Promise for Today - Powerful Weakness

Guest author - Christopher Glotzbach 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

You need help.

Those are words I have a hard time believing… and an even harder time receiving.

But something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is this:
When I receive help, I’m not just allowing someone to help me — I’m giving them an opportunity to bless. And when I refuse help, sometimes I unintentionally hinder someone else from living out the way God created them. 

The other day during a workout, I was on the ground (yes, on purpose ) trying to get a weight onto my lap so I could do some glute bridges. I was struggling. Like… really struggling. Before I knew it, a woman from the gym came over and offered to help me lift the plate into position.

Now, I’m pretty hardheaded… I mean, determined … so I was still fighting to get it myself.
She offered again and I looked at her and said: “No, I’m okay.”  She walked away, and I could tell she looked a little confused. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I wondered if my refusal didn’t only communicate, “I don’t need help,” but maybe even, “I don’t need you.” And that bothered me.

After my workout, I found her and apologized. But honestly, the whole thing felt awkward.
And the reality is… it didn’t have to be.
How much harder would it have been to simply say, “Yes, thank you”?
I could have humbled myself, accepted help and given someone else the opportunity to serve...

But

The reason I said no wasn’t because I didn’t need help. It was because of pride. 

And that moment has had me thinking: 

How often do I refuse help from people who genuinely want to help me? 

Over the last week, I’ve challenged myself to say yes more often. And you know what I’ve discovered? Something really beautiful happens when we allow people to lean in. We give people the opportunity to live out the way God created them. Because we weren’t created to live independently from one another. We were created to serve, encourage, carry burdens, to give ourselves away, practice hospitality.  It’s the mission of Christ through us. 

That’s part of what it means to die to ourselves.
And sometimes my refusal to receive isn’t humility — it’s actually pride. Because when I refuse help, I’m not only trying to prove I can do it on my own… I may be keeping someone else from experiencing the joy of serving.

And I wonder how often we do the same thing with God. How often is the Lord offering us help — giving us peace, wisdom, strength, or direction — and we respond: “No, I’m okay.” How often do we rely on our own strength instead of receiving His?

The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul says: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Maybe weakness isn’t something we need to hide.
Maybe weakness is an invitation to experience God’s power — and the blessing of others.
Because when people are generous with their time, talent and treasure, it makes us want to be generous in the same way. Right?!

 
So today my prayer is this:
Lord, 

       Help me stay humble and open to receive help. Remind me that when I accept help, I’m not just receiving a blessing — I’m allowing someone else to be a blessing. Help me stop trying to prove I can do everything on my own. Help me boast in my weakness, knowing that Your power is made perfect in my need. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - More Than a Hope

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 

1 John 5:11-12 (NIV)

If you walked around a park today and asked people if they were going to heaven or hell, you’d likely hear many of them say, “I hope I’ll go to heaven.” But hope just isn’t good enough. I pray that’s not your answer. Your eternal destiny is too important not to know for sure.

You’re not guaranteed another minute on this planet, much less another hour. The most recent statistics show that mortality rates worldwide remain at 100 percent! Death is inevitable—so it’s foolish not to be prepared. Don’t put off the most important choice you’ll ever make.

Our Scripture for today tells us, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (NIV). That’s about as clear as you can get. If you have Jesus, you have life. If you don’t have Jesus, you do not have life. You have a choice.

You won’t go to heaven because of someone else’s faith. You’ll never go to hell because of someone else’s choice.

It’s your choice! You get to decide where you’ll spend eternity.

This is why we celebrate Christmas and Easter. If Jesus hadn’t come at Christmas—and then if he hadn’t died and come back to life on Easter—our situation would be hopeless. Nothing you do would matter. You wouldn’t have this choice.

The Bible says, “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14 NLT).

The cross is the answer to your deepest problem: your separation from God. Make the choice today to be reconciled to God through Jesus and secure your eternity in heaven.

Talk It Over

None of us are promised another second on earth. How does that reality give more urgency to either your decision to follow Jesus or the decision your friends and family need to make?

Who in your life needs to read the message in this devotional? How can you develop your relationship to a point where you can share this message with them?

If the decision to follow Jesus and have life—or reject Jesus and not have life—is so clear and stark, why is it still hard for some people to choose?

- by Pastor Rick

***************************************

Prayer:

Father,

          Your Word tells us, “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse!" We are blessed if we choose to follow Your commands and cursed if we choose to reject them. Father, we want the security of Your Word, Your promise of eternal life with You. Give us the wisdom and Your strength to daily walk out that choice. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Advent Day 8 - A Costly Blessing

This year's Advent devotionals are from A Celebration of Advent: A 25-Day Devotional
by New Spring Church of Anderson, SC

***********************************************************************

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Luke 1:45

When Mary learned Elizabeth was pregnant, she rushed to see it with her own eyes. When Mary arrived, Elizabeth’s baby leaped in her womb, and she told Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed” Luke 1:41-42.

Through Elizabeth, God reassured Mary that her radical faith was in the right place. Mary lived a life of blessing and purpose even though it was costly. Mary faced big hurdles, but she experienced an even bigger blessing. And though that blessing was disguised to the world for a time, He was revealed in glory (Matthew 24:30-31).

Remember that God is always at work. His plan for you is good. Even though blessings are sometimes costly, when we keep our eyes on the Lord, we experience the joy and fulfillment only His presence and purpose can provide.

REFLECT: Read Luke 1:39-45

What hurdles are you facing right now?
Are you focusing on your circumstances or the Lord, who wants to lead you through them?
What is one practical way to remind yourself of God’s love even when you don’t feel it?
***********************************************************************

Prayer:

Father,
          We pray as the writer of Hebrews prayed: Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and who now sits at the right hand of Your throne, O God. We want to be partakers of Your holiness. Teach us, Father, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Blessed to be a Blessing - written by Pr. Alan Neel

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
Luke 16:10 -12

We are privileged to be conduits of God's blessings, not creators of our own wealth. As followers of Jesus Christ, we should understand that everything given to us is a test of our gratitude and faith. 

Our worldview is undoubtedly different because we find God’s purpose in every area of our lives, including our finances. We are called to be like our heavenly Father, constantly pouring blessings to demonstrate His love! Never do we believe that God blesses us for our selfish pleasure. We have been blessed to be a blessing!

**********************

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your faithfulness of provision for our needs. Thank You also for giving us the desire of our hearts as we DELIGHT ourselves in You. Thank You for ALWAYS providing so that we can provide for others. Open our eyes, Father, to see those in need around us so that we open our hearts and our hands to BE the blessing You've created us to be. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Thanksgiving Day - guest writer

Written by Debbie McDaniel of ibelieve.com

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God, it is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise, give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good; his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 100:1-5

All across our nation, Thanksgiving is a day that we set aside in order to do one thing.

Be thankful.

And usually what goes along with it, is lots of food, family and friends, laughter and fun, times of giving to others in need, maybe some football, or traditions that you’ve recognized through long years.

And sometimes too, there is also loneliness. And struggle. Or deep loss. Feelings of hurt and painful circumstances that you’re still trying to hurdle over.

Whatever you’re facing this Thanksgiving Day, in the midst of all of it, may we remember again that God gives us the opportunity each and every day, to give worship and thanks to Him. Every morning He gives us breath, which is His invitation to come joyfully into His Presence. He reminds us that He alone is God and we belong to Him. He assures us that His plans in our lives are for good, that His love covers us securely, and His faithfulness extends from generation to generation.

No matter what, He’s given us so many reasons to choose thankfulness and joy this day. Let’s do what the Psalmist of this great chapter says:

- Shout for joy.
- Worship the Lord with gladness.
- Come before Him with joyful songs.
- Know that He is God.
- Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.
- Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
- Recognize His goodness, love, and faithfulness, through all the generations of our family.

Give thanks.

Prayer:

Dear God,

              Thank You for Your goodness and for Your blessings over our lives. Forgive us when we don't thank You enough, for who You are, for all that You do, for all that You've given. We’re so grateful to You for Your amazing love and care, for Your mercy and grace, for always working on our behalf, even behind the scenes when we’re unaware. Thank You that You are always with us and will never leave us, even through loss and the most difficult of times. Thank You for Your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on You afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with Your peace and joy, this Thanksgiving Day and every day. We give You thanks and praise, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Psalm 128 - A Blessing for those who fear the Lord

How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways!
You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him.

May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.
May Israel have peace!

Psalm 128:1-6

In Jesus' Name we pray