All Our Anxiety

Read | 1 Peter 5:6-10

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hands of God that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you."

Did you ever wonder why a passage dealing with anxious thoughts mentions Satan prowling like a roaring lion? Worry can feel like an attack—we get torn up on the inside by fears, frustration, and helplessness. Anxiety is a tormenting emotion, and today’s reading reminds us that the devil wields it skillfully.

But we don't have to live with worry, because God closes the mouths of lions that threaten His followers (Dan. 6:22). Peter described how to keep clear of anxiety’s jaws. First, we humble ourselves before God. What causes worry is a sense of helplessness in a given situation, so the best response is yielding yourself to God—submitting to Him with the confidence that He has the power to control your life. Another thing that builds trust is the realization that God is always engineering circumstances for your good and His glory (Rom. 8:28).

Remember, prayer is a declaration of dependence. When you humble yourself, you’re kneeling before omnipotent God. And since nothing is a challenge for His power, the second step in casting cares on Him is the simple exercise of telling the Lord your troubles and then trusting Him to deal with them. He assumes responsibility for meeting believers’ needs; your part is to prioritize obeying Him and living a righteous life (Matt. 6:31-33).

Lastly, resist Satan by remaining firm in faith. In other words, don't snatch those concerns out of God’s hands to worry over them anew. When the devil’s ways make you tremble with anxiety, reject his lie and affirm that the Lord is adequate to handle the situation.

Anxiety is a tormenting emotion and left unchecked can debilitate you allowing Satan to take control over your life.  How sad it is to let him take our joy away when we can call on the name of Jesus and feel His soothing, comforting arms around us.  We have been made overcomers by the blood of Jesus, and no one can take our joy away unless we give it.  Are you filled with joy today?

Jesus: Our Seeking Savior

Read | Revelation 3:14-22

"And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, “These things says the Amen,the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:  “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I would wish you were neither cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked -  “I  counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold I stand at the door and knock.. If anyone opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on My throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with My Father on His throne, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

The Christians at Laodicea pictured themselves as rich and self-sufficient, when in reality, their spiritual blindness and self-righteousness had prevented them from recognizing their true poverty. Though they had closed a door between themselves and Jesus, He never gave up on them. Can you relate to this idea of a loving Savior reaching out to you?

Revelation 3:20 shows that Jesus . . .

• Stands at the door—The Lord takes the initiative. He’s ready and willing to seek us, even when we've erected a barrier.

• Knocks at the door—He tries to get our attention through a variety of means, including circumstances, pain, trials, conviction, sleeplessness, and/or His Word. Then He patiently awaits our response.

• Invites us to open the door—Though Christ is omnipotent, He never pushes His way into a relationship with us. He lets us respond.

• Enters through the door—If we open up to Him, He will come into our lives. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we’ll actually partake of Christ’s divine nature and be transformed into His image.

• Dines with us indoors—Now that nothing stands between us and Jesus, we can begin to enjoy all the benefits of an intimate relationship with Him and be nourished by His Word.

Where are you in this process? Have you built a barrier between yourself and the Lord? The Laodiceans show us how miserable we are when we try to keep Jesus at arm’s length. Only when we let Him have unhindered access to our lives will we experience the joy of intimacy with Him.

Oftentimes we fail to appreciate what it is to be called a child of God and heir of heaven.  We get so busy pursuing the things of this earth with the notion it satisfies, only to find out it lasts only for a while.  When we pursue the things of God, we discover the lasting, deep satisfaction our souls yearn for.  Jesus keeps knocking because He loves us so!  will you open your door and let Him in?

The God Who Comforts Us

Read | 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Even though we experience seasons of celebration, all of us go through difficulties and hardships in life. At times we may find ourselves in despair, wondering if the Lord understands or even notices us. The truth is that He does understand, and He cares so deeply that He sent His only Son to rescue us from our sinful state. Not only that—He loves us and cares enough to comfort us when we hurt.

If you look up comfort in the dictionary, you will find one definition of the word. But take a look at John 14:16 (KJV), and you’ll discover quite a different meaning. In that verse, Jesus describes the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit and calls Him “the Comforter.” That term means “the one who comes to stand by our side—the one who comes to our aid.”

Because believers have the Comforter residing within, there is no need to search elsewhere for comfort. We don’t have to look to drink, drugs, entertainment, travel, or other distractions and pleasures in order to escape our trials and heartaches. We have the source of all comfort dwelling within us.

This means that when we feel as if we’re collapsing on the inside and crying out to God, “I cannot handle any more!” we can expect to sense a little inaudible whisper that encourages us: “You are going to make it because I am here.” When you discern the God-breathed comfort of the Holy Spirit—the One who stands with you no matter what sadness or difficulty you are facing—it is worth more than anything this world has to offer.

 

We have the Holy Spirit living in us, comforting us, strengthening and encouraging in all the moments we feel overwhelmed and discouraged. We don’t have to resort to outward source to alleviate the need, we only have to look inside and listen to that small, still voice saying..”I am here, you are not alone.”  Have you listened to Him the last time you felt needy?

 

Identifying Self-Rejection

Read | Romans 15:7

As news reports indicate, mistreatment of children is tragically widespread. And kids wounded by abuse can be scarred for life. Fortunately, most people’s experiences aren't that extreme. But even mild hurts can fester, affecting relationships and self-image.

The Origin. The bondage of self-rejection can often be traced to feeling unaccepted by someone close. Trauma like divorce or a loved one’s death may also contribute to a distorted self-image. Once internalized, this type of thought pattern can lead to negative behaviors.

The Symptoms. If a person has difficulty accepting himself, he may have a tendency to criticize others and interpret innocent comments as personal attacks. Perfectionism and feelings of inferiority are also common. As a result, fear of failure and criticism may lead to procrastination.

Another outcome of self-rejection is unpredictable anger. People who are hurt may find themselves easily frustrated. Such individuals might become loners or feel overly concerned about others’ opinions. For example, instead of focusing on a church service, one may notice what people are wearing and feel insecure about her own outfit. Someone with this mindset can be hard to love because she questions whether she’s worthy of care and affection. Sadly, she may then behave in a way that “proves” her theory.

We find the solution in today’s scripture: We are to accept one another as Jesus accepts us. This includes accepting ourselves. Ask God to search your heart and reveal any areas of self-rejection.

What Makes a Person Wise by Greg Laurie

The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

—Psalm 19:7

As we look at all of the so-called government solutions that are supposed to improve our way of life in America, we see that they really haven't done so at all. That is because changing a person's environment does not change a person's heart.

The Bible doesn't teach that man is basically good, yet he does bad things because of bad influences. Rather, it teaches that man is basically sinful, and he is born sinful. He is not a sinner because he sins; he sins because he is a sinner. Sin comes naturally to all of us. The Bible tells us that. And it also tells us that human beings are capable of very evil things.

Those who believe that we can bring about a utopia on Earth through manmade solutions must be very disappointed by now. Because in spite of all our advances in technology, we still can't change the human heart.

Yet Psalm 19:7 tells us, "The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple." The Word of God gives us incredible wisdom.

A number of years ago someone asked me, "Well, Greg, what do you do when you come to a verse in the Bible that you don't agree with?"

I said, "Change your opinion, because you are wrong."

I don't think that individual liked my answer all that much. But as Romans 9:20 says, "Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, 'Why have you made me like this?' "

The Word of God transforms us and makes us wise. And if you don't agree with the Bible, then change your opinion—because the Bible is always right.

A Godly Testimony

Read | Acts 8:26-40

Christians have adopted a narrow definition of the word testimony. But sharing Jesus is much more than telling our conversion story or talking about God’s work in our life, although these things are important. We need to be prepared to meet unbelievers at the point of their spiritual need, even if our own story is very different.

Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch can teach us quite a lot. While young Israelites had friends and family to disciple them in their faith, a foreign convert often had to work alone to discern the meaning of complex scriptures. So by asking, “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip showed that he understood the Ethiopian’s disadvantage. That one question enabled him to discover that the man had a genuine thirst for God’s truth but did not know of the Messiah.

Philip used that information to tailor a gospel testimony for his particular listener. Consider how easily the Ethiopian could have become confused or frustrated if Philip—whose Jewish background was so different from the foreigner’s—had told only his own conversion story. The evangelist wisely avoided any extraneous information and instead used the power of God’s Word to introduce the man to Jesus Christ.

Philip’s testimony began with the passage the Ethiopian was reading. He effectively spoke to the man’s spiritual interest in general while specifically answering his questions about Isaiah 53. We, too, must be sensitive to unbelievers’ concerns so we can explain how God will meet their needs.

Finding Favor With God

Read | Genesis 6:7-9

People work hard to earn the favor of employers, parents, or friends—unequivocal support and approval is a balm to the human heart. As believers, we long for God’s favor, and what a blessing that He offers it to us freely: “How great is your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You” (Ps. 31:19).

Unfortunately, many in our culture fail to take notice of the most basic examples of God’s kindness. He provides for needs, puts a limit on seasons of suffering, listens to and answers prayers, and bestows desires of the heart. Support, encouragement, and provision are blessings of the Almighty. Every good thing that comes our way is from His hand (James 1:17).

God’s favor isn't capricious, as some suspect; He does not show kindness to some and withhold from others based on His whim. A believer’s actions stemming from faith make the difference. Consider Noah, who “walked with God,” according to Genesis 6:9. Noah’s willingness to keep a right relationship with the Lord through daily trust and worship resulted in his entire family being saved from the world-cleansing flood. That is a truly remarkable example of divine favor.

Another way we find favor is by keeping God’s commandments (Prov. 3:1-4). Believers are to feast on the Word in order to learn the Lord’s ways and practice His principles. As our hearts are bent toward our heavenly Father, we become more like Him. Consequently, His favor flows into every corner of the believer’s life

Praying in the Spirit

Read | John 14:16-21

I am convinced that if Christians truly understood what takes place during prayer, they would call upon the Lord more often and with greater results. The believer’s prayer isn't simply spoken into empty space; the Holy Spirit is there to guide us in offering God-centered requests, to fill in words we fail to say, and to carry our needs before the Lord.

The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity, so He knows the mind of God intimately (1 Cor. 2:11). Since He, like the Father, is omniscient and omnipotent, He fully grasps the circumstance we are praying over—even the parts that remain unseen or utterly confusing to us. Also, the Spirit dwells within every believer and knows each one’s mind and heart. With this full knowledge, the Holy Spirit can carry out His responsibility to make our petitions match God’s desires. To that end, He speaks in our spirit and opens our mind to Scripture.

The fact that God gives His Spirit to all believers reveals the value He places on communication between Him and His children. Our Father provides the best possible Helper to ensure that we can be prayer warriors—wise, strong in faith, and fully yielded to Him. But we are none of those things unless we are habitually talking with the Lord.

Christians never have to feel guilty for being uncertain about how to pray. The indwelling Holy Spirit knows our needs and desires—as well as the mind of the Father and the details of every situation. He speaks to God on our behalf while teaching us to pray in accordance with the Father’s will.

Our Helper in Prayer

Read | Romans 8:26-27

Christians need the Holy Spirit’s help in prayer. At times in our journey of faith, we’ll find that we cannot . . .

• Find the right words

• Discern God’s will

• Recognize what He is doing, or

• Grasp the complexity of a situation.

Periods of struggle in prayer are normal for believers. Few of us are as eloquent as the psalmist David—especially when we are confused, distressed, or weary. So let’s look at two biblical examples of prayer in challenging situations.

First, notice that in today’s reading, the apostle Paul admits to feeling weak in his prayer life. His well-known request was for God to remove a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7). Paul pleaded desperately—and probably with great effort—for relief. With the Spirit’s help, he came to understand the Lord’s call to endure in spite of pain.

A second example is Jesus Christ’s agonized prayer the night before His crucifixion. Although He was committed to doing His Father’s will, He dreaded the immeasurable spiritual suffering that lay ahead. Crying out to God from Gethsemane, the Savior uttered this urgent sentence: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39).

God knew we'd need help in prayer. With our limited human perspective, we cannot know all aspects of the situations facing us. But the Holy Spirit understands our needs and burdens—as well as the big picture. He carries our requests to God even when we can't adequately express them.

Why is it wise to wait on God? - By Dr. Charles Stanley

It is always wise to wait on God. Why?

First, it is wise to wait because God gives clear direction only when we are willing to wait. Remember, we don’t operate like the world operates. Instant gratification of need defines society. But we, as believers, live differently. We don’t take our cues from the world. We take them from God. He will give us clear direction, whether it is guidance for making a move or changing a career or choosing a mate. However, much to the distress of many, He seldom does it quickly. We must wait until He is ready to give direction.

God says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Ps. 32:8). We must wait until He is ready to give counsel to us. I know it’s hard. No one ever said it would be easy. However, it is absolutely worth it.

Second, it is wise to wait because God uses that waiting time to get us in step with His timing. Being in step with the Father’s timing gives us a sense of peace. However, when we run ahead of Him, we will constantly be trying to figure out how to make our decisions work. Instead of peace, we will feel the chaos of our choices.

Third, it is always wise to wait because God uses the time of waiting to prepare us for the answer. As earthly parents, we don’t give our children everything they ask for. Sometimes we know that the timing isn’t right. How much more our heavenly Father knows this for His children. He waits until we are able to handle the blessing with grace and trust.

Fourth, it is always wise to wait because waiting strengthens our faith. We might want to say, “Okay, God. I’ve learned as much faith as I care to. You can act now.” But when we realize that God is more interested in our character than in our comfort, waiting is a lot more palatable.

Fifth, it is always wise to wait because God gets our attention and sifts our motives. While waiting and praying for the promotion at work, we have time to think through our motives. Why do we really want that promotion? Do we want it to get more money or so others will think we are powerful? Could it be we want the promotion so we have a greater platform to serve the Lord? If we allow God to sift through our motives, the truth will surface—good or bad. It is amazing what we learn about ourselves through this waiting period.

So it is wise to wait because:

1. He gives clear direction.

2. He gets us in step with Himself.

3. He prepares us for what He has in store for us.

4. He strengthens our faith.

5. He gets our attention and sifts our motives.

Waiting is one of the more difficult things in the Christian life. However, it is never wasted time. God teaches us His path, changes our circumstances, keeps us in step with Himself, prepares us for His answers, and uses times of waiting to sift our motives and strengthen our faith.

The question comes: With all the advantages of waiting, why do we rush ahead as if we don’t have a trustworthy Father? We need to hit the pause button in our lives and take our lives out of the fast forward mode. God will amaze us with what He is doing while we wait on Him and watch Him work.

Adapted from “Charles Stanley’s Handbook for Christian Living,” 1996.