DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 11.14.20

Abounding in Thanksgiving in a World of Grumbling by Mike Pohlman Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. - Colossians 2:6-7 My family and I just completed our first full week in our new home in Richmond, Virginia after leaving Los Angeles to begin my new job. And if I’m honest I cannot say I’ve been “abounding in thanksgiving” over the last several days. No. In fact, “abounding in grumbling” may be the more accurate phrase to describe my disposition of late. I’ve grumbled about the weather, traffic, leaves, the movers and a myriad of other things petty and not-so-petty. None of this grumbling, however, has been constructive or justified. And, most importantly, it’s been sinful. To help combat this steady bombardment of grumbling I corralled our children the other night for a family time of thanksgiving. You’ve probably practiced this exercise many times as well: go from person-to-person and highlight things you’re thankful for (it’s tough to grumble when you pause to consider the many blessings in your life). It took my nine-year-old Samuel some time to get warmed up, but eventually he offered a short list of things he’s thankful for, including our new church. Anna was next. What would our seven-year-old daughter express gratitude for? Her new neighbor friends across the street and the Bible. Good stuff. Finally it was John’s turn. He echoed his big brother on some things and agreed with Anna that the neighbors are great, and then with the zeal of most six-year-old boys who love sports, Johnny thanked God for his new basketball hoop out front (and proceeded to remind me of how he beat me in “21” over the weekend, 21 to 17). As Julia left to put our newborn down for the night, I shared with the kids several things I was thankful for. But it wasn't until the next day that I realized the inadequacy of my list. While I voiced gratitude for God generally, I failed to highlight specific attributes of God that, when I consider them, cause me to “abound in thanksgiving.” Driving to work the next morning I found myself asking, “What is it about God that I am most grateful for?” The one attribute of God that flooded my heart and mind was His providence—the fact that He orchestrates everything in my life for His glory and my good. It’s the promise of Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” When God Looks on Us with Favor Isaiah 66:1-2 Believers are always under the canopy of God’s grace and love. Nothing we do can change that. At the same time, our behavior and heart condition do determine whether we receive the fullness of His blessings. Today’s passage teaches us how to experience the Father’s favor. First, He desires that we have a contrite heart and a humble spirit (Ps. 51:17). For that to be the case, all aspects of our lives must be surrendered to Jesus. Yet some dreams, desires, and people are difficult to release into His hands. Anything we do not give over to His authority is evidence of pride, the exact opposite of what our Father wants in His children. Remember that “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Lack of submission proves that we think our way is better than His plan. Second, God tells us to tremble at His Word (Isa. 66:2). Scripture—the unfolding revelation of Jesus Himself—is living and powerful to teach and transform us. Consider how we treat this treasure. Do we devote time each day to know what the Bible says and how to apply its principles? Do we hunger for more of the Word in our lives so we can know its Author better? One measure of our reverence is obedience: to honor the Lord, we must obey Him. We all desire God’s favor. Are you living in a manner that positions you to receive His full blessings? Prayerfully consider whether you have submitted all areas of your life—from finances and health to relationships and work habits—to Jesus Christ. Recognize His authority in all things, and revere His Word. Wrap Yourself in Godliness “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another.” (Colossians 3:12-13) The verb choice in this portion of the command is different from those used earlier. Here the word is enduo, which describes “sinking down” into a garment. It is most often used of a robe or seamless cloak that covers the whole body (Mark 1:6; Matthew 27:31; John 19:23). There are several passages that allude to this total change of behavior—like enveloping oneself in a body-covering cloak. •“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for theflesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans13:14). •“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put onChrist” (Galatians3:27). •“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand againstthe wiles of the devil” (Ephesians6:11). Perhaps an even more precise picture is what happens to us when we are brought into the resurrected and eternal condition that is “like” the Lord Jesus (1 John 3:2). Then we will “put on incorruption” and “put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53-54). The character traits of God cannot co-exist with the “members” of flesh. They must be “mortified.” Neither can godliness control our minds when evil thoughts dominate. They must be put off. Yet, for us to put on the character of God, we must “glue” the character traits identified in today’s text together by charity (love) and let God’s peace rule in our hearts. Even then, the word of Christ must dwell in our lives richly, so much so that whatsoever we do “in word or deed” is done in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:14-17). HMM III Scripture to Comfort by Meghan Kleppinger Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. - Matthew 5:4, NAS If you have ever suffered a broken relationship and/or heart, the loss of a loved one, or any number of other devastations, than you know about "that" pain. It's that pain that originates in the bottom of your stomach and initially feels like a big numb ball. Later it develops into a raw gnawing that can only be equated to burning stabs of fire. It makes it way up through the intestines and finally settles in the throat, choking out all attempted spoken words and creating such an excruciating sensation that tears are sure to follow. Like any other person who has spent more than a few days on this planet, I know "that" pain well. It comes quickly and when it does, it's difficult to believe that it will ever go away. It brings about sorrow, grief, and as it eventually begins to fade away, it brings guilt. This has been a tough year for my family. We've lost friends and recently, just a few short weeks ago, my grandfather. I know I'm not an anomaly and that people all over the world are suffering a similar pain, so as I began to pray about what I should write about for this week, I started thinking about what has really been helpful for me during these times. Friends and family have been great, but most of all, scripture has been comforting me. My hope is that the scripture I share with you will be beneficial to you as you grieve or that you can use it to minister to others who are suffering. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27) "And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed n spirit." (Psalm 34:18) This Grace Also “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” (2 Corinthians 8:7) The “grace” of which Paul was writing in our text is the grace of giving! Many Christians may show diligence and love in their Christian life but are still very reluctant to give sacrificially to the work of the Lord. Many follow what they consider the “law of tithing” (most Christians don’t even do that!) and consider this to be meritorious. The fact is, however, that giving for the Christian is not a law to be obeyed but a grace to be cultivated. The motivation cited by Paul for abounding in this grace was not the Old Testament ordinance but the New Testament example in the church at Philippi. Consider, he said, “the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality... beyond their power they were willing of themselves.” And the real secret of their motivation was that they “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:1-3, 5). An even greater motive for abounding in this grace is the example of Christ: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). This grace of giving is thus displayed when one gives liberally (even in times of affliction and poverty) out of wholehearted devotion to the Lord and for the spiritual enrichment of those who are spiritually impoverished. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). HMM Rotten Fruit By Ryan Duncan Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Matthew 7:1-2 During my time in college, I met another student who considered himself a very devout Christian. In terms of practice, this student couldn’t be criticized for his dedication. He read the Bible each morning, attended chapel like clockwork, and never broke a rule during his time at the university. In terms of spirit though, he represented the worst Christianity had to offer. He was proud and judgmental, always calling out others on what he considered to be “sins”. When guys got together to play a game of Halo, he accused them of putting videogames before God. Once, when a guy kissed his girlfriend goodbye on the cheek, he railed for an hour about sexual immorality. When one girl stood up to him and told him to mind his own business, he called her “deaf to the Holy Spirit.” Things finally hit a major low one night at a Bible Study where, after being ignored by some of the other members, he declared that a prophet like himself was wasting his time with these reprobates. He left the university shortly after, and no one was sad to see him go. Now, the reason I’m writing this isn’t to shame him, God knows I’ve done plenty of stupid things in my time too. What bothered me though was the fact that, despite much evidence to the contrary, this student was certain he was doing the right thing. In fact, there are many so-called Christians who do and say terrible things, all in the name of God. In cases like these, it’s vital to remember what Matthew wrote about bearing fruit. “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” – Matthew 7:15-23 God's Ordered Authority 1 Samuel 15:1-23 God's plan for each one of us has our best interest in mind. His way leads to fullness of life. Yet He did not create us to be robots that blindly and lifelessly live their godly life. No, the Lord grants us the choice of whether or not to obey Him. Our human nature tends to choose a self-centered path that turns away from God's authority. But in doing so, we miss His best for us. Consider the life of King Saul. God chose this man to be king and provided guidelines for him to follow. Though Saul knew the Lord's instructions, he chose to do things his own way. At times his sin was unquestionably deliberate, such as his attempt to kill David out of jealousy. At other times, however, his rebellion seemed less clear-cut. For example, despite God's order to "utterly destroy" the Amalekites and their animals, Saul spared the best of the herd, with the justification that they were "to sacrifice to the Lord" (1 Sam. 15:3, 21). His disobedient choices cost him the throne and eventually led to his destruction. This man chose the road that satisfied his immediate fleshly desires, but as we know from history, the end result was hardly fulfilling. We can learn from Saul's mistakes. Partial obedience is actually disobedience. And any disobedience falls in the category of rebellion, which is sin. Each day, we face the same types of choices. Though the details are different, both large and small temptations lure us. We can live according to Christ's will, following His lead and listening for His voice. Or we can refuse. Choose today to live God's way--which leads to fullness of life. Another Gospel “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7) Some have confessed difficulty with these verses, especially with the words “another gospel: Which is not another.” This problem finds resolution in an understanding of two distinct Greek words that, unfortunately, are both here translated as “another” in this passage. In verse 6 Paul uses the Greek word heteros, which implies something of a totally different sort altogether—something diametrically opposed to the one to which it is compared. But in verse 7 he uses the word allos, which implies a comparison of two items of the same sort. The thought might be conveyed as follows: “You are removed from the true gospel of the grace of Christ unto a totally different belief system, which is not simply a similar but legitimate expression of the true gospel. Instead, it is quite opposite to the truth.” Paul goes on to teach that this “different” gospel is a perversion of the true gospel, and instead of bringing peace, it brings about a troubling of the mind. The primary theme of the entire book of Galatians is salvation by grace through faith in Christ, as opposed to salvation by works and law. “No man is justified by the law in the sight of God....The just shall live by faith” (3:11). This marvelous good news had been denied by many in the Galatian church, but Paul had received the message of grace “by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:12). Any mixture of works with grace constituted a perversion of God’s plan, and any who would teach such perversion warranted strong condemnation from Paul. “If any man preach any other [Greek para, meaning contrary] gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (1:9). JDM There's a Title for That by John UpChurch “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” - Colossians 1:17-18 Sometimes, we just need to be reminded of who Jesus is: The Word: He pitched His tent with us and put flesh on God’s promises (John 1) Son of God: He’s got the whole world in His hands (Matthew 16:16) Son of Man: He knows our sorrows up close and personal (Matthew 17:12) Son of David: He loved His people, even if they didn’t recognize Him (Matthew 1:1; John 1) Teacher: He tells us exactly what we need, even if it’s not what we want to hear (John 3:2) Prophet: He told us what would and will happen (Deuteronomy 18:15; Matthew 13:57) Provider: He can make a little go a long way (Mark 6:30-44) Mediator: He’s right in the middle of our struggles and pleading our case (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15) Suffering Servant: He got busted up for us (Isaiah 53) Lamb of God: He put sin in a full-nelson and made death cry uncle (John 1:29) Lion of Judah: He can take care of His enemies with just His roar (Revelation 5:5, 19:21) Counselor: He’s the cure for our addictions and struggles (Isaiah 9:6) Prince of Peace: He signed—in blood—the peace treaty between God and us (Isaiah 9:6) Immanuel: He never gets tired of being with us (Isaiah 7:14) King of Kings: He’s got the power (Revelation 17:14) The Way: He ain’t got no time for wishy-washy “all roads” arguments; He’s it (John 14:6) Assurance in Trials Romans 8:32-39 We all experience hardship, and trials can shake us unless we cling to truth. Let me share three assurances to remember when troublesome circumstances arise. First, God will always meet our needs. This doesn't mean He provides everything we want. Instead, the Lord will bless us with all that is necessary to fulfill His purpose for our lives. His goal is to sanctify us, not simply to satisfy each immediate desire. Second, we're never alone. God promised to be with us always (Heb. 13:5). Loneliness often accompanies hardship, so we may feel deserted or opposed by family and friends. But our Father has sent His Spirit to be with us and in us, until the day He brings us to heaven (John 14:16-17). He is all we need--our advocate, guide, helper, and comforter. Recognizing His intimate presence gives us confidence in the midst of trials. Third, God's love is eternal. Regardless of our circumstances or poor decisions, His care is unconditional--even when He reprimands us. Loving parents allow disobedient children to experience the consequences of wrong choices; they recognize the benefit of learning from mistakes. Of course, there are also times when we are negatively affected by others' wrong actions. Even then, God is sovereign and allows only what will bring good in His followers' lives. In difficult times, we can remember that God will meet all of our needs, is always with us, and loves us forever. Though Jesus said we would face troubles in this life, He offered encouragement: The ultimate victory is His. So keep in mind that trials are fleeting, whereas our Father's love is forever. Family Structure: Wives �Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.� (Colossians 3:18) This instruction has created an undue amount of �interpretation� over the past century. The terminology is not unclear, but the culture (particularly in the Western world) has resisted the idea that God has specifically designed the structure of the family�beginning with the role of the wife and mother in the home. She is to �submit� to her husband. The Greek word is hupotasso, a compound term that simply describes an �orderly arrangement.� Obviously, the instructions assume obedience to the design for human procreation �from the beginning of the creation� (Mark 10:6-7) and an understanding of the judgment handed down to humanity in Genesis 3. That sentence on women (through Eve) is placed on all women, since �Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression� (1 Timothy 2:14). Also included in the description in Genesis 3:16 is that the woman will �long� (Hebrew teshuqateh) for her husband, and her husband will �have power� (Hebrew mashal) over her. The arrangement, therefore, is designed to prevent further debility and to protect the woman through the man�s willing obedience to love her sacrificially and unconditionally, as �Christ loved the church.� Ultimately, of course, all obedience is voluntary. Wives are to �arrange� themselves under their husband�s authority, knowing that the instructions are given by an omnipotent and omniscient heavenly Father whose care for each of us is greater than we can imagine. This basic family structure is �fit in the Lord,� promising us that our obedience will ensure His care and blessing within the most intimate of all human relationships. HMM III A Daily Choice - by Greg Laurie - https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-daily-choice/ So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. �1 Peter 4:19 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-daily-choice/ - Listen Every day we�re faced with thousands of choices, including this one: We can choose to do what God tells us to do in His Word, or we can disregard it. When we do what God tells us to do and make the right choices (and they�re not always easy), He will bless us. And when we don�t choose the right things, we�ll face the consequences. God says in Deuteronomy, �I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live� (30:19 NKJV). Daniel made the right choices again and again and again. He influenced many people, including his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When King Nebuchadnezzar erected a giant, gold-covered image and told the entire kingdom to worship it, everyone complied. Everyone, that is, except these three men. And even when the king gave them another chance, they refused. They said, �If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn�t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up� (Daniel 3:17�18 NLT). They stood on principle. And when the king had them thrown into that furnace, God delivered them. Maybe you�re going through a fiery trial of your own right now. Maybe you�re facing a very hard set of circumstances. Here�s what the Bible says: �Dear friends, don�t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you� (1 Peter 4:12 NLT). You�re not alone. God will be with you in your fiery trial. The Good Fight �I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.� (2 Timothy 4:7) The beautiful National World War II Memorial in the nation�s capital was dedicated in 2004, honoring the more than 400,000 who gave their lives in that conflict (including the writer�s younger brother). This particular holiday, of course, originally known as Armistice Day, had been established many years before to commemorate the end of World War I and to honor the veterans of that war. There have been many other wars in our nation�s history and many who have served and many who have died. They all �have fought a good fight� and �kept the faith� of our nation�s commitment to establish �liberty and justice for all� and to maintain this ideal in every generation. They fully merit our honor and heartfelt gratitude. There is another good fight going on, of course, every day in the life of each believing Christian. The apostle Paul never served as a soldier in any human army, but he was often called on to �endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ� (2 Timothy 2:3). As a matter of fact, each of us must remember that �unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake� (Philippians 1:29). That suffering may be actual persecution, or even injury or death on a battlefield, but it could also be poverty or sickness or some other �messenger of Satan� (2 Corinthians 12:7) sent to test us and alienate us from the Lord. But then we can hear the Lord say, as with Paul: �My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness� (2 Corinthians 12:9). Whatever comes, may God help us to be able to say in that day: �I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.� HMM Are We Immune to Blessing? By Shawn McEvoy Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:3 Our company has a set of really great tickets to the local minor league baseball team, just three rows behind the home dugout. This past summer, I got to use them to take my son to his first game. My wife and I took Jordan and his pal Victor, watched them gorge on hot dogs and sno-cones while dancing hilariously to every song blared over the loudspeaker, and had a grand ol' time. Making the experience even richer was that the boys, who brought their baseball gloves, got not one... not two... but THREE baseballs that night! One was given by an older gentleman who had snagged a foul ball during batting practice. Another we caught ourselves. The third came when one of the fielders who had caught it as the final out of an inning tossed it into the crowd on his way back to the dugout. Of course, the moment that made me the most proud was when the boys, already with one ball each, decided that it would be nice to give the third one to a kid who hadn't gotten a ball yet. It was hard not to get a little misty watching my son seek out a younger boy of a different race and ask if he'd like to have a ball. I just love baseball. Then came game two. The next time we got to use the tickets, we took Jordan and his little sister. Again it was an idyllic evening, but this time... no foul balls. My son was hard to console on the walk to the parking lot. The little guy had no framework to understand what I was telling him: that of all the games I have been to in my life, I have never come away with a ball, outside of our last trip to the park. Most fans don't. The reason we bring our gloves just boils down to faith, hope. But he still couldn't get it. How could we have gotten so many balls last time, but none this time? What did we do wrong? Game three came a few nights later. It was the sixth inning, and still no baseballs. Jordan was losing hope, getting a little grumpy. He looked up at me and said, "I've decided that if we don't get a ball I'm not going to be happy. If we do get a ball, I'm going to be happy." Well... My 'teachable moment' alarm went off, but as usually happens, so did my 'not just for Jordan' alarm. I had a second to carefully consider what to say and use as an example. I put my hand on his little Red Sox cap and bent down to whisper to him. "That's pretty wise what you said, son, and you might not even realize it. It IS your decision. Since that's true, if you wanted to, you could make a different decision. You might decide to be happy anyway, just because you're here with me, and not in bed yet, and watching a great game on a beautiful night, and hoping like crazy for a shot at a ball. That way, whether we get one or not, we still win, because we're still happy." Enduring Satanic Attacks Ephesians 6:10-14 Every believer faces temptation. Take a moment to recall a particularly enticing situation involving something that would displease God. Did you realize you were involved in a satanic battle. The Devil is real. Scripture reveals that he leads an army of fallen angels and is prideful enough to think he can gain victory over God. By definition, a satanic attack is a deliberate assault upon an individual, which is designed to cause spiritual, physical, material, or emotional harm. Satan desires to thwart the Lord's purpose in believers' lives, to rob them of joy and peace, and ultimately to deny God the worship He receives through yielded followers. As in any war, knowing the enemy's plan helps us prepare for the attack. First, be aware that the battlefield takes place in our minds. To walk in a godly manner with Christ, we must first be sure that our thoughts are in submission to His Spirit. This takes daily surrender and time in God's Word. Second, Satan tempts us during vulnerable moments. Be cautious when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (This is often known as the H.A.L.T. warning). Third, he is deceptive; we won't recognize the trap as an evil scheme. Instead, it will seem good, and we'll likely wrestle with some sort of doubt. As Christians, we should walk closely with Jesus. Satan desires to lure us into destructive actions that rob us of God's plan for a good, full life. Stay connected to the Savior: read the Word, pray, and fellowship with other believers. These are weapons we use against the Devil in spiritual war. Believing in a Sovereign God - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud. �Daniel 4:37 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/believing-in-a-sovereign-god/ - Listen Awhile back I received a text from one of our pastors about his high school coach. He had shared the gospel with this coach, but he wanted nothing to do with God. But then this coach became very ill. And when he was near death, his care provider pleaded with him to watch our film, Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon. When he was only moments away from eternity, this man who never wanted to hear the gospel watched how God had changed Steve McQueen�s life. That former high school coach accepted Christ, and now he�s in Heaven. This reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God. The Bible tells us about the unexpected conversion of King Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful man on earth at that time. Because of Daniel�s faithfulness and influence, he turned to the God that Daniel believed in. Daniel was a fearless follower of God who spoke truth to Nebuchadnezzar, then to his grandson Belshazzar, and later to Darius, who conquered the kingdom of Babylon. Daniel believed in a sovereign God. In Daniel 4:25 he said, �The Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses� (NLT). Daniel understood that dictators and kings, who thought they were in control, would come and go. But ultimately, he knew the Lord was in control. Let�s not forget that Daniel was taken from his homeland of Israel and became a captive in Babylon. He had his entire life turned upside down. They even changed his name. But they could not change his core beliefs or his convictions. Daniel believed in a sovereign God, and we need to believe that too. So when things in life aren�t making sense, go back to what you do understand: God is in control of your life. Family Structure: Husbands and Fathers �Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them....Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.� (Colossians 3:19, 21) The creation of the first couple set the standard for everyone that follows. �And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh....Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh� (Genesis 2:23-24). The Lord Jesus quoted from that passage when He answered the question about divorce, insisting that since they were created from the same body, no one should attempt to separate them during marriage (Mark 10:5-9). Now, in addition to the created order, we have the model of love demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of the Church (Ephesians 5:25-27) and instructions on how men should �dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered� (1 Peter 3:7). The �honor� that men are to grant to their wives includes a conscious effort not to be �bitter� against them. That word, pikraino, describes an attitude of exasperation, even including a tendency to become indignant or irritated. Furthermore, godly fathers must be careful not to stimulate �strife� (contention, wrangling) among their children. Fathers who engender strife in their home guarantee that the children will become discouraged. The father must control his own �passion� while encouraging strength of character and a drive to excel among his children. Without a strong commitment and willing obedience to God�s Word by the husband and father, the family will suffer turmoil and may be torn apart. In contrast, God�s standards provide the �rock� that withstands the storm (Matthew 7:24-25). HMM III Start Somewhere - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn�t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. �Daniel 6:4 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/start-somewhere/ - Listen The end of your life is decided by the beginning of it. We see this truth in the life of Daniel, who made a principled stand in a relatively small area. And then he made a more difficult stand in a much bigger area. Perhaps we can find the key to Daniel�s successful life in verse 8 of Daniel 1: �But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king� (nlt, emphasis added). Daniel took this stand in a relatively small area. But his resolution, commitment, and determination carried him through life. He also had a deep commitment to prayer. When King Nebuchadnezzar called for an interpretation of his dream, Daniel and his friends prayed for direction. Then the Lord revealed the meaning of the dream to Daniel. Later, when King Darius signed a law that no one could pray to anyone except him for 30 days, Daniel, knowing this law had passed, went to his home, opened his windows as usual, and prayed, giving thanks to God. They summarily arrested Daniel and threw him into a den of lions. Even King Darius, who really appreciated Daniel, didn�t want this to happen. But once he signed something into law, even he couldn�t change it. The Bible tells us that the next morning, �the king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God� (Daniel 6:23 NLT). Yes, Daniel was stuck in Babylon, but we never read that he complained about his lot in life. In fact, Daniel lived such a godly life that his enemies could find nothing in it to criticize. Daniel had a deep commitment to prayer, and he also realized that he had work that God called him to do. Victory Over Unforgiveness Daniel 6 Immediately after teaching His followers to pray, Jesus gave a warning about allowing unforgiveness to reside in the heart. He said that those who refuse to forgive others won't be forgiven by the Father. Do not misunderstand Jesus' meaning here. Believers don't lose their salvation when they refuse to forgive. Rather, they break fellowship with God because their unrepentant attitude gets in the way of regular confession and repentance. The Lord cannot ignore sin, and His Spirit will bring wrong behavior to the believer's attention until he or she deals with it. Forgiveness is an act of the will more than an act of the heart. Often people don't feel like being merciful to someone who has wronged them. But a resentful spirit grows into a terrible burden. The Lord knows that forgiveness is best, even when it is difficult. You won't deal with a sin until you see it as God does. So assume full responsibility for your unforgiving attitude, and acknowledge that it is a violation of His Word. Claim the divine mercy He offers, and ask Him to enable you to lay aside anger and resentment against the other person(s). As part of the decision to move forward in grace, make a habit of praying for those who hurt you. And if God so leads, seek their forgiveness for your wrong attitude. A bitter and resentful spirit doesn't fit who we are in Christ. Nor is it healthy to carry an angry attitude through life. That's why Scripture emphasizes the need to forgive. Choose to be liberated from your burden--Jesus promised to make us free when we release our sins to Him (John 8:36). Are You Listening? by Ryan Duncan The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. � Proverbs 12:15 It�s common to hear Christians say, "Speak the truth with love," but what about listening? I once read the story of a young man who was struggling with a number of problems. He was depressed, his faith was waning, and his parents eventually convinced him to sit down with their Church's pastor. The day of the appointment, the pastor walked in and, before the young man could even open his mouth, began to speak about "How the grace of God was sufficient for all things." "By the end of the meeting I knew a lot about him and what he believed, but he knew absolutely nothing about me," the young man would later recall. Sadly, one of the most overlooked commands in the Bible is that we are to listen to others. Too often, in our zeal to share the word of Christ with others, we end up trampling them in platitudes and redundant scriptures. But listening can be a powerful tool. Listening builds understanding, diminishes fear, and can be comforting in a time of sorrow. Look at this passage from the book of James, My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. � James 1:19-25 Listening is the first step in acting out the scriptures, not speaking. The Church has the potential to do so much good in the world, to share the love of Christ with so many people. However, in order to do this we must first stop talking, sit quietly, and get to know them. We need to hear their stories, understand their hurts, empathize with their anger, and then, when they have nothing else to say, that is when we speak our truth. It's time to start using our ears before we use our words. Understanding Guilt John 8:1-11 Guilt over doing something that violates the conscience is a normal emotion. However, living under a cloud of remorse for no discernible reason is not. The Lord designed feelings of culpability and regret to serve as a reminder that a person has done wrong and needs to repent. But Satan twists those emotions to imprison men and women: those living in shame are uncertain of God's love and often lack self-confidence. Good guilt--the Lord's effective tool for prompting repentance--is a gift that helps us find the right path. However, the Devil encourages false guilt, which involves taking responsibility for things outside our control and then suffering self-condemnation for not changing the outcome. This unhealthy type of guilt is also a widespread problem for those in legalistic churches or lifestyles--certain behaviors or thoughts are labeled as wrong, and then people feel ashamed for doing or thinking those things. Self-condemnation stunts a relationship with Jesus. Instead of enjoying the peace of God, people who are trapped by shame fear His rejection and feel driven to prove their worth. Trust is nearly impossible because they are waiting for God's judgment to rain down. Their guilt even colors how they see themselves: rather than saying, "My action is wrong," they say, "I am bad." Jesus did not come to accuse or condemn us. Christ restored our souls and made us righteous before God so that our guilt is removed. If our Savior forgave the woman caught in an adulterous relationship, just imagine how ready He is to take your shame away too (John 8:11). Family Structure: Children �Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.� (Colossians 3:20) It is certainly worth noting that the command for children�s obedience is in the context of a godly wife and mother and strong leadership by a godly father. If and when both parents are setting a godly example, then children are given greater freedom to obey and a more likely outcome of stable maturity. However, this instruction is part of the timeless Ten Commandments and therefore independent of the internal circumstances of the family. Children are to obey their parents �in all things.� And even though the parallel verse in Ephesians 6:1 includes the qualifier �in the Lord,� the emphasis throughout is on obedience. That is, when children obey their parents, the outcome is a longer life than otherwise (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:3) because obedience is �well pleasing� to the Lord. This most basic of behaviors begins in the home and is either enhanced or disdained by the parents. However, the responsibility lies directly with the children to obey those who have the initial authority over them. Broken homes, single-parent homes, and absent parents aside, obedience lies at the core of all human relationships. If a child embraces obedience in spite of circumstances, his or her life is more likely to succeed in school, in business, and in all social endeavors. Obedience is an �ornament of grace� and �chains about� the neck for godly children (Proverbs 1:8-9) and will bring �favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man� (Proverbs 3:1-4). Abraham is cited for his godly care for his children, who because of his leadership would �keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment� (Genesis 18:19). It is the obedience that �is well pleasing unto the Lord� and brings about the fulfillment of life �long on the earth� (Ephesians 6:3). HMM III The Seeds of Revival - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven�s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. �Psalm 80:19 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-seeds-of-revival/ - Listen The last great American revival was the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. We called it a Jesus Movement back then. And we called ourselves Jesus People. Time magazine, however, dubbed this moment in time the �Jesus Revolution.� The word revolution means an upheaval, a dramatic change. It looked like America was going downhill fast, and it was. So God sent a revolution, and it changed the nation. Our nation needs another Jesus Revolution right now. In fact, the United States of America was born during a spiritual awakening. George Whitefield, a preacher from England, proclaimed the gospel in the colonies, and thousands of people came to faith in Christ. The obvious result was moral change in the culture because whenever people come to Christ, it changes the way they live. This became the soil that was so receptive to the seeds of liberty. In fact, I don�t think we could have had the United States of America without the incredible soil that the evangelist George Whitefield tilled. Our nation started with an awakening, and we need another one. God says, �Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land� (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT). The Bible says of the first-century church, �All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles� teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord�s Supper), and to prayer� (Acts 2:42 NLT). That church turned the world upside down. A revival is an awakening. It�s coming back to life. It�s a restoration. We can�t really start an awakening, but we can do this: We can prepare the ground for the seeds of revival. Being Thankful in �All� Things By Debbie McDaniel "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 I must be honest, sometimes it's the "all" in that verse that gets me. Most of us can be thankful, for lots of things, at lots of times, but in "all" circumstances? That can be tough. What about when you find yourself suffering illness, or defeat, or you're walking through huge loss...what about when a loved one leaves this world too soon and you still can't see past your tears...or when you've been praying for your prodigal loved one to come home and it seems like the prayers are unanswered...what about when you're discouraged, disillusioned, and struggling with disbelief...or when you're overwhelmed, overextended, and just fighting being over-stressed...what about when the needs mount high and the way doesn't look clear...or when people are cruel, life seems unfair, and the enemy's breathing down your back...what about when the storms come, and the car breaks down, or the air conditioner stops working on a holiday weekend (true story)... Yes, these are the "all" things that can be hard to find gratitude in, whether it's huge losses or just life irritations. But God's word never changes to fit our circumstances. His Truth rises above our circumstance, so that we can too. He doesn't say give thanks "for it", but "in it all," for He knows He's building more deeply into our lives and character than He could ever build without the hard times. We're gaining strength. We're gaining perseverance. We're being reminded that true joy is never based on how we feel or our outside situations. We're understanding that God's ways are bigger, His thoughts are higher, and we can be assured that He holds us in His hands. And He is with us. Always. Victory Over Guilt John 3:16-17 At times, people are bound by guilt long after the feeling should have been resolved. Some rightly live with it because they refuse to give up the sin that brought it on. Meanwhile, others suffer the weight of false guilt because they harbor shame that doesn't belong to them. Whatever the root cause of your condemnation, the battle plan remains the same. Victory over guilt begins with understanding that Jesus took our shame to the cross and paid our penalty. There is no way that we can pay for our own sin. But we do need to honestly identify the source of our guilt and confess before God. That means we agree with His perspective on what we've done. In other words, we admit when we're wrong. Repentance goes a step further: we turn away from the wrong and choose to do right. Confronting guilt in this way replaces the weight of shame in our heart with peace and joy, which are far lighter and more freeing. And an amazing side effect is that we have wisdom to share. Openness about our past mistakes, resulting consequences, guilt burdens, and forgiveness can reveal the Lord to those in our sphere of influence. Through our witness, God may reach others who need their guilt chains broken. The battle to overcome guilt is one that should not be delayed. The feeling won't just go away. Whether your condemnation is true or false, it needs to be dealt with quickly. Stop running, and face the source of your guilt. It's time to end your captivity and start walking in the joy of God's blessing. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM