READ

1 John 1:5-10: 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 If we walk in the light as he Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make Him a liar, and his word is not in us.

EXAMINE

Genuine authentic faith is based solely on a relationship and fellowship with God. Understanding the nature of God in relation to who we are as creatures of God is of critical importance. God is light; anything that remains in darkness does not have fellowship with Him. It is impossible to walk in both darkness and light, yet at times we are in danger of being deceived into allowing religious activities replace the work of confession and repentance. Instead, we walk in light with other believers. This is only made possible by acknowledging our sin and allowing the work of Christ on the cross to cleanse us. He is our advocate and sacrifice for our sins.

APPLY

Our daily practice as believers should be to evaluate the thoughts and behaviors in our life that are counter to the character of God. “Walking in the light” means we repent daily with desperation to remove anything that would separate us from the Father. When we don’t slow down enough for self evaluation, it’s easy for busyness of life to cloud our time with the Lord. This ultimately sheds light on the areas of sin that need addressing.

PRAY

Take a few minutes to pause and elevate the Father. Declare His truths and character. Allow Him to bring into perspective who you are: a sinner saved by grace. Ask Him to reveal anything in you that is not Godly. Repent and ask forgiveness and truth the power of the cross to Holy Spirit to release that in you to pursue life and godliness.

READ

Colossians 3:1-4: 1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

EXAMINE

In this passage, Paul wants us to understand that we are to set our minds “on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” He then goes on to remind us of our new identity in Christ. “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” As Christ followers, we should shift our focus to have a heavenly perspective regarding how to live here on earth.

APPLY

We are faced with a never-ending stream of decisions from the moment we wake up each morning. Most of the decisions are as simple as deciding to get a cup of coffee, checking our phone notifications, or even suppressing a yawn at work. These decisions don’t take much thought, and some have become daily habits. As for the bigger decisions we make in our lives, we are called to live and make decisions from a heavenly perspective. We must focus and renew our minds (Romans 12:2). When we can shift our focus, we will make decisions from a kingdom mindset.

PRAY

Take some time today to make a list of big decisions you and your family will be facing this week or even this month. Spend time reading God’s Word to renew your mind, focus on a heavenly perspective, and pray for discernment this week.

READ

Matthew 13:44-46: 44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.

EXAMINE

Jesus shares two brief parables that demonstrate the joy and dedication discovering the Kingdom of God can activate. The man and merchant discovered something of great worth to them, yet they did not just enjoy the discovery. They were willing to forgo everything in making that discovery a reality and securing it themselves. It is not a purchase of salvation, which is a gift, but as Dr. Tony Evans says, “those who discover and recognize the worth of living life under the rule of God will sacrifice anything of earthly value for participation in his kingdom.” The man and merchant were willing to reorient their lives and priorities to deepen their joy and take ownership of their treasure. Everything they did was focused on that single goal, the treasure they found; nothing less would suffice.

APPLY

The word “priority” came into the English language in the 1400s with a singular meaning: the very first thing. The word stayed singular for the next 500 years. It was not until the 1900s that it became plural, and we started discussing priorities. We thought we could bend reality to our whim by changing it to a plural meaning, but with many things pulling our affection and attention, nothing gets our complete devotion. Because of this truth of who He is, Jesus cannot just become one of our priorities; with other things, often good things, pulling for our affection and attention, because we know Jesus will always forgive us and is there, He sometimes gets pushed aside. Will Jesus and his God’s kingdom be just another item on our priority list today, or will we reorient our lives around discovering and receiving the deep joy that comes from a singular focus on Him?

PRAY

Take some time to sit in silence and ask God to reveal the answer to this question Jesus asks his disciples in John 1:38-39, “What do you want?”. Pray that your desires, when not aligned with the kingdom priority, will daily become aligned with the Father’s heart and will for you. Ask God to show you the joy of making the Kingdom of God and His love our sole priority.

PRAY

Read Romans 8:26-27. Not only does the Spirit empower us, but He also intercedes on our behalf. Even when we don’t know what to pray or how to proceed, the Holy Spirit takes our requests to the Father with just the right words. Take a moment to confess any items in the “flesh list” that are prevalent in your life right now and then request any items in the “fruit” list that might be lacking. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower and lead you towards His way in the days to come.

READ

Isaiah 40:28-31: 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding. 29 He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. 30 Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, 31 but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.

EXAMINE

God knows we’re going to get tired. He knows that life can be difficult and draining, that our own strength will fail us and we will reach points where weariness overtakes us. But this verse reminds us that our God prepares us for those moments. He steps in and offers his hand to each of us. The same God who never tires, who created the universe and everything in it, shares his strength with you. When we take the time to sit and rest in his presence, He provides stability, peace, and strength that you can’t find anywhere else.

APPLY

In moments of weakness, it’s easy to forget to ask God to step in and give us the strength we need. We often think we can handle it ourselves or we turn to distractions that give us a false sense of rest or security. What we need to remember, and what these verses remind us, is that God can (and will!) provide us the strength to face every battle. Whether it’s going through a difficult situation or the little everyday battles that wear us down, when we place our hope in God, He provides. When we turn to face our problems with God, He turns our weakness into strength and desperations into peace.

PRAY

Confess to Him the areas of your life where you feel drained or defeated and ask the Lord to help you acknowledge your own weaknesses. Pray for humility and ask for Him to help show you the areas where you need to rely on His strength instead of your own. Take a few extra moments at the end of your quiet time to meditate on the magnitude of His power, and dwell in the love He has for you that He so willingly shares His supernatural strength and peace with you.

READ

James 1:2-4: 2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

EXAMINE

James says “WHEN” not “IF” you meet trials, and often times we are surprised when a hardship comes our way because it interrupts our illusion of control. He calls us to welcome them, because ALL trails and difficulties have the opportunity to produce joy, not because the trails are pleasurable. When we lift our gaze we see the end results (1 Peter 4:12-13). James is not saying that God authors our suffering or trails, but permits such experience, and works with us in the midst of them to produce a deep joy and character that radiates from Christ. To embrace trails and difficulties is impossible on our own, but we have a God who meets us where we are, and walks patiently with us through them. Patient endurance is key, because while we value pleasure, God values a deep character. We want a quick, one-time rescue, God shows up daily to heal and restore us into eternity. Our faith starts to grow when we get tired of trying to save ourselves or avoid hardship, because there, we start to trust God more fully and ourselves less (1 John 5:4).

APPLY

We don’t enjoy trials; most of us do everything possible to avoid them. Trails and testing are profitable to test our faith and reveal where our faith is actually placed. When we meet trials with patience, we open ourselves up to the opportunity to become more and more like Jesus— perfect, mature, full-grown, complete, entire, perfect in every part, lacking in nothing, deficient in nothing, wanting nothing. There is an old tale about a man who lived out in the desert about seven miles from water, “he said to himself one day “What need is there for me to endure this toil? I shall come and live near the water.” And saying this, he turned about and saw one following him and counting his footprints. He questioned him saying, “Who are you?” The follower answered, “I am the Angel of the Lord. I am sent to count your footprints and give you your reward.” At this, the old man’s heart grew stout. Renewed, he set his cell further from the water.” This little story and James Chapter 1 are an encouragements that God is still with us, working in us and with us to be “perfect and complete” which is only found in Christ. Do not surrender, for not a single footprint is wasted in the Kingdom of God.

PRAY

Take a few minutes to sit in silence and reflect on the man from the desert and ask God to reveal to you what areas in your life you feel that you are “enduring a toil”. Pray that the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to see the God who loves you and is not letting a single footprint in your life go to waste. Ask God to work with you in developing the patience and perspective you need as He develops your joy in His kingdom.

READ

James 4:1-10: 1 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you? 2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. 5 Or do you think it’s without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit He made to dwell in us envies intensely? 6 But He gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

EXAMINE

Three negative influences are given that entice and cause separation from God: our own passions, friendship with the world, and the devil. These hindrances to holy life cause sin, conflict, pride, and hostility toward God. Thankfully His grace is more powerful than any of these competitors for our affection. James promises that submission to God causes the devil to flee from us. Beautifully, if we draw near in humility, God meets us where we are and gifts His pure and holy presence.

APPLY

According to verse 8, we are called to approach God with clean hands and pure hearts. This cleansing can only be found through forgiveness in Jesus. Each of us must search our hearts, repent of our sins, and humble ourselves before the Lord. Only in this submissive posture, washed clean by the blood of Jesus, are we able to approach the throne of God. What a beautiful invitation! In His presence we are free from the evil and chaos in the world. If we truly understood the joy found with God, drawing near would be the deepest desire of our hearts.

PRAY

Confess the words of James 4:8 out loud today, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” Repeat them until you believe it. Ask God to reveal the negative influences in your life and then humbly surrender them over. Pray to be single-minded in your pursuit of the presence of God.