Welcome the Holy Spirit

Welcome the Holy Spirit

Acts 4:29-31 (NIV®)

“Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

When Jesus went back to Heaven in Acts 1, it was a pivotal moment in the story of Christianity. Jesus had been there to teach, explain, and show God’s power. Then He was gone. He had promised His followers they would receive power from the Holy Spirit, but they didn’t know what that meant. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came on them in a dramatic way, and the Jesus-story pivoted again. Instead of relying on their own power, they were fueled by the Holy Spirit’s power, and the gospel began to spread. Here, in Acts 4, we see the wonderful things that happen when Spirit-filled proclamation meets Spirit-filled prayer. It is time for us to stop looking for the world’s approval and say “yes” to God. It is time for us to welcome the Holy Spirit and place our confidence in Him to act. When we make those changes, people will begin to see and hear things—amazing things—that can only be explained by the power of God at work in our world.

THINK ABOUT IT

Each day, tell the Holy Spirit He is welcome in your life—without hesitation, reservation, or qualification. Allow Him to fill you continually with His presence, and consistently yield to His authority so He can direct you in your God-given purpose.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Spirit into the earth and for His presence that dwells within me. Grant me an understanding heart so I might welcome Him into every area of my life. Show me how to cooperate fully with Him. Deliver me from evil. Lead me in paths of righteousness. Open my eyes to understand the fullness of my redemption. May Jesus be glorified through my life. In His name, amen.

Prepare for Battle

Prepare for Battle

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NIV®)

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Satan and his forces of evil have one goal: to lead us away from God and toward destruction. We are no match for the Devil in our own strength, but we are not powerless. It is quite the opposite, in fact, because we stand in the authority of Jesus’ name and in the power of His shed blood. God has filled us with His Holy Spirit, who gives us discernment to watch, listen, think, and act. And God has equipped us with spiritual armor and weapons that are more effective than anything humans can build. Unlike the weapons of physical armies, our weapons are designed for spiritual warfare: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4, NIV®). Each one of us will face challenges that can only be overcome with the Lord’s help. It is important to remember that we are not fighting the battle alone. It is the Lord who will deliver victory. Our assignment is to plant our feet on the truth of His Word and take a stand.

THINK ABOUT IT

Our salvation comes from the Lord. He is our strong fortress in times of trouble. Determine to wait for the Lord and stand in His strength.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, You know the challenges before me. You alone are my refuge and my security. You have said that no weapon formed against me will prevail. You have commanded Your angels to watch over me. I rest in the completeness of Your care. My life and my future are secure through the strength of my Redeemer and Lord, and I will trust in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Israel Matters

Israel Matters

Deuteronomy 7:6 (NIV®)

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

I don’t believe we can properly understand the Bible and its implications if we don’t understand the role of the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. Without that knowledge, large sections will remain a mystery or be misinterpreted. I think the first step is to recognize that the Jewish people were chosen by God for His purposes. They didn’t choose Him; He chose them, and our understanding of God’s character is derived from how He interacted with them in the Bible. Through them, He showed us His glory, His ways, and His instructions for a holy life. There is no one else like them in history. To be clear, the Jewish people aren’t perfect. Any expression of ungodliness you can find in the United States, you can find in Jerusalem. But the Bible says everyone on Earth will be blessed through the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that it’s in our best interest to bless them (Genesis 12:3), and it’s true! God sent Jesus, our Messiah, to be born into their lineage. It is He who is titled the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Without the Jewish people, there would be no salvation. Every spiritual blessing—our entire spiritual inheritance—we owe to Jewish people.

THINK ABOUT IT

With Israel so frequently in the news, it’s important to have a biblical perspective. Understanding why Israel matters and why the Jewish people have a unique place in God’s agenda and purposes enables us to pray in cooperation with Him to see those purposes emerge in the earth.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to us and for the legacy of the Jewish people. Thank You for showing us who You are. Help me to better understand the role of the Jewish people in Your purposes in the Earth. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) and wisdom for those who are leading the nation of Israel. In Jesus' name, amen.

Noticing God’s Movement

Noticing God’s Movement

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV®)

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

I am excited to report that God is moving in remarkable ways across our nation. One of the most encouraging things I’m seeing is the wave of people stepping forward with linked arms to say, “We’re going to honor the Lord. We’re going to lift up the name of Jesus privately and publicly. We’re going to take Him to work again. We’re going to take Him to school again.” People are making greater efforts to be together, not only to worship but to serve their churches and their communities. They are making the effort to read their Bibles consistently. I encourage you to have that same attitude and determination to honor the Lord. As Peter reminds us, we are chosen for this purpose. We have been called out of the darkness and into the light so we can declare God’s praises to our friends and neighbors, who are so desperate for a word of hope and encouragement.

THINK ABOUT IT

It is easy to focus on what’s negative in our world, but God calls us to a different response. Think about the things you are grateful for, especially if you are going through a particularly challenging time. A heart of gratitude will encourage and strengthen you.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, blessed be Your name! Thank You that I can see Your Spirit at work throughout the earth today. Help me to focus on the ways You are moving and not on the darkness around me. My heart rejoices in Your strength and truth! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Dispel Confusion & Fear

Dispel Confusion & Fear

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV®)

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

We look around and see the world spinning and changing at a dizzying pace. It can be confusing, and that confusion often leads to fear. But no matter what you see, remember that God is still in control. He loves you and cares about you. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows the state of your health and how many dollars are in your bank account. He knows your strengths and your weaknesses, and He has a plan for Your future. And He does not want you to be confused or afraid. Jesus’ life was filled with conflict, yet He was never confused or afraid. He told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27, NIV®). Yes, the world can be a confusing place. Yes, it is easy to give in to fear. But Jesus has given us His peace, and that is the peace the world is looking for. Let’s take full advantage of His marvelous gift. Let’s lean on His peace for comfort and share it with other people too.

THINK ABOUT IT

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23 NKJV®)

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, You are not the author of confusion and fear, but of peace and assurance. Create in me a heart that is willing to receive and learn from You, and give me the courage to share Your peace with the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Fear The Lord

Believe God’s Promises

Psalm 112:1, 6-8 (NIV®)

“Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands…. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.”

Living securely in an insecure world is only possible when we truly believe God’s promises. This psalm promises us that those who fear the Lord and delight in His commands will experience many blessings. To fear the Lord in this way is to not cower before Him in terror; it is to revere Him, respect Him, and hold Him in the highest esteem. Very few things in Scripture have more blessings attached to them than the fear of the Lord. To find delight in His commands is to read the Bible, pray, and joyfully apply His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to our lives. And then the blessings begin! Yes, bad things will still come our way, but we will not be shaken because our trust is in the Lord. We will be remembered forever because our spiritual legacies will echo long after our earthly days are over.

Remember That God Loves You

Remember That God Loves You

1 John 4:10 (NIV®)

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

God’s love for us is a constant theme throughout the pages of Scripture, yet the Bible never attempts to explain it. We need to understand that He loves us despite our weaknesses and failures. He knows everything about us—every thought, every attitude, every action unseen by the world. He knows things about us that would cause us great shame were they made known to others. He knows all those things, and He still loves us. Because of His great love, He sent His Son to live among us and die on our behalf—a sacrifice we can hardly imagine. When we choose to believe in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we gain eternal life with God and the most remarkable love we will ever experience. So, when you find yourself doubting your worth and significance, remember that God loves you. When your relationships fail, remember that God loves you. When your future seems dim and hope is hard to find, remember that God loves you. When people disappoint you, remember that God never will … and He loves you.

THINK ABOUT IT

“All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love” (1 John 4:15-16, NLT®).

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and bringing me into the Kingdom of Jesus’ light. Thank You for loving me so much that You gave me a pathway to redemption and forgiveness. Even when I don’t feel loveable, I will remember that God loves me! In Jesus’ name, amen