Beyond Ourselves Podcast
Why Jesus Instead of a Psychic Reader
Have you ever called the psychic hotline or used Tarot cards to find out your future? If so, you’ll be encouraged to know there’s a better option. Ezekiel 13:7 tells us that rather than seek knowledge by means of divination such as Tarot cards or a psychic hotline, to look to “…Jesus the Nazarene, who was a PROPHET mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,” Luke 24:19. Yes, in love, God tells us to look to Jesus and the Bible for wisdom, insight, and comfort. When we yearn to know the future and what to do, we are to read the Bible and to pray, “Lord, direct me.” Jesus is the One we are to seek. He is the One we can trust.
CHECK OUT: Prayers for Different Occasions
Jesus, You are God’s PROPHET who speaks truth. May we seek and obey You.
How To Get Through the Next 86,400 Seconds
I’M ON MY WAY TO THE West Virginia PRAY CONFERENCE on September 7! Prayers, please, for safe travel, God’s anointing, and an outpouring of people attend; for salvation for seekers, and recommitments by Christians to pray more purposefully and live more passionately for Christ. Thank you!
Have you ever wondered how you were going to make it through the next 86,400 seconds? (24 hours) You may have even said to someone, “I need help and I need it now,” but felt like your plea wasn’t heard. If your thoughts are going places they shouldn’t go or your emotions are spiraling, look to God who is described in Psalm 46:1 as not just a future help to us in heaven, but rather as a very PRESENT HELP. Commentator Charles Ryrie explains “Very PRESENT HELP can have the idea of ‘well-proved help.'” In other words, we don’t have to hope God can help us. Rather, we can rest assured that God is present and He is reliable. We can pray, “God, thank You for being present with me. Please help me now.” How does His help come? In different ways. He may strengthen us to get through what seems impossible. He may send a person who offers their help. Let’s keep our eyes and hearts open to the help He provides and thank Him for it.
Lord, thank You for being PRESENT to HELP us. Help us keep our eyes on You and trust each day to You.
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“God is our refuge and strength, A very PRESENT HELP in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
Are You Living with Disappointment?
Life is wonderful, but would you agree that it can sometimes be disappointing? Yes, we might like to dream of a different life, but it’s not always possible. God said in Exodus 20:9 that work is a part of our life. “Six days you shall labor and do all your work.” Jesus said, as recorded in John 2:24 that He didn’t entrust Himself to any man, knowing what is in man. So what or who can we build our lives on so we’re not disappointed? Jesus. First Peter 2:6 describes the hope to which we look: “I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him (Jesus) will not be disappointed.” There’s that word – disappointed. If we’re disappointed in ourselves, another person, or a situation, we do well to remember that we live in a temporary world. Christ is God’s precious corner stone on which our heavenly future is built. We may be living with disappointment today. We will not be disappointed in heaven.
Lord Jesus, You are the PRECIOUS CORNER STONE. Thank you that even though we may experience disappointment in this life, we will not experience it in heaven with You.
Where is Jesus When Natural Disasters Occur
Wildfires. Flooding. Volcanoes. Tornadoes. Earthquakes. Have you been affected by a natural disaster that killed a loved one, destroyed your livelihood, injured a loved one or caused you physical harm? Have you lost everything and in devastation raised your fist and asked God why? There are many questions we won’t have answered until heaven. But we can know this for sure. Jesus explained to the disciples that our current world is under the rule of Satan. He wanted us to know that and that He is praying for us. What is Jesus praying? Among the myriad of things, we know that He prays as in Luke 22:32, that our faith not fail. John 17:15, 24 record Jesus’s prayer that we be kept from the evil one and we see His glory. When we watch loving Christians respond to those suffering natural disasters, we’re seeing the face and hands of God.
Lord Jesus, thank You that You care for us and pray for us. Thank You for those who reach out to others in times of crisis.
When you feel like your life is spinning out of control, remember this
It’s messy. It’s hands on. It’s commitment. It’s time consuming. It’s up close and personal. What is messy, hands on, and up close? Being a potter, which is the way God is described in Isaiah 64:8. “O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our POTTER; And all of us are the work of Your hand.” If you feel like your life is spinning out of control, remember that you’re in the divine Potter’s hands. He’s not going to let you fly off His Potter’s wheel. Rather, just the opposite. He’s molding and shaping you into a vessel of honor and glory.
Heavenly Father, we praise You that YOU are our Potter. Thank You for being intimate with us; for shaping us into a vessel who will serve Your purposes.
Is Holy Fear Good or Bad
Does a holy fear ever rise in you? What kind of holy fear? The good kind. A reverential fear. An overwhelming acknowledgement of God’s greatness and our smallness. Utter awe at the thought of standing in God’s majestic presence. Tear filled sorrow for those who don’t know Jesus. Trembling for those who flagrantly defy God and set themselves against Him. One day every person will give an account of their lives to God, who Genesis 14:19 describes as “…God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.” Christ tells us that those who deny God will spend eternity apart from Him. If we’re in a relationship of saving faith with Jesus, what are we doing to make sure others know Him? May holy fear cause us to think more of others than of ourselves; to speak to the unsaved about Jesus, and pray for them.
Heavenly Father, POSSESSOR of HEAVEN & EARTH, how comforting to know that because of Jesus we will live eternally in Your presence. Stir our hearts to share the good news with those who are walking in darkness.
When You Can’t Seem to Please Anyone
Do you ever feel like you can’t please anyone? Or, at least you can’t please someone you want to please? Maybe it’s a co-worker, spouse, parent, child, or friend. You do your best, but it seems they’re never satisfied. Trying to please people who are never pleased can cause us to feel defeated and drained. Unless we keep in mind that we can’t please everybody, and we focus on pleasing the most important person – our Heavenly Father. Jesus models doing that, even when others were disappointed in Him. For instance, the disciples were no doubt shockingly disappointed when Jesus didn’t resist being crucified. Martha and Mary were disappointed when Jesus delayed coming to their sick brother’s side. John 8:29 explains Jesus’s position. ”He (the Father) who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” No, we can’t always please others. But we can follow Christ’s example of pleasing our Heavenly Father.
Following are some of the ways Jesus pleased the Father. Which are you already doing? Which do you want to begin doing?
- Jesus used Scripture to stand against Satan’s temptations. We can do that.
- Jesus shared His Father’s kingdom principles, how to be forgiven, and how to be saved. We can do that.
- Jesus was sensitive to others and reached out to them. We can do that.
- Jesus looked up in prayer and thanked His Father for hearing Him. We can do that.
- Jesus prayed before He made decisions. We can do that.
- Jesus followed His Father’s leading rather than doing things on His own initiative. We can do that.
Heavenly Father, as Jesus was well-pleasing to You, help us please You.
If Jesus Is the Great Physician, Why Didn’t He Heal …
Life is filled with joy, but also pain. Sometimes the most painful questions we ask are why didn’t God heal a loved one or friend? If you’ve had those questions, you’re not alone. We don’t know the answer to many questions. In times of pain, when we don’t understand and we don’t have answers, we look in faith to Jesus, who allowed Himself to die, so we’d have visible evidence of divine ultimate healing. Jesus knew that there would be challenging questions on this side of heaven. He said to those listening to His teachings in Luke 4:23, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself!'” But, He didn’t heal Himself. He died a painful death with no pain killers and with no one sitting by His side holding His holy hand. He died to pay for our sins, and by His resurrection, gave proof to our ultimate eternal healing. For that we can be grateful.
Jesus, eternal Physician, thank You for rising from the dead so we can see the ultimate healing You give to all who place their faith in You.
How to Become Perfect
Do you ever hang your head in shame because of sin? Do you sometimes feel badly about something you’ve done or said? If so, I’m with you. It’s easy to get discouraged when we know the right thing to do and don’t do it. In those times it helps to remember God’s words to us in 1 Peter 5:10.. “…the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself PERFECT, confirm, strengthen and establish YOU.” Those are refreshing words! God is the One who will PERFECT us. We can’t become perfect in our own strength. Are we in any way responsible for cooperating with God? Yes. We’re to renew our minds according to the Bible. We’re to prayerfully walk by Christ’s Spirit. The next time we mess up, rather than walk around with our head hung low, let’s take hold of the Bible and put our minds to it. Let’s ask God to perfect our walk with Him and others.
Lord, thank You for not only calling us to Your eternal glory, but for also taking it upon Yourself to PERFECT us. We love You and give You praise!
“…the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself PERFECT, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
Nobody’s Perfect!
Have you ever defended your bad behavior by saying, “Nobody’s perfect.” Or, has someone ever said to you, “Nobody’s perfect!” in defense of something they’ve done wrong? It’s a common response because it’s true. Nobody is perfect except Jesus. However, and this is a big however, our imperfections aren’t excuses to stay as we are. Rather, they’re signals for where we need to look to Jesus for His example and empowerment to change. For instance, in Matthew 5:48, Jesus doesn’t say, “Heh guys, give yourself a break. Nobody’s perfect.” Instead, He says, “Your Heavenly Father is perfect. You’re to be perfect.”
Heavenly Father, You are PERFECT. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit who transforms us when we walk according to His power in us.
“’Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is PERFECT.’”