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A Life-Changing Prayer
~ In God’s Word, we can learn a lot about how to intercede for our loved ones.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:9-12
There are times when we may wonder whether our prayers are really accomplishing anything — when no matter how passionately we pray, the Lord seems unmoved and nothing changes. However, we need to persevere and trust Him to act with His perfect wisdom and timing. James 5:16 says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” Therefore, our goal should be to learn to pray effectively.
Colossians 1:9-12 is an example of just such a prayer. The apostle Paul is asking that the believers in Colossae be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. We, too, must learn what Scripture has revealed about the Lord’s desires for our life so we can obey His will in the following ways:
• Live in a manner worthy of the Lord so we’ll please Him.
• Bear fruit in every good work.
• Increase in the knowledge of God.
• Be strengthened with His glorious power to attain steadfastness of faith.
If you want to see your prayers become effective and life-changing, pray these verses for yourself and fellow believers. Then be patient and wait for God’s will to come to fruition.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/a-life-changing-prayer-2
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Navigating Tragedy
“But I called on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit. You heard me when I cried, “Listen to my pleading! Hear my cry for help!” Yes, you came when I called; you told me, “Do not fear.”” ~ Lamentations 3:55-57
Tragedy comes upon us like an unsuspected tide. We are walking along the beach, relatively content, feeling under control. And without warning, we find ourselves under water.
The fight for air is a real one.Tragedies hurt. The pain they inflict needs to be addressed. At some point in our lives, the wave of sorrow will cause us to tumble. But the Lord is available in the pit. He is there to hear us, to comfort us, to cast off our fear.
When tragedy strikes, we face vital choices. We must choose a perspective.
• Will we make excuses, cast blame, or hold grudges?
• Will we curse God?
• Or will we see Him as a source of comfort?
We must also choose a response.
Although we cannot sidestep or ignore sorrow, we can decide to whom we will call when our circumstances seem too hard to bear. We can decide whether to share our grief or hold it to ourselves.
To avoid is to ignore our grief. Wiping ourselves off and trying to go on as if nothing happened is not the proper response. God is near. We can call out to Him. The Lord hears us in tragedy. He sees our anguish and turns His ear to our cries.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://www.yellowballoons.net
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God Delights in You
“He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me.” ~ Psalm 18:19
I was blessed to grow up with parents who were positive, supportive, and encouraging. The words “I am proud of you” are one of their greatest legacies to me. I knew they loved me and showed it in a variety of very important ways. I knew they were very glad that I was their son.
If you did not grow up with that kind of advantage then the concepts of grace and unconditional love will be harder for you to accept. One of the reasons we send Biblical messages of encouragement is to help you hear God’s words and to help you trust in His boundless, joyful love and draw closer to Him. Psalm 18:19 is one such verse.
David wrote this psalm after escaping repeated attacks from Saul and his armies. A man who could have been a mentor and encourager for David became an implacable enemy. Other Psalms reflect David’s anguish during this very rough period in his life. David responded by seeking God even more and looking to Him for the support. God delivered Him.
The key phrase I want you to focus on concerns the reason God delivered David: “because He delights in me.” This phrase is joyful and exuberant! God delighted in David!
And God delights in you. Let that sink in. "He delights in you!" Even though you may not have been programmed from your childhood to hear and accept such truth, or perhaps because you have suffered rejection in adulthood at the hands of people who were once very close to you, you must trust and believe that God delights in you. He knows you deeply and individually as if you were the only person to know. He is capable of that kind of sustained regard and focus on you. His verdict: “I take delight in you.” And for that reason He will deliver you.
So whatever you face, or whatever handicap you have in life, accept God’s rich love for you.
Trust in it. Rely on it.
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~ published by: The Daily Encourager
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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.”
_________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/seeking-god-through-prayer-2023/
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The Riches of The Kingdom
"I counsel you to buy from Me gold that has been heated red hot and refined by fire so that you may become truly rich; and white clothes [representing righteousness] to clothe yourself so that the shame of your nakedness will not be seen; and healing salve to put on your eyes so that you may see." ~ Revelation 3:18
Humans are motivated by the pursuit of riches. We are drawn to concepts like value and worth. In a broken and imperfect world, these pursuits most often manifest in superficial ways. But we are unsatisfied by the wealth the world has to offer. Unfulfilled by the desires of the flesh. Our longing remains.
The Lord invites us to purchase from Him all the riches we want. God is not talking about money and possessions for self-serving purposes. He is talking about peace and wisdom so that we might worship Him through stewarding this precious life.
We are searching for the depth of treasure, the heart of true richness. Material wealth is only a means to an end. Instinctively, we know there is a greater end than material. And we hope money will help serve as a means to that end.
Through wealth or poverty, the true riches lie in how we live the life given us. How we see the world around us. If we ask God, He will grant us all the richness of His Kingdom. He will gift us with the opportunity to see the world from His perspective, which will transform the way we see all other things.
There is no greater treasure than wisdom. There is no fortune worth more than a true perspective. If we ask, He is there, ready to endow upon us the wealth of the Heavens, the transformational riches of true perspective.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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The Act of Serving
~ If you want to serve others but don't know how, just listen to the Holy Spirit's gentle prompts.
Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-8
Spiritual gifts assessments are popular for good reason — learning about ourselves is interesting, especially when it comes to our role in the church. In today’s passage, however, Paul says we shouldn’t just know our gifts; we must “use them properly” (v. 6, emphasis added).
The apostle, whose writing can be somewhat verbose, tells us the proper way to serve is “in the act of serving” (v. 7). That may not seem like much to go on, but there’s a beauty in the precision of his statement. He’s saying there aren’t fancy rules to abide by when helping others — the proper way to serve is simply to serve.
The Greek term Paul uses to mean “service” offers some clarity. At its most basic level, "diakonia" (from which we get the word “deacon”) means “waiting tables.” It refers to the idea of “active service, done with a willing attitude.” Furthermore, New Testament writers often use it in conjunction with the Greek term "pístis" (see v. 6), which means “faith, trust, or confidence.”
What does this mean for us?
We’re to help willingly and in faith, knowing the Holy Spirit empowers us. He will tell us what must be done and how. All we need to do is follow His lead and pitch in whenever and wherever we’re called.
It’s as simple as that!
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-act-of-serving
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Freedom’s Paradox
"A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls." ~ Proverbs 25:28
One of life’s paradoxes is how self-discipline gives us freedom. People without self-control live under the tyranny of whatever desires master them — pleasure, sleep, sex, indulgence, addictions, or hatred. When the Lord becomes the King of our life, He enables us to grow in the quality of self-control. It’s a fruit of the Spirit. As we’re released from our vices, we’re increasingly free to live healthy and happy lives.
To many people, the word freedom means doing anything you want whenever and wherever you want. But true freedom is impossible without constraint. Limitations don’t bring confinement — they enable freedom. Paul told Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7). Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…self-control.”
Identify any area of life in which you find yourself in bondage. Ask God to help you to allow His Spirit to work in your heart so that you will experience true freedom.
"Jesus, who lived such a remarkable life, has sent His Spirit to dwell in you. His goal is to reproduce Himself through you — the courage, the self-control, the love, everything." ~ Charles Stanley
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~ by David Jeremiah, Turning Point Ministries (https://www.davidjeremiah.org)
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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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A Beautiful Simplicity
~ Our giving should reflect the generosity and grace of our Lord.
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Today we return to Romans 12:8 to explore the next spiritual gift — generosity. As before, Paul’s directive is concise: “The one who gives” should do so “with generosity.” Our English translation may not seem to offer much guidance, but the Greek contains a beautiful visual we’d do well to examine.
The word Paul uses for “gives” is "metadidómi", and it means precisely what we think it should — “to share, bestow, or give a share of.” But he tells us we should give “with generosity.” In some translations, “liberality” or “generously” is used, but that doesn’t quite get at the heart of what he’s trying to say. The Greek word is "haplotés". We translate it as “simplicity, sincerity, purity, or graciousness,” but it literally means “not folded” or “not compounded or needlessly complex.” Imagine a bedsheet hanging on a laundry line — its wide, flat expanse drying in the afternoon sun is "haplotés". Compare that to a fitted sheet, which is all seams, puckers, and corners and utterly impossible to fold neatly.
Paul is saying that our giving should be straightforward, not tied up in some complicated system of rules or justifications. We shouldn’t put elaborate stipulations on our generosity or run down a strict checklist to see if someone is “worthy.” Rather, we should simply give of what we have as the Holy Spirit leads.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/a-beautiful-simplicity
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A lot of words of wisdom from you and tenac flowing through this forum lately. I love it! It's good to see open discussion back on the board!
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I Want To Be An Obed-Edom
David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household (2 Samuel 6:9-12).
It is important to give some background to this Scripture, as we must remember that the ark of God represented His power and presence to the nation of Israel. It was in the Tabernacle, behind the veil, where God’s presence dwelt and the sacrifices were offered on the Day of Atonement. I believe that the Ark was the most precious possession Israel had.
David dropped off the Ark while moving it to Jerusalem because he was afraid of God for slaying one of his men. While it was in the care of Obed-Edom, the Lord blessed the house and everything in it. Just like Obed-Edom, we need to make room in our lives and homes for the Lord. I am aware that every believer possesses the Holy Spirit within them. He is with us wherever we go, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all welcome the presence of the Lord or seek Him continually. I want to live in such a way that I welcome the Lord’s presence into my life daily. I want to wake up in the morning to experience Him. I want to commune with Him throughout the day, and I want to speak with Him as I prepare to lie down at night.
We shouldn’t come near to God just to receive His blessings, but it is good to receive His abundance. I want all the Lord has to offer. I want to experience His presence and power in my life. I desire that for my family, our church, and our land. Having the Lord’s presence will not prevent difficulty, but it sure helps as we face those trials. Are you interested in the Lord’s presence? Make Him welcome in your life!
As the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and his house, others began to notice. Eventually word came to David. Those who were aware of Obed-Edom’s blessings soon told the king of God’s goodness. He possessed a strong witness to the goodness and favor of God. The life of Obed-Edom testified of the God he served. This caused others to desire what Obed-Edom had.
• Wouldn’t it be great if every child of God possessed such a testimony?
• Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the world had to take notice of our relationship with Christ?
• What if we all lived in such a way that it created a desire in the hearts of others for what we possess in the Lord?
We have such an opportunity, but we must welcome the Lord into our lives as Obed-Edom did.
Never underestimate the power of a life lived for Christ. There is always someone watching your life. They are aware of your faith, and many are watching to see what it produces. If you are saved by grace, you have the Spirit abiding within. You have the ability to be an effective witness for the Lord. Obed-Edom didn’t do anything special. He simply welcomed the ark into his house and impacted the king.
• What would happen if we would welcome the Lord into every area of life?
I am certain our lives would reflect the Lord more than they currently do, and we would make a significant impact on the lives of others.
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~ by Edd Wilder, posted at Christian Voices
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Are Americans Eating Spiritual Pufferfish?
What do these stories have in common?
• A man cooked and ate a poisonous pufferfish that had been given to him, fell into a coma, and died thirty-five days later.
• A nineteen-year-old hiker was taking photos at a scenic overlook in Utah when the cliff he was standing on crumbled beneath him and he plunged to his death.
• A thirty-four-year-old man in Colorado was bitten by a Gila monster he kept as a pet and died four days later.
• A man in India jumped into a zoo enclosure to take a selfie with a lion who then mauled him to death.
Obviously, none of them knew their decisions would lead to their deaths.
However, can someone who is sincere be sincerely wrong? Can a nation?
“Is it true that man is above everything?”
I came across an article this week highlighting Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s 1978 commencement address at Harvard University. When I reread the exiled dissident’s words, I knew I needed to share some of them with you today.
How well do they describe America’s culture forty-six years later?
Solzhenitsyn warned:
"The fight for our planet, physical and spiritual, a fight of cosmic proportions, is not a vague matter of the future; it has already started. The forces of Evil have begun their decisive offensive. You can feel their pressure, yet your screens and publications are full of prescribed smiles and raised glasses. What is the joy about?"
He diagnosed the root of the problem:
"We have lost the concept of a Supreme Complete Entity which used to restrain our passions and our irresponsibility. We have placed too much hope in politics and social reforms, only to find out that we were being deprived of our most precious possession: our spiritual life."
Then he prescribed the solution:
"Since [man’s] body is doomed to death, his task on earth evidently must be more spiritual: not a total engrossment in everyday life, not the search for the best ways to obtain material goods and then their carefree consumption. It has to be the fulfillment of a permanent, earnest duty so that one’s life journey may become above all an experience of moral growth. . . ."
"Only by the voluntary nurturing in ourselves of freely accepted and serene self-restraint can mankind rise above the world stream of materialism."
Solzhenitsyn concluded:
"Even if we are spared destruction by war, life will have to change in order not to perish on its own. We cannot avoid reassessing the fundamental definitions of human life and human society."
• "Is it true that man is above everything?"
• "Is there no Superior Being above him?"
• "Is it right that man’s life and society’s activities should be ruled by material expansion above all?"
• "Is it permissible to promote such expansion to the detriment of our integral spiritual life?"
In his view, “We shall have to rise to a new height of vision, to a new level of life. . . . This ascension is similar to climbing onto the next anthropological stage. No one on earth has any other way left but — upward.”
The wisest course of action:
Would you allow me to ask you some hard questions I’m asking myself this morning?
• Have you “placed too much hope in politics and social reforms”?
• Is your life focused on “the search for the best ways to obtain material goods and then their carefree consumption”?
• Is your life “ruled by material expansion above all”?
When we are going in the wrong direction, the wisest course of action is to reverse course. This is why Jesus began His public ministry by calling on those who heard Him to “repent,” to make a spiritual U-turn from their sins to their Savior (Mark 1:15).
This is our Father’s urgent call to us still today. If you are hearing a voice assuring you that this call is not for you, you’re being deceived by the “father of lies” (John 8:44).
St. Augustine was right:
“God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.”
Your Father has a “new level of life” waiting for any who make Him their unconditional King and Lord (John 10:10). This is the “next anthropological stage” for humanity.
Let’s choose it together, to the glory of God.
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~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/are-americans-eating-spiritual-pufferfish/
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There is much concerning spiritual beings, physical incarnations of spiritual beings, resurrections into a physical and/or spiritual being, etc. that we, as ordinary humans, cannot understand this side of heaven. Scripture is full of many instances where the writer has declared that this type of wisdom is greater than we can comprehend. There are many things of God that I find too high and lofty for me in my current mortal walk upon this earth, but one day I do believe that all will be known to me:
"For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:12
I say all of this to say - that I don't have a good response to your thought-provoking post, but I do appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this topic! Do have a blessed weekend!
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The Angels’ Intrigue
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:10-12
When we think about angels, we consider them superior beings. They dwell in the realm of the divine, carrying out direct orders from God, and watching over us with care.
According to 1 Peter, the angels also watch over us with great consideration. They are fascinated by the unique ability of humans. Enraptured by the part we have to play. The angels look on us with intrigue and, perhaps, a certain modicum of jealousy.
What is it that we have that would fascinate the angels?
Faith.
The ability to make our choices. The courage to believe in things unseen, to put our deepest trust in something we cannot fully understand. There is a profound beauty to the mystery of being human. Our unique place in the cosmos is a place of honor.
We love to cast ourselves in certain roles. We focus on the weakness of our position. We take for granted the great opportunities in front of us.
Faith is the intrigue of angels and humanity’s incredibly unique opportunity. The mystery of meaning on this earth. The divine drama played out in every human life.
True perspective invites us to see from many angles. It helps us better understand our place in the divine drama. It ushers greater depths of self-awareness, ownership, and thankfulness.
What will the angels whisper of us today?
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
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The Believer’s Impact
~ Ask God to help you make your days count for eternity.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:19-20
The Lord has given us talents and abilities so that we can serve Him and make a difference in our circle of influence, no matter its size.
To maximize our impact, we must develop a lifestyle of prayer, because talking to God is essential for effective ministry. Conversation with Him prepares our mind for communicating to others — the simplest words can have amazing results when He directs. And the Lord has also promised to respond to our requests according to His perfect will.
Our Father wants us to use our spiritual gifts to bless others. So let’s keep in mind that acts of service can speak clearly of His love and compassion. As we become salt and light, God will expand our sphere of influence beyond what we could imagine.
Suggested Prayer:
“Lord, I give You control over my life so You can affect others through my words and actions. Make my days count for eternity however You choose — do not let me waste them. Live Your life through me in such a way that many recognize their need for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-believer-s-impact
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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."
_________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/eternity-right-now-2023/
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What He Prayed
The fact that Jesus took time to pray for His followers shortly before He went to the cross is humbling and astonishing. Now consider what He prayed from John 17:
• He prayed for His followers to have joy. (vv 6-13)
• He prayed for His followers to be protected from the evil one. (vv 14-16)
• He prayed for His followers to be made holy. (vv 17-10)
• He prayed for His followers to know unity. (vv 20-26)
But notice this, the first thing He prayed for was His followers "to know Him":
"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." ~ John 17:3
He wanted those who were and would become His followers to experience Him completely, not just know "about Him". Not just memorize His words and stories so you can repeat them and sound like You know Him.
Knowing someone is dramatically different from knowing about them. Jesus wants His followers to know Him so that we can help others know Him.
He prayed for His followers to know Him. This is eternal life.
Is there anything more important?
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~ by Tom Norvell, A Norvell Note © Copyright 2024 (https://www.anorvellnote.net)
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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).
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/evidence-of-the-lord
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The Question of Inerrancy
~ Do you believe that all of the Bible is true?
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Key Verse:
"All Scripture is inspired by God [breathed out by God; the Scripture is the product of God’s Spirit working through men] and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Have you ever wondered about the supposed inconsistencies critics point out in the Bible? Such things might leave you questioning how to tell what’s truly God’s Word and what isn’t. The answer is simple: God is the final authority. The Sovereign of the universe had no trouble keeping His Word pure. As 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God.”
Reading the Bible as a whole document reveals that each part is consistent with every other. God allowed for writers’ differences in viewpoint and background, which at times can give the appearance of discrepancy. But further study always reveals how the various parts fit together. Consider, for example, the gospels’ different angles on a story. Writing to Jewish people, Matthew emphasizes history and the fulfillment of messianic prophecy. John tells a love story about a Savior willing to die for the world. While both authors traveled in Jesus’ company, their perspectives differed. Yet in the fundamentals, they and the other two writers are consistent.
It is critical for believers to trust in the inerrancy of the Scriptures. A flawed book could only be the product of man’s hand, but the Bible is the authoritative Word of God. His Spirit did the talking, no matter whose hand wrote the message.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-question-of-inerrancy-2
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I believe that we all struggle with this - if not cars and trucks - then any number of other "worldly" desires that draw us away from our Godly calling. The Lord told us that in this world we would have struggles, and I believe that statement to be all encompassing of the evil temptations that bombard us 24/7, as well as, physical and mental persecution. We must daily "stand strong" and put on the full armor of God. Be blessed and have a great day!
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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.
_______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/trial-vs-temptation/
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He Is Righteous
"Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, just as Christ is righteous." ~ 1 John 3:7
The plea for righteousness is an essential theme in the Bible. The word righteousness is not something we use in everyday speech, so it has lost some of its flavor.
“Righteousness” is a translation of the Greek word "dikaiosyne". It is also translated “justice". Plato’s Republic focuses on the meaning of dikaiosyne. The dialogue concludes that dikaiosyne occurs when a group of people serve one another to the maximum benefit of all. Not because they are compelled, but because they choose to do so.
Dikaiosyne is teamwork. When a group of talented people all choose to use their gifts to play their position to their utmost ability, they are practicing dikaiosyne. Righteousness is a beneficial harmony that we choose.
Another English word we use to translate dikaiosyne is “justice”. Justice in English means to ”line up with a standard”. Like “right justify” lines up with a right margin.
The Biblical standard of justice or righteousness is unity. But not unity for the sake of unity. People can unify around evil. True righteousness is when each of us chooses to do what we do best to benefit others. To serve. To love.
Righteousness is choosing to serve others, to seek their best interest by living and speaking the truth. When we choose this perspective, listen to God and act accordingly, we are following this admonition. Righteousness is living in a manner that serves others. We either do it, and in so doing follow Jesus’ example, or we don’t. It is not about talk. We can deceive with claims. But true righteousness is following the [Jesus] Way in our daily lives.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/he-is-righteous/
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Thank you for the deep-dive into the distinct - but synergistic - aspects of willful disobedience! I had never considered the three having separate meaning. Have a great week!
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Word Made Flesh
~ Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we can have peace with God.
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5
Isaiah 40 reveals a shift in God’s communication with His people. In the previous 39 chapters, He spoke through the prophet about their sin and called them to repentance. But as chapter 40 begins, God’s emphasis moves from judgment to the hope of restoration.
Imagine the surprise the Israelites felt as they heard His words to the prophet: “Comfort, comfort My people ... Speak kindly to Jerusalem” (Isaiah 40:1-2). They no longer heard words of condemnation for their disobedience. God, in His mercy, declared their sins removed.
But that wasn’t all He had to say. Verses 3 and 5 point to a more profound truth that deserved a triumphant procession: “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness ... Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together.”
What glory would be revealed for all to see? Those words told of Jesus — God’s Word made flesh (John 1:14), who paid the ultimate price to fully restore us to God. Jesus, the One the angels announced as they filled the sky in worship, declaring, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14 NLT).
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/word-made-flesh
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The Bible: God’s Love Letter to Mankind
~ Our Creator preserved His message in writing because He wants you to be part of His eternal family.
Scripture Reading:
"These things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled." ~ Romans 15:4
How amazing to consider that the Bible was compiled by 40 men writing in 3 languages on 3 continents over 1,500 years! Gather a group of people from just one generation, and you will have neither the consistency nor the unified philosophy and mission found in God’s Word.
Each book of the Bible reflects its human author’s personality and background. For example, Moses was the political leader of the Israelites in the desert; Daniel rose to the rank of prime minister while a captive in Babylon; and Paul, the well-educated former Pharisee, wrote his letters from prison. Yet every word remained true to God’s central theme — that His love redeems those who call on His name.
In 2 Peter 1:21, we learn why the Bible is cohesive: God Himself spoke through each human writer. In some cases, the Holy Spirit brought to mind essential details (John 14:26), as when certain material was passed down orally for the Old Testament or the Gospels. Then, to enable the writing of prophecies, psalms, and letters, God’s Spirit revealed important truths (John 16:15).
The heavenly Father loves you and wants you to spend eternity with Him. For this reason, He used men from every walk of life to record His gospel message.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-bible-god-s-love-letter-to-mankind
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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.
_________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/passionate-pursuit-2023/
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A Promised Hope
~ If you are in a season of waiting, don't become discouraged — the Lord always delivers.
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:1-6
Sometimes it can be hard to grasp how much time passed between events in the Bible. After the Old Testament’s completion, for instance, 400 years passed before God’s next direct revelation.
Let’s put that span in terms we can better comprehend. In 1620, the Pilgrims landed on the shores of what would become Massachusetts. That was 404 years ago. Think of all that has happened since then — everything from the American Revolution to man walking on the moon to the creation of artificial intelligence. God’s people waited that long without a word from the Lord! While many grew despondent, others clung to hope.
Anna, for example, was a widow and prophetess who served at the temple in Jerusalem, waiting for Israel’s redemption. She trusted that “A shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse ... and the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him” (Isaiah 11:1-2). This promised Messiah would bring order, strength, counsel, and wisdom as He delighted in the Lord, and He would make everything right.
Then, at the appointed time, Anna witnessed the miracle of fulfilled prophecy as she gazed into the face of the tiny baby Jesus. In response, she praised and thanked God for being faithful to His promise (Luke 2:38). Like her, we can praise God, secure in the knowledge that God will do all He says He will do.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/a-promised-hope
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Hobby Lobby Founders Show Christians How to Respond to Cultural Animosity
This Salon headline caught my eye: “Hobby Lobby-funded Jesus Super Bowl ads can’t hide the hate that fuels the Christian right.” The article blasted the “He Gets Us” campaign as a “bait-and-switch, trying to lure unchurched people in with a phony message of love and acceptance, only to push them into joining up with the MAGA movement.”
The writer notes that the campaign is partly funded by the Green family and claims that “their life mission, besides getting rich by selling cheap tchotchkes, is to push their brand of far-right Christianity on the country.” The writer then uses more hateful rhetoric as she continues to accuse the family of hatred.
I cannot imagine that she has actually met the Green family. If she did, she would have to know that they are the furthest thing from a hateful threat to our country.
A few years ago, I was privileged to spend some time with them before an event in Washington, DC, at which we both spoke. They were remarkably gracious, humble, and caring. Their extreme generosity has touched millions of lives around the world with compassion and grace.
The night before we met, one of our team members happened to be in our hotel lobby when David Green, the founder of Hobby Lobby, checked in. The receptionist noticed his name tag and asked, “Do you work for Hobby Lobby?”
He smiled and answered, “Yes.”
You are called to this cultural moment:
• Does seeing such animosity against a family that holds historic, orthodox Christian beliefs feel discouraging to you?
• In the face of such rising threats to our faith and our future, do you sometimes feel overwhelmed and wonder if you can make a difference that matters?
My wife and I were discussing this issue yesterday and she noted: We are not responsible for changing the world, only our part of it. We may not be able to impact the “culture,” but we can impact the lives we influence. We are not personally accountable for the direction of our nation, but we are personally accountable for the way we relate to the people we meet today.
God called me into this ministry to speak truth to culture. But while I can write words that will be read by a large audience (for which I am daily humbled and grateful), you can actually live biblical truth in ways that make you the salt and light your part of our world desperately needs.
In fact, God has entrusted to you capacities and influence He has given no one else. He called you to both the place where you live and the time in which you live. If He couldn’t use you in this cultural moment, you wouldn’t be living in this cultural moment. He didn’t commission you to fail — He commissioned you to advance His kingdom through your intercession and influence.
What are some practical ways to be cultural missionaries today?
One: Expect opposition from those who oppose our Lord.
As the “father of lies” (John 8:44), Satan “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Consequently, to quote my wife again, we should expect lost people to act like lost people. You and I did the same before we experienced the transforming love and grace of God.
Jesus was blunt: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). When we suffer for our Savior, we can choose the example of our spiritual ancestors who, when they were beaten for their faith, “left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Christ” (Acts 5:41).
Two: Treat others as Christ treats us.
You and I are no better than those who have not yet experienced the grace of God’s love. Thus, following the example of Jesus, we should “pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44), forgiving them as we have been forgiven (Colossians 3:13).
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. observed:
"Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Three: Share the grace we have received.
When we truly experience God’s love, we cannot be the same. As Pope St. Clement I (AD 35–99) wrote to the Corinthians:
If we review the various ages of history, we will see that in every generation the Lord has offered the opportunity of repentance to any who were willing to turn to Him. When Noah preached God’s message of repentance, all who listened to him were saved. Jonah told the Ninevites they were going to be destroyed, but when they repented, their prayers gained God’s forgiveness for their sins, and they were saved, even though they were not God’s people."
"Accordingly, we should obey His sovereign and glorious will and prayerfully entreat His mercy and kindness. We should be suppliant before Him and turn to His compassion, rejecting empty works and quarreling and jealousy which only lead to death."
And we should share the gifts of grace we have received, remembering Jesus’ promise:
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Will you be “blessed” today?
______________
~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/hobby-lobby-founders-show-christians-how-to-respond-to-cultural-animosity/
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The Cicadas Double Emergence of 2024 (light blue & brown):
https://earthsky.org/earth/cicadas-trillions-emerging-2-broods-spring-2024-us/
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Fear Not
"Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?"
"No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!"
~ Romans 8:35,37-39
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The Daily Article — February 16, 2024
Is Russia sending nukes to space?
~ How to respond with faith when we’re right to be afraid.
News broke yesterday that Russia is developing a space-based nuclear weapon that “the United States does not have the ability to counter.”
This is what we know so far:
• The weapon would be intended to attack other satellites, potentially crippling space-based surveillance, civilian communications, and the military’s ability to coordinate and control operations.
• To this point, it does not appear that the weapon could be used to target locations on the ground.
• Russia does not appear ready to deploy the weapon at the moment, though it is unclear what their timeline for doing so might be.
• Should Russia — or any other nation — send nuclear weapons into space, it would violate the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. China, Russia, and the United States have all signed that treaty, but it remains one of the few from that era still in effect.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with representatives from the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday to discuss the president’s planned response.
Committee chairman Mike Turner said of the briefing:
“We all came away with a very strong impression that the administration is taking this very seriously and that the administration has a plan in place. We look forward to supporting them as they go to implement it.”
Should we be afraid?
Further details have been withheld in order to protect intelligence sources, and both the administration and Congress have been quick to note that there does not appear to be an immediate threat. Still, the nature of the response to date would seem to indicate that the danger is more than hypothetical.
When asked if he could tell Americans not to worry, Mr. Sullivan replied that it was “impossible to answer with a straight ‘yes.’”
After all, Russia does not necessarily have to use the weapon in order for it to have a potentially catastrophic impact. Simply sending it into orbit would be enough to fundamentally shift the way that other world powers like the US and China see space as a battleground. That’s why the 1967 agreement was signed in the first place.
And though the White House has stated that they do not intend to withdraw from the treaty even if Russia does, the uproar over the mere possibility that Russia will be the first to take that step demonstrates just how fragile those agreements can be.
Christ’s Most Challenging Command:
In times like this, I’m reminded of one of Christ’s most challenging commands: “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34).
The Greek phrase typically translated as “do not be anxious” is “me merimnao”, and it carries the idea of being “divided into parts” or “pulled in opposite directions.”
The idea is not that we never feel the emotions of fear or anxiety. After all, God never commands us how to feel. Rather, His instruction pertains to what we do with those emotions and the degree to which we allow them to control our thoughts and actions.
The sin against which we are warned is feeding our anxiety by dwelling on it instead of giving it back to God and trusting that our fears are not greater than our heavenly Father. And while that’s often easier said than done, choosing faith in the midst of fear can make a remarkable difference in how others perceive that faith.
Redeeming Anxiety:
Anxiety is an emotion common to all people, and dealing with fear is a struggle to which all of us can relate, even if the specific cause of concern varies from person to person.
Whether it’s Russian nukes and the threat of World War III, or something closer to home like stress at work or a strained relationship with family, being honest about our fears without letting them pull us in a thousand directions can demonstrate the power and authenticity of the gospel to those who desperately need to encounter both.
So don’t be naïve about the dangers we face, and don’t feel as though you have to act like everything is alright if it’s not. That’s not faith; it’s ignorance.
Instead, let God use those fears as a way of drawing you closer to Him and to remind you that He is still greater than any troubles we face in this world.
That’s how we can escape the anxiety that is ripping so many parts of our world apart and help others learn to do the same.
How stretched do you feel today?
______________
~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/is-russia-sending-nukes-to-space/
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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!!!
________________
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
~ 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 Impact of Forgiveness
~ God's grace and kindness to us should naturally flow to others.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:21-35
When Peter asked Jesus about forgiveness, he probably thought he was being generous by asking if seven times was enough. In a place and time where grace and mercy were in short supply, the disciple likely felt himself incredibly charitable. So imagine his surprise when Jesus replied, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but 70 times seven” (Matthew 18:22).
Jesus then shared the parable of a slave who owed the king a great debt. The king felt compassion, released him, and forgave the debt. But later, the man found someone who owed him a smaller amount. Rather than extend a portion of the grace he’d received, the slave demanded payment and punished the other man until he could pay it all. Hearing of this wickedness, the king called back the slave who had shown no mercy to a fellow worker. Then the king withdrew his generous offer and handed the slave over to jailors to work off every single denarius he owed.
May an unmerciful mindset never be true of us.
When we truly grasp the depth of what Jesus did on the cross (Colossians 2:14), we should be eager to grant and freely share that gift with others. Forgiveness becomes a natural outpouring of the indwelling power of God within us, allowing us to forgive to the extreme — just as we are forgiven.
______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-impact-of-forgiveness
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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.
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~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/renewal-of-perspective-2023/
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The University of Adversity
"We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
It’s hard to find anyone in Christian history who became a great leader without earning an advanced degree at the "University of Adversity". John Bunyan (1628-1688), the author of "The Pilgrim’s Progress", grew up in poverty and taught himself to read. As a young man, he struggled with feelings of not being forgiven by God and was tortured by visions of eternal punishment. His devout wife helped him to overcome his fear, but then, while she was still in her twenties, she died of a sudden illness. In his grief, Bunyan devoted himself to preaching. The English government, however, repeatedly imprisoned him for preaching without a license.
On one occasion, Bunyan was sentenced to three months in prison, but when he told the officials he intended to go on preaching, his sentence was extended to 12 years. John Bunyan experienced God’s presence in a special way while he was in prison. In fact, it was in his cell that he penned his enduring classic, "The Pilgrim’s Progress". It’s a book that could only have been written by a soul that was refined by the fires of adversity.
God has a mission for your life and mine. But before we can carry out that mission, we will often go through the boot camp of adversity. If this is where you find yourself today, ask God to give you His grace to walk through this time with you. He promised He would never leave or forsake us.
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~ published by: The Daily Encourager
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On Glorious Display
~ Our Creator lovingly crafted each of us into a masterpiece to reveal His glorious love.
Scripture Reading:
"I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well." ~ Psalm 139:14
Did you ever study Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting “The Starry Night”? It’s a captivating blend of circles and swirls that form a dreamlike sky. On one level, it’s intriguing to picture yourself in the scene and imagine the vivid sights and gentle breeze implied by the curling forms. But if you look more closely, you’ll begin to see nothing about the painting is haphazard. Every stroke of blue, yellow, green, white, and purple is unique and intentional, creating contrast between sky and stars. The combination of colors brings depth and richness to the composition, and each hue is enriched because it exists in harmony with those around it.
As beautiful as van Gogh’s masterwork might be, it pales in comparison to what the Creator has accomplished in us, His beloved children. We believers are each a unique blend of personality, gifts, and experiences that God has mixed together and continually applies so we simultaneously enhance and are enhanced by those around us.
What an honor it is to be God’s handiwork!
While every Christian is a small piece of the whole of creation, we never lose our distinctiveness or get lost in the grandeur of the big picture. Quite the contrary — God knows exactly where we are and keeps us in mind as He adds others to His magnum opus.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/on-glorious-display
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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.
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~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/renewal-of-conscience-2023/
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