Blog: When We Worship

“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:18-19

Have you ever reminisced about the “good old days”? I have, but the truth is they probably were not as good as we remember. God tells us pointedly to turn our focus off of what was toward what lies ahead. If we live life looking in the rear view mirror it won’t be long before we’ve gotten off track. I have heard it said that the only good reason to look back is to remember God’s faithfulness.

When we let go of things like un-forgiveness, past relationships, old habits, and old ways of thinking…God has room to do a new thing. That new thing He is doing, by the way, is you! Leave your agenda behind, and come like a child who is ready to learn and grow. The life of a child of God is characterized by a fiercely forward focus, not on any particular earthly destination, but toward the upward call in Christ Jesus. Keep looking forward, keep your eyes on Jesus, and don’t look back!

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father, help me to let go of anything that would hinder me from moving forward. You have my undivided attention and I look forward to spending eternity with You in Heaven. By Your grace I press on toward that end! In Jesus name, amen.

“And I said, “This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds.” – Psalms 77:10-12

In times where things aren’t going well, when you can’t see how or when you are going to get through this current moment or season, looking back for the purpose of remembering God’s faithfulness can give us courage to move forward in faith anyhow. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He was faithful then, and He is faithful now. God’s faithfulness is never really the question, the question is will we be faithful? Sometimes God purposely steps back just to see what we are going to do. Will we believe and draw near to Him to close that distance? Or do we wonder and wander? Let us be found hoping, trusting, and drawing near to Jesus in every circumstance.

In my life and in yours there has and will be some God ordained difficulty. We must get past the “anguish” and get to the “but I will remember.” Take some time to remember and consider how God has shown Himself faithful, and as you draw near to Him may He pleasantly surprise you with the awareness that He has been right there with you the whole time!

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father, I will feed on Your faithfulness. I thank You for always giving me the courage I need to keep on walking with You. I know You are working all things together for good. I will give You praise and tell others of Your faithfulness too! In Jesus name, amen.

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” – Matthew 6:26

If there is anything truly good in this world it came down from God the Father. Not only are all His ways and deeds good, but God Himself is good – that is His very nature. He takes care of everything including the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. He makes sure that the sun rises every morning, and that it sets every evening. He causes the rain to fall on those who look to Him, and on those that don’t pay Him any mind at all.

Jesus tells us that you and I are far more valuable than birds and lilies, and that He has committed Himself to caring for us. God will move heaven and earth to come to the aid of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. He even makes the challenges and difficulties we go through to work out for good,  to make us sweeter and more like Him. He wants us to know that He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. He wants His children free from worry and strife. He wants us to trust and look to Him for our provision. He wants us to just be.

Let’s make the choice to rejoice and set worry aside so that we can walk in the freedom and fullness God has given us in Christ Jesus.

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father, I know that You are good, and I place my trust in You. I turn from worry and strife, and embrace the freedom You have given me to just be who You say I am in Christ. The heavens and the earth declare Your glory, and so will I! Amen.

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” – Colossians 1:19-20

Jesus is the glue that holds this world together, everything we see came into existence by Him, and nothing makes sense without Him. Just as the sun is the center of our solar system, so Jesus is God’s Son, and the center of the universe. Jesus is the only thing that God is saying to us, and He is all we have to say to others. Jesus should not be an afterthought, or someone we get around to talking about. He is first, last, and everywhere in between. Jesus is the only message that matters, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

What did Jesus come to accomplish on this earth? The reconciliation of mankind with God. Apart from Jesus dying on the Cross and paying the price for sin, no man has peace with God. Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life (John 14:6). The Cross is the point in time and space when God’s full wrath was poured out, and heaven and earth were reconciled on that day. There is no grace without it, no life without it. It cost God everything to open up the doors of Heaven to us. Jesus IS that open door to Heaven.

Don’t ever give in to any influence or pressure to add or take away from the simple Gospel Truth and the good news of Jesus Christ. You and I have been entrusted with the only message that is forever relevant. May we keep it simple, keep it Bible, and keep it only about Jesus.

Let’s pray…

Lord Jesus, You are all that matters. Help me not to add or take away from the simple and powerful Truth that You have reconciled the world to Yourself by dying on the Cross, and that You are the way to Heaven. May others get a fresh clean cup of Jesus through my life and words, and nothing else. Amen.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

Fear is a spirit that grips the hearts and minds of many people. It mascarades as common sense, and causes us to protect ourselves, keeping “those people” over there. Sometimes it shows up in the form of frustration, anger, or uneasiness. It causes us to hold back, and retreat to a smaller place then God would have for us. Yet, if God did not give us that spirit that means we don’t have to receive it! The Lord does not want His children under its influence. Through Jesus Christ He has set us free from it’s grip…

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” – John 8:36

We aren’t fearless, but we are fear free. We can go to God with our fears and follow the psalmist’s example when he says, “whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Ps. 56:3). God will meet us when we call to Him every time. He will gladly fill our hearts with His love, and give us a mind that is grounded in the reality that He is in control. He is present, and nothing comes to us before passing through His loving hands.

Come today, don’t wait, call on the Lord and may His love be perfected in you and drive out every fear!

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…” – 1 John 4:18

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father, thank You for continuing to perfect Your love in me. When I am tempted to fear, I will draw near instead. Thank You for giving me Your Spirit of power, love, and of a sound mind. In Jesus name, amen.

 

 

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

Perhaps you’ve heard it said that some are “so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” Yet, the Scripture tells us that apart from Jesus we can accomplish nothing in this earth of any heavenly or lasting significance.

We are not helping God or others at all by being consumed and preoccupied with earthly matters. My good intentions, thoughtful considerations, and my sincerest efforts towards good are simply not enough. My human capacity to love is quickly exhausted and runs dry apart from Jesus. Especially when someone does me harm or does something offensive. Yet, God’s Love is inexhaustible and overcomes every obstacle in it’s way!

When we intently keep our eyes on Jesus, then and only then will we truly be a blessing to others and effective servants for the Lord here on earth. All the good that needs to be done will be done, every right and good word will be spoken in season, every act of kindness will be made, and every heart needing a touch from the Lord will be touched.

Delight yourself in the Lord my friend, and keep your eyes toward Heaven. Focus on drawing near to Him in His Word and in prayer daily, and find yourself pressing into God with other believers who have their eyes on Jesus. He will establish your thoughts and plans, and you will be all the earthly good that He intends for you to be.

Let’s pray…

Lord Jesus, I get my eyes off of the issues and off of myself and delight in You. I love You Lord. I trust that You will guide and lead me today, and accomplish Your purpose and Your Kingdom here on earth. Be magnified Lord Jesus, in Your name, amen.

Both the singers and the players on instruments say, “All my springs are in you.” – Psalms 87:7

Where do you find your strength, your provision, your refreshment, and life?

Is it entirely in Jesus? I doubt any of us would say we knowingly place our confidence in the flesh…that is our intelligence, abilities, gifting, human determination, etc…

Yet, until we reach the end of ourselves, we cannot come to the beginning of our great God and His inexhaustible resources!

The Lord will unfailingly arrange our circumstances so as to bring us to the end of ourselves. Perhaps, you are there now. This time let go of the rope, abandon your own tactics and efforts, and cast yourself entirely on the Lord in faith. You will find Him there to catch you, to sustain you, and uphold you with His hand. You’ll never want to go back to anything less than complete surrender and obedience to Him.

We all have an end, and the faster we arrive there the sooner we come to the point where we can gladly cry out “all my springs are in You Lord!”

Let’s pray…

Lord, I let go of the rope and surrender all. Help me to depend on You and You alone. I gladly declare today that “All my springs are in You!” Amen.