Arts Worship In A August

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Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven.
—Matthew 5:20

In a decadent society the will to believe, to resist, to contend, to fight, to struggle, is gone. In place of this will to resist, there is the desire to conform, to drift, to follow, to yield, and to give up. This is what happened in Rome, but it also applies to us. The same conditions that prevailed in Rome prevail in our society. Before Rome fell, her standards were abandoned, the family disintegrated, divorce prevailed, immorality was rampant, and faith was at a low ebb. As Gibbon said, “There was much talk of religion, but few practiced it.”

Prayer for the day
May I be worthy to bear the name Christian, Lord Jesus.

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Daily Devotion
Walking in Peace: Fruit of the Spirit
Psalm 20:6-9
Who Is Your Source?

If your peace is easily shaken, it’s time to ask yourself a serious question:

Who is your source?

Do you find your peace in the state of the economy? The DOW? The state of politics? Your supply of toilet paper?

There are only two directions you can look for what you need and desire—to God or to man (including yourself).

Most Christians are shaken to the core and lose their peace when things change because they’ve been relying on man. But that is misplacing faith—taking it from God and giving it to man. This is dangerous (see today’s reading).

No matter who people are or how wonderful they are—they’re not God. You can’t substitute anyone or anything for God. That place in your heart is exclusively reserved for God ALONE.

Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t have confidence in other people, but God alone should have that major place in your heart. Faith in people is optional. Faith in God is not.

And just look at the life of someone who has learned to make God their ONLY Source of peace:

“Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

That’s the key to enjoying perfect peace and receiving the desires of your heart.

When God is your everything, you can have anything—including a life filled with peace.

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aily Devotion
[Psalm] Everything
Psalm 139: 1-5; Hebrews 4:13
Fully Known

Psalm 139 is a very poetic and famous psalm. It is divided into 4 sections of 6 verses each. 

David declares that God is everything. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and He is everywhere for every time and every moment. We are to lay our lives before Him. 

God is all-knowing and all interested. Now, you might say, “Yeah, I know God’s all-knowing. Of course. He’s God!” But, do you know that God is not only all-knowing, He is also all-interested? He not only loves you; He likes you. He not only cares for you; He wants to be a part of what is going on in your life. 

He is all-knowing and all-interested as well; that is so important for us, because every human being desires greatly to be known and to have friendships. We all, introverts and extroverts, long for different levels of friendship, but everybody wants to have a friend. Everybody wants to be known. Everybody wants to be cared for. 

One of my best friends since sixth grade and I have this phrase that we use together: “Fully known; fully loved.” That is the way that we describe each other. I know everything about him. He knows everything about me. And I fully love him and he fully loves me. It is the same with the Lord, just at a deeper level. He fully knows everything about you and He fully loves you with everything He is.

We crave to be known. It may be through selfies on social media that we are trying to get known. It may be through acknowledgments of our accolades, our accomplishments, or our trophies that we are trying to gain fame. Everybody wants to be known, and God says, “I know you and I like you.”

It does not matter how many followers you have; it matters who you have as your leader. If you have Christ as your leader, knowing Him will give you more satisfaction than a million followers will ever give you. 

God wants you to know that you are fully known and fully loved by Him. 

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Pray Effectively
Psalm 100:1-4
PRAISE: The First Step in Effective Prayer

Praying consistently will change your life. In fact, many of the blessings God wants you to enjoy will never be realized unless you pray.

I think all Christians know they are supposed to pray, and all Christians want to pray. But many of God’s people, if they are completely frank and transparent about the issue, would have to admit their prayer life is somewhere between mediocre and non-existent.

Over the next few devotionals, I want to share with you four simple points which I have put into an acronym: P-R-A-Y. If you can spell the word pray, hopefully you will be able to remember how to make your prayer life more effective, and you will be inspired to pray more consistently.

Psalm 100 helps us understand the first letter, “P”, in the word P-R-A-Y, which stands for praise. Psalm 100:1-4 states it well,

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Verse 2 tells us, Come before His presence with singing. And in verse 4 notice the words “enter into.” In other words, praise is how you are to enter God’s presence. It is the best way to begin your prayer.

When you want to come to God, you start with thanksgiving. You start with singing. You start with praise. Or, as The Message says, Enter with the password: “Thank you!”

Today, and every day, make praise the starting point of every conversation with God.

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Pray Effectively
Psalm 19:12-13
REPENT: The Second Step in Effective Prayer 

In the last devotional we began to look at what makes for effective prayer by using the acronym P-R-A-Y. The first step is praise. Today, I want to focus on the second letter of our acronym, “R”, which stands for repent.  

By repentance in prayer, I mean taking the time before God to search your heart and repent of anything that has come between you and Him. Psalm 19:12-13 expresses it well, 

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. 

Verse 12 begins with the question, “Who can understand his errors?” The psalmist is telling us, “You will not always know when you do something wrong. You will not always know when you get into an area that is not right.” 

What David is pointing to are the secret faults and presumptuous sins which can still have dominion over you—even though you may not be aware that what you did was wrong.  

For example, sometimes we can allow attitudes to get into our hearts that we don’t realize are inconsistent with God’s character. Or sometimes we can do and say things that are detrimental, not only to us, but to others, and not really understand the damage we have done.  

How do you deal with these sins? You come before God and say, “God, put the spotlight on anything in my life that has raised a barrier between You and me, and I will repent of it.”  

So when you pray, ask God to reveal any sin in your life you may be overlooking. God will honor your heart of repentance.

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Pray Effectively
ASK: The Third Step in Effective Prayer 

In the last two devotionals we discovered that praise and repentance are the first two steps to effective prayer. Today I want to show you the very important third step of asking. 

Last time we talked about how repentance is searching your own heart and asking God to put the spotlight on it, and then repenting of anything that He shows you. When your heart is clean, you can have confidence before God when you ask. As 1 John 3:21-22 says, 

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 

In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus tells us, 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” 

Pretty clear, isn’t it? God loves you and wants the very best for you. Be careful not to water down the words of Jesus, or somehow try and explain them away or complicate them. He meant just what He said. 

But there are some conditions. And next time we will look at those conditions for receiving what you ask God for.

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Pray Effectively

The Conditions for Answered Prayer 

Last time we talked about the “A” in the acronym P-R-A-Y, which is our way of understanding the steps in effective prayer. That “A” stands for ask, and I have come to believe that too many Christians don’t believe that God wants them to ask. 

God wants you to ask. He really does. But there are some conditions He gives in order to answer your requests. In John chapters 14-16 we find a number of these conditions. 

We need to remember that these are Jesus’ last hours with the disciples; and He wants them to understand how prayer really works. Over and over He emphasizes the need to ask, but His answers will be based on three conditions. 

First, in John 14:13, Jesus says your request must glorify God, 

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” 

Second, in John 15:7, He says your request must be consistent and in harmony with His Word, 

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” 

And finally, in John 16:23-24, Jesus sets the condition that your request bring you joy, 

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” 

Over and over, Jesus commands you to ask. But when you ask, make sure your request will glorify God, that it is consistent with His Word, and that it will bring you joy.

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Pray Effectively
Psalm 37:4
YIELD: The Fourth Step in Effective Prayer 

Psalm 37:4 provides us the “Y” in the acronym P-R-A-Y, the four elements to effective prayer we have been discussing over the last few devotionals.  

Here is what Psalm 37:4 says, 

Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

Now the Hebrew word for delight in this verse literally means to become soft or pliable. This means that “delighting” in the Lord is assuming a yielded posture before God.  

So the “Y” in P-R-A-Y stands for yield. The question is: How do you practice yielding to God when you pray? Yielding is when you stop talking, and you wait, listen, and seek to hear from God.  

In my own practice of prayer, I will often bow before God and ask Him, “God, is there anything You want to say to me? Do You have any instructions for me? Is there anything You want me to change?”  

Then I silently wait for Him to speak to me. 

As you assume this posture of being yielded and waiting quietly before Him, you will be surprised at some of the things that come to your attention: “You need to spend more time with your daughter,” “Take your wife out on a date,” “Bake your neighbor a pie and build a bridge over which the gospel can travel,” “Spend more time praising Me,” “Show your gratitude and appreciation for those who have been helping you in your life.”  

You will indeed hear from God if you ask Him to speak into your heart, and wait silently before Him.  

That is the last element of effective prayer: praise, repent, ask, yield. Your prayers can indeed be effective if you commit to these four principles. That is how to P-R-A-Y.

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Daily Devotion
Everything Psalm
Psalm 19:14; 1John 1:6-7
Walking in the Light

One of the worst feelings that a human can experience is feeling ignored.

I listened to a podcast from a retired CEO of Ritz-Carlton, where he made this statement: “We train our people so when they’re walking down the hall, if they get within six or seven feet of a customer, they are supposed to say, “Good morning, Sir. Good morning, Ma’am.”

The employees are trained to look at the customers in the eye and acknowledge them as they pass them by in the hall. They understand the psyche of men and women because they understand that the worst feeling is to be ignored. Have you ever been ignored? Sure you have!

Have you been to a party and it seems like everybody else knows each other? Have you walked up to somebody and they have turned the other way? All of us have been in a spot where we felt like we were just blending into the wallpaper instead of being a part of what was going on. Everybody has felt ignored, and being ignored is one of the worst feelings we can experience. 

God is saying to you, “You’ll never be ignored by Me because My eyes are on you and I know right where you are.” 

God’s knowledge of us is intimate knowledge, but His intimacy does two things: It invites us and it also repels us. 

It invites us when we understand how God knows us, and we respond by saying, “Yes. I want to be known by my Creator and God. I need a place to pour out my deepest thoughts; a place for forgiveness of my sins. I need a place to connect.” I am invited to understand that He searches me, and He knows me. He knows when I leave, what I say, and what I do. 

At the same time, if God knows everything, it also repels me because it is a little scary to think that, “If He knows everything, I don’t know how close I want to get; He may start changing things. I want Him to know ‘these’ are the changeable things and ‘these’ are the unchangeable things.”

Everything is on the table before Him. If darkness is as light, then God can see anything. Even the things that I think are in the dark, God can take those and change them. His love invites me to trust Him.

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— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

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Daily Devotion
Dealing with Uncertainty
Joshua 1:5-9
Finding Courage in the Face of Uncertainty

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.” – Joshua 1:6  

Think of Joshua as he prepared to lead the Israelites into Canaan—a place overrun by their enemies. Although God promised them this land, the journey to obtain the promise was long, hard, and filled with uncertainty. 

Perhaps that’s why God reminds Joshua: “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous…” God knew Joshua’s secret concerns, and so He spoke to the fear in Joshua’s heart. 

The same God who encouraged Joshua also wants to encourage you. He understands how easily fear and anxiety can paralyze anyone forced out of their comfort zones and into circumstances beyond their control.  

Thankfully, no matter how uncertain you may feel, the outcome of every situation is known to God. And God promises to never leave or forsake those who draw near to Him. His children are never alone. You are not alone. And your future is held in His hands.

So, how do you deal with uncertainty? 

You acknowledge your limitations, lay down your expectations, and pick up God’s declarations. Over the next 4 days, we’ll take a closer look at these steps and discover how to incorporate them into our daily lives.

A Prayer for Facing Uncertainty: 

God, I know that You can work all things together for good. But right now, I’m overwhelmed by what’s going on around me. The future feels uncertain and I want to panic. Please help me. Remind me of Your promises. Fill me with courage and give me strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Over the next few days, use this Plan to speak to my heart and encourage my soul. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Daily Devotion
Dealing with Uncertainty
Exodus 17; Ephesians 3:21
Acknowledge Your Limitations

The Israelites out-fought the Amalekites as long as Moses held up his arms … After a while, his arms were so tired that Aaron and Hur got a rock for him to sit on. Then they stood beside him and supported his arms … That’s how Joshua defeated the Amalekites. – Exodus 17:11-13

Standing on a hill with a staff over your head is not a strategic way to win a battle. And yet, that was essentially Moses’ plan when he instructed Joshua to go fight a powerful kingdom.   

But his actions during this fight not only helped the Israelites defeat their enemy, they also illustrate 2 healthy ways to acknowledge your limitations in uncertain situations.

• Cling to the One who knows your future. 

As long as Moses held his staff above his head, the Israelites won, but as soon as he lowered it, they began to lose. By lifting his staff, Moses symbolically acknowledged God was always with them—and He alone was in control. 

Like Moses, when you find yourself in a battle you know you’re ill-equipped to handle, look at the situation in front of you and observe what’s going on around you, but don’t let that stop you from clinging to God’s authority and pursuing what He’s promised you. 

• Allow trusted people to come alongside you. 

As the fight continued, Moses’ arms weakened and he could not support the Israelite army without help. That’s when his trusted friends stepped in. By holding him up, they helped Israel achieve victory.  

Moses wasn’t created to endure hard moments alone—and neither were you. What if your current limitation is actually an invitation for people to partner with you in the God-glorifying story He wants to tell through you?  

The victories achieved in uncertain seasons are rarely due to our own strength—they’re a result of clinging to God and relying on others to support us. It is the faithfulness of God that sees us through the storms of life, and when we acknowledge that, we create space for God to show up and show off in our weaknesses. 

Reflection Questions: 

What situations are you facing that feel too big to handle? 

Which trusted people can you ask to come alongside you?

In what specific way will you cling to God’s authority today?

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“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

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Daily Devotion
Dealing with Uncertainty
Matthew 6:24-34; Exodus 32:1-4
Lay Down Your Expectations

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us.” – Exodus 32:1

400 years. That’s how long the Israelites waited for God to deliver them from slavery. But after they left Egypt, God didn’t take them directly to Canaan. Instead, they camped at the base of a mountain while God instructed Moses. 

But after 40 days, the Israelites grew frustrated. Their delayed expectations led to poor decisions: they rejected God and pursued whatever pleased them. 

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by an uncertain season that lasts longer than you anticipated, you’re not alone. We can become so focused on our disappointments that we forget God is still in control. That’s why it’s important to remember that your waiting is never wasted.

Even though the Israelites couldn’t see it at the time, God wasn’t withholding His promises from them—He was preparing them for it.

So, if you find yourself weary from waiting, do what the Israelites forgot to do: look for evidence of God’s presence, and look back on what He’s already done. God’s timeline may be different than yours, but His faithfulness doesn’t waver. Your waiting might be preparing you for the plans and purposes God has for you. 

Reflection Questions: 

What have you held onto that you know you need to surrender?

In what ways has God been faithful in your life? 

What might God be trying to show you in your current season? 

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Daily Devotion
Ps. 55:22; Phil. 4:7; Zeph. 3:17; Ps. 32:8; Ps. 46:1; Rom. 8:37-39; Deuteronomy 31:6; 1Jh.4:18; Phil.1:6
Pick Up God’s Declarations 

Joshua summoned all Israel, “…you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.” – Joshua 23:14

Joshua spent most of his life enduring adversity, setbacks, and disappointment. And yet, he never stopped believing that God would keep His promises. By the end of his life, Joshua saw God’s faithfulness come to pass, which is why he told the Israelites to recognize and remember God’s promises. 

The thoughts you fill your mind with are crucial because what you cling to influences your worldview. 

If you choose to dwell on God’s promises, you start to recognize God’s blessings during uncertain times. Plus, trusting that God will redeem your present pain equips you to walk forward in faith and keep on fighting. 

As you walk forward today, reflect on some of God’s promises, and let them transform the way you think: 

God will sustain you.

God’s peace will guard your heart. 

God delights over you with singing. 

God will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. 

God is your refuge and strength, your help in times of need. 

In all things, you are more than a conqueror because God loves you. 

God will never leave you or forsake you. 

God’s perfect love casts out all your fear. 

Nothing can separate you from God’s love. 

God’s not done with you. God’s not done with you. God’s not done with you. 

Pray God’s Promises: 

God, I’m so thankful that the Scriptures are filled with Your promises. Help me to cling to what I know is true. Remind me of Your faithfulness. When I am tempted to forget what You’ve done or how You’ve shown Yourself faithful, cause my heart to remember. Keep me steadfast. Amen.

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Daily Devotion
Dealing with Uncertainty
James 4:13-14; Psalm 46: 9-11; Exodus 14:14
Practice Being Still 

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” – Exodus 14:14 

Just after they escaped from Egypt, Moses encouraged the Israelites with those words. Perhaps he understood that our natural reaction in moments of uncertainty is to restlessly bounce between anxiety and despair. 

Feelings of uncertainty can result in the prefrontal cortex in your brain “shutting down”: impairing your ability to solve problems, pay attention, and stay flexible. This increases your chances of engaging in irrational behavior and makes you more prone to anxiety, depression, and stress. 

That’s why it’s important to fix your mind on what matters by centering your heart on God’s truths. Stillness is a discipline that takes continual, conscious practice, but the act of stillness sharpens our senses and makes us more aware of God’s presence in our present circumstances.  

So, how do you practice being still? One practical way is by walking through the 3 action steps discussed this week: 

• Acknowledge your limitations: Spend a couple of minutes paying attention to what you’re feeling, and name those emotions. Give yourself permission to not feel okay. This process helps break the cycle of intrusive, anxious thoughts, and helps your brain start to think through new ways to handle uncertain situations. 

• Lay down your expectations: What’s currently causing you to feel anxious or afraid? Visualize putting those concerns into a box, and then give that box over to God. Ask Him to replace your worries with reminders of His promises. (You may have to repeat this process several times before you feel ready to move on.) 

• Pick up God’s declarations: Spend at least 5 minutes pouring over God’s promises. Imagine putting them on like clothing, and ask God to show you which ones He wants you to focus on that day. (Some days, it may seem like God has a lot to say, and other days, it may feel like God is quiet. Both are normal, natural fluctuations in healthy relationships.) 

Whatever you face in the weeks ahead, remember that nothing you experience is uncertain to God. He was at work in your past, He’s here in your present, and He holds your future. Hold fast to His promises and trust that He is good.

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Daily Devotion
Finding Peace
2 Thessalonians 3:16
The Foundation for All Peace

Prior to a speaking event not so long ago, a staff member and I were enjoying a meal on the West Coast. While the young waitress attended our table during the meal, I asked her: “If you could ask God for anything in your life, what would you ask Him to do for you?”

Without hesitation, she answered: “I’d ask for peace.”

A tear made its way down her cheek as she shared with us about her beloved grandmother’s death a few days before.

As she shared her story, I learned no one in her family believed in God—and neither did she. She’d not consciously rejected Him. All she knew was there was a deep restlessness inside, but she had no understanding about how to resolve that inner turmoil, or even what lay at the root of it. Like many people, she was living day to day, not having much purpose or meaning in her life.

This young woman represents so many in our society today—going through the motions, striving to make ends meet, seeking a way where there seems to be no way, and trying to make sense of it all.

Too often, there seems to be no adequate answers to our human dilemma—especially to the question of why we feel so empty, void, and lacking peace. Furthermore, there appears to be no satisfactory reason for us to keep putting out our best efforts and still suffering with life’s adversities.

The young waitress serving us explained the issue in her terms by saying, “I need peace.” Others would say, “I’m so lonely.” Some would say, “If my spouse would only love me as he/she should, then I’d be happy.” Different variations but all the same melody: “There’s something wrong … I’m not happy. I have no peace. What’s wrong with me?”

Most who are victims of the messages of our secular society experience this void and don’t equate their problem with God. We’re constantly bombarded with society’s claims: “If only you were thinner, dressed with more style, drove a Jaguar, lived in a better part of town, made more money …” the list goes on and on. But none of the aforementioned highly-prized answers to our problems or any of the hundreds of others offered to us can permanently and satisfactorily provide what we desperately crave.

The young waitress had it right: Most of us feel strongly that we need something more—and the all-encompassing word that so well describes it is peace.

And as a pastor for more than six decades, I can tell you that until you have peace with God, you will never experience true peace in this life. 

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Daily Devotion
Finding Peace
John 14:27
The Peace God Gives

If you’re a student of the Bible, I’m sure you’ve noticed that God’s perspective is often given in the form of comparison and contrast. For example, He often contrasted the rich and the poor, the wise and foolish, darkness and light, and with respect to our topic, the peace that comes from God as opposed to the peace found in this world. Jesus said, “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives …” (John 14:27).

Clearly, the Master was stating that the peace He gave His followers was different from the peace they could find in the world. When Jesus referred to “the world,” He was speaking of the society and culture in which we humans live.

Have you ever been on a troubled sea? I’ve experienced storms at sea on several occasions and frankly, I’ve no desire to repeat the experience! On the surface, the winds can sweep across the sea at 40, 60, 100 miles an hour, with blowing rain, lightning, thunder, and an overpowering darkness. Waves can rise to 20, 30, even 50 feet high. A ship in such a storm can be tossed about like a toy boat. It’s easy for an oceangoing craft to be lost in such storms. But underneath the surface, just 100 feet down, there’s no storm. All is perfectly quiet. No sound. No tumult. Not even a ripple of turmoil. 

This remarkable fact makes me think of God’s peace. It gives me an inkling of what our Lord must’ve been talking about when He promised His disciples His peace. He told them because they were His followers, they’d have trouble in this world. In fact, He claimed that some of them would be persecuted because they were His disciples. But in spite of this, He promised He’d never leave those who followed Him, and His constant presence would be the means whereby they could experience His peace. 

When fears, anxieties, and troubles arise in your life, look for the following signs of God’s peace as it …

· Transcends circumstances. Often, peace is more readily seen and felt in the midst of trial and trouble. But regardless of what you’re experiencing, know this: God is your peace. Put your faith in Him.

· Surpasses understanding. The peace of God is not something we can always figure out. But it’s operative and available to us—far beyond our ability to understand it. 

· Extends to all His followers. God’s peace is extended to every person who accepts Jesus as their Savior, turns from their sin, and pursues a life in obedience to the guidance of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit.

· Is an abiding state of being. In the difficult circumstances of life, the Holy Spirit is present to help. Peace—deep, genuine, God-given peace—can be the “norm” in which you live day to day.

As you move forward in the journey of life, trust and believe that God’s desire for you is to feel an abiding peace at all times—a peace that includes joy and a feeling of purpose in every area of your life.

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Daily Devotion
Finding Peace
Jamaes 4:7; John 14:27
Why We Lose Our Peace

There’s only one way to experience an abiding peace that transcends circumstances—by faith. Faith is the foundation for living in God’s peace—an active, confident trust in His presence and power to sustain and comfort you, no matter the circumstance you face. There are, however, certain issues that can undermine our faith and rob us of our peace. Let’s consider a few of them:

1. Sudden Fear—Some people are so accustomed to responding to every little dip and rise of life with fear and small doses of panic that they can’t even imagine there’s another way to respond. They’re so upset by change of all types that it never dawns on them they can live with greater emotional stability.
2. The Enemy—We can be attacked by our enemy, the devil, who may use various means to cause us to doubt and lose faith in our God. But we must stand up to him. Scripture urges us to resist the devil, and when we do, he will flee from us (James 4:7). 
3. Sin—Peace and rebellion cannot co-exist. The only recourse is to confess sin to God, surrender to Him, and ask for His help in turning from and resisting all temptation. Then, God’s peace can flow once again. 
4. Giving Up Peace—In times of crisis, we sometimes lay down our peace willingly. We give it up. Concede it. Abandon it. Always remember that no one can take our peace from us; we have to surrender it. And as such, we’re the only ones who can take it back.
5. Losing Focus—We can allow the myriad of bad-news scenarios we hear and read about every day to cause us to lose our correct focus. Instead of having our minds set on God and trusting Him for His peace and presence, we allow our thoughts to get sidetracked and galvanized by the negative news and circumstances we see and hear. 

Because God is with us, we don’t have to give in to, sink beneath, or become defeated by our troubles. We can face, confront, challenge, deal, and in the end overcome them in the power of the cross. Jesus taught His followers that all troubles are passing in nature for a season … and a reason. So “let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:27). Hold on to the peace that God gives, confident that He’s watching, directing, and caring for those who trust and believe in Him.

.”

—

“I

Daily Devotion
Finding Peace
Romams 12:2; Philippians 4:6-7; 4:9
How Your Thought Life Affects Your Peace

If we’re being honest with ourselves, most of us aren’t who or what we think we are. Our thinking is marred at best, off-track, and in most cases, needs to be changed.

How do I know this to be true? Aside from my experience pastoring so many through the years, God’s Word calls us to a “renewal” of our minds. That means trading in our old perceptions, opinions, ideas, beliefs, and self-centered attitudes for a new set of perceptions, opinions, ideas, beliefs, and attitudes that God develops in us. These godly responses are nurtured by regular reading of Scripture and meditating on what’s been read in the Bible. Christ’s followers are urged to avoid being “conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2).

Out of a renewal of our thinking comes a change in our speech patterns and our behaviors. As our speech and behavior become renewed, our relationships with others become renewed. And as our relationships become renewed, our immediate world is renewed as well. It all begins in the mind with what we choose to think and what we choose to dwell upon.

You have the ability to determine what you’ll think. At any time, you can refocus your mind to a new topic, task, or problem to solve instead of negative thinking that will steal your peace and/or cause you to venture into rebellion or sin. You have the ability to say, “I choose to trust God,” in any situation you face or thought you have.

Furthermore, any child of God who takes a willful stand against thought patterns that clearly are harmful is going to be provided a way of escape from that circumstance. God will help you focus your mind on something other than your problem or bad thought pattern if you will make the initial step in His direction. 

When you guard your mind, you guard your peace. When you offer prayers to God with faith and thanksgiving—no matter what trials you face—He assures you inner peace (Phil. 4:6-7). And when you focus your thinking on what’s true, noble, virtuous, lovely, pure, and praiseworthy, you rely upon God with increasing faith and trust. 

You can never fully exhaust your ability to think about the goodness and greatness of God. Choose to respond to life the way Jesus responded. Guard your prayer life. Guard your thought life. Seek the Father and all that’s godly. His Word promises that when you fill your mind with what is virtuous and praiseworthy, “the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9).

.”

—

“I

Daily Devotion
Finding Peace
Romams 12:2; Philippians 4:6-7; 4:9
How Your Thought Life Affects Your Peace

If we’re being honest with ourselves, most of us aren’t who or what we think we are. Our thinking is marred at best, off-track, and in most cases, needs to be changed.

How do I know this to be true? Aside from my experience pastoring so many through the years, God’s Word calls us to a “renewal” of our minds. That means trading in our old perceptions, opinions, ideas, beliefs, and self-centered attitudes for a new set of perceptions, opinions, ideas, beliefs, and attitudes that God develops in us. These godly responses are nurtured by regular reading of Scripture and meditating on what’s been read in the Bible. Christ’s followers are urged to avoid being “conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2).

Out of a renewal of our thinking comes a change in our speech patterns and our behaviors. As our speech and behavior become renewed, our relationships with others become renewed. And as our relationships become renewed, our immediate world is renewed as well. It all begins in the mind with what we choose to think and what we choose to dwell upon.

You have the ability to determine what you’ll think. At any time, you can refocus your mind to a new topic, task, or problem to solve instead of negative thinking that will steal your peace and/or cause you to venture into rebellion or sin. You have the ability to say, “I choose to trust God,” in any situation you face or thought you have.

Furthermore, any child of God who takes a willful stand against thought patterns that clearly are harmful is going to be provided a way of escape from that circumstance. God will help you focus your mind on something other than your problem or bad thought pattern if you will make the initial step in His direction. 

When you guard your mind, you guard your peace. When you offer prayers to God with faith and thanksgiving—no matter what trials you face—He assures you inner peace (Phil. 4:6-7). And when you focus your thinking on what’s true, noble, virtuous, lovely, pure, and praiseworthy, you rely upon God with increasing faith and trust. 

You can never fully exhaust your ability to think about the goodness and greatness of God. Choose to respond to life the way Jesus responded. Guard your prayer life. Guard your thought life. Seek the Father and all that’s godly. His Word promises that when you fill your mind with what is virtuous and praiseworthy, “the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9).

.”

—

“I

aily Devotion
Finding Peace
1 Peter 1:22; Philippians 3:13
Living Without Regret

I remember slowly hanging up the phone and then saying as I sighed deeply, “Well … it’s happened.” 

The voice on the other end of the phone was an attorney, notifying me my wife had filed for divorce. 

I’d lived with threats of divorce for many years. Yet even so, I was stunned by the news I was given. 

Over the next several days, many different emotions and thoughts tumbled through my heart and mind. I didn’t want a divorce. I didn’t know exactly how to proceed to keep a divorce from happening. I didn’t know who to tell, or how I should tell them. I knew eventually I’d need to tell the entire congregation of the church I pastored, and I had no guarantee about how the board or the congregants would respond. The only certainty was the pressure of preparing for and delivering next Sunday’s sermon.

Even as my mind raced a million miles a second, I knew with absolute certainty deep within my heart these truths: 

· God was not surprised by this action taken against me.

· God was in control of my life—He’d allowed this to happen for His purposes as part of His plan for me.

· He’d promised in His Word never to leave me nor forsake me. He’d promised to be right by my side every step of the way; and therefore, all things would ultimately be for my eternal benefit if I’d only continue to trust Him fully.

The immediate facts of the situation created turmoil. The unchanging truth about God created peace.

Almost eight years after the attorney’s phone call, the divorce my wife sought was legally granted to her.

People have said to me in the years since: “Surely you must regret the loss of your marriage … that you failed in your fight to save your marriage … that all your efforts toward reconciliation didn’t work.”

My outward response has been mostly silence. My real, inward response to such comments is, Saddened, yes. Regret, no. 

While I’m saddened that my marriage ended in divorce, I don’t live with an abiding sense of regret. Why? Because regret is rooted in unresolved guilt. I knew I had peace with God, and regret and guilt are therefore not part of my life.

I’ve found the best way to live without regret is to maintain a clear conscience. Choose to live in such a way that you do your best in every task and relationship, giving your best effort to live in a godly manner. Choose to trust God in every area of your life—not just the easy ones. Choose to obey Him and keep His commandments. Choose to forgive others fully. And choose the path God reveals for you to follow.

While no one can do all of this in their own power, with the Holy Spirit residing in us, we can turn from all forms of temptation to pursue peace with ourselves and others—and continue the good works God has authorized for us to do. 

.”

—

“I

aily Devotion
Finding Peace
Matthew 6:25-26 2 Timothy 1:7
Giving Up Anxiety

Anxiety is a problem we all will deal with at one time or another. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: 

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matt. 6:25-26)

The Greek word for “anxious” in this passage means “distracted.” It’s a word that refers to uncertainty. That’s what anxiety produces in us. It gives us a feeling of, What next? It’s a feeling that the rug has been pulled out from underneath us and we have no idea if we’re going to fall, how hard, in what direction, or onto what.

The word “anxious” is also translated as “worry” in the Bible. For many people, worry has become a way of life. If that describes you, I encourage you to read again the words of Jesus. His words are not a suggestion—they’re a command.

You may say, “I can’t help feeling anxious, I’ve always been a worrier.” I’ve heard that from many people through the years. My response is, “Yes you can.”

There’s nothing about a circumstance that automatically creates anxiety. Anxiety occurs because of the way we respond to a problem or troubling situation. Your ability to choose is part of God’s gift of free will to every human being. You can choose how you feel. You can choose what you think about, and you can choose how you will respond to a circumstance. It certainly isn’t God’s purpose for you to feel anxious—He doesn’t allow situations in your life so you’ll have anxiety. The Father may allow a situation in your life to develop stronger faith, grow and mature, or change a bad habit or negative attitude. But God doesn’t set you up for anxiety. He’s always at work to bring you to a place where you’ll trust Him more, obey Him more fully, and receive more of His blessings.

You can fall into a downward spiral of anxiety. Or you can say, “Father, I bring this to You. It’s beyond my control. I feel helpless in this situation, but You have the power to change what I’m facing. You love me perfectly, and I’m trusting You to handle what concerns me in the way You see fit. I know whatever You’ve planned for me is for my good. I look forward to seeing the way You choose to express Your love, wisdom, and power.”

Friend, this is the way of peace—the road out of anxiety and worry.

.”

—

“I

Daily Devotion
Finding Peace
Romans 12:18
Living in Peace With Others 

It’s a challenge we each face regularly: How can we live in peace with other people and restore peace when conflict erupts? 

The fact is, God desires for us to live in peace with others. He also knows that we’ll not always be at peace with others. Conflicts occur. At times, conflicts aren’t easily resolved. In fact, there are occasions when conflicts cannot be resolved. However, God wants us to do all we can to be at peace with everyone.

We who are followers of Christ know full well that when God isn’t in full control of our lives, we can act just as despicably as an unbeliever. Our salvation doesn’t automatically keep us from being mean, jealous, hateful, or angry. It’s only as we ask the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us, only as we yield our nature to His nature, only as we seek to be His representatives on this earth in every relationship we have that we’re going to move beyond pride into the behaviors that establish peace.

So how do we deal with conflict when it arises and establish a peaceful outcome?

First, determine the value of the relationship. If you’re going to live in peace with another person, you have to decide, “Is this relationship valuable enough to me to preserve it? Am I willing to compromise on some things to make the relationship work?” I firmly believe that those who are saved by grace and indwelled by the Holy Spirit can find genuine peace in their relationship when both value the maintenance of the relationship.

Second, start talking … and keep talking. When two people are talking—and willing to keep talking and listening to each other—they’re much more likely to quickly find resolution to their conflicts and live in peace with each other.

Third, be transparent. You can’t have a hidden agenda or a manipulative scheme at work in the back of your mind and hope for a peaceful relationship. Being open and honest with others when conflicts arise helps you to reach peaceful solutions in your relationships.

Finally, get to the core of the problem. As you communicate openly with others, taking an honest look at what is at the root of the conflict, you’ll be better able to work through any difficulty and establish peace.

As you strive to live at peace with others, standing on the truth of God’s Word, know that God stands with you. He will turn any conflict or persecution you experience to your eternal benefit. He’ll bring about spiritual growth, greater faith, and stronger enduring power within you. 

”

—

“I

Daily Devotion
Faith Greater than Fear
John 14:26
SAY WHAT? 

God’s Peace is what you will always have with you because God doesn’t take it away like the world does. What God gives stays.
 

BREAKDOWN: 

When is the last time you would say you have experienced real peace? Go ahead and think about it or write it down. I will wait. 

I remember my last moment of real peace came the other week when my daughter Karis, my wife and I were all in the house on the couch playing “the tickle fest.” This is a game my wife and I play with my daughter where we tickle her until she can’t take it anymore and in turn she, our 2-year-old, tries to tickle us back. It was in this moment that I felt God’s peace and honestly God’s joy in my life as well. For me this was a moment where nothing else mattered outside of the love and joy of the two people that God has given to me as family. No bills, no work deadlines, no sermon, no books to write. Just us and a bunch of laughing out loud. 

This moment for me relates to the scripture although it isn’t like in this moment I didn’t have bills that were due or I didn’t have a project I needed to work on. Instead my focus was on enjoying the moment in peace with my family. Even as a student, you have moments of peace that God has given to you. Your job is to make sure that you live in those moments and that you don’t allow the enemy to come in with worry and fear.

The enemy wants to rob you of your moments of peace in order to keep you as far away from God and God’s peace as possible, but you can’t allow this to happen. Our scripture for today says that God gives us this peace, which belongs to God. God has the ownership of it, and God is not like the world that gives and takes away. If God gives it to us it is ours to keep. The scripture goes on to say that because of God’s peace that was given to us, we don’t need to worry, be upset or be afraid. We can’t worry because God has our past and our future. We can’t be upset because whatever the world takes away God can give back in triples. Just ask Job. Lastly, we can’t be afraid because with God there is truthfully nothing to fear.

LIVE IT OUT: 

Today do something that gives you God’s peace. Maybe it’s reading a book or going outside and looking at nature. Maybe it’s playing a sport or watching your favorite movie. Do something where you are allowed to block out all of the other issues of life and focus on the peace that only comes from God.

PRAYER: 

Lord, today help me to find my peaceful place. God, allow me to not only find it but to stay in it for a good amount of time. Jesus, don’t allow the enemy to come into my peaceful moment and try to take anything; instead Lord, help me to remove all worry, feels of being upset and all fear so that I can embrace Your peace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

”

—

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I

Daily Devotion
Faith Greater than Fear
2 Timothy 1:7

SAY WHAT? 

God has not made us punks but instead God has given us power, love and self-control.

BREAKDOWN: 

The term “spirit of fear” here can really be translated as fearful or cowardice. The thought for the term here is someone who is so afraid that they avoid the trouble with the issue. To make it simple: they are punks who run away instead of standing and fighting. 

God hasn’t raised us to be “punk” Christians; instead, God has given us the spirit of power, love and self-control. The Greek word for power here (New Testament is mostly written in Greek and Old Testament is written in Hebrew), is the same word that our English word for dynamite comes from. That means that this power God has given us is explosive in nature and whatever it touches can be overcome if ignited. 

God has given us this kind of love over the world’s fear; the scripture also says that we have God’s love. This love is the Greek word “agape” meaning full or true love. It is a love that is willing to sacrifice for its’ object. This is the kind of love that God wants us to have over fear in every situation we are faced with in life. When we operate in this kind of love nothing can defeat us or stand in our way, because this love trumps it all. 

Then God says we also have the spirit of a sound mind or self-control. Having a sound mind in moments of fear is important because that sound mind or self-control is what will allow us to make the correct decision. One of the ways that fear tries to paralyze us is by making us think that in moments of fear we have no control. 

God is clear in this scripture that we haven’t been given the spirit of fear but instead these three attributes, that when combined, help us to overcome fear and live by the faith that God has given us.

LIVE IT OUT: 

Today, think about the power, the love, and the self-control that God has given you. Allow these three attributes of your faith to guide you throughout the day. In what ways can you show the strength of God’s power in you and God’s love to cover you through self-control?

PRAYER: 

Today, God help me to walk in the power, love and self-control that you have given me. Help me to overcome my fears and not run from the enemy. Instead, help me to move with Holy Ghost boldness in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. 

.”

—

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood

“I strongly believe that the power of food has a fundamental place in people’s homes that binds us to the best things of life.”

— Leo Wood