Beyond Ourselves

Have you ever wished someone would do more than tell you 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.

Friends, I have you on my heart. Is there some way I can be praying for you?

Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Nice verse, right? No, not a nice verse. It’s an incredible verse. Fear is coursing through people’s veins. “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’s 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 can take on worrisome days. 

Heavenly Father, thank You that we aren’t stuck in fear. Rather, we can resort to You. 

Where is God?  People often ask that question. Where is He? Psalm 113:5 tells us, “He is enthroned on high.” Yet, He humbled Himself to come to earth. Where is Christ? He’s walking a dusty road and teaching us how to live. Where is God? He’s on the cross dying for our sins. Where is the LORD?  He is risen from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God. Looking for God? Look UP.    

Lord, You are ENTHRONED ON HIGH! We praise You!

I did it again: failed. I failed to pay attention to my thoughts. I failed to check them against God’s Word.  I failed to return Jesus’s love by loving Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I failed to honor Him with my lips. Have you ever been there, done that? What happens when a Christian sins? Is God done with us? No. First Chronicles 16:34 and 1 Peter 1:25 tell us, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” and “His Word endures forever.”  Every day God loves us. Every day, we can turn to His Word, the truth, and learn how to walk by it. If you, like me, did it again and failed God in some way recently, look to Him. He loves us and continually gives us the opportunity to repent and receive His grace.

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for Your enduring love and Word. Help us live it out in a reciprocal way with You and others.

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. 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 where you can go, be yourself, and know you’re loved.

Heavenly Father, what a gift that You offer Yourself as our DWELLING PLACE.  Prompt us to often come and “hang out” with You as we would our dearest friend. 

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 in our innermost beings. Help us persevere by keeping our minds on You. 

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 Jesus who paid your entrance fee when He hung on the cross for your sins. No knocking required. Just a prayer. Repent of and confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you. Receive forgiveness and the gift of the 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. 

Have you ever considered that the Heavenly Father delights in Jesus? Yes, Jesus is God’s DELIGHT as Isaiah 42:1 points out. “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul DELIGHTS.” In a world full of evil, what a blessing it must be for the Heavenly Father to look at Jesus and say, “My soul delights in You.” Reading His words stirs in me a longing for our Heavenly Father to delight in me, but I’m so mindful of my sin I can’t imagine that being the case. Then again, could our Heavenly Father delight in us, while not delighting in our sin? Yes.  Proverbs 3:12 says, “For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” Our Heavenly Father has set His affection on us. He loved us even before we were saved. (John 3:16) Now that we are saved, He loves and corrects us like we love and correct our children. So while celebrating God’s pure delight in Jesus, we learn what is pleasing to our Heavenly Father and how to walk by His Spirit so we can increasingly give Him reason to delight in us.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus, in whom Your soul finds pure delight. Thank You for delighting in us while we learn to walk in Your ways.