ETERNITY

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Keep an Eye Out

~ God will work everything out for your good — even when life seems hopeless.

Scripture Reading: Acts 17:24-31

At times God’s work is dramatically obvious — as when He parted the Red Sea to deliver His people from slavery in Egypt. And at other times, what He does is inconspicuous. For example, the air in our lungs is provided by Him daily. Either way, He is always accomplishing something, whether we perceive it or not. Imagine how greatly we’ll be blessed if we can increase our awareness of how God is orchestrating all things for our good:

"We know that God works together in all things for the ultimate good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

The demands of a busy schedule sometimes leave little room for quiet moments in God’s presence. Without periods of meditation and prayer, our spiritual senses become dull. But when we regularly communicate with our Father and spend time pondering His Word, we will see things more clearly. Then we can better appreciate all that He is working to accomplish in, through, and for us.

The same is true in our prayer life. For instance, we readily acknowledge the Lord’s intervention and rejoice when it occurs on our behalf. But if our request isn’t granted or timing doesn’t match ours, we might incorrectly conclude He’s inactive. However, today’s reading demonstrates the magnitude of God’s power and care, and we can watch with joyful expectancy for whatever He chooses to bring about.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/keep-an-eye-out






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How God Answers Prayer

~ We can trust our heavenly Father to give the right answer at the right time.

Scripture Reading:

“I assure you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." ~ John 16:23-24

Yesterday we read that Jesus promised our requests will be granted when we ask according to God’s will. But what you may not realize is that our Father waits for us to draw near with our big petitions. He delights in giving His children gifts just as parents do (Matthew 7:11). But we often find it hard to believe that He’ll keep His promises and will respond for our good.

We can be confident in God’s responses to what we pray “in Jesus’ name” because they will always align with His plan. We know the Lord will never act in a manner inconsistent with His character. So by searching the Scriptures, we’ll discover whether our desires line up with God’s nature and promises.

And in doing so, we might even find inspiration from someone with a dilemma similar to what we’re facing. For instance, Elijah was exhausted and in despair; Ruth and Naomi were poor widows in need of the Lord’s help; and David’s life was in danger. Seeing how others spoke to God about their difficulties can give us confidence to do the same — all while bolstering our faith.

God knows the perfect action to take and the right time to do so. But He invites us to ask in faith — and to keep on asking (Luke 11:9-10).
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/how-god-answers-prayer






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Making Requests of God

~ What does it mean to ask in Jesus’ name?

Scripture Reading: John 14:9-14

Jesus knew the crucifixion was soon, so the Last Supper was an opportunity to impart final words of comfort and wisdom to His disciples. One topic on His mind was prayer. Jesus told His friends, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14). What does it mean to ask in Jesus’ name?

• First, depend solely on Jesus’ mediation:

We became children of God when we acknowledged our helplessness and trusted in Christ’s atoning death on our behalf. He acted as our mediator and reconciled us to the Father (1 Timothy 2:5). If we want to pray for big (or small) things, we must continue in that same spirit of dependence on Christ.

• Second, seek Jesus’ ongoing forgiveness:

Sin remains in our world and continues to distract us, so we must practice regular repentance when we make mistakes. That means we confess sin to God, turn away from that attitude or behavior, and receive God’s forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9). Then we can approach Him with a clear conscience.

• Third, offer a prayer that aligns with God’s word:

One way to think of this is to pray something Jesus Himself might ask.

Prayer is most effective when we rely fully on our Savior’s sacrifice and forgiveness and ask in His name. Remember: “Apart from Him [Christ] you can do nothing” (John 15:5), but “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/making-requests-of-god






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Seeking God Through His Creation

~ May we take the time to open our eyes and hearts, to slow down for a minute and behold the beauty of our God in all that He has made.

Scripture Reading:

“You alone are Yahweh [LORD of all]. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and the heavenly host worships You." ~ Nehemiah 9:6

Every part of creation, from the smallest of insects to the mountains in all their grandeur, proclaims the unspoken glory of God. Every living creature, rock, grain of sand, and mountain stream was created for a specific purpose. In the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, we discover God’s faithfulness and provision (Matthew 6:28-30). With every sunrise we are reminded of Jesus’ imminent return (Psalm 19:4-5). And with every gust of wind we are beckoned to live our lives as people of the Spirit (John 3:8).

Job 12:7-10 says:

“But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you; let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.”

Are you allowing God to teach you through His creation? Are you taking in the unspeakable mystery and majesty found in the work of God’s hands? Or are you merely passing by these beautiful, intentional poems written on the pages of leaves, blades, and dirt by the hand of your heavenly Father?

Psalm 19:1-2,4 says:

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky[a] proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge...Their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

God is always speaking to you. Every piece of creation declares to you the depth of God’s love, power, faithfulness, and nearness. Will you afford yourself the opportunity to stop and listen? Will you make space to open the eyes of your heart to receive the beauty, creativity, and love of your heavenly Father faithfully displayed before your very eyes?

To seek God without taking notice of His creation is to miss out on one of the most tangible and beautiful ways He speaks to us. It isn’t too mystical or “out there” to ask God to show you His intent behind His creation. It’s wholly Christian to spend time looking at and reflecting on the work of God’s hands. Children of God across thousands of years have used creation to learn about their Creator. Scripture is filled with revelation received by God speaking through His creation. He has made everything as He did for a perfect and beneficial reason. May we be children who seek God through every avenue available to us. May we be believers who have the faith and patience to learn about our heavenly Father by the work of His hands.



A. W. Tozer said, “God dwells in His creation and is everywhere indivisibly present in all His works. He is transcendent above all His works even while He is immanent within them.” May you go about your day with the knowledge that God is near to you. May creation declare to you the limitless love of your heavenly Father.
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~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/seeking-god-through-his-creation-2023/






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Seeking God Through Prayer

~ Today, may your heart be stirred to take advantage of the unbelievable gift of prayer as you experience God.

The fact that God listens to us as His children changes the landscape of prayer from empty phrases uttered into the abyss to direct communication with the Creator and Sustainer of all. When you pray you are heard by your heavenly Father. And it’s because He listens to us that prayer is one of the most wonderful and powerful avenues to pursue Him. May we learn to dialogue in greater ways with our heavenly Father as we open our hearts to all He would show us today about prayer.

Matthew 6:6-8 says:

“But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.”

Jesus inaugurated an entirely new perspective on prayer. Prior to Jesus, God’s people would pray out of obligation or ritual, begging a seemingly distant God to move on their behalf. Jesus taught that God knows our needs before we even ask. He taught that God is a good Father who longs to respond to the needs of His children. And in John 15:7 He taught, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” God’s desire is to respond favorably to our prayers. He always has our absolute best in mind and longs to satisfy the desires of our hearts.

The key to effective communication with God is first to trust that He is a good Father who listens and longs to answer the prayers of His children. After gaining proper perspective, we need to spend significant time allowing God to fill us with His desires for us, fashioning our hearts into a reflection of His. God will not give you what He knows is less than His best. Rather, He longs to fill you with a desire for what is best for you, then come along and satisfy that desire in magnificent and miraculous ways as you pray.

Jeremiah 33:3 says:

“Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

When you call out to your heavenly Father, trust that He will answer you. He longs to fill you with the knowledge and desire for His will. He longs to speak with you. You can have His heart and know how He feels. The Holy Spirit who dwells within you longs to reveal to you the perfect plans of your heavenly Father. Spend time in prayer listening for the heartbeat of God and allowing Him to fill you with the knowledge of His will.



In his book, “Power through Prayer”, E. M. Bounds shares incredible wisdom on a lifestyle of prayer. May his words guide you into a deeper connection with your heavenly Father today:

“The men [or women] who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day.”
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~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/seeking-god-through-prayer-2023/






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The Choice Is Ours

~ Though we’re free to look for satisfaction anywhere we choose, fullness of joy is found only in God’s presence.

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-32

Yesterday, we saw that God makes Himself known to everyone, but lets us decide whether to pursue a relationship with Him. Unfortunately, those who don’t choose God ultimately end up feeling restless and empty. And the reason is because He has “set eternity in our heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

By God’s design, true satisfaction is found only in a relationship with Him. Without the Lord, people continuously seek new ways to temporarily fill their hearts. And that quest often leads them to pursue unworthy idols: status, money, happiness, health, achievement, knowledge, or something else.

In his letter to the church at Rome, Paul described the phenomenon this way:

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever.” ~ Romans 1:25

• Wouldn’t you rather serve truth than falsehood?
• Wouldn’t you rather serve the Creator, who is blessed forever, rather than the creature?

Scripture says that “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32) and “in [the Creator’s] presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). We can choose a mediocre, unfulfilling life without the Lord, or we can have a rich and satisfying relationship with Him. It’s never too late to change your mind.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-choice-is-ours






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Evidence of the Lord

~ God doesn’t leave anyone out — He gives everyone the opportunity to become part of His family.

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-23

We were created to share a relationship with God — that’s why He has made His existence clear to everyone. Sometimes His revelation is miraculous, like the burning bush that Moses discovered. But more often than not, we encounter our Father’s presence in everyday surroundings.

Paul wrote to the church in Rome that “[God’s] invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made” (Romans 1:20). In other words, the Lord is evident in every created thing. Have you ever wondered how an old oak survives season after season? Have you marveled at the starry sky or watched a colony of ants work together? All such things point us to the Lord.

God made His presence evident in nature because He “wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). He has given us the capacity to be aware of Him through what He has made. However, the Father has also given every person the choice of whether to accept or reject a relationship with Him.

What will you do the next time you see evidence of the Lord in your world? Scripture promises we won’t regret knowing Jesus. After all, He wants us to “have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/evidence-of-the-lord






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Eternity Right Now

~ Let us explore where we’re placing our priorities, hopes, fears, and affections. God doesn’t want us to spend our days waiting for heaven, but instead wants to shift our perspective to see that eternity has already begun.

You and I are living in eternity — right now. Eternal life doesn’t start when we take our last breath here. You and I are currently experiencing eternal life in relationship with our Father. C.S. Lewis said in "The Weight of Glory", “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations — these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 says it this way, “God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”

• What does it mean for you and me to live in eternity right now?
• What would it look like for us to have a perspective that looks past the fleeting and temporal nature of this world to the never-ending line of eternity to which we truly belong?

Having an eternal perspective causes me to live drastically differently. My heart burns to live out of obedience to passages like Matthew 6:19-21 where Jesus teaches, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” The way we live right now impacts our eternity. The way we pursue the things of God impacts what our experience will be like when heaven and earth pass away and God ushers in the new age of true face-to-face communion with Him.

The time has come for us to set aside that which entangles us to the fate of this age and live for that which is eternal. The time has come for us to stop seeking fulfillment from that which is fleeting and instead pursue true abundant life here on earth by giving our heart fully to the Father.

Galatians 6:8 says, “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.”

• Where are you sowing your time, energy, resources, and heart?
• What treasure have you stored up with your loving, good heavenly Father?
• What are you doing to impact eternity?

Psalm 102:25-27 says, “Long ago You established the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away. But You are the same, and Your years will never end.”

We worship a God who sees all of eternity at a glance. He dwells within the whole scope of eternity seamlessly and fully. He is the God of your past, present, and future. To give your life to Him and His will is to invest in that which will fully satisfy the desires of your heart for all time. The God who has formed you knows that which will make your heart truly happy, and He is calling you to step away from the fulfillment of this age and to pursue wholeheartedly the purposes and plans of His kingdom.

May you invest your affections, time, resources, and heart with your loving and kind Father. May you live for eternity and rid yourself of the burden and weight of this world. And may you experience today the abundant life that comes from acknowledging the eternal nature of all you do.



May Isaiah 57:15 fill you with praise and wonder for the God you serve and love:

"The High and Exalted One who lives forever 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."
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~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/eternity-right-now-2023/






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From the Pastor’s Heart – October 2023

~ Learn the importance of valuing relationships.

Relationships can be one of the most vital and rewarding areas of our lives. Yet we often find ourselves at odds with each other due to our differences. But we don’t need to agree on every issue to enjoy meaningful connections with one another.

Here, Dr. Stanley shares the importance of valuing relationships and the art of disagreeing with friends and loved ones — without being disagreeable.
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When I attended seminary, several friends and I would sometimes debate the Bible’s teachings on end time events. Each of us firmly believed our stance and cited Scripture as evidence to support our view. But none of us could definitively prove that we were right.

These discussions were sometimes fairly heated, yet after an entire evening of arguing over our perspectives, we still remained buddies. Our disagreements had nothing to do with the ongoing nature of our deep friendships.

Conversations about different perspectives can be very enlightening, even energizing. But it’s easy to react in a self-centered, quick-tempered, critical, or easily offended way when there’s a disagreement.

Too often we defend our views rather than listen and try to understand another’s way of thinking.

If we allow anger or resentment to creep in, we’re in danger of destroying a relationship for the sake of winning an argument. When we act like this, we’re letting our flesh control us instead of walking in the Spirit. And the relationship suffers.

The Lord gives us a new, righteous nature at the moment of salvation, but we still live in fallen human bodies. We’ll always have an internal battle with the flesh. As you look at the way you respond to others, what’s more apparent — the fruit of the Spirit or the deeds of the flesh? The contrast between the two is seen in Galatians 5:19-23.

The deeds of the flesh include hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, and factions. Whereas “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Much has been written and said about how to have good relationships, but until we deal with the issues in our own hearts, root problems will remain.

So what does God say it takes to live in peace with one another?

Romans 14:19 tells us to “pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” Paul clarifies how to do this in Ephesians 4:1-3: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

• First of all, to develop and maintain great relationships you need a pure heart.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). This describes your position in Christ, but it’s also something you can pursue in a practical way by dealing with sin quickly and living daily in a way that honors the Lord. Your relationships cannot be right if you’re harboring sin in your heart and living in rebellion.

• Second, a spirit of love must be active and evident in your life.

“Since you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from the heart” ~ 1 Peter 1:22

This is easy when people are lovable, but Jesus tells you to also love those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28). That’s only possible as the Holy Spirit enables you to look beyond their hurtful actions to see their pain and the need for the Savior. Then God’s love can flow through you.

• Third, you need patience.

It’s one of the Christian graces mentioned in Colossians 3:12, “As those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” The conflicts, disagreements, and misunderstandings that accompany strained relationships may not change, but your attitude can be transformed as these virtues take root in your life.

• Fourth, you must have a forgiving spirit.

“Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” ~ Ephesians 4:32

Anger, bitterness, resentment, and grudges destroy relationships. Forgiveness sets us free from these sins so we no longer desire revenge.

You may not be able to restore every strained relationship, but “if possible, so far as it depends on you,” you’re to live at peace with others (Romans 12:18).

God knows there are some people who will refuse to be reconciled no matter what you do. But by forgiving them, you’ll have God’s peace in your heart.
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We hope Dr. Stanley’s wise words have helped you today. If you’re struggling to connect with others, we’re here for you. We have a collection of biblical resources for navigating difficulties and working through challenges so that your relationships are healthy and joyful. Let us know how we can help. Till next time, God bless you.

For His Glory,

Your Friends at In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/from-pastors-heart/october-2023






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James — The Recipe For Victory Part Three: Trial vs Temptation

"Blessed is the man or woman who perseveres under trial; for once they have been approved, they will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. No one is to say when they are tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when they are carried away and enticed by their own lustful desires." ~ James 1:12-14

As we journey toward understanding what it takes to win at life, it is important to see what James says about the difference between a trial and a temptation. The clear difference is intent. A trial is something you are meant to overcome, to succeed against. A temptation is something you are meant to fail. The difference is in the intention of the source.

A temptation is a lie to rebuke. A trial is a truth to navigate.

God allows trials. They give us an opportunity to choose. Our acceptance in God’s eyes is unconditional. But there is more for us! A “crown of life”. The fruit of our love for him. For this, he allows trials. He wants us to succeed. He longs for us to succeed.

We love to blame God. To call him out for “tempting” us. But only Satan (via our flesh) tempts, because Satan is the one who wants us to fail. We are dragged away by our own desires toward sin and temptation. It is not God’s fault. Our own lust tempts us, dragging us away and enticing us with our desire for things other than God. Satan has his part to play, but sin is “conceived” when we choose our lust over God’s love. When we chose our temptations over his trials. Once conceived, our unchecked sin can “give birth to death”.

If winning at life is overcoming our trials, it is important to distinguish between trials and temptations. God is the author of life. He is rooting for our success. Stewarding trials and rebuking temptations develops the Image of God within us.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/trial-vs-temptation/






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Psalm 46 — God Our Refuge

"God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil."

"There is a river — its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High. God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns."

"Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when He lifts His voice."

"The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold."

"Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth. He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
He burns up the chariots."

“Stop your fighting — and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

"Yahweh of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold."






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Passionate Pursuit

~ Open your heart to the Father today, and allow your mind to be renewed to the good life He has for you.

The key to abundant life here on earth is the passionate pursuit of Jesus. I doubt there will be a single believer who ever reads these words that will doubt that statement. But I also know that we often fail to truly believe that statement in our hearts. If we truly believed that the key to abundant life was passionately pursuing Jesus, most of our lives would look drastically different. My life would look drastically different.

If we truly believed that passionately pursuing Jesus would bring us abundant life, the way we spend our time would drastically change. We would choose pursuing the presence of God over entertainment more often. We would structure most of our worship services differently. We would cease working for the opinion of man and start living for the good pleasure of our Creator. And our lives would look simpler, more joyful, more peaceful, and more like the life of Jesus.

The good news for you and me is that there is grace for us today.

Isaiah 55:6-7 says:

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

It’s time for the people of God to wake up to the true purpose for our lives. It’s time that we stop seeking the things of the world and give our lives to the total and wholehearted pursuit of Jesus. And there is grace from on high that God longs to give us today to do so.

The Lord is saying to you and me, “Seek my face” (Psalm 27:8). And we need to reply as David by saying, “My heart says to You, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek'” (Psalm 27:8). All that stands between you and a radical life transformation is turning away from the cares and pursuits of the world and giving your heart to your heavenly Father. We have a daily opportunity to live in total communion with our Creator, receiving and giving love in everything we do. Jesus paid the ultimate price for you and me to live with the tangible knowledge of God’s love for us. We also have the opportunity every day to live marginal lives where we experience and commune with God part of the time and live for the fleeting and unsatisfying ways of the world the other. The choice is yours today. Will you passionately pursue relationship with Jesus, or will you allow the ways of this world to crowd out parts of your life like weeds blocking you from the refreshing, life-giving presence of the living God?

Take time in prayer [devotion] to listen to your Father, meditate on His promise of abundant life, and chase after wholehearted relationship with Jesus at all costs. May you experience to new levels today the abundant life Jesus died to give you.



True passion for God is always kindled as a response to the catalytic love of God. His passion for us, His pursuit of us, ignites a flame in our hearts that the world can’t put out. If you begin to feel passionless, lukewarm in your faith, ask God for a fresh experience with His love. Ask Him to remind you of His goodness, His provision, His pursuit. And allow His love to reignite the flame of your heart, that you would live with wholehearted devotion to Him. May you discover new passion for God in your life today as your eyes are opened to all the incredible ways He’s at work in you and around you.
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~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/passionate-pursuit-2023/






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The Daily Article – October 4, 2023

~ Kevin McCarthy removed as Speaker: Unprecedented events and foundational truth

House lawmakers voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker yesterday afternoon, the first time in US history that a speaker has been voted out. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R–NC) was then named the new temporary leader of the House. He closed the chamber and set a goal of voting on the next speaker next Wednesday. House business has been put on hold until then.

This while Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial continues in Manhattan, the first time a former US president has ever faced such charges.

Meanwhile, another unprecedented event is unfolding away from the headlines with ramifications that are even more foundational for biblical Christians in a secularizing culture.

Pope signals support for blessing same-sex unions:

After five conservative cardinals challenged Pope Francis to affirm current Catholic teaching on homosexuality ahead of an upcoming major synod, he issued a response which the Washington Post described this way:

“Francis wrote that there are ‘situations’ that may not be ‘morally acceptable’ but where a priest can assess, on a case-by-case basis, whether blessings may be given — as long as such blessings are kept separate from the sacrament of marriage.”

The pope’s statement contradicts a 2021 Vatican statement confirming a ban on blessing same-sex couples because “God cannot bless sin.” It was welcomed by an LGBTQ+ advocate: “The allowance for pastoral ministers to bless same-gender couples implies that the church does indeed recognize that holy love can exist between same-gender couples, and the love of these couples mirrors the love of God.”

In other words, so long as we continue to teach the biblical doctrine that marriage is between one man and one woman, we can “bless” marriages that violate this doctrine, or so the pope seems to believe. This is the first time in church history that a pope has taken such a position on sexuality and marriage.

This on the heels of the "Unconditional Conference" held last weekend at Andy Stanley’s megachurch in suburban Atlanta, an event that generated such controversy that Rev. Stanley addressed it in his Sunday sermon. As Dr. Ryan Denison reported yesterday, the pastor stated clearly that “biblical marriage is between a man and a woman.” However, he noted, many same-sex couples “choose a same-sex marriage,” and now the church must decide “how we respond to their decision.”

His position is to uphold biblical marriage while welcoming into the congregation those who do not: “We don’t draw lines — we draw big circles. . . . We aren’t condoning sin, we are restoring relationships and we are literally saving lives.”

One of my life texts is the exhortation to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The ESV Study Bible notes: “By the time that Jude wrote his letter, ‘the faith’ had already been fixed and established in the apostolic teaching of the early church, and therefore could not be changed, but was under attack and in need of defense.”

This apostolic teaching clearly addressed sexual sins: “God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:24–25).

Consequently, “Their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1:26–27).

In light of such clear truth, we must “contend” for biblical faith even — and especially — when it is unpopular. We must not blur the truth for the sake of tolerance or inclusion. While Andy Stanley wants to “draw big circles,” there are some biblical lines we must not cross: “If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8).

This is not just to “make a defense” of our faith (1 Peter 3:15) — it is also for the benefit of those who disagree. If “God is love” (1 John 4:8), His instructions are for our good, serving as guardrails that keep us from veering off the road to our own destruction.

Therefore, we are not being gracious when we “encircle” and condone what He forbids.

Tomorrow I plan to discuss practical ways we can respond. For today, let’s embrace the hope of Christ that can forgive any sin and transform any heart.

Jesus “loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5). Now we can “die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24) since “in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). However, like any other gift, forgiveness must be sought and received to be experienced.

Here’s a succinct way to make my point today: Our Father loves us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us there.

The British hymn writer J. R. Peacey captured well the hope we offer the world:

"Let in the light; all sin expose
To Christ, whose life no darkness knows.
Before the cross expectant kneel;
That Christ may judge, and judging heal."

"Awake, and rise up from the dead,
And Christ His light on you will shed.
Its power will wrong desires destroy,
And your whole nature fill with joy."

Why do you need such power? With whom will you share it today?
_______________

~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/kevin-mccarthy-removed-as-speaker/






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Hurry Up and Wait

"...but those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint." ~ Isaiah 40:31

We spend many minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years rushing through life only to find ourselves waiting, waiting, and waiting some more. We wait at the doctor's office; we wait at the grocery store; we wait at the post office; we wait at the pharmacy; we wait for our children to grow up and then anxiously wait for them to come home again. Waiting is hard, exasperating work. The fact that we hate to wait has created a "quick fix" society.

We microwave our food; pump our own gas; process our words on a computer; write notes of affection on the internet, not paper; jet to locations far and near; hear news from across the world in fractions of a second; eat out because it takes too much time to cook, and so on.

In our world, waiting is bad. However, in God's world, waiting is good. God has given us many instructions on the necessity of waiting. Let's look at some of these:

"My soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation." ~ Psalm 62:1

"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart" ~ Psalm 27:14

"Blessed is he who waits..." ~ Daniel 12:12

"We have waited for Him and He will save us." ~ Isaiah 25:9

"I wait for You, You are my strength; O God, You are my defense." ~ Psalm 59:9

Did you notice the words used by those who wait on God? These are not words of frustration and confusion. These are words of strength, salvation and blessings. Waiting on God, as David, Isaiah and many others learned, means letting go and letting God. It involves study, reflection, prayer, solitude and time apart from the world.

• Spend time giving time to God.
• Block out a section of your calendar for the Son of Man.

Then sit quietly...and wait on God!!!
________________

~ Author Unknown

~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager






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The Daily Article – October 2, 2023

Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce caught six passes as his Chiefs defeated the New York Jets last night in a game that was closer than many expected. However, all eyes were on one particular fan in the stands.

Taylor Swift has been generating headlines for years, but now that she and Kelce are dating (or so it seems) and she is attending his games, public attention is riveted on her in a whole new way. She’s apparently not interested in him for his money; his annual salary is $12.3 million, but her US Eras Tour brought in $13 million per night from ticket sales.

Such numbers are unfathomable for most of us. Many are just glad the government averted a shutdown that could have harmed the economy further. Americans continue to be frustrated by inflation and slow economic growth and worry about rising crime and illegal immigration. As historian George H. Nash notes, we yearn for freedom, virtue, and safety. Fully two-thirds of us believe the nation is “off on the wrong track.”

But there’s a deeper story at work here.

Richard Haass, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, writes that “the global outlook appears bleak and is about to get bleaker.” For example, “the UN’s most important component, the Security Council, is sidelined and will remain so, given that one of its veto-holding members is waging a war that violates the UN Charter’s most fundamental principle.”

Gerard Baker, Editor at Large of the Wall Street Journal, observes that the “new moral order” built on “globalism, climate-change alarmism, and cultural self-annihilation” is “already crumbling.” British Home Secretary Suella Braverman recently warned against the “failed dogma of multiculturalism” and predicted that British culture will “disappear” without migration controls.

Closer to home, Americans blame both political parties for the current situation. In the view of the Wall Street Journal’s Kimberley A. Strassel, voters want to be “inspired by a new, optimistic future.”

Here’s a fact you won’t find in the secular media: this “future” begins not with secular culture but with spiritual rebirth. And that cannot begin in our culture if you and I do not take two vital steps today.

The God who made us loves us passionately. He “waits to be gracious to you” (Isaiah 30:18) and sent His Son so we “may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

Here’s the problem: people judge Christ by Christians. They will not follow our faith unless we follow it. In "Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America", Russell Moore writes: “We see now young evangelicals walking away from evangelicalism not because they do not believe what the church teaches, but because they believe the church itself does not believe what the church teaches.”

I would not accept golfing advice from a bad golfer or dental care from a person with bad teeth. Would you hire a financial advisor who is bankrupt or an attorney who is in jail?

Here’s the point:

If we speak against the sins of our culture, we must take heed lest we commit similar sins ourselves. After describing in detail the sins of the decadent Roman culture (Romans 1:24–32), Paul asked his fellow Christians, “Do you suppose, O man — you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself — that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Romans 2:3).

For example, we should stand against homosexual sin (Romans 1:26–27), but heterosexual sin is just as sinful (Matthew 5:28). “It is time for judgment to begin at the household of God” (1 Peter 4:17). We earn the right to warn against the failures of our day by living in a way that demonstrates the difference our faith makes in our lives.

However, my purpose today is not to exhort you simply to try harder to do better.

The self-made hero is one of the enduring myths of Western culture. Indeed, God calls us to exercise “self-control in all things” (1 Corinthians 9:25) and to “live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:12).

However, “self-control” is a “fruit” of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). Therefore, here’s the first key to the spiritual renewal our culture needs so desperately: “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Here’s the second key: we “walk in the Spirit” most effectively when we do so in accountable community.

A coal taken from the fire goes out. We are told to love our Lord and our neighbor (Matthew 22:37–39) because each empowers the other.

If we want our “manner of life” to be “worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27a), we must “[stand] firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27b). Stated differently: “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24–25).

For the sake of our spiritual and national future, let me ask you: Who is encouraging you to “walk in the Spirit”?

Whom will you encourage today?
_______________

~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-news/






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James — The Recipe For Victory Part Two: All Circumstances are Trials

"Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." ~ James 1:2-4

When we think of the word “trial”, we often think of a very specific type of circumstance. One that is hard, that we don’t like. Something negative we have to overcome. But James says all circumstances are trials.

These verses reference both the trial of want and of plenty:

"Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field." ~ James 1:9-10

We are familiar with the trial of want. The struggles with feeling like something is missing. The pain of loss; even the malaise of the mundane. When in the valley or on the plain, it is important to realize the perspective that “this is an exalted opportunity” to be faithful and depend on God. To endure and win the crown of life.

The mountaintops of life are traditionally viewed more as a triumph. We think winning at life is ascending the mountains. But winning is about who we are not where we are. And mountaintops have dangers of their own, a kind of trial to endure. On the mountaintop, we have to choose to adopt a different perspective. “This is only fleeting. It won’t last. Enjoy, but don’t depend on this. Depend on God.” This is difficult. Our senses tell us we are winning. We must have the eyes of faith to believe “This is fleeting, do not trust it.” If we make an idol of prosperous circumstances, we have lost our way just as effectively as if we cower under difficult circumstances.

All circumstances are trials. Tests. Championship games. Olympic trials. The valley, the plain and the mountaintop. Each has their struggle. And each is an opportunity to win gold. Life is not about avoiding one trial for the sake of the other. It is about navigating all trials through a Godly perspective.
________________

~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/all-circumstances-are-trials/






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The Daily Article – September 29, 2023

~ “My closest friend is a fish”: Responding to the loneliness and anxiety of our day.

Rex Colubra is a Wisconsin diver who has developed a unique relationship with a wild, smallmouth bass he named Elvis. Colubra was exploring a lake in 2021 when “all these fish were coming up to me,” he explains. “I noticed one was sticking closer than the rest.” When he returned to the lake a few weeks later, he brought crawfish snacks for his new friend.

Since then, he has visited Elvis about a dozen times, documenting their reunions for his 174,000 TikTok followers. “He’s completely obsessed with me,” Colubra states. “He follows me around and just stares me in the eyes.” Skeptics might wonder how the diver knows Elvis from the other fish, but he says the fish has a “unique mouth disfigurement,” likely from a fishing hook.

Colubra refers to Elvis as “my underwater lover,” “aqua puppy,” and “buddy beneath the waves.” In a November 2022 Instagram post, he states, “My closest friend is a fish.”

New York Times columnist David French reports that between 1990 and 2021, the percentage of Americans reporting that they had no close friends quadrupled. Almost half of all Americans surveyed reported having three close friends or fewer.

The Wall Street Journal notes that 27 percent of respondents to a recent survey reported symptoms of an anxiety disorder, up from 8 percent in 2019. Half of eighteen-to-twenty-four-year-olds report anxiety or depression symptoms.

What is the source of our discontent?

• Our political divisiveness is one factor: 65 percent of us say we always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics.
• Rising crime and violence are another: Target has closed nine stores in four states because of rampant crime, for example.
• Financial fears are another contributor: the markets have been falling in September, as they often do; on this day in 2008, the Dow suffered the largest single-day drop to that point in its history.

As a reflection of culture, our music is getting sadder. Gen Z loneliness is so bad that some young adults are spending thousands of dollars trying to make friends through social clubs and gym memberships. Research shows that people who are socially disconnected have a 29 percent higher risk of heart disease, a 32 percent greater risk of stroke, and a 50 percent increased risk of dementia for older adults.

According to a recent advisory from the US Surgeon General’s office, loneliness can increase the risk of premature death as much as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day.

Here’s what I think is going on: our secularized worldview is victimizing us.

Gerard Baker said it well in the Wall Street Journal this week: “Over the past thirty years, the values of Judeo-Christian belief that had inspired and sustained Western civilization and culture for centuries have been steadily replaced in a moral, cultural, and political revolution of the postmodern ascendancy. But the contradictions and implausibilities inherent in this successor creed have been increasingly exposed.”

He points to the rejection of national borders, a “quasi-biblical belief in climate catastrophism,” and a “wholesale cultural self-cancellation in which the virtues, values, and historic achievements of traditional civilization are rejected.” There’s more to his profound article than I have space to report, but I want to elaborate theologically on his third sociological factor.

We were made for relationship with God and each other. This is why St. Augustine’s famous prayer — “Our heart is restless until it rests in you” — strikes such an evocative chord in our souls. And it is why Satan does all he can to lead us into sin, knowing that it will drive us away from God (Genesis 3:8) and each other.

Now that we are living in a culture that rejects the very notion of “sin,” our enemy must be very pleased. When there are no speed limits, lane markers, or guardrails, crashes are inevitable. The Belgian author and poet Émile Cammaerts was right: “When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing. Then they become capable of believing in anything.”

Commenting on the prophetic warning, “They sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7), Max Lucado writes: “Consequences have compound interest. You determine the quality of tomorrow by the seeds you sow today.”

No matter how far our secularized society drifts from God, it is still true that the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). It is the only power of God for salvation. It is the only spiritual chemotherapy for the spiritual malignancy that afflicts every human being.

Therefore, as spiritual oncologists, it would be malpractice for us to offer any other therapy but this. Our job is to show people they have cancer, point to the only therapy that can save them, and teach them how to receive and share it.

If you and I were medical oncologists, we would know that our work is urgent for saving lives. As spiritual oncologists, we can know that our work is even more urgent for saving eternal souls before they perish into eternal separation from God in hell.

To recast Robin Williams’ observation in biblical terms: The greatest gift is eternal life, and the greatest sin is to return it unopened.

With whom will you share it today?
________________

~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/my-closest-friend-is-a-fish-loneliness-anxiety/






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James - The Recipe for Victory Part One: Ore to Gold

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing." ~ James 1:2-4

The worldly perspective about winning is clear. We measure winning by what we accumulate. Fame. Money. Followers. Our success is measured by the physical treasures we put in our storage sheds.

On the other hand, the Biblical view of winning is not about what we can accumulate but who we are. Character. We win life by being, not by getting. True victory is about learning to encounter our trials with character.

Only by taking this view of success can we celebrate struggle. Like ore refined by pressure, we become who we are by facing our trials with courage and a proper perspective. Coal is turned into diamonds by the stress put upon it. And the same is true for us.

If we take the earthly view of success, it makes sense to avoid pain as a priority. What accumulation is there in suffering? What tangible prize do we get from our sorrow? In a strictly practical sense, our suffering has no market value. It is a setback. Endurance is an obstacle to be diminished rather than an opportunity to grow.

But in God’s economy, suffering is a path. Trials are a testing ground, an arena to develop and exercise our character.

James tells us to “consider it joy” when we encounter trials because winning requires a test. James presents life as a championship match. An opportunity to overcome self-seeking and choose instead to walk with the Lord. To endure and persevere and overcome when we encounter trials.

We are ore being refined into gold. We are not pirates gathering treasure. We are people becoming treasure. Pursuing the character and perspective of God. The opportunity presented is for us to become complete, to be all God created us to be. Material wealth ends up in a landfill, but spiritual wealth is a gold that endures.
_______________

~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/ore-to-gold/






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Renewal of Perspective

~ May God give us the power and courage to choose the right perspective today, to see the world and our lives through His eyes.

This life is like a gust of wind, strong and tangible, but as fleeting as it is real. Tragically, most of us spend the majority of our lives just trying to find out why we’re here. We ask:

• What’s our purpose?
• What’s the point of all this?
• What’s the meaning of life?

While Scripture is clear that this life is fleeting, God also makes it abundantly clear that what we do with our lives here is of eternal significance. We have incredibly important things to do and little time to do them. So, to truly live life to the fullest as God desires for us, to make the impact we alone can make in this life, we need a clear understanding of how fleeting and important our lives are. We need a renewal of perspective.

1 John 2:17 says: “The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

God has a plan for you and a will for your life. Your abilities, mind, heart, and hands are of incredible importance to Him.

Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Your heavenly Father has works prepared for you that only you can accomplish. He has plans for you that He does not have for anybody else. But He has also given you the ability to lead your own life. Every day you have the choice to surrender your life to the lordship of Jesus and follow the guidance of His Spirit. Or, you can choose to go through life being your own boss, making decisions and plans on your own without His guidance. Only one choice will lead you to a life spent co-laboring with God and making an eternal impact. Only one choice will lead you to the joy and purpose you were created for. Only one choice will assure you at the end of your days that you made a deep and lasting impact with your life.

You see, there isn’t enough time to waste any part of your life pursuing the things of the world. There aren’t enough days to spend even a single one building your kingdom instead of God’s. And your life will be measured by the way in which you loved God and others, not by the weight of your possessions, accolades, or status.

Jesus commands us in Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus illustrates an often-missed point here: the value of your life is your heart. God is the Creator of all treasure, of everything beautiful, but His prized possession is your heart. His deepest longing is for your affections. He knows that when you give your heart to the world, to pursuing earthly objectives, you will miss out on the peace and purpose of living your life with a constant eternal perspective. Scripture tells us that though we are here on earth, this is not our home. We are called to live here with urgency, maintaining a renewed perspective of our time.

Paul writes in Ephesians 5:15-17: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

• Will you live your life in light of God’s will for you or your own?
• Will you surrender your heart to the Lord every day?

The choice is entirely up to you. You have both the Holy Spirit and the world vying for your heart. But only God will reward your affections with His own. Only God gave up His life entirely out of His unending devotion and love for you. All you have to do to live fully for God is encounter the love of your heavenly Father each day and live in response to that love by loving Him and others. When you are faithful to listen, God is faithful to guide you day to day and season to season. His kingship demands our obedience, and His love stirs our hearts until obedience to Him is natural. Experience both the majesty and love of your King today. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to a life of radical, loving obedience. Allow the Spirit and the Word to renew your perspective on the purpose of your life. And choose today to live with eternal perspective by loving your heavenly Father and others.



This life requires a daily process of confession, forgiveness, and commitment. Daily we need to gain fresh perspective on what really matters. Constantly throughout our day we need to remind ourselves of why we were created. Engage in this process, encounter the grace of God as you make mistakes, and live your life pursuing all that God has in store for you. You can never experience the same peace, purpose, and grace-filled love anywhere else as you will living fully surrendered to God. God will never forsake you or reject you. He has only love for you. Choose Him over the world today and experience the life you’ve been longing for.
_________________

~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/renewal-of-perspective-2023/






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Whose will are you living by?

It is possible to live a life believing that we are doing God’s will, but in reality, we are just doing our own will, and deceiving ourself into believing it to be God’s will. God’s will for our life is found in His Word, and interpreted by the Holy Spirit – who lives within those whom are born-again. As a born-again believer, we will daily seek to know and do the Lord’s will for our life.

Ask the Lord to create within you a newness of heart, mind and soul to yearn to know Him, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you – through the reading of Scripture – the true will of God for your life; and then act upon it.

One way leads to life eternal, and the other way...well, it doesn't.
_____________

"He [God] has plans for you that He does not have for anybody else. But He has also given you the ability to lead your own life. Every day you have the choice to surrender your life to the lordship of Jesus and follow the guidance of His Spirit. Or, you can choose to go through life being your own boss, making decisions and plans on your own without His guidance."

~ Jim Denison





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Renewal of Conscience

~ May God empower us to see ourselves the way He does as we spend meaningful time in His presence today.

Our conscience is a window revealing how we view ourselves and, most importantly, our relationship with God. One of the worst effects sin has is distorting our view of ourselves in relation to God. The devil’s plan with sin was always to separate us from God, so Jesus came to the earth to destroy the power of sin in our lives. He came so that we might have restored relationship with our heavenly Father. But still sin persists. Even though the power of sin was broken, its effects destroyed, we often still live with an unclean conscience. We feel that God is angry with us, that He doesn’t want to be with us, or that we can’t come before Him and sit at His feet. Your conscience affects your relationship with God either negatively or positively. It will either lead you to God’s throne room or away from His presence. Your heavenly Father’s desire today is that you would come to see yourself as He does, that your conscience would be wiped clean, and that sin and lies would separate you from Him no longer.

Hebrews 10:19-23 contains an important truth for us today. Scripture says:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Let the truth of Scripture sink into your heart. Hebrews tells us that our confidence to come before God is found in the blood of Jesus. Through His death, Jesus paved the way for you and I to come before the throne of God with confidence and full assurance of faith. God’s desire today is that our conscience’s would be “sprinkled clean” with the powerful blood of our Savior.

So, let’s dive even deeper into how God sees us today. Let the truth of His word further mold our identities until they are perfectly aligned with His perspective:

Galatians 3:26-28 says, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 5:5 says, “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

And Colossians 1:21-22 says, “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.”

Your heavenly Father sees you as He sees Jesus. Many Christians believe that while they are clothed with Christ, they’re still dirty and sinful on the inside. But don’t be deceived. At salvation you were made completely new:

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation.”

God didn’t trick Himself with the death of Jesus. He sees you completely. And when He looks at you, He sees the blood of Jesus running through your veins. He sees you as His clean and holy child. Through the death of Jesus, you can see God with unveiled face:

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 says, “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

You can see and know God freely and fully. In fact, that’s God’s greatest desire. He longs for us to know Him. He longs for us to encounter the depth of His love and affections for us every day.

Sit at the feet of your loving heavenly Father with the knowledge that there is nothing in the way of you and Him. Spend time with Him allowing the truth of how He sees you to renew your conscience. May your conscience, renewed in Him, lead you freely and consistently to the throne of God.



Whenever you feel like something is in the way of you and God, take a minute to reflect on your conscience. Ask yourself, “Do I feel worthy to be with God? Is something leading me away from Him instead of to Him?” Ask the Spirit to renew your conscience in that moment. Spend a minute gaining God’s perspective. Confess whatever sin you committed to God, and allow His forgiveness to draw you near. Nothing could be more important than spending time with your heavenly Father with a clean conscience that you might experience the fullness of His affection for you.
________________

~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/renewal-of-conscience-2023/






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Renewal of Purpose

~ May the Holy Spirit reveal within us the true reason we were created, and guide us down the path of purpose today in His presence.

You and I were born with a deep desire to live with purpose. As children, we dream of doing something significant with our lives. We dream of being a person who makes a difference in the world. Inherent in all of us is a longing to make a deep and lasting impact. Our longing for purpose only becomes a problem as we begin seeking out its source. Most of us live our lives in constant pursuit of finding out why we’re here, seeking the answer to the question: “What am I uniquely made for?” And we look for the answers in all the wrong places. We look for our purpose in each other, in the ever-changing whims of society, or internally, in what seems to make us feel good in the moment. But God has a better purpose for our lives than we could ever find in the world. He has a purpose so great, so powerful, and so lasting that when we get a glimpse of it, we will forever be changed. God has a page in His grand narrative written just for you, to use you to make a unique and eternal impact on the earth.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Let us not miss the importance of what God would reveal to us today because we’ve heard something before. Instead, let’s dive in deeper and see what God’s Word would reveal to us about that purpose. In John 15:16 Jesus says, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” You are chosen by God. You aren’t secondary to someone else in God’s kingdom. He has formed you and chosen you to “go and bear fruit.” And Jesus desires that our fruit would “abide.” He has chosen you to make a lasting impact on the earth.

So, what lasting fruit does God intend for you here? Answering this question should start with the Words of Jesus. Allow God’s commandments to lay the defining foundation of your purpose. In response to the question of what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replies, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31). Your purpose here on earth is to love God and love others. God has chosen to use love to bring about salvation. He’s chosen to use love as the catalyst for spiritual awakening. It’s love that is God’s driving force, and it’s love that He longs to instill in us as our highest goal. Understand today that you are formed and called to love above all else.

Scripture also tells us that we have been chosen to be carriers and ministers of the kingdom of God. Jesus said in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” God’s kingdom is here on earth. And Revelation 5:10 says, “You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” We are not purposed to merely suffer and wait for heaven. God’s kingdom is here on earth, and we are His workmanship. We are His priests. Acts 26:16 says, “Rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you.” Matthew 28:19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,”

Your life here is of eternal value. A life spent simply waiting for heaven is a life wasted. God has placed an eternal purpose on your life, a purpose meant to be pursued and lived out every minute of every day. You don’t have time to waste. And the compelling truth is, you will never be satisfied until you devote your life to ministering this incredible gospel of restoration and love. Until you pursue seeing God’s kingdom come through your job, relationships, and time, you will never experience the joy and passion only God’s purpose can bring you. God doesn’t have a cookie-cutter mold He tries to fit all believers into. He’s formed you for a specific and unique purpose no other believer will be able to accomplish. His plans for you are your own and no other’s. So, choose today to live your life for your heavenly Father. Work with Him in all that you do. Love Him and others with every fiber of your being. And experience the joy of making a deep, eternal impact with all that you do. May God renew your sense of purpose today.



What will God say about your life when you get finished here? Will your life have been spent in pursuit of Him and His kingdom, or, in building up a small kingdom here that will pass away like the changing of seasons? Will your life be of fleeting or eternal impact? Only you can choose how you will live your life. May you make the choice today and every day to live the only life that truly matters. God has incredible plans and purposes in store for you if you will simply open your heart and your hands to Him and say, “Use me.”
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~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/renewal-of-purpose-2023/






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[Ranb2khz]

The Renewal of Your Mind

~ May God guide each of us down the path to renewing our minds in His presence, and through His Word today, that we might experience a greater measure of abundant life in Him.

The mind is the vehicle in which thoughts and ideas become emotions, beliefs, and actions. You hear things every day that attempt to influence the way you see yourself and your life. Advertising tells you that you are constantly in need of something bigger and better to be happy. People tell you who you are and what you should do based only on their limited perspectives. You also have a very real enemy who hates you, working to convince you that you aren’t worth love, you’re good at nothing, and you’ll never amount to anything.

But God, because of His incredible love for you, has given you the Holy Spirit and His Word.

He’s given you the ability to renew your mind to the truth of how He sees you and feels about you, the truth of who you really are. Every day, you have the chance to experience the much-needed renewal of your emotions, perspectives, and beliefs. Every day, God longs to speak the truth of your identity through His Word and Spirit.

So, let’s look today at the power of renewing our minds and how we can consistently experience that renewal.

Romans 12:1-2 says:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

When we renew our minds, we are presenting ourselves as worship to God. You worship God when you choose to believe His Word over others’ words. You love God when you trust Him over your feelings and limited perspective. And when you renew your mind, you are conforming no longer to the world, with its destruction and many lies. God puts conforming to the lies of the world and renewing your mind to the truth in stark contrast.

Romans 8:5-6 further illustrates the point:

“For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.”

When you set your mind on the Spirit, you will begin to experience life in your thoughts. Your way of thinking will be transformed from being negative and destructive to positive and responsive to God’s boundless love and grace. What you choose to trust and believe will impact every area of your life for either good or bad.

So, in light of the incredible promises of God’s Word, how can you experience the fruit of renewing your mind? How can you continually set your mind on the things of the Spirit?

First, you have to make time to open your mind and heart to Scripture every day. The best time to experience renewal in your mind is when you first wake up. Every morning, you can lay the foundation for what you will believe and how you will think for the rest of the day.

Second, you have to read Scripture while listening to the Holy Spirit. Scripture will come alive when you spend time reading it with the guidance and teaching of the Spirit. In John 14:16-17 Jesus says:

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of Truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.”

Spend time allowing your Helper, the Spirit of Truth, to reveal the ways in which He desires to apply Scripture to your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to be your Teacher as you read.

Third, you have to live in obedience to God’s Word. The Bible isn’t merely historical, but a book full of practical and applicable truth that has the ability to change your life. When you open your heart to God’s Word and choose to believe it, you will experience transformation. When you obey God’s commands, they will bear incredible fruit in your life. God’s Word is meant to direct you to the abundant life He has planned for you. Have faith in the Words of Scripture. Choose to believe God’s promises.

Last, you must see yourself in light of God’s Word. You have the choice to believe God or not.

The Bible says incredible things about your identity in Christ:

“He made the One who did not know sin to be a sin offering for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Bible says that you are God’s child, that you are worth the death of Christ and that you are free from the bondage of sin and the world. Those are powerful promises. But in order for you to experience the fullness of what Scripture says, you must renew your way of thinking to be like God’s. Paul says that “we have the mind of Christ” as people born of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16).

So, set your mind every day on the things of God. Read Scripture with the help of the Spirit, walk in obedience to God’s Word, and see yourself as God does. If you will do these things daily, your entire outlook on life will be one of contentment, joy, purpose, and abundance.

• Where do you need to renew your mind today?
• What area of your life seems to be plagued by negativity, insecurity, or anger?

Spend time reading God’s Word with the Holy Spirit. Receive revelation from the very God who authored the Word you’re reading. Meditate on the Words that stand out to you, and allow them to change the way you think, feel, and act. Experience renewal today in your way of thinking, and watch as renewing your mind changes your entire day for the better.



How great is the love of God that He would give us the incredible gift of His Word to mold and shape us! Your heavenly Father loves you too much to let you stay where you are. Every day He has a plan to lead you into more and more abundant life. When you wake up, take a minute to ask yourself what you want your day to be like. What sort of life do you want to live today? Then ask the Spirit to help you renew your mind to God’s Truth so you can live that life. Walk in freedom today. Live with your mind set on the Spirit. And experience the incredible life God has planned for you as His child. You’ll never have a better day than one where your mind is renewed to the Truth of God’s unfathomable love.
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~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/the-renewal-of-your-mind-2023/






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God's Plan for Renewal

~ May God teach and guide us into daily renewal as we make space every morning for Him to fill.

God has an incredible plan for renewal in your life. He knows better than anyone the trials, circumstances, and people that wear you down. And He knows that you need time to be refreshed by Him. Often, we seek rest and renewal from people and entertainment. Our friends, family, and entertainment can be great sources of fun and rest to be sure, but the only consistent and true source of renewal we have is spending time with our heavenly Father. Only He knows to the full extent what you need. And only He can give it to you. So, before we dive into the process of having specific areas of our lives renewed by God this week, let’s allow Him to simply reveal how to rest in His Word and presence.

First, let’s look at what Scripture says about our need for renewal. 2 Corinthians 4:16 says, “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” Because of the nature of sin and separation from God, we as humans will not live in our fleshly bodies forever. Genesis 3:19 says, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” But we also have the promise of Jesus in John 11:26 that “everyone who lives and believes in [Him] shall never die.” We live on the earth knowing one day our earthly bodies will pass away, and we will at the same time be taken from this world to the next. But God’s desire is that while you are here in this body you would be renewed in your spirit every day. Though your body will grow weary, He desires to strengthen your spirit with the hope of an everlasting life with an all-loving God who cares for you. You can meet with God every day. You’ve been given the ability through the Spirit to rest in God’s presence, to know His nearness and love. You can have the same experience as Paul in being “renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

So, how can we experience God’s promised renewal? How do we rest in God’s presence and allow Him to revive us?

First, it starts with trusting that God will reveal His love to you when you meet with Him. In Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17, He asks God to love us with the same love with which He loves Jesus (John 17:26). When you ask Him to show you His love, He will. When you make space to encounter Him, He will fill you with His presence. Trust that God loves to meet with you and renew you.

Also, foundational to experiencing renewal is engaging in worship. You and I are created to worship. It is both our highest goal and greatest success. When you engage in worship daily, you will experience a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

Lastly, spend time reading God’s Word, allowing it to change you and lead you to obedience. You must experience renewal in areas of your life that are not aligned with God’s Word. You have to spend time allowing yourself to be shaped and transformed by what God says is best for you. So much of being renewed by God is choosing to believe His Word over our experience of what we feel is true.

Let your faith be stirred to encounter your heavenly Father today. You can earnestly desire to meet with Him without any fear or reservation that you won’t experience His renewal. Know that when you wake up every morning, God has a plan for the time you spend with Him and the ability to reveal it to you through the Holy Spirit.

God earnestly desires to renew you this week. He longs to heal the wounded and dry places in your life. Spend time today meditating on God’s promise of renewal, and allow your desires to be stirred to receive all that your heavenly Father longs to give you.



May the prayer of your heart today be like David’s in Psalm 63:1-3:

“God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. So, I gaze on You in the sanctuary to see Your strength and Your glory. My lips will glorify You because Your faithful love is better than life.”

Just as David looked upon the Lord in His sanctuary, you can see God daily. Just as he beheld God’s power, glory, and love, you can experience God. May you be renewed today as you step out into the world, and may God’s strength be your source as you seek to live in light of His glorious nearness.
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~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/god's-plan-for-renewal-2023/






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[Ranb2khz]

Psalm 30 – Joy in the Morning

I will exalt You, Lord, because You have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me. Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. Lord, You brought me up from Sheol; You spared me from among those going down to the Pit.

Sing to Yahweh, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name. For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.

When I was secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”

Lord, when You showed Your favor, You made me stand like a strong mountain; when You hid Your face, I was terrified.

Lord, I called to You; I sought favor from my Lord: “What gain is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your truth?

Lord, listen and be gracious to me; Lord, be my helper.”

You turned my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, so that I can sing to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever.

~ Psalm 30:1-12

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+30&version=HCSB,KJV






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[Ranb2khz]

A Different Kind of Slow

~ God's timing is perfect — He doesn't rush and is never late.

Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-9

Bakers of sourdough bread learn to wait patiently. Sourdough is a “slow” bread that requires more time, effort, and attention than some other kinds. And because it depends on natural processes, it cannot be rushed. The result, though, is worth the patient waiting that it demands.

In a similar way, certain spiritual benefits can be gained only through waiting. For example, some of the early Christians felt frustrated by God’s delay. They had believed Jesus would return very soon, in their lifetimes. But time was moving on, and none of the promises they expected to see fulfilled were coming to pass. In fact, Peter warned believers that mockers would say “all things continue just as they were” (2 Peter 3:4). He reminded the people that our perception of time differs from God’s. For Him, decades and millennia pass like moments and days. So saying God is “slow” to keep His promise suggests a serious misunderstanding.

Not only is God not slow, Peter says, but what seems like slowness is actually God’s patience. Like the sourdough baker, God unhurriedly waits for something better — to see more people accept His gracious gift. We can wait patiently, too, if we understand that God’s delays always lead to something better than we can imagine.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/a-different-kind-of-slow






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Excerpt from “The Daily Article”:

One of the most common mistakes Christians make when discussing LGBTQ+ issues is speaking the same way to non-Christians as we would to fellow believers.

When writing to other Christians, as Al Mohler was doing, grounding our argument for a biblical view of sexuality in the truth of Scripture is both right and relevant. We should be able to assume — though it is, unfortunately, not always the case — that those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior will give weight to His Word (Biblical Scripture).

The lost are unlikely to be convinced by an argument for a biblical view of sexuality that is based primarily in Scriptures that they do not see as relevant or authoritative. Moreover, it should not come as a surprise when God’s truth is difficult to accept for those whose minds "the god of this world has blinded" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The truth is, until a person embraces God, they have little reason to care about what His Word says on this — or any — subject. As such, helping them to know and accept Jesus needs to be our primary focus.

~ by Jim Denison
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Editor’s Note: A person is unable to “know and accept Jesus” without believing in the relevance and Godly authoritative of the Holy Scriptures – the Bible.






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Jesus Love to all!!! :) ❤️

[Ranb2khz]

Renewal of Joy

~ May God guide us today into a meaningful renewal of joy as we set our eyes and hearts on Him.

When I think of the word “joy” I often picture the unadulterated smile of a child’s face. Children have this ability to have joy simply because they’ve found the delight of their parents. The joy of a child is unlike anything most of us experience as we grow up. For most of us, true joy has been crowded out by the pressures and cares of responsibility. Joy becomes contingent upon the circumstances of our lives. Most of us feel the pressure of finances, work, relationships, and even serving God consistently to the point that joy is a pursuit we’ve almost given up on. But God has a message and a plan for you for a renewal of consistent and unshakable joy. Let’s open our hearts and minds to dive into everything God has in store for us as we spend time encountering His desire to bring us joy.
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Our joy is not to be of this world, but of God. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The fullness of joy will only be found in God’s presence, and the Bible tells us that God’s presence is everywhere! Psalm 139:7-10 says, “Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” Because God is everywhere and in His presence is fullness of joy, joy is available to you 24/7. And Scripture teaches us in Romans 14:17 that “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” God’s lordship in our lives is all about “righteousness and peace and joy.” Our heavenly Father desires to bring about those incredible fruits of the Spirit in you today. He has a plan to lead you to perfect, unshakable joy. But in order to receive the incredible gift your God wants to give you today; you will have to make a choice to place your hope and trust in Him.

Scripture tells us that our joy is to be wholeheartedly found in God and not in the world.

The joy our heavenly Father longs to bring us is meant to transcend anything this world could ever do to us. But in order for God’s desire to come to fruition in our lives, we have to place our hope and trust solely in Him. Psalm 33:21 says, “Our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name.” Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

What we place our trust and belief in becomes the rudder that guides our emotions.

If you place your trust in your job, people, or finances, you are building a foundation for your joy that can be crushed at a moment’s notice. But if you will choose today to place your trust and hope in your Lord Jesus Christ, you will have a sure foundation unshakable by any trial or circumstance that comes your way. In fact, those very trials that had the power to destroy your joy will, in God, become yet another source of it.

James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” When you place your hope and trust in God, your eyes will be opened to see the incredible work He is doing in you through any and every circumstance. Whether you have success in this life or not, you will have joy because your life will be wholly lived with your relationship with God as first priority.

When your goal is to see God’s kingdom come to earth, the circumstances of your job and relationships won’t have the power to shake your joy and satisfaction any longer. You see, God’s plan to is to redeem your life totally and completely. God’s plan is to renew your joy every morning as you place your hope and trust in Him alone.

Spend time today with your heavenly Father doing that very thing. Reflect on your life and see what has had the ability to shake your joy. May your joy become like that of a child’s today, who simply delights in the love of the Father.

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” ~ Colossians 1:11



How incredible is the heart of our God that He would consistently and constantly bring us joy!

Our God has such a love for you that He never wants you to go a day without it. He never wants you to have a moment without His unshakable joy. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Experience the abundant life your God has in store for you as you live your life in a wholehearted pursuit of the joy of your good and present heavenly Father.
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~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/renewal-of-joy-2023/






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[Ranb2khz]

Renewal of Your First Love

~ May God guide us to a deeper love of Him today as we open our hearts and hands to meet with Him.

Out of God’s great desire to be truly loved by His people, we have been given the gift of free will to choose who and what we will give our affections to. God, knowing full well that not all of us would choose to love Him, still created us out of His longing for close relationship with us. You see, so great is our heavenly Father’s desire for relationship with us that He suffers as He watches His children choose to love people, ideas, and possessions that will never fully love us in return. So great is His love for us that He responds to our sin of idolatry with grace and mercy every single time. And so vast is His affection for us that He sent His only Son so that we might be restored to close relationship with our heavenly Father once again. But still, we choose to love things other than God. Still, we seek out satisfaction and love from creation rather than the Creator. Still, we choose to place our hope and affections in the world instead of in God. If we are to live the life God intends for us - the only fulfilling life possible - we need a renewal of our first love.

Thousands of years ago, the church in Ephesus was much like we are today. Revelation 2:4 says in reference to the church in Ephesus, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” The Ephesians were still working and waiting for God. They hadn’t abandoned their faith, just their first love. But Scripture makes it clear that when it comes down to it in the end, what will be most important is the way in which we have loved God. When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27). Loving God is our first priority. Our love for God is the foundation on which all of life is to be lived. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” This life is all about the posture of your heart.

Reflect for a minute on just how incredible the love of our God is. Scripture makes it clear that He isn’t after our service first, but our love. He only desires us to work with Him if it is done out of our love for Him. If we prophesy, show incredible acts of faith, or even give up our lives for Him out of anything but love, He calls it “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” God is after your heart. More than anything else in the world, He wants to love you and be loved by you. Of course He wants you to co-labor with Him and obey His commandments, but only out of love for Him. Yes, He wants you to lead others to Him, but out of the desire to share the incredible love you’ve been shown. Too often we size up our relationship with God based on how often we’ve gone to church, how many mission trips we’ve been on, how many people we’ve won to Jesus, how many committees we’ve served on, or how much of our finances we’ve given to God. And too often we do all of that trying to win over a God who already loves us more than we could ever ask or imagine. God is the father in the prodigal son story running out to meet you and celebrate you regardless of anything you’ve ever done or will do. He’s the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one. He’s the God who leaves His throne to die for the very people who shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him!” And He’s the God who waits patiently every day to show you the depth of His love, that nothing you could ever do will change the way He loves you.

Nothing could be more important than living your life on the foundation of God’s greatest commandment: to love Him. And while it’s incredibly important to spend your life loving God, He knows you will only be able to do so if you’ve encountered His love first. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us." Experiencing God’s love is the beginning and end to everything we do as His children. It’s out of encountering the affections of our heavenly Father that our hearts will be stirred to love Him back. Let’s take time today to encounter the love of our heavenly Father and let His kindness draw us to repentance:

"Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" ~ Romans 2:4

Encounter the heart of God, and let His love renew within you your first love.



The Bible is clear that God will forgive our sins as believers. His heart is always for restoration. He always desires to lead us to a life where our hearts are in no way veiled before Him. Idols and sin tie us down to the world in ways that keep us from the fullness of relationship available in God. Engage in the act of confession...receive the healing and renewal He longs to bring you. May your day be filled with peace as the result of God’s forgiveness, nearness, and loving-kindness.
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~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/renewal-of-your-first-love-2023/






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[Ranb2khz]

The Daily Article – September 19, 2023

~ Hundreds of students baptized after worship service on Auburn college campus.

Auburn University is the second-largest university in Alabama. Known for its football team and fierce cross-state rivalry with the University of Alabama, the school is making news these days for a completely different reason.

Some time ago, five girls began meeting on campus in Neville Arena to pray. Their group grew to two hundred students. Local ministries became involved and sponsored a worship event last week which around five thousand people attended.

Following the service, a student wanted to be baptized. Crowds then began gathering at a nearby lake, where roughly two hundred people gave their lives to Christ and were baptized. Auburn Tigers head football coach Hugh Freeze, a very public Christian, helped with the baptisms. Now other universities are calling to bring similar programs to their campuses.

One student said she had never seen anything like the mass baptism: “Never in my life. I was even talking to adults who were there that were a part of it, and they said that they had never witnessed anything like that.”
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Yesterday, we focused on the urgency of sharing God’s Word with a nation that is sliding ever further from biblical morality. Today, let’s discuss the necessity of living in ways that are so different from our fallen culture as to be both distinctive and attractive.

God said of ancient Israel, “You have not walked in My statutes, nor obeyed My rules” (Ezekiel 11:12a). Rather, they “have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you” (v. 12b). This is a grievous trajectory for God’s people since “what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15).

Tragically, the vast majority of Americans do not believe that God is the Lord who sees and judges sin. If they think of Him at all, they view Him as benevolent and ambivalent, the object of their subject. But they are the object of His subject. God is not on trial — we are.

His transforming promise is our only hope: “I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My rules and obey them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 11:19–20). Human words cannot change human hearts, but God’s Spirit, using God’s Word as declared by God’s people, can change any heart today.

By contrast, “As for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 11:21).

As you can see, it is vital that God’s people live in a way that is distinctive from our fallen culture and yet attractive to those deceived by its lies. How can we do this?

First, decide that you want to be different:

God said of the sinful Roman Empire, “Come out of her, My people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelation 18:4–5).

Choose right now to “come out” from your sinfully broken society, whatever the cost.

Second, ask the Spirit to make you more like Christ than you have ever been:

When you asked Jesus to be your Lord, His Spirit took up residency in your life (1 Corinthians 3:16) and you became His “body” in the world (1 Corinthians 12:27). Oswald Chambers thus observed, “In our physical life Jesus has the same setting that He had on earth.” Now we must choose every day to be controlled and empowered by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) as He conforms us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

We are exhorted: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Third, expose the dark to the light:

Paul told his fellow believers, “At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8a). Consequently, we are to “walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:8b–11).

Light has always defeated darkness (John 1:5) and always will.
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In 2014, Trieste Belmont was struggling with depression and decided to end her life. As she stood atop a high bridge, she says, “I was sobbing and crying and working up the courage to just go through with it.” Then a person in a car behind her shouted, “Don’t jump.”

“Those words just changed everything for me,” she remembered. “Having a stranger care about me in my darkest time made it so that I didn’t jump, and it saved my life.”

She sought support and, with the help of her therapist, family, and friends, her mental health has since greatly improved. But she reflects on that moment as the catalyst for her life moving in an entirely new direction: “Something that I realized is that even if something’s not a huge moment in your life, just the little, small gestures that you can make for other people really do make a difference.”

Now consider the impact of sharing God’s life-giving Word in the power of God’s transforming Spirit. And reflect on the urgency of giving this Word to a broken culture on the path to moral ruin and divine judgment.

When confronted with this opportunity, Isaiah said to God, “Here I am! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

Will you say the same today?
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~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/hundreds-of-students-baptized-auburn/






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[Ranb2khz]

The Daily Article – September 18, 2023

The number of people in the US living to at least one hundred years old has doubled over the last decade. Ask many centenarians their secret and they’ll credit their positive attitude. But David Watson, a professor emeritus of personality psychology at the University of Notre Dame, disagrees: “I think the effects of just being positive are overrated.”

Dr. Watson claims that the trait most related to longevity is conscientiousness, or being organized and disciplined. This is likely because conscientious people are better at taking care of themselves with regard to eating habits, healthy behaviors, and safe activities.

I wonder if the same trait is vital to the longevity of a nation.

USA Today is reporting that school shootings have hit an all-time high for the second year in a row. The 2021–22 school year saw more than twice the shootings of the previous year, which was itself the highest in two decades. Unsurprisingly, Gen Z (people between nine and twenty-four years old) are struggling with their mental health; only 15 percent said their mental health was excellent, compared with 52 percent of millennials who said the same a decade ago.

Here's another window into our societal psyche: only 26 percent of Americans are optimistic about the future of the family. And no wonder: only 23 percent believe being married is important to living a fulfilling life, compared to 71 percent who point to “having a job or career they enjoy.” In addition, 58 percent believe a married gay or lesbian couple raising children together is “acceptable”; 53 percent say the same about an unmarried gay or lesbian couple raising children.

The Lord said of ancient Israel, “My people did not listen to My voice” (Psalm 81:11), “so I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels” (v. 12). And we know how that turned out.

Is America following the same path?

President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the US Capitol building on this day in 1793. He had already helped to lay the cultural cornerstone of our new nation; in his First Inaugural Address, for example, he paid homage to the “Almighty Being who rules over the universe; who presides in the counsels of nations; and whose providential aids can supply every human defect.” He then said of his fellow Americans, “Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.”

Washington would later declare in his “Farewell Address,” “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.”

What would our first president think of the “dispositions and habits” of political culture today?

More to the point, what does God?

He said of ancient Israel, “I know the things that come into your mind” (Ezekiel 11:5) and thus knew that “you have not walked in My statutes, nor obeyed My rules” (v. 12). He said of the first-century Roman Empire, “with the wine of sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk” (Revelation 17:2). He warned the superpowers of the day: “Behold, I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria” (Jeremiah 50:18).

What was true then is true today: “No creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). Americans included.

The good news is that the good news of the gospel is still “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Billy Graham was right: “One of the Bible’s greatest truths is that our lives can be different. No matter what our past has been, Christ stands ready to forgive and cleanse us — and then to make us new.”

This is because “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold all things new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is not our work but God’s transforming miracle: “All this is from God, who through Christ has reconciled us to Himself” (v. 18). Now we are “ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us” (v. 20).

Is serving Christ enough for you today?
______________

~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/the-no-1-personal-trait-for-a-long-life-may-surprise-you/






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[Ranb2khz]

Battles Within

"What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you?" ~ James 4:1

Most of our inner turmoil is a result of the battle within each of us. Like it or not, we all have a bit of the flesh in us. The part of us that just wants to have everything go our way, that doesn’t care that much about others, and is not sure God is really looking out for us (or that this is His exclusive role). The flesh fights to make us god, the center of the world.

On the other hand, we also have within us the image of God. The spirit. The part of us that wants to participate in something greater than ourselves, needs and values community, appreciates the unique joy of others, and trusts in the mystery of God.

We are not just one of these things. They both exist within us. We can never be fully rid of either. And this internal wrestling match spills out and affects the way we interact with others. Our external battles are often projections of our internal battle; flesh versus spirit.

For as long as we are human, both of these internal desires will exist, to some degree, within us. The great opportunity of a human soul is the ability to choose between the two. We get to decide, over and over, moment by moment, which to give heedance to and which to relegate into captivity.

The more we choose the spirit, the easier it becomes to do so. The flesh will adapt and always try to speak up, but we can develop a pattern of righteousness just as easily as we can develop patterns of wickedness.

It all begins by sorting through our desires, sifting and separating what is from the flesh and what is from the spirit. As we choose the spirit within ourselves, we will more readily see and appreciate it in others.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/battles-within/






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[Ranb2khz]

Following God into the Light

~ May you feel better equipped to face temptation and sin today as you encounter Jesus and His truth for you on this subject.

The Holy Spirit dwelling within is always leading us out of darkness and into the light. He is ready and available to guide us through every decision, temptation, trial, tribulation, and circumstance, that we might experience all the abundance available to us in his light.

God promises us in Isaiah 42:16:

“I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.”

You serve a loving, good Father who doesn’t leave you to figure out life on your own. He doesn’t even leave you just with Scripture to find your way into the light. He knows that we are blind without Him. He knows that we are in immense need of His help. And He is constantly leading us into the better things He has for us.

1 Corinthians 10:13 encourages us that:

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

With every temptation the enemy brings, God is leading us in a great escape. You and I so often don’t know the way out of temptation. It feels impossible to find the path to righteousness when all we feel is wrongful desire welling up within us. But if we will acknowledge that we are indeed blind and reach out our arms for the guiding hand of God, He “will turn the darkness before [us] into light” (Isaiah 42:16). He is our faithful Shepherd to the abundant pastures available to us on the other side of temptation.

Hebrews 2:18 says:

“For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Our God is compassionate because He has felt the temptations we feel. He has walked through this life and lived in the light. You are not alone in your sin. You are not alone in your temptations. You are not alone in the trials, decisions, and circumstances that seem to draw you into darkness. Your Savior has compassion on you and longs for you to simply lean on His strength, trust Him, and follow Him.

“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” ~ 1 John 4:4

You will overcome your enemy if you reach out for the help of God. He will lead you away from the sin that entangles you and direct you to His perfect, peaceful paths of righteousness. Have faith in the love and ability of your God and follow Him throughout your day to the still, calm waters of His presence.



May Psalm 23:1-6 fill your heart with a longing for close, open relationship with your good Shepherd today as you seek to live in the light:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
________________

~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/following-god-into-the-light-2023/






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[Ranb2khz]

Looking at the Light

~ As we re-train ourselves to seek God first for satisfaction, may we find how abundantly beyond our imaginings the Lord’s sufficiency is for us.

We live in a world filled with darkness of all forms. On any given day we are inundated with temptation after temptation, lie after lie, darkness after darkness. But in the person of Jesus a powerful hope has entered into the story of humanity.

Matthew 4:16 says:

“The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the shadowland of death, light has dawned on them.”

You and I now have the choice to fill our lives with the light of God. We’re delivered from a life marked by darkness and set free to fill ourselves with the things of God.

But still, there is a choice set before us. The light has come, but we have a real enemy trying to draw us back to the darkness at every turn. It’s for this reason Jesus said in Luke 11:34, “Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness.” You and I must choose to look to the light if we want to be spiritually healthy and full of light. We must look to the light if we want the abundant life God offers us throughout every season of this life.

Paul writes in Philippians 4:8:

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

I pray that God would train us to look upon only that which will fill us with more of Him. I pray that He would train our minds to think about only that which will truly satisfy the deep desires of our hearts.

Darkness is often only tempting to look at because we have yet to experience the immense satisfaction found in the light. So often God is characterized as a taskmaster out to ruin all the fun. And so often our church services, speech, and lives depict our Father as anyone but a fun, satisfying God. But if we will take some time to trust the truth of Scripture and get to know our heavenly Father as a friend, we will discover a wellspring of life to which no darkness could ever compare. The pleasures of the enemy are nothing but a shadow of the satisfaction we have in the light. Lust, adultery, earthly glory, the opinion of man, and pride in possessions are nothing compared to total, open, and eternal relationship with a good, near, and loving God.

Look to the light today for all you need. Cultivate a hunger and thirst for the things of God that can only be quenched in relationship with your heavenly Father. Run to God with your temptations, needs, and desires and ask Him to lead you to satisfaction. And open your heart to Him today that you might receive a wealth of love, purpose, joy, affection, and enjoyment from the only true source of life in this earth.



At times, the desires we feel are wrong desires that God cannot satisfy. However, these wrong desires are always indicative of a deeper desire that God does want to satisfy. Lust and adultery are desires indicative of a need to be loved, liked, seen as beautiful or handsome, or simply enjoyed. Wrongful ambition and glory-seeking are wrong desires indicative of a true need to have passion and make a deep and lasting impact on the earth. The temptations of the enemy and satisfactions we find in darkness are mere shadows compared to the true satisfaction available in God. Discover the root of your wrongful desires. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the true needs within your heart and to guide you to a lifestyle of fulfillment in God. May your eyes be wholly focused on the light today as you seek fulfillment in your heavenly Father.
________________

~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/looking-at-the-light-2023/






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[Bigfootbud]

Lord Jesus bless all here, today, and for ETERNITY!!!!!!!

[Ranb2khz]

From the Pastor’s Heart – September 2023

~ Set your mind on one thing only: Jesus Christ.

This month we remember Dr. Stanley’s birthday on September 25th. He taught us so much about living in Christ, trusting Him, and responding rightly to trials that come our way. We all need courage to walk through the world day by day, even with the Lord by our side.

Here’s something Dr. Stanley shared about a challenge he faced in his younger years — and what he learned for the future.
__________________

When I was a young man and experiencing the biggest challenge of my life so far, my mother said, “I want to give you these verses of Scripture.” She pointed to Joshua 1:7-9 in her Bible, where God encourages the new leader of the Hebrews.

I read it over several times, and as I left the house and made my way up the street, I’d memorized the passage and could quote it to myself! Somehow the Lord just locked those verses into my heart.

In God’s words to Joshua as he took the mantle of leadership following Moses’ death, I learned what would become, for me, the most profound truth in all of Scripture: Jesus Christ is my life.

Now, you might be asking, “How does God’s message for Joshua point us to Jesus?”

Think about a time you faced a big challenge — a moment that made you feel weak, fearful, or discouraged. Well, that’s how Joshua was feeling. Even though he was a mighty warrior, he was facing the greatest test of his life: leading Israel into the Promised Land. He remembered how the people had once wanted to stone him, and he was probably very afraid when God placed him in charge of the tribes. But the Father wasn’t setting Joshua up to fail. He laid out a plan for his success. And it’s the same one God has for us.

First, if we want to be strong and courageous, we must trust that God is with us.

Whatever we face, we’re to be optimistic and confident. Why? One simple reason: He’s there. He promised to be with Joshua “wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). And Jesus said to His disciples just before He returned to heaven: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). We have the same promise from Christ.

Second, we have to obey.

There are many books on success, but nobody can beat this principle: “Be careful to do according to all that is written in [the Book of the Law]; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success” (Joshua 1:8). If we want our lives to prosper, we too must do what God says. For this, we have the Spirit of Christ to help (Philippians 4:13).

Third, we must meditate on God’s Word.

We need to read Scripture and think about it over and over until it becomes part of our thinking. Then, verses will arise in our minds when challenges come. Jesus is our example; remember how He quoted Scripture when tempted in the desert (Matthew 4:4)? And He gave us the Holy Spirit to “remind you of all that I said to you” (John 14:26).

Fourth, we need to avoid distractions.

In Joshua 1:7, God says: “Do not turn from [the Law] to the right or to the left.” The key here is focus. When Joshua didn’t do as God said, he faced setbacks and failures. If you want to succeed, don’t get pulled away from His instruction by people, society, or anything else. Do exactly what God says.

Finally, if your focus is on being bold and courageous, you’re still focusing on the wrong thing.

Set your mind on one thing only: Jesus Christ.

He’ll give you His power and strength for obedience, His presence to rely on, and His love to encourage you. Success requires “looking only at Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). Focusing elsewhere leads to defeat.

The most important things in your life are getting on your knees every day (this can be an attitude of your heart if you are physically unable to kneel); reading or listening to the Word of God; and talking with Him. When those practices are consistently part of your daily routine, everything else somehow works out.

That doesn’t mean you’re going to eliminate all your challenges. But it does mean you can remain strong and confident as you face them.

It’s easy to be bold and courageous if everything is going your way. But you’ll never fully discover who Jesus Christ really is unless you walk through one life-stretching, faith-forming challenge after another. As you do, you’ll discover that Jesus truly is your life.
__________________

Whatever you might be facing, today or tomorrow, we pray you find this message from Dr. Stanley encouraging. Remember Joshua 1:7-9 — and all Jesus is to you — whenever you feel pressured, unsure, or fearful about a situation. Till next time, God bless you.

https://www.intouch.org/read/from-pastors-heart/september-2023






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[Ranb2khz]

The Believer’s Valley Experiences

~ We don't have to be afraid in times of trouble, because our kind and strong Heavenly Father is always with us.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23:1-6

Where there are mountains, there must also be valleys — it’s a simple fact of the created world. The same is true in our spiritual life. To reach the place where God is leading us, we must sometimes traverse “the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4).

Spiritual mountaintops are wonderful spots to rest, but it is in valleys that we often discover God’s character, the truth of His promises, and our own weakness. Valleys reveal that the habits and crutches we’ve been relying on are inadequate — and we must trust God instead. That’s when we come to find out that faith, courage, and wisdom are rooted in the Lord.

While walking in valleys is an inevitable and difficult part of life, believers aren’t left comfortless. Verse 5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.” These words are about having our needs met, including the desire to be soothed. In David’s image of a tender shepherd rubbing oil on an animal’s scraped skin, God promises us assurance, healing, and safety — even in hardship.

Facing the shadows is difficult and frightening work. But when we surrender to the Lord, we can rest in His power and comfort.
______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-believer-s-valley-experiences-2






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[Ranb2khz]

The Daily Article – September 13, 2023

Were the wildfires on Maui the result of a secret “weather weapon” being tested by the US? Should money being spent on the war in Ukraine be spent at home for disaster relief instead?

If you believe the disinformation campaigns currently being waged by China and Russia, you’re likely to say yes to both questions. Researchers warn that China is building a network of accounts that could be used for future information operations including next year’s US presidential election. This is what Russia did in the year leading up to the 2016 election.

Once you know that news can be fabricated, you begin to wonder if anything you read is really true. For example: a man bought a painting for $4 at a flea market, then discovered inside its frame one of only twenty-four known copies of the Declaration of Independence made on July 4, 1776. It sold for $2.4 million at auction.

Is this true? I found the article on a news site called UNILAD, dated 11 September 2023. An internet search then found the same story reported by both the New York Times and the Baltimore Sun, but their articles were published on June 14, 1991. So I assume it happened, but it seems UNILAD chose to run it again thirty-two years later while giving an impression (intentional or not) of the story as new news.

According to the Associated Press, here are some recent stories that were outright falsehoods: the Burning Man floods triggered an Ebola outbreak and “national emergency”; Arkansas is replacing voting machines with paper ballots; since vaccines for the flu, measles, mumps, and rubella were developed years ago but the diseases haven’t been eradicated, immunizations don’t work.

In this day of AI-generated fake videos, images, and stories, we can expect the problem of fake news to escalate. But there’s an even more significant narrative at work here.

“The deceiver of the whole world”

The Bible calls Satan “the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Jesus described him as “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Accordingly, the devil has “blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). He wants to deceive believers as well, so he “disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

He has been lying to humans since the very beginning when “the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning” (2 Corinthians 11:3). As a result, he is far better at deceiving us than we are at resisting his attacks on the truth and is an expert at shifting his strategy as appropriate to the culture and context.

For example, when I was a seminary philosophy professor in the 1980s, I taught my students how to defend the Christian faith from claims that our beliefs are unscientific and without evidence. This was because truth was viewed as objective and scientific progress was thought to have debunked the miraculous. So we learned to defend biblical authority on the basis of manuscript evidence, archaeological discoveries, internal textual consistency, and fulfilled messianic prophecies. We discussed evidential and rational arguments for God’s existence, Jesus’ divinity and uniqueness, the historicity of the resurrection, and so on.

Today, skeptics are likely to dismiss such apologetic arguments by saying to us, “That’s just your truth. I have my truth.” This is because we now live in a “post-truth,” relativistic culture. It’s conventional wisdom today that there is no such thing as absolute truth, which is an absolute truth claim. Consequently, we are told that we have no right to force our beliefs on others, which is a belief others seek to force on us. But the illogic of such statements is lost on those who make them.

Three Practical Steps:

In the face of such deception, it is vital that we be able to say with Paul, “We would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:11). Consider these simple but urgent steps.

One: Think biblically.

Psychologists tell us that our thoughts, whether positive or negative, shape our lives. Accordingly, Paul wisely testified: “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). To measure truth claims by “the knowledge of God,” measure them by Scripture. Since “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18), we can trust that “the law of the L??? is perfect” (Psalm 19:7).

Two: Pray for discernment.

Scripture exhorts us, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). The “mature” are “those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14). We should therefore pray with Solomon for “an understanding mind . . . that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9).

Three: Speak only the truth.

We are commanded: “Having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). We are to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). As I say so often, “speaking the truth in love” should be our mantra (Ephesians 4:15).

I closed my seminary philosophy classes with these words from an anonymous believer:

From the cowardice that shrinks from new truths,
From the laziness that is content with half-truths,
From the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,
O God of truth, deliver us!

Would you join me in making them your prayer today?
________________

~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/secret-weather-weapon-maui-wildfires/






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[Ranb2khz]

What We Lose, What We Gain

~ Surrender makes it possible for God's fruit to blossom in our life.

Scripture Reading: Luke 14:25-33

Yesterday, we talked about giving control of our life to God and what we gain as a result. But now let’s go a step further and ask, How do we know whether we are wholly surrendered? We are fully yielded when …

1. We say, “No matter what, Lord, Your will be done.”

We start by acknowledging His right to be in control of our life. Then we follow, even if we don’t fully understand His reasons for where He is leading us.

2. We stop bargaining with God.

As sinners saved by grace, we have no reason to negotiate with God. He redeemed us with the shed blood of His Son and made us part of His family. Our allegiance to Him must be wholehearted.

3. We let go of everything in order to receive from the Lord.

Absolute surrender means we willingly give up our independence and personal preferences (Matthew 10:39). By doing so, we position ourselves to be truly useful to the Lord and to experience deep fellowship with Him. Because we are an open channel ready for God’s use, nothing obstructs the flow of His Spirit through our life and work. It won’t necessarily be easy, but we will always receive more than we’re asked to give up.
________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/what-we-lose-what-we-gain






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[Ranb2khz]

Light & Dark

~ May the Lord open our eyes to see the glorious light before us this week.

All throughout Scripture God reiterates a consistent, powerful metaphor: light and dark. Scripture depicts the darkness as that which is without God and light as that which has God in it. As “children of light,” it’s vital for us to dive deeply into this concept of light and dark that we might experience the fullness of all God has made available to us (1 Thessalonians 5:5). We must accept that both light and dark exist, that we can engage with both, and learn what it is to choose light at every turn.

In Isaiah 42:16 God says:

“I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.”

God has not left us to wander in darkness. He never leaves us or forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:6). We who were blind to the paths of God have had our eyes opened through the powerful sacrifice of Jesus. We now have relationship with the Holy Spirit who seeks to guide us into the light with every thought, emotion, action, and decision.

Ephesians 5:14 says:

“...for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: "Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.”

It’s time for you and me to arise from any part of darkness and live in the shining light of Christ Jesus. It’s time for us to wake up from our former lives that were consumed with chaos, lies, and sin, come out of the shadows, and find true life in the light of God’s presence, will, and Word.

God has so much more in store for you than a life lived working to escape darkness. The power of Jesus’ sacrifice has hidden you in Him. His light is your light. But before we can experience this fullness of life available to us, we must allow Him to open our eyes. We must allow Him into the darkest places of our past, thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. We must allow His light to illuminate our darkest of sins in order that those which cause us the most shame might be healed and broken off of our lives.

Just as light can hurt a little at first when we’ve become accustomed to darkness, seeing the parts of our lives that we’ve shut off to God, others, and even ourselves can be painful. But, once we’ve allowed God to illuminate our whole lives that we might see ourselves as we truly are, we will discover a wealth of grace, love, and forgiveness unlike any we’ve ever known. Once we experience the unconditional love of a God who knows all we’ve ever done, thought, and felt, our lives begin to change by His overwhelming goodness. Light is powerful in its ability to heal, set free, and empower.

Take time in prayer to open your heart to your heavenly Father and reflect on this Biblical principle of light and dark. Allow Scripture to fill you with a desire to seek the light of God in all things. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the places in your life He longs to heal. And find grace, rest, and forgiveness in the loving presence of your heavenly Father.



The fullness of life is only available in the light. Anything we experience in darkness is a mere shadow of what is available to us with God. Any pleasure we find in impurity, lies, and pride is nothing compared to the inexhaustible satisfaction available in God’s light. Trust God that He absolutely has the best life in store for you if you choose Him. Trust Him that the fullness of joy, peace, purpose, and pleasure is found in Him alone. May your day be filled with the peace and joy that comes from living in the light of God.
_________________

~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/light-and-dark-2023/






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[Ranb2khz]

Benefits of Intimacy with God

~ Experiencing God's love enables us to extend His grace and mercy to others.

Scripture Reading:

"I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father." ~ John 15:15

In yesterday's devotional we mentioned we all want to be loved — in other words, to be fully known by another person yet still cherished and accepted on both our good days and bad. This kind of bond is hard to break since both people feel safe. Do you enjoy any relationships like this?

Research shows that this level of love and acceptance is lacking in many instances. For one thing, it’s hard to love someone else unconditionally, much less multiple “someones.” And we might naturally fear others can’t love us that way, either. So perhaps we hold back, afraid to fully expose our heart, lest we be judged or rejected.

But God invites us — and longs for us — to experience that kind of intimacy with Him. In today’s passage, He calls us His friends. If we are completely open with Him and fully trust that He loves us unconditionally, we can love others better. The Lord will also give us spiritual sensitivity and teach us to see people the way He does — as beloved children. We will then become more understanding and be able to extend the grace and mercy we ourselves have received:

"I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another." ~ John 13:34

• What’s one way you can give this type of love to someone else?
• More importantly, what’s one step you can take to cultivate a more intimate relationship with the Lord?

After all, that’s the foundation for everything else.
________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/benefits-of-intimacy-with-god






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[Ranb2khz]

Our Righteousness in Jesus Christ

~ May you see yourself in light of the finished work of Christ today as we make space to see the new nature we’ve been given by God’s grace.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 describes one of the most powerful outcomes of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross. Scripture says:

“For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised. From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Jesus’ death on the cross defeated the power of sin and darkness and set us free to walk in the glorious light of righteousness. You and I have been transformed by the power of Jesus’ death. He took every sin we would ever commit and bore the entirety of their penalty. Through the death of Jesus, you and I are now free to live as new creations formed in the righteous and holy image of our heavenly Father.

When God tore the veil, He demonstrated that our sin and depravity couldn’t hold back His presence any longer. Thousands of years of pent-up longing for restored relationship burst forth proclaiming the newfound nature of God’s people who would choose to accept and follow Jesus.

There is no more important way to end this week of pursuing a greater connection to our heavenly Father than accepting our new standing before God. Even though Jesus defeated the power of sin in our lives, our great enemy continues to tempt us, lie to us, and steal from us the abundant life God intends. He continues to try to rob God of what He so fully deserves: unencumbered relationship with His children.

Satan lies to us and tells us that sin still causes God to withhold Himself from us. We allow condemnation that is not of God to creep in and cause us to believe that our heavenly Father doesn’t want to be with us. But the truth is, God always wants to be with His children. God runs out to us, calls us His beloved, wraps us with honor and His righteousness, and leads us into His glorious embrace.

Take time and renew your mind to your righteousness in Jesus. Ask the Spirit for fresh revelation of your freedom from sin and allow your longings to be satisfied in God rather than the world today.



Praise God that He is a loving Father who loves to be with and satisfy the needs of His children! God longs for us to bring to Him all our problems, insecurities, sin, and shame so He can cover them to overflowing with His merciful love. May you find rest, satisfaction, and healing in the arms of your heavenly Father today.
__________________

~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/our-righteousness-in-jesus-christ-2023/






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[Ranb2khz]

Faith Guides Us In

~ May your faith increase today, and may your experience of God’s presence deepen as we create space to seek God together.

To see the living God face-to-face is to have our spiritual eyes opened through the important practice of faith. The entirety of our relationship with God really boils down to faith. By faith we trust in Him even though we haven’t seen Him. By faith we believe the Bible is truly His Word. And it is by faith that we enter into His tangible presence where our hearts are transformed and our lives changed.

Paul prays an important prayer at the beginning of Ephesians that I believe God desires for you and me today.

Ephesians 1:17-19 says:

“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.”

We need the eyes of our hearts enlightened. We need to develop spiritual eyes to see all that is available to us in God. We need faith to guide us into the deeper things of God.

Hebrews 10:19-23 says:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh), and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

God longs for us to draw near to Him. He longs for us to experience Him unveiled, face-to-face with the eyes of our hearts open and our hearts full of awe and wonder. The single most exciting truth of our lives is that the God of the universe, the Creator of all, can be seen and known. Spending time with Him is more satisfying, entertaining, uplifting, and better than any other way our time could be spent. If we will have the faith to make time and let God move in and on our hearts, practicing faith as God’s Word tells us to, we will experience a reality unknown and unseen to the naked eye. We will experience the reality of heaven: God and man joined together in communion.

Faith is a gift given to those who cry out to know God. It is a gift given by the Holy Spirit in response to our desperation for relationship. If you will seek out more in your communion with your heavenly Father, He will respond with an increase of faith. He will answer your call by carrying you into the depths of His endless love where you belong — where you’ve always belonged.

May God grant you a “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” and open “the eyes of your heart” today as you spend time in prayer.



May we be a people that seek out the fullness of God. May we be children awed by the beauty, majesty, mystery, and love of our Father. God has more in store for us than we could ever ask or imagine if we will seek Him with all of our hearts. Fight the mediocrity of this world for the higher calling of experiencing all that God longs to give you.
_____________________

~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/faith-guides-us-in-2023/






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[Ranb2khz]

Holy Lord!! Thank You for Your Word!!! The Bible!!!

Amen Brother!






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[Bigfootbud]

Holy Lord!! Thank You for Your Word!!! The Bible!!! 😇

[Ranb2khz]

The Daily Article – September 7, 2023

A month ago tomorrow, the historic town of Lahaina was largely destroyed by wildfires. The fire was not declared 100 percent contained until last weekend, as officials continue to investigate the causes of the tragedy. Maui is facing a severe economic downturn and inviting tourists to come to the island, though they are urged not to visit the Lahaina area.

Meanwhile, more than twenty-six hundred miles away, a five-year-old in Seattle has been making a difference. Edison Juel learned of the fires and set up a lemonade stand on his busy street. It sold popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, candy, pink and yellow lemonade, and even some of Eddie’s toys. The sign read: “FOOD & STUFF & LEMONADE FOR LAHAINA.” His stand raised more than $17,000.

Eddie’s mother said she was “struck by how his generosity invited others to be generous.” Therein lies a life principle worth considering today.

Is there “zero evidence” for religion?

The New York Times recently published a letter to the editor from a political science professor at Kent State University who claimed that Americans are “becoming less religious because there is zero evidence to support any of the central claims religious institutions make about God and the supernatural.” Ironically, the professor offers zero evidence for his claim that religious institutions have “zero evidence” for their claims.

I can only assume that he can make such an erroneous assertion because he is writing out of his field and has no personal engagement with his subject. What interests me more is the fact that the Times chose to publish his letter, lending it the paper’s national platform.

When I see stories like this, my instinct is to frame them in the context of our ongoing “culture wars” and do battle in kind. When my faith is attacked, I want to fight back. When people act in adversarial ways, I am tempted to see them as adversaries.

However, the biblical vision for cultural engagement is far less militant and far more redemptive than such a conflictual reaction. The Lord counseled His exiled people in Babylon: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).

I am convinced that the church’s greatest obstacle to influencing our culture is that our culture does not see the church as relevant to its greatest issues. Secular people know what we are against more than they know what we are for. In our defense of biblical morality, we can win arguments and lose souls.

The answer is not merely to try harder to do better.

Consider an analogy I’ve employed before: When you have an opportunity to share your faith or otherwise stand for biblical truth, you can feel as though you’re on trial and the other person is the prosecutor looking for ways to discredit you. In fact, Jesus is on trial; Satan is the prosecutor; the Holy Spirit is the defense attorney; the person you’re engaging is the jury; and you’re simply a witness called to the stand. Your job is to be obedient and leave the results of the trial to God.

Now let’s take this analogy further. I’m no lawyer, but I’ve watched enough courtroom dramas on television to know that the defense attorney typically has a “theory of the case,” an argument that he or she wants to persuade the jury to believe. To this end, the attorney calls you to the stand at the right time to offer testimony that will advance the argument.

Beforehand, the attorney prepares you to answer the questions and to handle cross-examination by the prosecutor. As a result, when you are called to testify, you are ready to do what you can do best to help win the case.

In kingdom terms, this analogy means:

One: Identify your kingdom assignment. Know how your gifts, abilities, experiences, education, challenges, and opportunities have formed you to do what only you can do in serving your Lord. Pray and reflect until you can complete the sentence, “My ministry is _______________.”

Two: Submit to the Spirit at the start of each day. Pray with David: “Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:8).

Three: Worship Jesus each day. We enter His empowering presence with thanksgiving and praise (Psalm 100:4). Take time to read His word, pray, give thanks, and offer your praise.

Four: Pray about the needs you meet. Ask God for His best for hurting people in the news and in your sphere of influence. Make Samuel’s commitment to his nation yours: “Far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23).

Five: Now do what comes naturally. Trust that the Spirit is guiding and using you as His witness in spiritual trials for eternal souls.

Imagine the difference in our culture if every Christian took these steps every day. Now let’s be the difference we wish to see.

Oswald Chambers observed, “A river touches places of which its source knows nothing, and Jesus says if we have received of His fullness, however small the visible measure of our lives, out of us will flow the rivers that will bless to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

Consequently, he advised: “Never allow anything to come between yourself and Jesus Christ, no emotion or experience; nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.”

How close to your Source is your soul today?
___________________

~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/5-year-old-raises-over-17000-with-lemonade-for-lahaina/






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[Ranb2khz]

The Tearing of the Veil

~ May we gain a deeper knowledge and experience of God’s closeness today as we study the tearing of the temple veil.

Matthew 27:45-54 says:

“At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

“Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to Him on a reed stick so He could drink. But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save Him.”

“Then Jesus shouted out again, and He released His spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.”

“The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

At the death of Jesus, God turned what was the world’s greatest tragedy into our greatest triumph. With every crack of the whip, the bonds that entangled you and me to the sin and darkness of this world became a little looser. And with Jesus’ final breath the earth shook and the rocks split under the magnitude of the power of Christ’s sacrifice. Only God could take the greatest injustice and turn it into the world’s greatest good. Only God could take death and produce abundant life for all.

Out of everything that resulted from Jesus’ final breath, none was more important than God’s tearing of the veil. The veil that signified the necessary separation between God and man was ripped in two from top to bottom, from God down to us. The great chasm over which no man could cross was now covered by a bridge created by God’s wrath poured out on Jesus. The tearing of the veil represents the very purpose for Jesus’ death: that God could now once again have restored communion with His people. No matter how many or how horrendous our sins might be, Jesus’ death gained victory over it all.

Just as the saints who had fallen asleep were raised at Jesus’ death, you and I have been raised to newness of life. We are caught up in the glory of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. God has made unveiled, face-to-face relationship with Him available to us once again.

If God would pay the price of Jesus’ death to have restored relationship with us, encountering Him face-to-face must be the absolute best way for us to live. If God considers restored relationship with you worth the death of His only and blameless Son, He must place His highest value on total communion with you.

Maybe the concept of having real, tangible encounters with your heavenly Father is new to you. Maybe He feels distant. Maybe you come in and out of His presence day-to-day. Wherever you are in relation to God, know that nothing can separate you from Him any longer. The death of Jesus was more powerful than any sin, lie, or belief. His death paid the entirety of your debt. There is nothing left to pay. Seek out a revelation of what it looks like to encounter your heavenly Father unveiled in prayer. May the Holy Spirit guide you into a lifestyle of continual, face-to-face, unveiled encounters with the living God.



Never doubt the grace of your heavenly Father toward you. Jesus has paid the price for every sin you will ever commit. He bore the weight of all of our sins on the cross. God poured out the entirety of His wrath over our sin on Jesus. All that’s left for you to do is live out the abundant life to which you have been called. Enjoy God and glorify Him in response to His great love. May you be a child of God overcome by the goodness of your Father in heaven.
_________________

~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/the-tearing-of-the-veil-2023/






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[Ranb2khz]

When Truth Is Absent

~ We miss God's best when we choose to compromise our integrity.

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:17-25

We often don’t realize how important something is until it’s not there. For example, we may not think much of a light bulb until we’re fumbling in the dark. Similarly, to appreciate how much truth matters, consider the impact of its absence.

When our faith isn’t grounded in truth, we ...

• Become vulnerable to wrong teaching.

• Develop habits that don’t align with God’s will, because we don’t know what it is.

• Can stay trapped in emotional bondage.

• Experience continual disappointment because our peace is gone.

• Can’t grow spiritually.

• Grieve God’s heart.

All relationships require honesty. If we develop a reputation for not telling the truth, our friendships and testimony will be damaged. Not only that, but our self-image will also suffer. And unless we repent, we won’t reach our full potential. This isn’t how God wants us to live — He wants so much more for us.

Today’s passage tells us “to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth”. He made us for a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11) and wants us to live in truth so we can walk with Him, enjoying all the blessings He has in store for us.
_______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/when-truth-is-absent






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[Ranb2khz]

Our Sin and the Holiness of God

~ May you experience a more tangible, loving, and powerful connection with your heavenly Father this week as we celebrate living life unveiled.

Scripture Reading:

“Yet because of his physical defect, he may not enter the room behind the inner curtain or approach the altar, for this would defile My holy places. I am the Lord who makes them holy.” ~ Leviticus 21:23

Our heavenly Father is both entirely full of love and completely holy. And in the greatest tragedy of all time, our sin caused the love and holiness of our God to be at opposition with one another. His greatest desire was for unadulterated, perfect relationship with us. And with Adam and Eve that longing was fulfilled. He could enjoy communion with us without separation. But when sin entered the grand narrative of human history God’s unshakable, holy nature could not allow him to walk in perfect communion with us any longer. Our sin caused a rift between us and Him that His love could not yet overcome.

So great is the holiness of our God and so great was the depth of our sin that a veil was placed between us and our heavenly Father, a veil signifying the horrific separation of God and man. In a description of the veil, Exodus 26:31-33 says:

“You are to make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with a design of cherubim worked into it. Hang it on four gold-plated posts of acacia wood that have gold hooks and that stand on four silver bases. Hang the veil under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony there behind the veil, so the veil will make a separation for you between the Holy Place and the most Holy Place.”

Only one man, chosen to go before God as Israel’s representative, was allowed to pass through the veil once a year on the Day of Atonement. And so great was God’s holiness and our sin that if anyone else was to enter, the power of God’s holiness would kill them. In Leviticus 16:2, God commanded Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.”

In order to appreciate the power of Christ’s sacrifice, we must acknowledge the status from which we have been redeemed. In Luke 7:47, in reference to the depth of a prostitute’s love for Him, Jesus says:

“I tell you, her sins — and they are many — have been forgiven, so she has shown Me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

You have been forgiven much regardless of what lifestyle you have come from. So great was the chasm your sin created that you were incapable of communion with your Creator. Without the sacrifice of Christ, you would have no restored relationship with God, no Holy Spirit dwelling within you, and no grace, mercy, or total forgiveness.

So that you might greatly love your heavenly Father today, spend time in prayer focusing on the depth of your sin, which has been sacrificially redeemed by the love of Jesus Christ.



Seeing our sin in light of God’s holiness is a difficult but wonderful reminder of how greatly God has loved us. Jesus sacrificed everything when we were deserving of nothing. May you live today in response to God’s unmerited favor and grace on your life.
________________

~ published by: First 15

https://www.first15.org/devotionals/our-sin-and-the-holiness-of-god-2023/






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