diary, “When I look upon myself, I see nothing but emptiness and weakness; but when I look upon Christ, I see nothing but fullness and sufficiency.”[2] The Evil One is a defeated foe, though still a powerful one. When we seek to fight him in our own strength, we will find ourselves defeated. But God has provided all the armor we need. Our faith is our shield, for our faith tells us that we are forgiven children of the living God, empowered by His Spirit to obey Him and enjoying the certain hope of eternal life with Him.

You will come under attack today. Where in your life might the battle rage? Be sure to look to your faith in those moments, for it will shield you against temptation, and you will stand in victory against the devil’s darts.  

John Newton, “The Lord Will Provide” (1775).
Quoted in James Reid, Memoirs of the Lives and Writings of Those Eminent Divines, 

Who Convened in the Famous Assembly at Westminster, in the Seventeenth Century (Stephen and Andrew Young, 1811), p 357.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT

How is God calling me to think differently?

How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

Stand On the Gospel by Alistair Begg

Day 3 of 10 - Sharing A Christians's Armor devotional written by Alistair Begg.
Today's devotional is titled, "Stand On the Gospel"

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Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:14–15

When we picture soldiers on the frontlines of battle, we often imagine firearms, artillery, and other tactical equipment. But there’s a piece of gear we often overlook, without which a soldier would be utterly ineffective: his boots. Without appropriate footwear, no soldier, and therefore no army, can hope to defend a position.

The apostle Paul calls believers to stand firm in our gospel shoes, so to speak—to be at the ready with appropriate footwear. When in his first letter to the Corinthian church he writes his great chapter on the resurrection, he begins, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand” (1 Corinthians 15:1, emphasis added). The gospel provides us with firm footing. Even when everything else around us is shaking, we always have a place to stand. Even when temptation is fierce, we never need to retreat.

What was it that empowered Martin Luther to stand against the tide, nail his theses to the church door at Wittenberg, and then proclaim before an emperor, “Here I stand; I can do no other”? Gospel shoes. What was it that enabled the English Protestants Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley to face with courage the horror of being burnt at the stake for their faith? Gospel shoes. What is it that sees our brothers and sisters in so many places around the world joyfully proclaim their faith in Christ even as they are threatened with death? Gospel shoes.

When you go to your workplace, to your school, to your unbelieving family and friends, or into your local community, what will give you the power to stand for Jesus? Only the gospel shoes that Christ provides. If you try to stand on your own strength, you will inevitably stumble and fall. But when you enter each new day with your feet rooted in the hope, peace, forgiveness, and assurance of the gospel, then you will find yourself able to stand firm, even through the fiercest opposition from the world and temptation from the devil. So before you go and get on with your day, rehearse the gospel to yourself. Enjoy its truths. Praise your Savior. Or, to put it a different way: put your shoes on.

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT

How is God calling me to think differently?

How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

Solid Ground to Stand On by Alistair Begg

Day 2 of 10 -  Sharing A Christians's Armor devotional written by Alistair Begg.
Today's devotional is titled, "Solid Ground to Stand On"

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Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth.
Ephesians 6:13–14

Western culture is confused about many things—but it’s certainly confused about truth. We often trade in vague platitudes that sound great at first but which crumble under closer examination. “Just be a good person,” we hear. “It doesn’t really matter what you believe, just as long as you lead a good life and do your best.” That all sounds quite pleasant, and we ought to thank God for the common grace that prevents our world from tearing itself apart. But it’s not enough—because the obvious question is this: Who gets to define good? What does it really mean to live a good life or to be a good person? When we have competing visions for what exactly good means and can’t agree on the fundamentals, we find ourselves in all sorts of trouble—not unlike the present state of affairs in much of the West.

We all feel the pressure to cave in to our society’s relativization of truth, in which “you decide your truth and I’ll decide mine.” The Bible, however, calls us to find a firm foothold on God’s truth—a truth that is objective and is not up for debate. Paul instructs us, “Stand … having fastened on the belt of truth” (Ephesians 6:14). When we embrace our culture’s confusion about truth, we are left to be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (4:14). We simply have no solid ground to stand on. But when we plant ourselves in God’s truth, we can firmly hold our ground and be ready to face whatever comes our way (Luke 12:35; 1 Peter 1:13).

Standing for truth won’t prove easy. People might consider us hopelessly old-fashioned, dogmatic, or worse. But in reality, to stand on and advocate for truth is one of the most loving things we can do—for it is to call people to live in line with reality, and to call them away from building on falsehoods that, sooner or later, will crumble beneath them. As Paul writes elsewhere, love “does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). What might it take for you to rejoice with the truth today in your own thinking and in your conversations with others? However high the cost may seem, you can stand and speak with confidence, knowing that Christ has sent His Spirit to “guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13).

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT

How is God calling me to think differently?

How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

The Devil Defanged by Alistair Begg

 For the next 10 days, I will share A Christians's Armor devotional written by Alistair Begg.
Today's devotional is titled, "The Devil Defanged"

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The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 By grace, every believer in Christ has been transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). We live in the world now as children of light and endeavor to bear the fruit of that light (Ephesians 5:8-9). Yet as glorious as this may be, we know that darkness is not yet fully eradicated from our lives. The truth is that everyone who becomes a citizen of Christ’s kingdom is caught up in a cosmic conflict of eternal significance. Praise the Lord, the Evil One has been powerless to prevent God’s adopted children from knowing salvation—but having tasted that measure of defeat, he now seeks to do everything in his power to prevent us from living as true heirs of our Father’s eternal kingdom. He is totally committed to disrupting and destroying what it means for us to “be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1) and to “walk as children of light” (v 8). His one great aim is to stop you trusting in Christ—to knock you off the narrow road before you reach the gates of glory. We should not ignore the alarming terms which Scripture uses to describe the devil and the urgent terms in which we are urged to withstand him. Peter urges us to “be sober-minded” and “watchful” because our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is a real and a vicious enemy. He trades in doubt, division, and destruction. He comes at us both morally and intellectually. With the ferocity of a supernaturally empowered beast, he seeks to maul us and shred our faith to pieces. What is a Christian to do when faced with such a vicious enemy? The good news for us is this: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” Though he may still prowl, his defanging has already begun, and ultimately, he will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Defeat is certain for the devil and his minions—and, through Christ, victory over him is yours, Christian. In Christ, God has given you the spiritual power to “stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). He offers you indestructible armor in the gospel and His very word as your sword (v 11-17). When you fall, you are forgiven. The devil has no power over you. James puts our charge succinctly: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). So, where is the battle for you? Is it against a particular sin or in a certain trial? Take up the means of grace God offers you in Christ—including your company of fellow soldiers—and, by simply believing the gospel of God, force the prowling lion to retreat! QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT How is God calling me to think differently? How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love? What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today? FURTHER READING    1 John 3:7–10

 

Good News and Bad News

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
Colossians 4:56 NLT

So, there's good news and bad news. 

The bad news is that a particular conversation was neither gracious nor attractive. I was angry and indignant and instead of exercising self-control - one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit - I went right to telling how the cow ate the cabbage. What I said wasn't wrong, but my attitude certainly was. I did not swear, but neither was I gracious.

The good news is God loves me enough to correct me. The good news is His mercies are new every morning. The good news is His grace is sufficient. The good news is if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness (1st John 1:9).

Prayer:

Father,
           Don't give up on me... Thank You for correcting me. Please pour out more of Your grace and Your mercy so I may represent You withOUT error. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Open the Door

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
John 14:6-7 NLT

When my firstborn was a toddler, we lived in an apartment, and I remember one morning, very early, running downstairs to do a load of laundry while she was still asleep. The only problem was, I forgot to grab my keys and cell phones hadn't been invented yet. I was locked out with my sleeping toddler inside by herself. And just the night before, I had worked and worked with her about never opening the door. So there I stood ringing the doorbell to wake her, only to have her stand on the other side of the door and ask me in her 2-year-old voice, "Who is it?" and then tell me, "No open door, Mommy." Finally, a neighbor heard what was going on and called the superintendent.

Do we know who Jesus is? Do we recognize His voice? Will we open the door of our hearts to Him?

Prayer:

Father,
           Reveal Yourself to us. Come - build Yourself in our hearts. We want to accomplish what You have planned for us, according to Your Word. May we always know Your voice and answer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

About Faithfulness

[Paul writing] I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen
1st Timothy 1:12-17 NLT

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your faithfulness and trustworthiness in our lives. Thank You for always keeping Your end of the Covenant even when we've broken ours. Father, we want to be faithful to You. We want our hearts, our minds, our souls - our wills to be faithful to You and to Your ways. We have not been. We've been faithful to our flesh and to our feelings. Please forgive us, Lord. Let us - help us to be people who can and who will be faithful - fully trustworthy to Your will for our lives.
          Help us to see past the failures and inabilities in our lives and to put them behind us. Let us see and hear only what You would have us to do and be. Cause us to put You first. Help us to die to our flesh - to be dead to our worldly desires and alive to only You. Let it be said of us, Father, that we are faithful because of You. Cause our will to line up perfectly with Yours. Put a guard over our words - Your arm around our shoulders and Your hand over our mouths. We don't want to be a toothache or a twisted ankle like is written in Your Word Proverbs 25:19.
      Thank You for all the immediate responses to our heart's desires.

      Forgive us, Lord, of ALL our unfaithfulness. Forgive us for all the times we have failed You. Replace our wandering hearts with whole hearts toward You and what You would have us to be and do. Father, Your Word tells us so we KNOW that You are at work in us both to WILL and to DO...
       Give us the strength, the courage of conviction. Cause the Holy Spirit to bring all things to our remembrance - such things as are needful and necessary to complete the work You have assigned to our lives. Father, in our daily - everyday lives - we have not been faithful. We own that and ask You to change our hearts. We pray Your Word in Isaiah 64:8, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. We want to be more like You, Father. Engrave Your image on our hearts. Cause our love to be agape. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Revisiting Real Change

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT

Everywhere we turn, someone is talking about change. However, change for the sake of change? I can't say that is always for the better. Sometimes, it's much worse.

The Truth is, in order to have change, you have to want to be changed, and then you have to choose to act on it. "I wish I had a clean house" without getting up to do anything about it, is not going to get your house clean. "I wish I spoke another language" is not going to make you bilingual. "I wish I was a better Christian..."  What? Like poof! Here, Child, I'll make you a better person, you just sit back and eat bon-bons and watch TV? Yeah, right.

What can you do to bring about change in your life and in the lives of those around you? Timothy tells us in his second letter, Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 2 Timothy 2:25 NLT

That will be REAL change!

Prayer:

Father,
           Bring Your Word to our remembrance. Help us to be instant in season to speak Your Truth, so it can set the captive free, and so we can effect change for Your glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Favorite Reminder - Time Thieves

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
Luke 5:16 NLT

I'm about to write a sentence that could very well be nominated for the understatement of the year.

Life is busy. (I'm hearing a mixed chorus of Duh... Ya think? and No kidding!)

Listen, satan doesn't have to entice us into sin - all he has to do is keep us preoccupied. It's way more effective at keeping us ineffective and subtle enough to make us think we're not sinning.

Jesus - King of kings and Lord of lords - often left the crowds and all the happening events where He was the main attraction and got alone with God. He knew He needed to be uninterrupted to formulate His thoughts and prayer and He had to be able to hear the still, small voice of God. How could He have done what the Father instructed Him to do if He couldn't hear the Father?

How often I've heard, Oh, I don't watch the TV, I just have it on in the background - for noise... Can you hear Him over the teaser for the latest episode of Blue Bloods? How about over the commercials for the latest drugs and their many possible side effects?

When was the last time we sat STILL for 15 minutes - no phone, no music, no TV in the background, no computer screen glaring, waiting for us to return to it... sat STILL before the Lord with the express intention of praying without interruption or just waiting to hear His direction? Just askin'...

Prayer:

Father,
          Shine Your Light of Truth on the time thieves in our lives. Help us to understand the great value of being still to know who You are. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Changing Our Minds

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, BUT LET GOD TRANSFORM YOU into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Romans 12:2-3 NLT

Somewhere along our life's journey, we realize the extreme influence of the people we hang out with, TV shows, news feeds, and social media. As Christians, it can be a constant battle to not compare ourselves with others and the world's standards. 

The US Surgeon General has recommended a health warning label for social media, citing

negative consequences he's observed by talking with students, including feelings of "endless comparison," the "feeling of being addicted" and "difficulty having real conversations on platforms that too often fostered outrage and bullying."

 It's my observation that it's not just kids who are \negatively affected. We need to check ourselves. It is a battle. It can be an addiction. The false realities that tend to be portrayed can lead to depression and anxiety. 

The Good News is, we're not the ones changing our minds. God is. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, BUT LET GOD TRANSFORM YOU into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for never leaving us alone to try to accomplish what only You can do in us, for us and through us by Your love, mercy and grace. Change our hearts and minds, Father. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Intercession

It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Romans 8:34b NKJV

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25 NKJV

To make intercession is the action of bringing two parties together. In our case, Jesus is the act of making it possible for sinful mankind to be in the presence of our sinless, most holy God and not die. John 14:6 tells us, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Why? Because God hates sin. However, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him [Jesus] should not perish but have everlasting life. That's what Jesus did for us. That's why He died (to satisfy the wage of our sins) and that's why He lives - to intercede for us with God. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You that through Christ we are able to come to You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who according to Your Word in Romans 8:26-27 helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And You who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us according to Your will. Thank You for loving us so much and for not leaving us alone to fend for ourselves. Help us to be ever mindful and always grateful. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Revisiting the Purpose of Faith

So do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward. You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised. For in a very short time, "The One who is coming will come and will not be delayed. Those who are right with me will live by faith. But if they turn back with fear, I will not be pleased with them."  (references Habakkuk 2:3–4) 

But we are not those who turn back and are lost. We are people who have faith and are saved.

Hebrews 32:35-39 New Century Version

The purpose of our faith is to please God.

Hebrews 11:5-6 tells us, By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I want God to be pleased with me. In plain English, I do not want the Creator of the Universe ticked off at me. Do you? How unintelligent would that be? Life can be difficult and very complex, but faith in God is simple. It is. Truly. The Word tells us that God gives to everyone a measure of faith. So He gives us what we need - we just need to hold on to it, and use it. If God gave you money, you'd use it, wouldn't you? I'd say that's pretty simple.

Jim Mackey preached a great message a while back. For those of you who didn't hear it, let me give you the gist of it in this little paragraph. Faith can change a situation. Faith can change lives. Will we let faith change us? It definitely should change us, but it should also do much more than that. Faith should define our lives.

Yes, our lives should be lived to please God - that is the defining purpose of faith. Going back to our text, So do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward. You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised. For in a very short time, "The One who is coming will come and will not be delayed. Those who are right with me will live by faith. But if they turn back with fear, I will not be pleased with them." (references Habakkuk 2:3–4)  

But we are not those who turn back and are lost. We are people who have faith and are saved. Amen?

Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for the measure of faith that You have given to each of us. Help us to use it wisely, Lord. We want to please You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Evidence

We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.

Acts 14:15c-17 NLT

How often do we turn to the things of this world for comfort? How often do we just want to "veg out" in order to de-stress from the daily grind of our lives? Or try to do or buy something to make us feel good?

If we're seeking comfort from the world, at best it is fleeting - a momentary fix. The Truth is God Himself has made provision for all of it. The Holy Spirit IS our Comforter - and as part of the Holy Trinity, He is everlasting. Christ left us HIS peace. He even stipulated "not as the world gives it" (John 14:27). And as our Promise for Today points out - He never leaves us without evidence of Himself and His goodness!

Prayer:

Father,
           You are a good, good Father! We cannot thank You enough for all the ways You lovingly provide for us. Thank You for the evidence of You and Your goodness in our lives. We want more of You, Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

By Request

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 

Matthew 28:20b NLT

I used to have a magnet that read, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." I used to love reading that magnet - it sounded great until I realized my arrogance in it. 

The Truth is this -  if God said it, THAT settles it. It is not incumbent on whether or not I have enough faith to believe. This gives me great hope.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT tells us, For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. His Word. 

His Word to me today is - And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. I HAVE THIS HOPE... And He is kind and loving enough to provide the accompanying anthem to go with it. A song by the same title, recorded by a group called Tenth Avenue North.

Here are the link and the lyrics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBg9jHQtE44

As I walk this great unknown

Questions come and questions go
Was there purpose for the pain?
Did I cry these tears in vain?

I don't want to live in fear
I want to trust that You are near
Trust Your grace can be seen
In both triumph and tragedy

I have this hope
In the depth of my soul
In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go

But sometimes my faith feels thin
Like the night will never end
Will You catch every tear
Or will You just leave me here?

But I have this hope
In the depth of my soul
In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go

So, whatever happens I will not be afraid
Cause You are closer than this breath that I take
You calm the storm when You call my name

I still believe that one day I'll see Your face

I have this hope
In the depth of my soul
In the flood or the fire
You're with me... 

I have this hope
In the depth of my soul
In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go

In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go

In the flood or the fire
You're with me and You won't let go

Prayer:

Father,

           I have this hope in the depth of my soul - In the flood or the fire, You're with me and You won't let go. Thank You, Father. All praise, honor and glory to You, O God! In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Enduring the Process

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
Colossians 1:19-22 NLT

Our whole lives are not just carried out on whimsy, there IS a plan and a purpose. God has been intentional about His plan for us since before we were born - even before we were formed in our mother's womb (Jeremiah 1, Psalm 139:16). 

When my kids were little, there was a song they sang in Sunday School  ♪♫ I am a Promise. I am a possibility.♪♫  (written by Amber Nelon Thompson). And if we think back to when we were children, did we know what we would be when we grew up? How many of our life events shaped us into who we are now? The answer is ALL of them. Yes, all of them. As Christ followers, God used ALL of it - the whole process of good and bad - to fulfill His purpose and plan. 

There is a Promise over each of our lives - God's promise. However, we need to be where He is to obtain it. In His presence. In His Word. Trusting Him and staying with Him through the process. There are things we have now that were sown in our lives a long time ago, Strength and endurance are built up through the process. What do we want to reap? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for making provision for our reconciliation to You. Let this be a reminder that we can't do haphazard sowing and expect to reap only good things. Give us Your strength to endure and grow through the process, Father, to be able to enter into Your Promise. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Given the Option

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Mark 10:27 NLT

It's difficult enough to watch situations unfold that are not going according to plan when we believe we have the skill set to make it happen. We believe it to be even worse when we're doing everything within our own power and it's still not enough. We think if we just try harder, push more, give 110% (which physically and logically is impossible), we could fix it. Giving up doesn't enter our minds, and to surrender is never an option. And yet...

If we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and submit (surrender) to the leading of His Holy Spirit, we would be more than victorious in every situation. “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

Prayer:

Father,

          Forgive us when we think we can do anything apart from You. Open our eyes to see clearly Your perfect will to use our weaknesses for Your glory. We surrender to You our will and selfish pride and the delusional lies we have believed. Shine Your Light on our way. Help us, Lord, to humbly follow in Your footsteps. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Tired of Waiting

And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
Acts 7:41 NKJV

Stephen was telling the history of the Israelites when he was falsely accused of blasphemy. The Israelites had gotten tired of waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain. In their impatience and unbelief, they donated their gold to be melted down and formed into an idol that they could worship And as verse 41 clearly states, they rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

Paul warned along the same lines to the Church in Galatia. Galatians 6:8, Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

This portion of the Scripture stood out to me. How often are we tempted to be impatient as we wait for Christ's return? How often do we melt down our finances in search of something other than God to soothe our souls? How often do we rejoice in the works of our own hands?

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for looking to anyone or anything other than You for our satisfaction in life. Keep us ever mindful of waiting on You and waiting for You. Help us always to remember that it is only in You and by You that we are able to accomplish anything, so we give You thanks in all things and for all things. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Who Walked Where

Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Psalm 28:6-7 NLT

Life is often overwhelming and wearisome. Left to our own strength, we would be done in, except for God... He has promised us His strength. He has promised us His protection and the joy of His salvation!

However, we must DAILY CHOOSE to walk with Him. The Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, is not One to be put to the side and picked up when we are in crisis mode. The Truth is if we daily seek His presence, we won't get into crisis mode. If we find ourselves in darkness, it was not God who walked away.

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for the times we think we can do life in our own strength. We cannot. Help us to walk in humility and in faith, daily trusting You. Reveal the Light of Your Truth in Your Word to guide our steps. Be the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path, In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

RETURNING JUNE 9th

 Taking a week away. I hope you will return to The Promise for Today next Sunday. Till then, blessings!

Dare We Ask?

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1st Corinthians 15:58 NLT

Do we believe God is who He IS and not who we think He is? Do we even begin to understand who and what He is? We have to ask ourselves, do we trust God?

Can you look at an apple seed and see an orchard?

Do we BELIEVE death and life are in the power of the tongue? That what we speak - words out of our own mouth - can bring forth life or death?

Do we understand what God can - and will - do with water offered to a thirsty soul? Or as residents in the 'civilized' world, living in a country full of excess - where we toss out more half-drunk bottles of water than we know what to do with - are we completely ignorant of the miraculous?

I am always amazed at how God takes the very least, increases it, and brings a harvest of blessings from it - when whatever IT is - is done in His Name or with Him in mind.

Do we dare ask ourselves what we truly believe? Yes, we should! We must! Because the Truth is we live according to what we believe.

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for having tunnel vision when it comes to who You are. Give us wisdom, O God, to see You in Your fullness and in Your majesty and to live accordingly - in service to You and all that belongs to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen