The story is told of Sir Isaac Newton, the famous mathematician and scientist, who had a strong belief in God. One day, Sir Isaac went to a carpentry shop and asked the owner to make a model of our solar system. This model was to be to scale, intricately painted, and designed to resemble, as closely as possible, the actual solar system.
Several weeks later, Newton picked up the model, paid for it, and placed it in the center of a table in his house. One day, a friend who was an atheist came to visit. When the man arrived, the model of the solar system caught his eye, and he asked Sir Isaac if he could inspect it more closely. As the friend looked it over, he was awed by the fine craftsmanship and beauty. The friend then asked Newton who had created this wonderful model of the solar system. Sir Isaac promptly replied that no one had made the model but that it had just appeared on his table one day, evidently by accident.
Confused, the friend asked the question again, and Newton repeated his answer that the model had come out of thin air. As the friend became frustrated, Sir Isaac then explained the purpose of his answer: If he could not convince his friend that this crude replica of the solar system had “just happened by accident,” how could the friend believe that the real solar system, with all its complex design, could have appeared only by chance? The moral to the story: Design always demands a Designer.
(Ephesians 2:10 NLT)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us a new in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
When was the last time you watched your children sleeping? Why do you suppose as parents we do that? Stare lovingly at a perfectly still and peaceful child? It’s because we marvel at how they are created and are a part of us. … Design does indeed demand a Designer.
Listen again to this passage as I personalize it for us. Repeat these truths over yourself today.
For I am God’s masterpiece. He has created me anew in Christ Jesus, so I can do the good things he planned for me long ago.
God has already stated clearly that you are His masterpiece … just like those beautiful kids you love so much. He has declared your worth and identity. He created each of you and placed you together as a family.
Pray with me: “Father, I want to accept and receive that I am Your masterpiece, created anew in You to accomplish the things You planned for my life long ago. I claim that same identity and destiny for my incredible kids. Thank You for my life. Thank You for their lives. As above, so below.”
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Yesterday we focused on embracing the feelings that freedom brings and living from that sense of security. In today’s passage, Paul directs us towards actions not feelings. He suggests 3 choices for us to make.
Be joyful in hope. Another word for hope is expectant. Will you choose to show joy because your are expectant that God will come through?
Be patient in affliction. Another word for patience is acceptance. Will you choose to accept - to not fight - affliction or trouble?
Be faithful in prayer. Faithful can be defined as loyal and committed. Will you be loyal and committed to praying?
Listen again to this passage, this time from the Message Bible
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
What personal hope do you have for yourself can you choose to be joyful and excited about right now?
What affliction or trouble that you’re facing can you decide to be patient with?
What is something that you need to commit tp praying more earnestly about?
God’s best for you is a combination of feeling, really knowing He has gone before you and is with you, like we explored yesterday, and choosing to follow His path by living in hope, patience and prayer.
Father, I can get so weighed down by all the troubles and concerns around me. Help me to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and trouble, and committed to continually praying. I know you want what’s best for me, help me to choose what’s best for me too. As above so below.
Psalm 34:4-7 (NIV)
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
What does it mean to be radiant? The Psalmist says “those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame. As we get older, some would call wiser, we also get our views blurred by man’s measurement of self. Often we can become so consumed with appearances, responsibilities and expectations that we forget that we have actually been freed from all of that.
What would our response be if someone paid off all of our debt, took away all of our stress, took away any reason for us to ever worry again. I suspect we would look radiant. We might even look a little crazy… Wouldn’t living with that realization do something to those closest to us, wouldn’t that kind of freedom be contagious. Listen again to this passage and view yourself from the writers perspective.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
How does it feel to carry no shame.
How does it feel to know that God saves you from all your troubles.
How does it feel to know that the angel of the Lord encamps around you.
How does it feel to know that God will delivers you.
Let’s make those feelings the reality that we live from today, and everyday.
Father, thank you that you promise to deliver me from all my fears. Thank you that you say my face should never be covered with shame. Thank you that you deliver me from all my troubles and that your angels camp around me. Help me to be radiant, shining the grace that you give me to others. As above, so below.
Proverbs 3:1-12 NLT
My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
In this passage, and throughout the Bible, the writer refers to the reader as ‘my child’. Returning to a position where we don’t have everything figured out on our own seems to be a common theme throughout scripture.
Listen to this passage again from the mindset and the position of your heart of returning to the perspective of a child, with much to learn, not having everything figured out.
My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:1-12 NLT)
‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart do not depend on your own understanding’ pretty much sums up what this is saying.
Is there an area in your life that you have been leaning primarily on your own understanding? Can you do what this passage suggests, ‘seek him in all that you do and he will show you which path to take’? Letting go of the preconceived idea that you are required to have this all figured out on your own is foundational in living with the abandon of childlike innocence, living with a healthy sense of dependency and trust in your Father who goes before you.
Let’s pray: Father, help me to surrender my natural way of looking at things, that I have to have everything figured out. Help me to lean on You, help me to seek You in all that I do as I trust you to show me which path to take. As above, so below.”
Proverbs 2:1-8 NLT
My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.
As we look around in our culture today, it’s getting harder and harder to find those who truly treasure God’s commands, those who seek them like hidden treasures.
Let me ask you … do you want to gain the knowledge of God? Would you like a treasure of common sense and to have your integrity be like a shield to protect your life? For your path to be guarded and your life protected?
Let’s personalize Solomon’s words for us today, as our declaration:
I WILL listen to what You say, and WILL treasure Your commands. I WILL tune my ears to wisdom, and WILL concentrate on understanding. I WILL cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. I WILL search for them as I would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then I will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and I will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants me wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to me as I am honest. He is a shield to me as I walk with integrity. He guards my path to be just and protects me as I am faithful to him. (Proverbs 2:1-8 NLT)
Gods wisdom is the only treasure worth seeking. Treasure available to us freely, upon asking. Relying on our understanding is futile when living a committed life in Christ. What is one area of your life that you can bring before the Lord today and ask for His wisdom to guide you?
Let’s pray together: “Father, guide me to align my life priorities with You and Your ways and Your will. Take my life, all I have and don’t have, all I want and all I need and help me to seek You as my Treasure to find contentment and satisfaction in my life. As above, so below.”
LUKE 18:15-17 NLT
One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.
Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
I remember someone saying to me once when I was in school… Grow up… Since that time I’ve spent most of my time doing that. Growing up. Getting mature. Being responsible. Today, in this passage Jesus confronts that idea, and instead offers us an opportunity to return to how we were made.
All of us started out as infants, then children. Somehow along the way we’ve lost the beauty of that innocence, the wonder of the world around us, the joy of discovery and the faith that is simple.
What would it look like to confound your daily routine and structure and instead take on a mindset of a child? Content. Curious. No fear. It seems in this passage that God is calling us to live with the simple abandon of a child, listen again as I read part of this passage and notice that not only is Jesus suggesting that the kingdom of God is about a child like mindset, but also, He is refuting what the adults are saying the kingdom is like.
Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
Can you let go? Even if it’s just for 10 minutes and allow yourself to experience the beauty and wonder of knowing that all that you need is freely given to you, and is not reliant on your efforts.
Trusting in your Good father who asks you to just come to him with the innocence of a child.
Father, help me put aside my belief that I need to grow up, clean up, have it all together to come to you. Thanks you for encouraging me to live with the fearless abandon of a child, with You as my Father. As above, so below.
For our final day this week, we are going to read a tough passage, but we’ll also turn it around and end on a bright spot. Paul shared these words with Timothy in his second letter, chapter 3, verses 1-5:
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
When you heard these words, did it sound like something from today’s news feed? Love only themselves and their money? Boastful? Proud? Scoffing at God? Disobedient? Ungrateful? Nothing is sacred? This is exactly why God’s Word is timeless and always current.
Again we see how the love self, pride, pleasure and the pursuit of wealth is associated with a lack of godly character. The last verse even says the religious people will reject God’s power.
Now, let’s take Paul’s words, and as what would be in line with many of his other passages such as 1 Corinthians 13, for example, turn the phrases around to encourage ourselves to follow God and pursue Him, not the things of this world, to see our money merely as a means, not an end.
For people must love God and not their money. They must not boast and be proud, or scoff at God, be disobedient to their parents, yet be grateful. Consider everything sacred. Be loving and forgiving; never slander others and always have self-control. Never be cruel. Love what is good. Never betray friends, be reckless, puffed up with pride, or love pleasure rather than God. Don’t act religious, and reject the power that can make us godly. Hold strong to people like that!
Pray with me: “Lord Jesus, thank You that You provide us with all that is good in this world and allow us the ability to stay away from what is harmful to us. There is always that choice. Thank You that You died to give us that choice. Help me to follow You and make my money a means, not an end. As above, so below.”
1 Timothy 6:6-12 NLT
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. … so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith.
A consistent theme throughout Scripture is placing focus on God, His goodness, and His grace while staying away from the attraction of the world and sin. Simply reading the news every day gives us plenty of evidence that money and power do not make people happy and content. Suicide, depression, anxiety, and the like have little to do with the state of income but rather the state of mind.
Let’s do an honest inventory. Knowing that ‘money’ represents security, prestige, pleasure. What is an area of your life that your focus has been the ‘craving’ of money, and what it represents, as the scripture calls it?
Listen once again, this time focusing only on the “do” verses, not the “dont's”:
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. … Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. (1 Timothy 6:6-12 NLT)
As we often talk about here, focusing only on the dont's is not sustainable. We need to replace the dont's with the do's. Can you focus today on pursuing these things, not just staying away from the temptations of wealth? Pursue righteousness, love, perseverance, gentleness?
Let’s pray: “Father, teach me to be content. Help me to pursue righteousness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness as I fight the good fight for my faith in You. As above, so below.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
Now, first things first … there is a strong likelihood that you, like me, read a passage like this and think, “Well, this doesn’t apply to me because I’m not rich.” But the reality is this: When you take the history of the world into consideration and the great affluence of the western culture, in light of the rest of the world, we are rich. The people in third world nations would love to have even what the worst neighborhoods in our cities have. Just being able to access clean water would feel like a luxury to so many in our world. So, in light of when we live and where we live, being “rich” is relative. Perspective and worldview are vital to interpreting Scripture.
With those thoughts in mind, listen again to today’s passage from the Message Bible:
Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT)
Verse 17 shows us the principle of stewardship once again. Our trust should be in God who richly gives and money should be used for good works and generosity to share with those in need.
Can you recognize the riches you have? Imagine what it would be like to turn on the water in your house and nothing come out…and live with that being the norm every day. Is God prompting you about being rich in good works and generous to those in need? What would that look like?
Let’s pray: “Father, help me to not be proud and not to trust in money. Teach me to trust in You. Lead me to use money for good and to be generous to those in need and share with others. I want to store up Your treasure to experience true life. As above, so below.”
Proverbs 23:4-7 NLT
Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle. Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies. They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.
The Bible never says that wealth is a sin, but rather the results of focusing on wealth through greed and being a miser is. While the last two sentences in today’s passage may feel disconnected from the first three, the correlation is the character of a person shows when it comes to money.
Think about this…could you tell a great deal about the habits, focus, and lifestyle of a person by looking at their bank and credit card statements? Absolutely. Our money and its management does not make our character, but rather reflects our character.
Is there something we would be proud for people to find out about you if they saw our accounts or looked at our spending? Something we might want to hide?
Listen again to Proverbs 23:4-7, but this time in The Message Bible: Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder. Don’t accept a meal from a tightwad; don’t expect anything special. He’ll be as stingy with you as he is with himself.
He’ll be as stingy with you as he is with himself. … Wow. None of us want these words to ever describe us. Generosity of heart and resources are foundational to a life following Jesus.
What area of your life could you be more generous with? Is there someone, or a mission in need, that your contribution might serve right now? Or a person that needs you to give more of yourself to?
Let’s pray together: “Father, What I have is yours. Money, time, focus. No matter what You ever allow me to have, help me to keep You as the Center and Catalyst of my character. Help me to live as though You are always in control of everything, my finances, what I receive, what I spend, and what I give. As above, so below.”
David stated in Psalm 24:1: The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. (NLT)
People tend to either believe God created the world or He didn’t. And then if someone believes He did, the next step of faith is believing whether or not He is actively involved in the lives of the people walking on His planet.
King David was clear. The earth belongs to God. Everything in and on the earth belongs to God. The entire world and even all the people belong to Him. If we believe this to be true, then we are never actually owners of anything while we are here.
How do you view what you have, as you being the owner or the steward? How might being a steward change your mindset?
Listen once again to Psalm 24:1: The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. (NLT)
Let’s offer a personalized version: What I have on the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in my life. My world and all the people I know belong to him.
We know the old saying, “You can’t take it with you when you go.” Just more evidence that we are merely borrowing everything we have while we are here. To trust God with our lives and to ask Him for help, we must first see everything as His and come to accept we are stewards of His blessings, responsible and accountable to Him.
Let’s pray: “Father, I confess my world is yours and everything in it. Remind me every day that the world and all the people are yours. Help me to be a good steward of all I have and all You allow me to hold while I am here. As above, so below.”
These are the words of Jesus:
Mark 12:30-31
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.
We are told by Jesus to love God with all of us - heart, soul, mind and strength. That is not possible if we are living a fragmented and splintered life. If we not take care to integrate all those facets of our lives - our mind, our heart, our soul and strength we are not bringing our all to Him.
To integrate our whole self requires a discipline of self-care - to know all those parts of us. That is why we check in with ourselves every day in our time together to know ourselves so that our Father can know us.
Jesus goes a step further in this passage, in two words that we very often overlook.
Listen carefully as I read Jesus words to us again.
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Loving yourself is foundational to loving others. Not loving yourself in a superficial way, but in a holy way.
Psalm 139
You shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
Do you see yourself the way Gods sees you? Can you recognize the beauty He sees in you? Because He does - and He wants you to see it too.
Let's use this Psalm to pray:
Father, You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! And with all that I am, I love and worship you. As above, so below.
Today, we will be looking at the words of Jesus and what He had to say about money. Regardless of our financial circumstances, we can find some peace and hope in this often volatile area of life.
The wording of Matthew 6:19-24 in the New Life Bible is intriguing. Listen to the words of Jesus … “Do not gather together for yourself riches of this earth. They will be eaten by bugs and become rusted. Men can break in and steal them. Gather together riches in heaven where they will not be eaten by bugs or become rusted. Men cannot break in and steal them. For wherever your riches are, your heart will be there also. The eye is the light of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. If your eye is bad, your whole body will be dark. If the light in you is dark, how dark it will be! No one can have two bosses. He will hate the one and love the other. Or he will listen to the one and work against the other. You cannot have both God and riches as your boss at the same time.
Now, Jesus is not saying that it’s wrong to have a savings account. That’s not the point. The concept here is not about our bank account, but our motives and focus. It’s interesting to think of money as a boss. In fact, we will often put up with a lot in our lives in work with actual bosses because money is our ultimate boss. But Jesus is saying that mindset easily competes with God’s place in our lives.
If you are honest with yourself right now, what tends to be the boss in your life right now? What drives your actions and attitudes? Security? Money?
Verse 21 is a great litmus test to constantly evaluate our lives:
For wherever your riches are, your heart will be there also.
The converse is also true: Whatever has your heart, that’s also where your riches will be found.
What has your heart right now? What or who is your mind set on?
We put our efforts into what we love most. Money, security, self reliance all can be rusted or eaten away by things beyond our control. Only God’s riches and security are reliable. So, let’s let that love be our driving force—where our riches, our treasure, our hearts, are.
Let’s pray: “Heavenly Father, please help me to keep money and security in perspective—a heavenly perspective. I want you to be my security. I give my self reliance and confess that you are my security, my treasure and where my heart is. As above, so below.”
Luke 10:38
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
So many of us like Martha can be so consumed with all the details of life that we neglect the source of all things, including a Sound Mind Set.
In this passage it is also admirable that Martha speaks up out of her authentic feeling and points out the stress and comparison she is experiencing by essentially saying, Jesus, shouldn’t someone be helping with all these details.
Notice Jesus’ response was compassion with correction “Martha, you are worried and upset about many things but few things are needed, only one.”
What are you worried about today, what details are causing a bit of stress?
What might it look like for you to let go of worries and just be present? Making a choice to pause for self-care can be surprisingly difficult when we're used to chasing all the details. We may feel guilty or anxious about not getting everything done.
Pausing actually takes a lot of courage in the face of all that needs to be done throughout our days.
Let’s personalize Jesus’s from His response to Martha from this passage.
(Say your name then repeat Jesus’s words, to you), you are worried and upset about many things but few things are needed or indeed only one.
Let’s pray: “Jesus, help me to let go of the things that I worry about and be present in your care. Thank you that you just call me to sit at your feet and soak up your love and strength. Help me to prioritize letting go of thinking I have to get everything right all the time. Help me relax and know that your presence is all I need. As above, so below.”
One of the most fascinating conversations recorded in Jesus’s life was with the “rich, young ruler,” evidently a young man that “had it all.”
Matthew 19:16-22 NLT
Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
This young man’s life was all about what he had, what he had done, and what he hadn’t done. His focus was on behavior, not his heart. How things looked to others, not how things actually were. Jesus knew his treasure was not in pleasing God, so He challenged the man to find a greater, more valuable life than the one he had.
For many of us, we treasure how things look, how we are perceived and how we measure up to others. Imagine this conversation is with you and Jesus asks you to let go of all worldly possessions and perceptions...
How do you respond?
What comes to mind as the hardest thing to let go of?
You are not alone... in our current culture, how we look, what we have, and what we want can be more important than a relationship with Jesus.
For our purposes in this time together, let’s close with a focus on Jesus’s words: “You will have treasure in Heaven when You follow Me.” Can we be satisfied with that? Will you allow His treasure be enough today?
Let’s pray: “Dear Father, I am grateful that when I first encountered You, I said ‘yes’ and didn’t walk away. But help me every day to keep saying ‘yes’ to You, to put You before money, stuff, and the things of this world that distract and attract. Help me to keep selling out for You and following You. As above, so below.”
Luke 5:15
"Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."
This passage is in the middle of describing many things that were happening in Jesus's ministry. Healing leprosy, a paralyzed man, teaching crowds, and ministering to tax collector over dinner.
Then right in the middle of all the activity it says “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed”.
No doubt you have many things going on in your life right now. When was the last time you removed yourself from the daily grind and prayed? Maybe that is what you are doing now?
If this idea of sequestering oneself to an isolate place, a lonely place was important enough for Jesus to do, paying attention to our capacity, our 'tank', so to speak, and making room to refill it, is vitally important to self care.
Listen again to the this passage about Jesus paying attention to self care, for the sake of pouring Himself out.
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Let’s pray. Father show me how to withdraw myself when I need to. I admit, I don’t do this enough. I need you to refill what gets depleted. You are the only source that can refill me with what I need. As above, so below.
Today, we close out our meditative walk in worship through the Psalms. Psalm 91 is popular for its incredible promises of God’s protection. Satan even quoted a verse from this passage in his temptation to try and get Jesus to jump off the top of the Temple to prove God would save Him. Whether we consider some of these phrases as literal or metaphor, the reality is that the greatest power we have in our lives to protect us is God Almighty. I want to encourage you to take in every word. Don’t just hear them, but listen to the love in them. Right now, sit before Your Savior and trust these words to be true of you, and for you.
Psalm 91 NLT
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
… The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”
Did you notice the certainty in the words, in the phrases like “will find” and “will cover” and “will shelter”? Words of trust and faith that God does and will answer, rescue, reward, and honor the obedient heart of His followers.
What is one way God has rescued or protected you recently? Will you thank Him for that right now?
Pray with me: “Heavenly Father, thank You for Your refuge, Your shelter, Your safety, Your covering. You don’t promise us that trouble won’t come, but thank You that You do promise to be with me when anything threatens. I worship You as my Lord and My God. As above, so below.”
Today, we will experience Psalm 40, another transparent and poetic text from King David. Let’s experience God and His Word together in worship.
Psalm 40 NLT
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.
Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.
You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
… I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.
… Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
For troubles surround me—too many to count!
My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.
Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
… may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.
These words reflect a grateful heart that recognizes the reality of being rescued. The confession of being poor and needy is met with help from a Savior.
Where are you today? Waiting? In need of rescue? Or grateful that God’s help did arrive? No matter where you are, He is near. God is ever-present. You are in His thoughts.
Listen again to David’s words from the opening of this passage. Let’s personalize them say them out loud as a reminder of our God being close to us right now.
You lift me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.
You set my feet on solid ground and steady me as I walked along.
You have given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to my God.
Let’s pray together: “Father, thank You that You will hear our cries and lift us out of our self-laid traps. Thank You that You will then give us a new song and a new life to have the freedom to tell others about what You have done for us. Thank You for Your tender mercies, unfailing love, and faithfulness. As above, so below.”
Continuing our week solely focused on worship, today we will experience Psalm 34.
Be present. Be all in on this moment. No distractions. Listen with your ears and your heart. Let’s experience His Word and our worship together.
Psalm 34‚ NLT
I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.
But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
… the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
Just as David did here, when was the last time you bragged on God?
When was the last time you shared with someone what He has done for you?
Listen again to the final words of this passage as I personalize David’s words for us.
The Lord hears me when I call to him for help.
He rescues me from all my troubles.
The Lord is close to me when my heart is broken; he rescues me when my spirit is crushed.
I may face many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
Let’s pray just as we have worshipped: “Father God, thank You for being our guard who surrounds and defends. Thank You that You watch over us and hear us. Thank You that You are close to the brokenhearted and though we face troubles, You will rescue like the good Father You are. As above, so below.”
Today, again, we will spend time in worship. Simply focusing on God and His character. So, invite His Holy Spirit to pour over You with His presence. Listen intently as we experience His Word together.
From Psalm 33 The Message
Good people, cheer God! Right-living people sound best when praising.
Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs! Play his praise on a grand piano!
Invent your own new song to him; give him a trumpet fanfare.
For God’s Word is solid to the core; everything he makes is sound inside and out.
He loves it when everything fits, when his world is in plumb-line true.
Earth is drenched in God’s affectionate satisfaction.
… bow before God; … down on your knees!
Here’s why: he spoke and there it was, in place the moment he said so.
God takes the wind out of Babel pretense, he shoots down the world’s power-schemes.
God’s plan for the world stands up, all his designs are made to last.
Blessed is the country with God for God; blessed are the people he’s put in his will.
He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do.
No king succeeds with a big army alone, no warrior wins by brute strength.
Horsepower is not the answer; no one gets by on muscle alone.
Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love.
He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together.
We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need.
What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name.
Love us, God, with all you’ve got—that’s what we’re depending on.
Can you add your personal thoughts of worship to these words from david?
What about God are you in awe of?
How has God rescued you?
Will you praise and worship him for the personal way He has shown up recently?
Let’s personalize the last lines of Psalm 33:
I’m depending on You, God; You are everything I need.
What’s more, my heart brims with joy since I’ve taken for my own Your holy name.
Love me, God, with all you’ve got—that’s what I’m depending on.
Pray with me: “Heavenly Father, Thank You that I don’t have to worship, but I get to worship. You are a Gentleman who never forces His way, yet loves in such a powerful way that invites a response of gratitude. Thank You for loving me with all You’ve got. As above, so below.”