Beyond Ourselves
When You Fear for Your Loved Ones
Does the prevalence of evil in our society cause you to be fearful for loved ones? Recently, after speaking at a church, a mom confided in me that she feared for her child. Part of her fear was because she had been molested as a child. Part was due to the moral decline in our nation. What hope was I able to give her?
PRAYER: Jesus teaches us to pray, “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” We can pray that daily for our loved ones.
THE BIBLE. The Bible is a safeguard that teaches us what to do and not do. We can teach our children to respect and obey God and His Word.
ETERNAL SALVATION. We can’t escape all evil influences, but, 2 Thessalonians 3:3 comforts us that the Lord is faithful, and will strengthen and PROTECT us from the evil one.
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your Word that shows us how to live, for being able to pray to You, and for Christ’s faithfulness to strengthen and protect us.
“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and PROTECT you from the evil one.”
Record prayers for loved ones here as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
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When You’ve Failed and Are Low
Things aren’t always what they seem. And, simply because things appear one way in a moment of time, it doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way. Case in point: Jesus. If we’d been in Jerusalem when Jesus was hanging on the cross, we might have labeled the moment, “Jesus failed.” However, what appeared to be Jesus’s lowest moment, was in fact, God’s highest plan being accomplished. Three days after Jesus’s death on the cross, God raised Him. As Isaiah 52:13 prophesied, “Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be HIGH and LIFTED UP and greatly exalted.” Jesus is seated at the right hand of God – HIGH AND LIFTED UP – greatly exalted. The next time you feel like a failure, look heavenward and pray. God can change things; even us and our situations.
We praise You, Lord Jesus, HIGH and LIFTED UP; greatly exalted.
How to Satisfy God
Are you familiar with the Rolling Stones’ 1965 song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”? Songwriters Keith Richards and Mick Jagger poured forth how they couldn’t “get no satisfaction.” The words resonated with people in the sixties and also with people today. But do you know who has found satisfaction? God. First John 2:2 says, “He (Jesus) Himself is the PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” The word propitiation means satisfaction. This verse tells us that Jesus satisfied God on our behalf. He offered His perfect life as a substitute for ours and that satisfied God. How incredible! If we haven’t thanked Jesus lately, now would be a good time to do that.
Jesus, thank You for sacrificing Your life as the propitiation for our sins.
When You’re Tired of Failed Promises
Have you ever promised something and then didn’t fulfill your promise? If you have, you know what a horrible feeling it is. Maybe we promised, “I’ll never say that again.” Then we did. Or, maybe we said to God, “I promise if you get me out of this mess, I’ll do better next time.” Then we failed to do as we said. Or, maybe we don’t trust people because they’ve made promises to us they didn’t keep. When it comes to God, however, Romans 4:21 assures us “that what God PROMISED, He was able also to perform.” In other words, other people, or we, may be well intentioned, but fail. Not God, though. What He promises, He will do. What a blessing to know that God keeps His promises. In the midst of failed promises and lies, it’s a great time for us to read God’s promises in the Bible. We can smile as we read them because we know they are true. Which of God’s promises are your favorites? Please let me know in the “Comment” section below. I’d love to hear from you.
Heavenly Father, in a world that is filled with lies failed promises, we praise You for being a faithful promise keeper.
Why Jesus?
“Why?” That was the question millennials asked me at a recent conference. Why this… Why that… “I guess that’s why we’re called the Y Generation,” a 29 year old explained. “We want to know why.”
Millennials, also known as the “Y Generation,” are those who were born during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. They’re the children of baby boomers. Those in Generation Y aren’t prone to accept pat answers. Rather, they want to know why. In other words, just because a preacher, teacher, or parent says something, in their opinion, that doesn’t necessarily make it true. So, “Why believe in and follow Jesus?” For this reason: Jesus demonstrated that He was more than man. People witnessed His resurrection from the dead three days after He had been crucified by soldiers skilled in executions. Jesus said He is the way, truth, and life. Peter spells it out, “there is no other name under heaven that has been given by which we must be saved,” Acts 4:12. That’s why. There is no other name by which we are saved.
Jesus, name above all names, name by which we are saved, we praise You. Your name is sweet to our souls.
Near or Far? Here’s the Answer
Jesus told His disciples He was going to die and ascend to His Father in heaven; but that He would not leave them as orphans. (John 14:16-18) Jesus explained that He would send a Helper to them; and the Helper would not only be with them, He would be IN them. You can’t get more NEAR to someone than to be IN them. And, that is God’s gift to believers. Christ’s Holy Spirit is IN Christians. NEAR. Not far away. NEAR. Not inaccessible. Still not convinced? Listen to what Psalm 145:18 says, “The LORD is NEAR to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Call on God in sincerity and truth. He’s NEAR.
LORD, You are NEAR, not far removed. Thank You that we can call on You in sincerity and truth.
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.