Beyond Ourselves Podcast
This Makes Me Smile
It makes me smile to think about where and when Christ spoke the words in Luke 4:18, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.” When did Jesus say these words? He had just returned from being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. He was led by the Spirit in the power of the Spirit.” (Lk 4:14) What was His first Spirit anointed task following His victory over Satan’s temptations? He went home…to Nazareth. I love that. And get this – “as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.” This is a good place for us to pause and ask ourselves, “Is it our custom to gather with believers to read and hear the Scriptures? Are we raising our children with the custom of gathering with believers? If it was what God’s ANOINTED Lord Jesus did, it’s what I want to do. I’d have hated to have missed Jesus speaking in the synagogue that day. I’d hate to miss Him speaking today as I gather with others to worship Him.
Jesus, we praise You, ANOINTED Lord and Savior. Thank You for Your words and example of the Spirit-led life.
Hey Buddy, Do We Have Enough Holy Fear
“Hey Buddy.” We’ve become quite chummy these days. Some parents even call their children, “buddy.” “Hey, buddy, get in the car.” We love to quote Matthew 11:19 that Jesus was a “friend of sinners.” But, let’s not forget that the Son of Man is now gloriously exalted and seated with His Father. Prayerfully visualize Daniel 7:9-10.
“I kept looking
Until thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His vesture was like white snow
And the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was ablaze with flames,
Its wheels were a burning fire.
A river of fire was flowing
And coming out from before Him;
Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,
And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
The court sat,
And the books were opened.
And were presented before Him.”
The Son of Man may be our friend and God our Abba Father, but “buddy” isn’t how I visualize God based on Scripture. Do we have enough of a holy reverent fear of the Ancient of Days? Are we mindfully sharing our hope of heaven with those who may not know the path out of the fire and into His glorious presence? If you could use a refresher on how to share Jesus with gentle boldness, get a copy of Discovering His Passion for a donation of any amount. Simply go to the DONATE page and on the page where it asks for your credit card, let us know in the “Additional Notes” area that you’d like a copy of Discovering His Passion. Thank you for your passion for other’s salvation. Luke 19:10
ANCIENT of DAYS, glorious One, holy Heavenly Father, forgive us when we act like You’re an earthly buddy. Quicken our hearts to honor your majesty.
If You’re Drifting
You need hope. I need hope. Our loved ones need hope. Where do we find it? Do we practice “self talk” and tell ourselves we are “happy and fine,” when we aren’t? Or, do we kneel, look up in praise, and cry out to the One who has gone before us to heaven? Hebrews 6:19 describes our relationship with Jesus in this way, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered…” Jesus is the ANCHOR OF OUR SOUL. He wants us to bring our worries and fears to Him. If waves of “life” are about to overwhelm you, hold tightly to Christ. He’s got you from the security of heaven’s shores.
Jesus, sweet Savior, thank You for being the ANCHOR OF OUR SOUL. Thank You that we can fling our arms around You and hold tightly to You when our emotions and thoughts drift toward worry or fear. We love and praise You.
Let’s Be Amazed
Throughout the Bible, the word “AMAZED” is used to describe people’s reactions to God. Mark 1:22 records the people “were AMAZED at His (Jesus) teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” The New Testament word “amazed” means astonished, thrown into wonderment. Jesus’ teachings astonished people. Matthew 12:23 records that when Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute so that he could see and talk, “All the crowds were AMAZED and were saying, ‘This man cannot be the Son of David, can He?'” When Jesus rose from the dead, they were “thrown into wonderment.” Oh, that we be amazed, astonished, and thrown into wonderment at our Lord. Keep your eyes open, friend, for how Jesus is working in your life.
Lord Jesus, we praise You, our AMAZING Lord.
*Amazing” is 1 of 365 ways God is described. Learn the other ways He is described by signing up to get this 60 second devotional in your inbox. HERE.
Why You Can Stop Fretting
“I don’t know where this is going.” Have you ever said or thought those words in regard to the unrest in our world, nation, or perhaps your family or a personal situation? The past may be a blur and the future uncertain. It’s no wonder that we may feel uneasy at times. Yet, in the midst of our ever changing world, believers have this hope and promise: Jesus isn’t going anywhere. He’s right here with us, just like He was in our past and just like He will be in our future. Revelation 1:8 records His words of assurance, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” Our Lord was with us in our past. He’s with us this moment. He’ll be with us tomorrow. We have an ever present Lord to see us through our days. Breathe deeply and praise Him.
Christ Jesus, ALPHA and OMEGA, we praise YOU, who is and who was and who is to come.
It’s Not Too Late
Do you ever get disappointed with the speed of your spiritual growth? In other words, would you like to be further along spiritually than where you are? Would you like to say, “I used to …., but now I’ve got a handle on it.” If so, I’m with you, which is why I find Genesis 17:1-2 to be encouraging. It says, “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God ALMIGHTY; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.’” Ninety nine, and God ALMIGHTY says, I’m the “most powerful God who holds sway over all things. Walk blameless.” No, it’s never too late to open our ears, minds, and hearts to God ALMIGHTY. It’s never too late to say, “Hold sway over my heart.”
ALMIGHTY God, forgive us for times we’ve clutched our heart tightly rather than opened it to Your powerful sway. We ask now, “Hold sway over our hearts so we walk blamelessly before You.
*This is one of God’s attributes included in my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion; a perfect read to start 2019.
Are You A Worrier
Whether we’re shopping for a car or a computer, we typically ask, “How powerful is it?” Why do we ask? We want to know if what we’re considering can do what we need. We may not realize it, but sometimes we may question God’s power. Why would I say that? Because we pray about something and then we worry. If we really believed that nothing is impossible with God, then worry wouldn’t have a place in our lives. If you tend to be a worrier, 1 Chronicles 29:11 is a verse you might want to carry with you and read throughout the day, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the POWER and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.” If we’ve given our concerns to God, we can rest assured that He is all powerful to accomplish what is in His will. We can confidently trust in Him.
Lord, You are the ALL POWERFUL, omnipotent God! We praise You that nothing is impossible with You.
You Don’t Get Deader than That
Have you ever been startled to see someone you didn’t expect? There have been a number of times that my husband has startled me and I assure you, I jumped. Considering how we may have been startled by someone we didn’t expect, can you imagine what it was like for John the disciple to unexpectedly see Jesus in heaven? John was on the island of Patmos when he was suddenly taken into Christ’s presence. What was his response? He fell at Jesus’s feet like a dead man. Revelation 1:18 records Jesus said to John, “I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore,…” John had seen Jesus whipped, crucified, and buried. You don’t get “deader” than that. But now, John testifies he saw Jesus “ALIVE!” If your today looks unbearable and you dread tomorrow, don’t. A glorious day of eternal LIFE awaits you in the presence of Jesus, who is alive forever.
LORD JESUS CHRIST, we praise You, who died for us, but are now ALIVE FOREVER!
Case Dismissed!
I wish sin wasn’t a part of my life, but it is. I miss the mark of holiness every day. Jesus doesn’t want us to live under condemnation, though. Remember when the Jews wanted to stone a woman caught in adultery and Jesus told her to go and sin no more? He told her He didn’t condemn her. He wanted her to live free. Free of adultery. Free of guilt and condemnation. He wants the same for us. Jesus is our Advocate, as 1 John 2:1 explains, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;” Jesus is our Advocate, just as He was for the adulterous woman. Only when we arrive in heaven will we fully appreciate the magnitude of Jesus winning the case for our freedom by taking our guilt on the cross.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Advocate and winning our eternal freedom.
Why FOR Never Works
Do you get frustrated when you “blow it” in regard to your Christian walk? I certainly do. Almost every day, I’m mindful of something I should have done, could have done that would have brought honor to Christ. The reminder in Second Corinthians 3:5 helps me in those times of frustration. It says, “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.’” The word “adequacy” in this verse means sufficiency, ability, or competency. Here we find a key to our desire to live “for” Christ. We can’t live “for” Him in our own strength. Rather, we need to let Christ live His life IN and through us. His adequacy is the key. Our ability to be and do that to which God calls us, is from God. We can pray, ”Fill me with YOUR Spirit so I walk by Your ADEQUACY.” That is our hope filled prayer.
Thank You, LORD, for the adequacy You give us in Christ Jesus.
*This is one of God’s 365 attributes for which we can look up, praise, and trust Him. To learn about His other attributes and ways you can know God and praise Him, join us HERE.