Beyond Ourselves
A Video Message Election 2020
Record God’s attributes, prayers of repentance and intercessions for our nation in Prayers of My Heart. Praise Him. Give Prayers of My Heart to those on your Christmas list.
Rather Than Bemoan, Let Us Pray
I was bemoaning that my store bought lettuce had gone bad while I was out of town and I had none to make a salad to go with Keith’s and my dinner. No lettuce. Did I mention I was disappointed? Placing tomatoes on our plate, I suddenly remembered…I’d planted lettuce and spinach in my fall garden! I know. You’re wondering how I could have forgotten. I promise, I’m okay. I’d forgotten because I hadn’t planted a garden for years and had only had one fall garden way back when I did. Plus, a lot had happened since I planted my little garden. Turning on outside lights and slipping into my yard shoes, I visited my garden and eagerly picked more than enough lettuce and spinach for our salad. How could I have forgotten? I suppose in the same way we forget God. We forget that on Election Day, He is present. He is all powerful. He can sway hearts. He can place in office the president whose policies most align with Biblical principles. Our Heavenly Father can forgive sins and pour forth grace and extend mercy and allow us as a nation to repent and return to Him. If you haven’t voted, I urge you as a citizen of heaven and earth to make your voice count today. Vote for the president and leaders whose policies align with God’s and the Bible. If you are unsure which party that is, visit here. Rather than bemoan the state of our nation, remember you have an all powerful God. Pray. Vote.
Heavenly Father, too often we forget that You are present and all powerful to sway minds, hearts, and yes, even votes. We plead Your forgiveness of our sins corporately as a nation and individually. Hear our prayer. Extend mercy. Forgive us. We look to You, the only true God, exalted above the nations.
“The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.” Psalm 113:4 NIV
The Key to Not Living in Darkness
Are you excited about all the ways Jesus is described? Every day when I select a description to share with you, I have a renewed sense of awe. Often the way our Lord is described is in contrast to that which is in the world. Such is the case today. Many in our world are living in spiritual darkness. They are seeking to be enlightened by powers apart from Jesus Christ. But in John 1:9 we find the word “true” in reference to Jesus. Although there are many sources of “enlightenment,” there is only one TRUE LIGHT: JESUS CHRIST. He enlightens our soul, mind, and heart when we turn to Him. The world apart from Christ is dark. Take seriously His charge to let His light shine through you. His Light in you is a beacon to those living in darkness.
Lord Jesus, You are the TRUE LIGHT who enlightens every man. May we be lighthouses through whom You shine.
“There was the TRUE LIGHT which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.” John 1:9
Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion: How Praising God Can Transform Your Life – on Amazon
What We Learn from Stinky Feet
Have you ever thought, really thought, about Jesus washing His disciples’ stinky feet? Or, about His words in John 13:14? “If I then, the Lord and the TEACHER, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Lord and TEACHER on His knees washing feet? Messy. Time-consuming. Dirty. Unpleasant. The act had to do with more than simply washing feet, though. It was about humility, servanthood, forgiveness. Our Lord and TEACHER physically illustrated what He would do spiritually through His substitutionary death on the cross for us. It would be messy (a bloody mess). He would wash our filth and sins from us – no longer counting them against us. Now He tells us, in turn, to go and do as He did. Take the time. Humbly forgive. One person at a time.
Jesus, Lord, and Teacher, thank You for washing us and cleansing us of our sins. Make us increasingly mindful of following Your example.
Remember This On Dreary Days
Dreary days. Gray skies. They can make us feel gloomy. The death of loved ones, separation, or estrangement from family or friends weighs heavily on our hearts. On what can we focus in those times? Malachi 4:2 tells us. “…for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” What does that mean? Theologian Charles Spurgeon explains: “Jesus, like the sun, is the center and soul of all things, the fullness of all good, the lamp that lights us, the fire that warms us, the magnet that guides and controls us; he is the source and fountain of all life, beauty, fruitfulness, and strength.” Jesus is called the Sun of Righteousness because on the most dreary of days, when we are gloomy and despairing, we can ask Him to fill us with His Spirit and shine in our hearts and minds. Call on Him now to rise in your heart and mind in the full strength of His glory.
We praise You, SUN of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and look to You to enlighten us.
*http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/1020.htm
When You Want to Run Away, Go Here
Do you ever want to run away from your circumstances, the evil in our world, or perhaps your own wayward thoughts? If so, go to God, who David likens to a STRONGHOLD. In Biblical times, a stronghold was a high place, a place of retreat, and for many years, it was David’s safe house. In 2 Samuel 22:3, after the Lord saved him from Saul, David pens these words of praise, “My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my STRONGHOLD and my refuge.” Is God your stronghold? If so, you’re well aware that He invites us to come to Him. You are well aware that you can flee from your fears, Satan’s lies, and your wayward thoughts by scaling to heaven’s heights in prayer. Do you know the Lord as your stronghold? If you do, you are blessed of all people.
Heavenly Father, we praise You, our STRONGHOLD. Thank You that we can scale the heights of heaven and find strength in Your presence.
Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion: How Praising God Can Transform Your Life – on Amazon
When What You Want is Different from What God Wants
Lord Jesus, thank You for modeling being submissive to our Heavenly Father and trusting in His ultimate will.
“He went a little beyond them and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’” Matthew 26:39
Do You Want More Strength
An AT&T commercial once asked a group of children, “Who thinks more is better than less?” A little girl quickly responded, “We want more. We want more.” We can identify with her plea for more when we’re going through a difficult time. We want more of God’s strength. We want more of His grace to get us through our day. The truth is, we already have it. Second Corinthians 12:9 reassures us, “My grace is SUFFICIENT for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'” What does it mean that God’s grace is SUFFICIENT? Does it mean barely enough? No. Rather, the Biblical word means, “to be possessed of unfailing strength, to be strong, to be enough.”* God’s strength is the answer to our cry when we are weak. Call on Him. Yield humbly to Him. Ask Jesus to fill and empower you. He will.
Heavenly Father, thank You that when we’re weak, You respond to our cry for help. Thank You, that Your grace is SUFFICIENT unfailing strength.
Listen UP! Your gateway to understanding more about the Holy Spirit in your life.
What Song Are You Singing
Are you dragging through your day singing the blues? If so, that can change. Yes, we have a choice about the music and songs we play in our head and walk through our day singing. In Exodus 15:2, Moses tells us the music that empowered his walk. “The Lord is my strength and SONG, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him…” The word song in this verse can mean music or melody. In effect, Moses says, “The Lord is my melody. He’s the music to which I walk through my day.” What music or words play in your head as you go about your day? We can make the choice to tune our hearts to God’s voice and walk through our day singing His praises. Will we?
Heavenly Father, Thank You for being the SONG and melody by which we walk through our day.
CLICK HERE for more encouragement in your WALK with GOD!
Beyond Our Imagination – A Deeper Understanding of the Spirit
Do you know all that God has prepared for you in eternity? The answer is “no, we don’t know.” First Corinthians 2:9 says, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” Does that bless your heart? Our earthly days may be rough, but God has prepared a future for us beyond our imagination. The passage explains that no one knows God’s thoughts except God’s Spirit.
“For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,” First Corinthians 2: 10-12
Do these verses about the Spirit make you want to have a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit and how you can walk by His promptings? If so, I encourage you to get “Listen UP! When the Spirit Speaks,” our gift to you for a donation of $20. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to Christians. Know Him. Listen to Him. Love and adore Him, for He is the Spirit of Christ abiding in you.
Heavenly Father, Your gift to us of the SPIRIT who SEARCHES ALL THINGS, is the most amazing gift. Thank You! Help us faithfully walk by Your Spirit.
YES! Send me Listen UP! When the Spirit Speaks. 31 Points About the Holy Spirit Every Christian Should Know. Here is my 1-time donation in appreciation for Beyond Ourselves 365 Days of Praise.
