Beyond Ourselves Podcast
If You’re Down
Are you down or discouraged? Do you feel the heaviness of oppression? Are you down on yourself or disappointed in someone? Do you feel betrayed? The apostle Paul, whom God used mightily, had ample opportunity to be discouraged. Lonely nights. Conflicting opinions among believers. Physical sufferings. Wrongful imprisonments. Yet, in Romans 15:5-6 he writes, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul got his encouragement from God. He got his encouragement from singing praises to Him. If we’re down, what can we do? Turn off the TV. Go to God in prayer. Open our Bibles. Receive His encouragement.
Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for ENCOURAGING us deep down, in our innermost beings. Help us persevere by keeping our minds on You.
Go for the Supreme
Do you like supreme pizzas? I do! They have everything on them. They’re the best when it comes to pizza in my opinion. But one thing that isn’t an opinion but rather a fact is that there is a Supreme God and He is everything for which our hearts could yearn. Genesis 1:1 explains. “In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth.” GOD is Elohim and scholar Charles Ryrie explains that Elohim is a generic term for deity as well as a proper name for the true god. Its basic meaning is ‘strong one, mighty leader, supreme Deity.’ There is no one and no God more supreme than the Lord Jesus Christ whom we worship. Go to Him. Bow before Him. Call on Him in praise and worship. Ask Him for your needs. He is all you could ever want.
Supreme God, we bow in worship and praise of You, for how You have revealed Your majesty to us, for how You’ve reached down and saved us, for how You will raise us up to be in Your presence one day, for the many ways You watch over us and protect us. It is with unspeakable reverence we praise You!
Where to “Hang Out”
Where is home to you, the place you hang out to find comfort, love, and security? If it’s not God, you’re missing out on the ultimate DWELLING PLACE: God Himself. Deuteronomy 33:27 says, “The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath is the everlasting arms.” When you’re tired and want to rest, when you’re excited and want to share good news, when you’ve messed up and need someone to confess to, when you’re stumped and need advice, go to God. He is a dwelling place; a place where we can hang out, the best place of all.
Eternal God, You are our DWELLING PLACE. Help us remember to “hang out” with You as we would our dearest family member or friend.
Knock Knock
How would you describe yourself? Would you use “DOOR” to communicate with others who you are? I certainly wouldn’t. But Jesus did. In John 10:9 He said, “I am the DOOR; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved,…” Why would Jesus describe Himself as a door? He wants us to know that there is an “outside” of heaven and an “inside” of heaven. Heaven is a place and we are “outside” until we go “into” heaven through Jesus. Make no mistake. Everyone will not live eternally “in” heaven. Only those who enter through Jesus will be in heaven. Our Heavenly Father sends a personal invitation to you to enter eternal life in heaven through the forgiveness of your sins Jesus paid on the cross. No knocking required. Just a prayer. Acknowledge your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you. Receive the gift of His forgiveness and Holy Spirit. Learn more at Meet Jesus.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for opening the DOOR to heaven through Your sacrifice on the cross.
“Door” is one of God’s 26 character traits in my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion. Learn more HERE.
Feast Your Eyes On This Crown
Throughout time, people have sat on thrones and worn diadems. Some leaders have worn their crowns well and brought honor to their people. Others have brought shame. The later was the case with the chief tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel at the time of Isaiah. In contrast to the drunken leaders who wore crowns of shame; Isaiah 28:5 says of the LORD, “In that day the LORD of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people.” The LORD GOD is a CROWN of BEAUTY. He is a DIADEM OF BEAUTY. If we’re looking for someone on whom to rest our eyes, we need look no further than the Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus, CROWN of GLORY, DIADEM of BEAUTY, we praise You!
Ho-Hum or DIVINE
DIVINE. We often use the word casually. “This cake is divine!” Or, “It was a divine vacation.” However, 2 Peter 1:3-4 uses “divine” in relation to God’s power and nature. “His DIVINE power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the DIVINE nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” These are incredible truths for us to grasp. Christ’s DIVINE power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness! Christ has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises so that by them we may become partakers of the DIVINE NATURE. It isn’t God’s intention that we live a ho-hum or defeated life. Far from it. He’s GIVEN US His DIVINE NATURE, POWER, and PROMISES. Are we living by them?
Lord Jesus, You are DIVINE power and life. Thank You for Your precious and magnificent promises by which we become partakers of Your divine nature. We worship and adore You!
A “Go To” Resort
Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Nice verse, right? No, not nice verse. It’s an incredible verse. Fear is coursing through the veins of people. “What will happen to our nation/world? What will happen to my children and grandchildren? What will happen to me?” This is not God’s intention for us. Let’s look at the meaning of some of the psalmist words and rethink why Psalm 34:4 should be our testimony. “Sought” in this verse means “resort to.” Think vacation. You leave and go to a place that revives you. This is what we can do spiritually rather than trek through our day with fear. We can trip off to heaven. We can “resort to” the LORD in our spirit through prayer. What happened when the psalmist resorted to the Lord? God answered him and delivered him from all his fears. The word “deliver” means “snatch.” The Lord snatched him away from his fears. Friends, what a blessing to know that when we resort to the Lord rather than resort to worry and imagining the worst, He snatches us from our fear. That’s the best vacation we could take in our worrisome day.
Heavenly Father, thank You that we aren’t stuck in fear. Rather, we can resort to You.
Show Me that You Love Me
Have you ever wished someone would do more than tell they love you; they would SHOW you? Romans 5:8 explains that is what God did when He sent Jesus to earth. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Then, Jesus SHOWED us how much He loves us dying on the cross for our sins so we could live eternally in heaven. He showed the greatest love, as explained in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than one lay down his life for his friends.” God the Father and Son proved their love. They DEMONSTRATED their love. If you think you’re unloved, think again! They’ve shown you.
Thank You, Lord, for DEMONSTRATING Your love by saving us. Please help us increasingly demonstrate Your love to others.
One More Reason to Praise God If You’re a Believer
Would you rather God contend – plead a cause – for you or against you? If the answer is you’d rather God contend “for you,” then you have reason to jump and down for joy! Isaiah 51:22 states, “Thus says your Lord, the Lord, even your God who contends for His people, ‘Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling, the chalice of My anger; You will never drink it again.’” Yes. A hallelujah with hands raised in praise is more than appropriate!
Lord, You CONTEND for us, not against us. We praise You with arms lifted high!
Here’s a Good Reason to Follow the Owner’s Manual
Have you ever wondered about the “why” behind God’s commands? If so, it helps to realize that since He created us, as Isaiah 40:28 explains, He knows what is beneficial to us and what hurts us. For instance, when the Scriptures were written, they didn’t have the research on the harmful effects of worry and stress. So, Jesus simply stated in Matthew 6:34, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” They didn’t have the research on the destructive nature of bitterness so God simply commanded in Ephesians 4:31-32 to forgive and put bitterness away from us. In other words, God’s commands are in our best interests. They help us run smoothly and go through life better than if we ignore them, just as a car owner’s manual is written so the car will run optimally. If we’re wise, we’ll read and follow our Owner’s manual. In what area do you need to do that?
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable,” Isaiah 40:28.
Heavenly Father, Lord and CREATOR, forgive us for too often ignoring Your commands. Draw us to Your Holy Presence and to surrender to Your will.