I believe, now what? Devotional

Devotional Action Steps

• Find an inner room in your home

• Set up a place to go in that inner room

• Get a journal to write your prayers

• Put up something to post prayers and scriptures on (Cork, bulletin board, tape))

• Wake up 30-60 minutes earlier to go to that inner room (Sacrifice Sleep...die to yourself, or go to bed earlier)

Introduction of 359˚ of Beauty Devotional Guide 

         359˚ of Beauty Devotional is designed to teach you the importance of a daily devotional time with the Lord. It has slowly been revealed as a process of refinement through time spent in the inner room studying scripture. If you follow this devotional with intent and a desire to seek the Lord with your whole heart and being in the inner room, the Lord Jesus Christ says He will be found by you… Jeremiah 29:12-14

         The first section is designed to help you understand the gravity of studying scripture and spending time with the Lord. It also helps you understand the nature, posture, location, and timing of studying scripture. It is important to understand how clearly scripture outlines our responsibility to pursue the Lord’s heart.

         The subsequent sections are about understanding the nature of God and His heart for us. Refining the framework in which you understand yourself and your relationship with the Lord. Thus teaching you to see the 359˚ of beauty that saturates your life. 

Day 1: Being Transformed

Romans 12:1-2 NASB

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

         There is so much that has been said about this scripture. Yet, it is important to start with this specific scripture. At some level, if you are here reading this devotional, you have decided to pursue Jesus Christ. There are a couple of key points to be made from this scripture. We are to present our bodies as a living and Holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship. Without this, we cannot be fully transformed by the renewing of our minds proving what God’s will is for us.

         So, what does this look like on a practical level? Intentionally get up earlier than you otherwise would, go to your inner room, and spend intentional time pursuing the Lord Jesus with your whole heart, instead of setting aside some time for Jesus at some random part of your day. In doing this, you are sacrificing something, sleep… and putting an emphasis on the divine.

         Yes, many will argue that at times, I am suggesting legalistic actions, but what is the sacrifice if we simply try to wiggle in a little Jesus to our lives. What are you really sacrificing? So, where are you truly presenting yourself up to the Lord in a sacrificial way? I encourage you to begin carving out a process that helps you seek the Lord first as close to everyday as possible. When you do this, you will encounter the Lord in unique ways you never thought possible. More evidence of the timing of our pursuit of Jesus will come in the days ahead!

Dear Father,

         Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross. Grant me the ability to be transformed through dedicated and intentional actions that set you at the forefront of my life. Help me present my life to you in such a way that I learn what your good and perfect will is for my life. Help me begin the process of learning how to become truly transformed by your words. Thank you for Jesus. Amen.

Day 2: Inner Room

Matthew 6:6 NASB

“But As for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

         This scripture has a promise in it. When we choose to go into our inner room and close the door behind us, our Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward us. Um… how do I sign up for a life in which God will reward me? It’s easy, go to an inner room and close the door… then what?

         This is where the rubber meets the road, what’s next? Well, this is how we are to pray. You must present your requests unto the Lord. He knows what you need, but He longs to hear it directly from you. He wants you to pursue Him in the secret place. This does not mean we get to tell God a list of everything we want and He will give it to us. It also does not mean life is prosperous… It means we would know God’s heart and begin to see things very differently.

         Think about the original creation for a moment, where God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. It was a private individual experience for everyone involved. Think about how Jesus retreated to pray unto the Father in heaven? It was a regular occurrence! He came down from time spent in prayer to start His day. He modeled this for us to follow and even told us explicitly what to do. Jesus knew the heart of God, partly because He was God, but he was disconnected from the Father while here on Earth. He had stepped out of heaven; therefore, He had to spend time with the Father through prayer.

          So here are some questions to consider today: Are you sacrificing a little sleep to spend time with the Lord? Are you going to an inner room and closing the door behind you? Are you reading scripture and presenting your request to the Lord?

         If you are just starting this journey- find a spot, behind closed doors, and start reading and praying through God’s word. Very quickly, you will begin to see the reward in how real God becomes as you are given the heart and eyes to see His work all around you.

Dear Father,

         Thank you for your Word. Lord, you have provided specific instructions for how we are to come to you. Lord, I desire to seek you. I desire to have rewards from you. I desire your blessings. Please forgive me for not taking you at your word and going into my inner room to seek your will for my life. Help me check my motives and seek you where you tell me to go. Help me develop a passion to sacrifice for you, strength to close the door behind me, a heart to hear you, and eyes to see the beauty that you have created throughout everything. Most of all, thank you for the sacrifice that Jesus gave so that I may be able to approach your throne. In Jesus name. Amen 

Day 3: A Promise for Seeking the Lord

Hebrews 11:6 NASB

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be the One who rewards those who seek Him.”

         In faith we approach and pursue the Lord. Without faith, we pursue ourselves. This seems simple enough, yet we all struggle with the reality of sacrificing our time for the Lord. It is hard to perceive the intangible notion that drives our actions. There is an indirect connection between seeing and touching something to understand how real it is. When we come to the Father, there is so much that we have to feel and interpret that we doubt our ability to comprehend; therefore, we would deny ourselves the fullness of that relationship because of our doubt.

         In our worldly relationships we have physical interactions with the living. So much of our relationships are built upon the physical nature of knowing they are there. When we come to God, it is ethereal in that who are we that we can encounter perfection? This is where today’s scripture is important to dwell on. It says that “He proves to be the One who rewards…” When we begin the process of truly seeking Him on a routine and regular basis, He will prove Himself to us, thus making the intangible tangible. While He may remain beyond our own physical limitations, we encounter the living and breathing Word of God in that Jesus Himself becomes a part of the natural rhythm of our lives.

         Our faith then drives our action, without the essential belief that God- The Creator of everything- desires a relationship with you, it remains impossible to pursue Him. Pursuit requires action. We must prove our desires to abide in our faith, and when we can do that, God rewards us by being present with us. Tomorrow we will explore this thought more.

Dear Father,

         Thank you for your physical presence on this Earth. You spoke everything into existence. Therefore, you are a part of everything both visible and invisible. I admit my own misunderstandings in that I have not sought you where you tell me to go find you. Please reveal those areas of doubt in my life and grant me the ability to address those in the security of who you are. Let me find you. Thank you for sending Jesus to rescue me and grant me the ability to find you quickly. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Day 4: God Lets Himself be found by us

Jeremiah 29:12-14 NASB

“…Then you will call upon me and come pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all of your heart. I will let Myself be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.”

         God says, “I will let Myself be found by you.” Goodness, the Creator of the universe, the One who spoke everything into existence, the Holy One, Jesus Himself has declared that if we seek Him with our whole heart, He will LET Himself be found by us. This is an incredible promise! Absolutely incredible! This means, everyone has access to God, and we know that access is ultimately through Jesus Christ.

         Here is the proposed outline thus far for finding Jesus. Get up a bit earlier than you normally would as a living sacrifice (We will begin learning about why it should be your 1st thing in the next couple of days), go to an inner room and close the door behind you to pray, begin the process of seeking the Lord through the scriptures (or keep reading these each day), open your heart and mind and seek the Lord with all that you have, and you will begin to encounter the living God that has created everything.

         Initially, it will be difficult! Every obstacle will find its way in front of you because we have forces working against us that we do not understand and our own flesh will not desire any of these things. However, within a few short weeks, your soul will begin to thank you, and you will encounter the living Creator of everything! He promises to meet you when you seek Him with all you have.

Dear Father in heaven,

         Thank You for your promise that we will find You when we seek You with all of our heart. Jesus, I want to know You and Your will for my life. I know I must seek You. Please direct my mind and heart to have the desire to pursue You where You tell me to go. Your scripture has outlined this process for me, so grant me the desire and faith to seek You within the quietest parts of myself. I know You will meet me and restore my soul. Let Your will be done in my life here on the Earth, as it is in Heaven. Thank you, Jesus, for making all this possible. Amen.

Day 5: How do I know what to pray about?

Matthew 6:7-8 NASB

“And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

Let’s be real, praying is awkward, but with all of our literal capacity, let us be real with the Lord! At first, we are not sure how to talk to the Lord. We fumble through prayers, feeling awkward and unsure of what to do. We realize God is the Creator of everything. We know He is super powerful and capable of so much more than we can imagine, yet He wants me to talk to Him? How do I do that? 

According to the scripture we just read, we express our thoughts to the Lord. It is really that simple. Sometimes it is as simple as your thinking expressed aloud unto the Lord in your inner room, where no one else can hear you. Just you and Jesus having a conversation as you sort out your personal will and submit it to His will for your life. Being real is the key to growing with the Lord.

Think about it, even if you are angry about something, pray about it. Tell God how you feel! But should I be afraid of retaliation? Well, He already died for you because He loves you. A prayer is a prayer, regardless of what we express He is already aware, He just desires that you would share with Him. 

Adam and Eve once walked with the Lord and shared everything with Him. Upon eating the fruit, they stopped sharing and started hiding. Everything that has happened since that time, God has pursued His creation desiring to walk with us again. So much so, He has given us Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit! Which lives inside of us. If this is truly the case, then expressing ourselves to the Lord should become as natural as breathing. He is already with us; He just wants us to talk to Him. So, just be real…

Dear Father, 

Lord, I know You are right here with me. I don’t want to feel awkward around You anymore. I know You have forgiven me of my sins and I am thankful for that truth. Let Your will become mine as I learn to share what I am thinking with You. Help me understand Your heart is for me and that You desire to truly walk with me daily. Thank You for the Word You provide me to study each morning. It allows my heart to get to know You in ways I never thought possible. Open my heart and mind to be able to interpret how You are prompting me each day. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

Day 6: Transformed

Romans 12:1-2

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

We originally started with this verse, and we talked about sacrifice. One must sacrifice something in order to live a transformed life. There are so many things you eventually learn to sacrifice throughout your journey, but today we are focusing on the transformation process. It is clearly stated that we are transformed BY the renewing of our mind. This is an interesting process. How do we renew our mind? 

Scripture is clear about how we renew our mind, but it is scattered throughout the entirety of the Bible. There are several steps necessary to begin the process of renewing your mind. Breakdown the word renewing, re-new-ing. There are four definitions to this word, to resume after an interruption, to re-establish (A relationship), to repeat (a statement), or to give fresh life or strength to; revive. We would suggest it is the act or process of making something new again. 

We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Making our minds new again is a reset. The best time to reset our minds is in the morning when we wake up to a new day. It is the space between waking and starting our day.  The space where your spouse is still asleep, or your children are at rest. The space before your morning coffee. The space where your body desires the snooze button because it isn’t quite ready to tackle the day. 

If you choose to forgo that snooze button and cup of coffee, go to an inner room and close the door, and seek Jesus with that time in your mind and heart, you WILL transform your mind. You would have offered your body up as a living sacrifice, choosing to give it as dedicated time to the Lord. When you read His word and pursue a relationship with Him you are renewing/re-establishing your relationship with Him after you have rested. You are giving Him your first fruits of each day. 

This allows you to not be conformed to this world any longer. Yet, the world tells you to hit that snooze button one more time- why else would it have been created? The world tells you that coffee is a requirement to start your day- research suggest that it would lower your cortisol levels by waiting a couple of hours before you introduce caffeine into your system… The world says, fill your body with things from it instead of the Holy Word of God almighty. The world says God can wait until later in the day once you get going… but can He wait? Yeah, sure, but is that what scripture teaches? 

Dear Father, 

Thank You for another day. Thank You for the opportunity to be transformed. Thank You for Your example and sacrifice for me. You died so that I may have Your Holy Spirit walking with me every day. Lord, please allow Your spirit to prompt me to pursue You in the morning before I “start” my day. Help me set aside things for me and place You at the head of my life, the literal first thing my heart and mind may dwell upon. Help me fight the temptations of the world for the snooze button and coffee and live in Your Word. Soften my heart to have a resolve to prove Your will in my life, which is good and acceptable and perfect. Thank You for Christ’s sacrifice, may I return to You offering myself as a living sacrifice to my desires to pursue Your Kingdom. Amen.

Day 7: Daily take up your cross

Luke 9:23 NASB

And He was saying to them all, “if anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

         Daily. Daily we must find ourselves taking up our crosses. Easy right? Nope. Denying ourselves- easy right? Nope. Following Jesus- easy right? Nope…

         This is an interesting verse as it is Jesus talking about His death and resurrection and what it takes for us to be a part of His eternal Kingdom. If we desire eternal life with Him, we must do certain things. We must die to ourselves, carry forth the mission of loving others to the point of death, and actively CHOOSE to follow Jesus. This is not an accidental design by the Lord. This is meant to test our resolve and endurance in our faith.

         Our faith is not a passive act of belief. It is an intentional outpouring of our belief. Belief drives action. Regardless of the outcome, ultimately our beliefs drive us to act upon situations and/or circumstances in our lives. This is where Jesus’ words here are very direct and intentional. Daily take up your cross.

         Think about this for a minute. If we are called to take up our cross daily and we wait on our time with the Lord to be later in the day, where are you carrying your cross? How are you intentionally setting yourself up for the act of your faith to be carried out throughout the day? If I wait to spend my time with the Lord until later in the day, such as the evening, where am I carrying the cross? To bed? Dedicating time with the Lord in the morning is beyond important, it is imperative to carry our cross!  

         We all have and can make so many arguments to this notion about a “morning” quiet time and time management. Oh, we need more sleep, we need coffee before our brains can engage, we need this, we need that… and we allow ourselves to be filled with too much of the things we think we need, when we need Jesus. We need Him in the morning, in the day, and in the night. However, if we choose not to start the day in His presence, we are setting ourselves up in our own integrity.

         Anchoring ourselves in the integrity of Jesus Christ each day as we begin anew is the most powerful act of faith that each of us must embrace. It is the essential truth that we choose to put forth as we establish the foundations of our faith in carrying our crosses out into the world.

         Be intentional in how you execute what we are being told to do by Jesus himself. God’s will for us is that we would daily surrender to Him by dying to ourselves, loving others well in the process, and actively putting action to our faith. If you have not already began to realize, part of living a life of faith requires action to start happening in the morning… before you start your day.

Dear Father,

         Thank you for another day. Your blessings in my life extend beyond my wildest imagination. Thank You for Your patience with me as I work out how and when You desire me to take up my cross and follow You. You have given me so much grace that I am undeserving of because You loved me enough to die for me. May You grant me a heart that would desire to choose You every morning as I walk through this world learning to love others and dying to myself. This is about seeing Your beauty in this world and not building my kingdom. Forgive me for what I have made things and help me begin to see Your beauty that surrounds every moment I embrace. Lord, you are precious to me. Use me so that others may come to know and love You like I am beginning to know and love You. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Day 8: In the Morning

Psalm 5:1-3 NASB

“Listen to my words, Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, forward to You I pray. In the morning, Lord, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will present my prayer to You and be on the watch.”

David was considered a man after God’s own heart. This is a Psalm of Protection through prayer. This is one of the most powerful indicators in all of scripture on when we are to start our prayers to the Lord, in the MORNING!

         This single scripture should be enough for us to eliminate all distractions and get up early in the morning and begin our day with the Lord. If Jesus Christ was telling us to daily pick up our cross, go to an inner room when we pray, and now with David is speaking directly to the timing of everything, our excuses should begin to vanish. God’s word is delivering a prescription for our daily walk. It is simple, yet it requires us to die to ourselves and our own desires.

         I desire more sleep, and I am sure you do as well, yet somehow, in this life we must give more of ourselves to the Lord than a casual lukewarm desire to seek Him. We cannot be passive participants in our relationship with Jesus. This is where these scriptures offer a task after we present our prayers in the morning to the Lord, that is that we would be on watch.

         Many times, we will present our prayers and forget what we have said. Other times, we will present our prayers as our desires and negotiate with the Lord to gain something needed or wanted. Frequently, we pray for something that we desire to see changed, a person that we are having trouble with, or a relationship that needs mending. We have presented multiple requests from the Lord, yet we use thoughtless words, and everything ends up being said with little purpose or intention. This is where David through the Holy Spirit was writing about intentionality. We must intentionally pray with expectation to see God do something. We are fixing our eyes on the Lord and His work.

         This is a particularly interesting as it becomes a perspective shift in our walk with Jesus. If we are presenting requests from the Lord, we can wait on watch with expectation that we will see the Lord move on our request. This is where we begin to learn that there is really nothing too small to pray for in our lives. We do not have a God that will only move mountains, but we have a God that cares about the tiny rock in our shoes as well.

         This is your challenge moving forward- pray with expectation of seeing the Lord work. Fix your eyes on Him and watch His beauty be revealed in your daily walk as you learn to pray to Him every morning. He will reveal Himself in the littlest of ways, along with moving mountains!

Dear Father,

         Thank You for Your word this morning. Lord, I hear You loud and clear. I realize I need to pray to You with intentionality and expectation that You hear me and that You are near to me. I am asking You to reveal something beautiful to me today. Something that reveals Your Glory. David was considered a man after Your own heart Lord, and I want You to know me in similar ways. Lord, forgive me for what I have made things in the past, seeking to build my own life through Your blessings. Help me understand how to align my will to Yours by forming new daily habits that will only enhance my abilities to see Your Glory. Help me seek You so that others will see You in my life in profound ways, as You mold me into what You desire for my life. Lord, I am beginning to trust You more as I begin to understand how You have outlined Your will for my life. Thank You for pursuing my heart and loving me enough to die to make all this possible. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Day 9: I’m not sure what to pray for anymore…

Romans 8:26-27

“Now in the same way the Spirit also helps in our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the Saints according to the will of God."

         Praise the Lord for He is faithful to us! He already knows how most of us feel. He knows that we do not always know what to pray for each day. This is such a relief, especially if you are just starting out on this journey of seeking the Lord in the morning, praying with intentionality, and being on watch for the Lord to work.

         We do NOT have to be perfect. We do NOT have to have the right words. We do NOT have to say elegant prayers to be heard. We do NOT have to negotiate with God. We do NOT have to worry about praying the “right” way…

Yay! We can breathe deeper now. Yeah- take in that relief from the Holy Spirit. It is such amazing peace if you will allow it to take ahold of your life and will right now.

         We DO have to commit ourselves to the Lord. We DO have to pursue Him with all our heart… We DO need to offer ourselves up to Him as a living sacrifice and die to ourselves. However, it is not much harder than that… which is why Jesus teaches that His burden is light.

         In putting action to our beliefs, we find ourselves meeting Jesus in the morning and seeking Him. When we DO these things, this scripture tells us the Holy Spirit searches us and the hearts of God (that being Jesus Christ and God the Father dwelling in Their fullness in our lives) and intercedes on our behalf to the fullness of God. This is confusing for sure, but we can trust that God’s ways are clearly higher than ours. The good news is that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us as His Saints in the will of God.

         This is powerful! Especially as we are learning how to pray for what we should be praying for in our lives. Alignment of our will takes time. It just does. There will not be a quick fix. Transformation takes time and work. It takes dedication and intentionality. Being able to see the abundance of God in your life will be a process. It will not happen overnight, unless the Lord Himself performs a miracle. He is powerful enough to change us that quickly, but He desires our obedience and endurance. Therefore, run your race with endurance and meet the Lord in the morning. Upon doing so, you will have more capacity to enjoy each day because as you walk, you can pray continually.

Dear Father,

         Thank You Lord, that the Holy Spirit is with me right now. Thank You that it is communicating with You on my behalf and helping align my will to Yours. Honestly, I’m not sure what to pray for half of the time. I know I have these lists in my mind and heart for many of my own desires. I also have so many others in my life that need Your heart and healing. I struggle to communicate with You without feeling like it is a performance, or that I must do the right thing. Yet, Jesus, it is clear through Your words to me today, that You knew this would be. So, Lord, thank You for the help in the Holy Spirit. I know I need that part of who You are to help guide me into a deeper understanding of how we talk to each other. I know You want such a deep and powerful relationship with me that You died for me on a cross. Thank You for Your pursuit of my heart and the grace You have given me throughout my life. May I become as comfortable talking to You as I am breathing. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Day 10: Praying Continually

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

         Continual prayer? Not just in the morning. Really? How can I do that, I have so many things I have to do each day that I cannot be in constant prayer. This seems unrealistic to me. Completely understandable. Completely relatable.

         Notice how quickly and easily that this single phrase is probably what your mind fixated on the most upon reading this verse. This is because it is a direct action of something we are supposed to do. It can quickly be twisted into another thing we have to add to the list of things that we have to continually do to be a follower of Christ. This list seems to be ever growing the deeper we dive into God’s word.

         However, this is not what the apostle Paul was trying to help us see with this verse. While, yes, we can take it in the most literal sense, it is about a relationship with Jesus. Allow us to view this scripture through a relational lens for a moment. We should rejoice in all ways, which means expressing joy while sharing this joy with our Father in heaven, being thankful for everything that takes place. We are to share this joy with thanksgiving through the primary way we communicate with our Father in heaven, prayer. Therefore, we can rejoice always, praying to Jesus, thanking Him for all that is happening in our lives. When we do this, we are IN His will for our lives, which is sharing our every day, everything, and every way with Him.

         Viewing this scripture through a slightly different lens helps it go from a task to a pleasure. It stops being something I must strive for and becomes something I get to share with a Creator that loves me. It becomes something that I desire to do. The greatest key in the whole of this section of scripture is thanksgiving.

         Upon expressing our thankfulness to the Lord, we are filled with a joy that cannot be extinguished. It fills us with the greatest source of our peace. This then creates something about our character that draws others into us, and we can then share with them the reason for our hope and joy in all circumstances, Jesus. Which fulfills His will for our lives, which is knowing Him and making Him known.

Dear Father,

         Thank You for another day and another opportunity to discover how much of a relationship You desire with me. So many times, I am guilty of reading Your words and interpreting them as another thing I must do. I am praying that You would help me see the relationship you are desiring with me every day, in everything, in every way I would go. Lord, help me rejoice with you in thanksgiving. Help me seek Your will in that others see You as a living and breathing extension of heaven being revealed in my life. Draw others into You through how I walk with You. Jesus lead me in the way that I should go. Allow my heart to hear the whispers of Your Holy Spirit guiding and directing my steps and help me desire to pray to You continually. Thank You Jesus for Your Holy work in my life. Amen.

Day 11: Search Me

Psalm 139:23-24

“Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”

         Wait a minute. Is this scripture really telling God to test me? I am not sure I want God to do this. Why would we want God to put us to the test and know our anxious thoughts? Doesn't He know them already? Ultimately, this is how we begin to see the beauty of the Lord surrounding us in our life.

         This scripture is found at the end of one of the most beautiful sections of scripture in all the Bible. You will be encouraged if you read the whole of this chapter.  However, there are two key phrases about this verse that help unlock its meaning. The first one is search me and know my heart. The second one is know my anxious thoughts. These two phrases are distinctly different from each other.  

         Our hearts are at the central core of our belief. This is where the deepest parts of who we are and why we act a certain way are found. We must allow God to search our hearts to find the core beliefs that drive our actions. Only He can change the depths of our heart through His healing power. This is why when we come to know Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Savior that He gives us a new heart. He told us He would do this back in the Old Testament in Ezekiel 36:26. Asking God to search our hearts allows in Him to rewrite the core beliefs in which we operate on a day-to-day basis, as our beliefs drive us to action, whether consciously, or subconsciously, what we believe at our core matters. We need that to be aligned to God’s will for us and who better to help that alignment than God. You can read more in Hebrews 8:10, 2 Corinthians 3:3 about how God writes our core beliefs into our hearts because it is that important!

         The second phrase deals with how our minds process the challenging aspects of day-to-day living. This goes back to being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Our minds are where the battlefield is waged once our heart has been secured in Christ. Our anxiety comes from our thoughts and working out our salvation. Our minds are where we learn how to truly operate what we know is true in our hearts about God. Ultimately, our competence comes from God.

         If you are being consistent with getting up early in the morning, going to an inner room, and spending time with the Lord as part of your living sacrifice, you're at the point where you need God to begin searching you. Everyone needs the healing power of God's Word in their life. We must invite Him in in such a deeper way than we realize. If we are claiming Jesus Christ is our Lord, and He is Lord over our lives, He must know our hearts and minds well to appropriately guide us. Be encouraged to invite God to search your heart and mind. It is worth it to be truly known by Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, 

         Thank You, Lord, for this scripture. Jesus, honestly, I'm not sure I really want you to search me and test me because I'm uncertain as to what that will mean. It makes me anxious to think about what will happen, but I know I can trust you. So, Father, will you search me? Will you help me identify those anxious thoughts so I can turn them into praises of your work in my life. While I may fear this process, I know I trust You and that you have given me a new heart and a Spirit to help me. Thank you for Jesus' work on the cross. Amen.

Day 12: Standing Firm

1 Corinthians 10:12-14 NIV

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.”

         We all have the tendency to feel like we're unique. We often feel like our story is different than everyone else's and that no one would understand what we're walking through. We believe that no one can understand the struggles that we're facing. No one gets it. Well, you know, "my situation" is different than everyone else... One of the greatest lies we allow ourselves to believe in is that we are alone in our struggles or that no one really cares for us. Yet, this scripture speaks to the contrary of that. 

         When we choose a mentality of, we are unique, one that says that no one else can understand, we fall into a trap of self-reliance. Because we convince ourselves that no one will understand, we likely don't share what we are struggling with, with others. At this point, it is important to understand that ALL of us will struggle with similar issues. This is why it is a caution that if we think we are standing firm then we should be careful that we do not fall. 

         So how do we stand firm against the temptations that we face? We must trust that God has provided a way out of those situations. Another way that we can stand firm is in sharing in those areas of temptation with fellow believers. When others can intercede on our behalf in prayer, we are able to withstand more than we would ever be able to do by ourselves. 

         Our endurance is directly tied to our faith and in the knowledge that God will help us endure and/or provide a way out for us. However, we are not supposed to do it alone. Since everything is common to mankind, we all have the ability to truly help one another stand firm. We understand what it means to have the encouragement to be faithful to what God has called us to do. This is empowering to us and can help us flee from the sin and believing that we can do it on our own without God, thus revealing why James tells us to flee from idolatry. 

         We must learn how to ask for the desires of our heart to align with that of Jesus’ will for our lives. In doing so, we can stand firmly. When we stand firm with other believers, we are standing in the integrity of Jesus and not on our own self dependence.

Dear Father, 

         Thank You for Your word this morning. Jesus, help me share with You the things that which I believe I'm unique in facing. Lord, help me understand that I'm not alone or isolated in my journey to pursue You. Lord, help mold my heart and overcome my fears of sharing in my struggles with others. Lord, I feel if I tell them what I'm really struggling with, they will reject me. Jesus thank You for not rejecting me but loving me with the fullness of who You are. So that, I could enter the Kingdom of Heaven and flee this sinful world. Thank You for always providing a way out and the faith that I can endure any temptation. Lord use me to strengthen those that are around me in my faith in You. Thank You Jesus, amen.

Day 13: In the Morning 2.0

Psalm 143:8

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly".

This is the second time you're seeing a verse like this and yet it is a different verse! It has the same meaning as it did before. It is important to spend time with the Lord in the morning. 

         There's something about that space in between getting up and getting started about your day. It is a unique space where your mind is as clear as it can be for the rest of the day. It is where God can leverage the clarity of thought and speak directly into our hearts. These are the most powerful moments of your day. It establishes the tempo for how the day is going to go.  

         The importance of timing is not lost in scripture as to when we are supposed to seek the Lord. We are to be giving Him our first fruits. The first fruit of each day is the time that we have. It allows us to focus on who He is and then we see Him after we have requested His presence. Time is valuable to all of us. Think about how many times this week alone you have likely complained about not having enough time. As humanity is only speeding up, we need the time to slow down and allow God to search our hearts, transform our minds, and restore our peace. Why not start your day off with time devoted to the Lord.

         When we spend time meditating on His Word, writing down prayers in a journal, or simply sitting in silence contemplating who God is, we begin to find that this is one of the most rewarding practices we can fit into our daily walk. 

         There is still something unique about this and Psalms 5:1-3; that is the expectation of the Lord to work or answer our request. Sometimes our requests can be very specific and nuanced to our situation in life. Other times they can be very broad and generic and that's where the beauty of time spent with the Lord really begins to become a reward to you. Regardless of the prayer type or intention, we can see the work of our God when we are talking to Him about all the things in our lives.

         The more time you spend with him requesting and praying for situations the more expectedly you begin to anticipate His response and/or reply. It's easier to see Him at work around you as you spend that time seeking Him and discussing life with Him. 

The real beauty of life is found in those moments of sweetness that you know you prayed for a specific action to happen and then God answers it. This is different than what the world would say in manifesting your own destiny. You are speaking to the One that can manifest things for you because He created everything. 

         Being thoughtful with your request and praying for specifics is the relationship that the Lord desires to have with you. That's why scripture says that we come to Him, and we can ask anything of Him, we will receive, especially when it's in accordance with his will. James said that we do not have because we do not ask. This is a powerful phrase we will look more at it tomorrow.

Dear Father,

         Thank You for another morning of seeking You. I am beginning to realize how important it is for me to start the day off with you. You truly desire to heal my heart and speak directly into my mind. Jesus, thank You for this. Thank You for caring enough to hear my prayers and provide answers. Father as You search me, reveal to me any unforgiveness I may have and help me forgive those I harbor ill feelings for in my life. I am thankful for all that You are providing for me. The ability I have to read Your word, seek Your heart for me, and to share Your gospel with others in my life are incredible opportunities to pursue You. Help me be disciplined enough to seek You in the mornings. Thank You Jesus for Your resurrecting work on the cross. Amen.

Day 14: Why don’t we ask?

James 4:2-3 NASB

You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures.

         There is so much to unpack in this scripture. James is direct and to the point in his book. Which is appreciated by many. At this point you could be thinking after yesterday’s devotion that all of your prayers would be answered each day as you wait with anticipation for God’s answers, but it simply does not work that way.

         We must learn how to check our motives. This is why these verses are beyond important to us as we move forward in learning how to live transformed lives. Motives are important for us to begin thinking about more as to why we are approaching God. If He is perfect and Holy, then how can we come with ulterior motives? While we may attempt to, God sees right through us.

         This is why it is important as you are learning to be transformed in the inner room seeking Jesus that you check your intentions. Are you doing this simply because you want an easier life? Are you sacrificing so that you will have an abundance of wealth to lean on? Maybe you are here so that whatever you are dealing with will just go away… Or, you are in a particularly hard time in your life, and you know you need help right now to make it through, so you are trying to seek Him for help with your situation. Your motives matters.

         In the journey to find the 359˚ of Beauty life has to offer, I found myself seeking God, regardless of my situation or circumstance. I wanted to see His glory at work in whatever situation I was in, despite how I felt at that moment. My motives were checked against the most basic of facts. Am I asking for my own benefit, or am I desiring to see the Lord at work around me? This has become the driving question of time spent with Jesus every morning. Who is it really for, myself, or to see the Lord Jesus at work in my life. The beauty came in seeking Jesus!

         The rewards came when I aligned my heart and mind to the will of the Lord in seeing Him at work all around me. This drove my heart and soul to be overwhelmed with gratitude, peace, and praise. Understanding the nature of how God began to reward my discipline of rising every morning, offering my body as a living sacrificing, seeking Him in His word, and praying through my life has become the most rewarding and life altering experiences.

         Jesus loves me and cares for me deeply and He longs to spend time with me. Even when things are good and prosperous, I have sought Him with the prescription that scripture is laying out for us. It is a direct prayer of mine that you would meet Jesus and begin to live in the sweetness of authentic pursuit of His heart as you learn to check your motives and ask for Him to reveal His glory in your lives. This act will eventually reveal the heart and nature of God which is knowable in our limited human capacity.

Dear Heavenly Father.

         Thank You for loving me despite how I have asked You for things in my life. I have negotiated with You, sought to build my own kingdom, greedily requested Your blessings in my life, and desired my own flesh’s prosperity over seeing and knowing You.  I am sorry for what I have made my time with You become. Thank You for already forgiving me on the cross and forgiving me for these motives when I accepted You as my Lord and Savior. Lord help me begin to see You at work in all areas of Your Kingdom. Reveal Your beauty and glory for all to see. Thank You, Jesus, Amen.

Day 15: What shall we seek?

Psalm 27:4

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”

         What shall we seek? Our time with the Jesus is meant to change us, to make us more holy and blameless. This is a long process after we come to initially know Jesus. We spend our lives striving to build our own lives with Jesus guiding us throughout each step of the process. This process is the hardest part. It is a daily grind and sacrifice, especially if we are already running on narrow margins.

         But why are we always running on narrow margins? What are we really seeking in our day-to-day lives? Are we seeking a better life with the strife of the work we do? Are we seeking to make things better for our children? Why do we make ourselves so busy? What are we seeking to build? Reputation? Material wealth? Compensation? Recognition?

         Yet, here David was explaining what He was seeking in this Psalm. One of the most interesting parts is that we know he was seeking refuge from his enemies and the disasters that may befall him in the day-to-day grind of his life. He was cluing us into his success of what it takes to become a man after God’s own heart. We know that at various times in his life that he sought things outside of God and sin reared its ugly nature, but in his core, his heart, he had the basic belief that he wanted to dwell in the house of Lord.

         He had to learn how to transform his mind during a time where creation did not have as much access to God’s word as it does now. He had to seek the Lord every morning, noon, and night. He did have the Holy Spirit guiding him, just like we do now. We know this because of his anointing from Samuel. Likely, this scripture was written when Saul was chasing him, or it is possible that it was when his son Absalom was also trying to kill him.

         David let us know why we should seek to dwell in the presence of the Lord, to see and find His beauty in our lives. Re-read the verse, why does David desire to dwell in the house of the Lord? To gaze ON the BEAUTY of the Lord and seek Him in His temple. This is a huge part of learning how to see the 359˚ of beauty in this life, what is it that we must seek? The Lord’s dwelling place, where we can rest and be still in the presence of the Lord, seeing His beauty surrounding us. However, what are we seeking and striving so hard for in our lives?

         Many would tell you to count the cost and evaluate whether the juice is worth the squeeze in your lives right now, but here is where you are challenged with a different perspective. Instead of counting the cost, as this is what we must give up and our sacrifice to gain something, try living with the mindset of considering the investment? Do the long-term implications far outweigh the temporary cost of discomfort? In seeking the Lord daily and seeking to dwell in His house, the temporary cost is insignificant to the eternal implications, right? And if the investment allows you to see the beauty of the Lord in all situations of your life, how is it not worth it?

Dear Heavenly Father,

         Thank you for granting us the ability to dwell in Your house through Jesus’ death and resurrection. I have been seeking the wrong things in my life with the wrong mentality. I have failed so many times to see the beauty surrounding me because I have counted the cost of so many things. Today, I realize that I need You to help me consider the investment of my time with You. Honestly, I really need help reconsidering the investment of everything that I do… Help me be still and dwell in Your house. Calm everything in me and allow my heart, my core belief, to be one of desire to seek Your dwelling place. If there is a byproduct of being able to see Your beauty in my life, may it be so. I desire to praise You, Jesus, in all seasons of my life. Let Your beauty reveal Your glory in an unmistakable way. Amen.

Day 16: Resting or being still?

Psalm 37:7 NASB

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.”

Psalm 37:7 NLT

“Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 37:7 NIV

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

         The power of parallel bible reading can bring forth significant changes in our understanding of God’s word. The nuance in these three different presentations of the same scripture each subtly leads to slightly different interpretations. This is due to the variations within the interpretation of the translating groups of each Bible version. People have their preferences which can be fine, but the truth is that we should seek multiple points of views to enhance our understanding of God’s Words.

         An interesting aspect of the various translations is that in general we are translating from significantly different languages into our modern language. It is not that it can’t be translated well, it has little tweaks to the overall scripture. It is a significantly nerdy process behind all the different translations, but one can get lost in all that information and still lose the point of the Bible.

         So, is it resting or being still? Is it still in the presence, or being still before the Lord? What is the nuanced difference between the two? Does it matter? Yes, yes, yes, and do the difference between all these matter- yes and no. What matters the most is that you are spending time in the Word of God. When you are in the Word, you are with God. It is that simple. God’s Word is the most powerful truth in your life.

         Did you notice the one thing that was the same in all three of these versions? When you encounter this kind of alignment in multiple translations of scripture, it speaks to the clarity and meaning of God’s Word. All of them say WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD! Therefore, this is NOT subtle in its meaning, nor nuanced at all. This is an essential truth, but one we do not like to do…

         When we see others prosper over us, we tend to get frustrated in that we feel like we are not being seen. When we are in the presence of the Lord, we often get uncomfortable and/or desire to flee because of our own sin nature. However, both are countered by waiting patiently on Jesus to do His work in His timing. Ultimately, we must desire to be patient in seeking the Lord’s work in our lives. It is rarely an immediate answer. When we dwell in the house of the Lord, we find rest and a place to be still. We find a sanctuary to set aside our comparisons in our lives and trust in the eternal promises of Jesus- a treasure that extends beyond our present circumstance. So we MUST wait patiently on the Lord, for His promises are eternal!

Dear Heavenly Father,

         Thank You for Your Word. You are so beautiful in how You inspired men to write it all through the Holy Spirit. I see multiple translations and sometimes I get stuck in my own preference, or that I do not like aspects of a different point of view. But Lord, I see You in each of these versions. Help me broaden my seeking of Your Word in my life. Reveal places where I need to study and seek to dwell in Your counsel and wisdom. As I continue to learn, allow me the patience I need to understand Your guidance in my life and help me align my will to Yours. Thank You, Jesus, for Your promises. Amen. 

Day 17: Stability of our times…

Isaiah 33:5-6 NASB

“The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; The fear of the Lord is his treasure.”

         May the Lord be our treasure… May we fear Him in an appropriate way…

There is a lot to unpack in this scripture. Look carefully at the placement of each descriptor of the Lord…

He IS exalted- speaks to God’s present state.

He DWELLS on high- able to look down upon over creation.

He FILLS Zion- He is enough to complete the heavenly realm with His presence.

He IS justice and righteousness- a byproduct of His presence.

Now, notice the subtle shift in the verbiage and tense of the next few lines…

He WILL BE the stability of your times- when you believe He is all the things listed before this line.

He WILL BE wealth of Salvation- an overwhelming abundance of grace when you need it as you receive what you do not deserve.

He WILL BE your wisdom- as you learn who He is and the nature of His ways through transforming your mind.

He WILL BE your source of knowledge- the base of how you operate within every relationship.

Now, notice the next shift…

The FEAR of the Lord is his treasure… Fear is treasure.

         This “his” is ultimately referring to us and how we are to view the Lord. We are to view Him with a fear and reverence for His power and majesty. This fear is different than what many would call fear in our modern world. This fear is a sense of awe and an awareness of the presence of God. It is like standing on the edge of an overlook or on a beach and feeling small in the vastness of creation yet realizing that the Creator of the universe still loves you.

         This fear is an awareness that the Lord of all creation, the One that put you together within your mother’s womb, sits beyond our comprehension, yet He has made Himself available to us when we seek Him with all our heart. We are nothing but dust and ash seeking counsel with the Giver of life and He promises to be our source of stability, wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. Regardless of the situation you are in, a healthy fear of the Lord is to be treasured…

Dear Heavenly Father,

         Thank you for Your presence in my life this morning. I am here. I am present. I am with You, because You are with me. Lord, I know You will be all these things and more in my life because You already have been even when I was not aware of it. Lord, I want my relationship with You to be one of my most treasured possessions. Let my sense of awe and wonder for You be my greatest source of appropriate fear in understanding Your power and grace. Help me value my placement in Your creation and respect how I approach You. Help me truly understand Your word and be able to read it with a different sense of purpose. Lord You are the wealth of my salvation. You are my source of wisdom and knowledge. You are my stable foundation. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Day 18: An evening prayer

Psalm 4:1-8 NASB2020

'Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. You sons of man, how long will my honor be treated as an insult? How long will you love what is worthless and strive for a lie? Selah. But know that the Lord has set apart the godly person for Himself; The Lord hears when I call to Him. Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the Lord. Many are saying, “Who will show us anything good?” Lift up the light of Your face upon us, Lord! You have put joy in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine are abundant. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, Lord, have me dwell in safety.'       

         This whole Psalm is a prayer; it is one that is meant to teach us how to close out our day. It is asking questions for us to ponder at the end of each day. Think about these questions for a moment. How long will the honor of God be treated as a insult in our lives? How long will we chase our own worldly desires and strive for our own kingdoms? Then is says the word Selah- which means to pause and think about what was just asked.

         These are not just musical directions of a song. They are directions for our hearts and minds to reflect on our days. Then it reminds us that we are set apart- at least those who believe in Jesus- those who have an appropriate view and awe in God, we can tremble and avoid sin in our lives. Sometimes all we need to do to avoid sin is to reflect on what we have done as it reveals our nature.

         Then it calls us to meditate in our hearts upon our bed and be still. This is a command to be still and think about the core of our beliefs. It continues reminding us to put our trust in the Lord and sacrifice righteousness- which means doing the good and right thing, encompassing a pure heart, moral uprightness, and just behavior. Leading to joy and peace being put into our hearts with a greater abundance than when things are at their best. This is a powerful reminder of where we are to anchor ourselves at the end of a day.

         Think about it this way. You spend the first part of your day in God’s word, praying, waiting expectantly upon His answers. You go through your day watching and waiting on the Lord, doing the work He has created you to do. You encounter the goodness of God because you can see Him at work in your life. You lay your head down at night briefly reviewing the events of the day and you realize that you have made it through another day. The Lord of all creation has revealed His glory at some point throughout the day to you. You praise him, check your motives, and then dwell in the peace that He is present and active in your life. This leads you to have joy in abundance and a desire to continue pursuing God because He is real and cares about you. Sounds pretty good right- so why don’t we do that every day?

Dear Heavenly Father,

         Thank You Lord for the prayers contained in your scriptures. I am blessed to be able to read amazing prayers of praise and how You are teaching me in ways I have never seen before through Your word. Lord, while I am here in the morning seeking You, may tonight when I lay down upon my bed, I reflect upon where You showed up today in my work and life. May I be granted the clarity of sight to know exactly where and what You have done to reveal Your beauty in my life. May I pause and reflect on my own motives and continue to check myself against Your word so that I can be filled with peace and joy that goes beyond my most abundant times in my life. May I dwell in the shadow of Your wings and rest fully in You, Jesus. Amen. Selah

Day 19: Guarding Your Mind and Heart

Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

         This is one of the most prescriptive scriptures in the entire bible. Yet, most people do not understand the orders Paul is outlining for us to follow. First, we are to ALWAYS rejoice, even when we do not feel like it. Our hope is found in Jesus Christ and His eternal promises, so we should be able to rejoice in all things. As if it were enough to rejoice- Paul is telling us to do it twice!!! This speaks to the importance of being joyful in all things.

         The way we approach people is important as we face life. If we can rejoice in all circumstances, our hope for life becomes evident for all to see. If our hope becomes evident- then the Gospel is easily presented in our lives. This ultimately brings the Lord near to us but also is how we stand ready for Jesus to come and take us home.

         Next is a command. DO NOT BE ANXIOUS about ANYTHING. In this society anxiety is a buzz word. God is telling us to not to conform to this world. Therefore, we should not be anxious Christ followers. Instead, we should follow the outline that is prescribed to us to follow in EVERY situation.

         Through prayer and petition with a mindset of thanksgiving, we are to present our request to the Lord. Prayer is easy, but what about the petition- this is generally accepted to mean an appeal to the higher authority, which sometimes represents multiple people- so getting others to pray on our behalf as well is an important step to combat this anxiety we face. Unfortunately, the hardest part is the thanksgiving part. It is hard for us to be thankful in the worst of moments because we focus so much on what is going wrong 1˚ of our field of view. This is where the real work is at. You must start by being thankful for the littlest of things and work your way up to the bigger things you do not understand, eventually leading to see the 359˚ of beauty that you can be thankful for in your life.

         Upon praying with thanksgiving, the scripture says that God’s peace, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Guarding your heart- the core of your belief in Jesus Christ’s power- therefore no doubt about what you believe in; guarding your mind in that the anxious thoughts are anchored in Jesus’ power and peace. You are choosing to trust in Jesus versus spin out in anxiety-based reactions to your circumstances.

         The prescriptive power of scripture is evident in this passage, and it becomes important that you follow the orders given to us when we feel anxious. The feeling of anxiety should serve as an indicator of our need to pray and rely on the relationship we have in Jesus. If you have these anxious thoughts- you should be praying continually about them and inviting others to pray for them on your behalf as well, remember to be thankful and watch how peace saturates your situation.

Dear Heavenly Father,

         Thank You of another opportunity to rejoice in Your work. Thank You for prescriptive scripture that tells me exactly what to do to combat my humanity and sin nature. Lord, You tell me not to be anxious. I am thankful for that command in Your word. I do not always understand or do that, so forgive me when I fail and help me see anxiety as an indicator of my deep need to pray to You with thanksgiving for my situation. Thank You for the peace that only You can provide in my life. I need Your peace and the comfort of our relationship to guard my heart and my mind today. Lord, You are worthy of all praise and I anticipate You working in my life today. I know there will be an opportunity to practice this prescription as I walk through this day. May I embrace it and praise You with thanksgiving when it happens. Let Your peace fill me beyond my capacity to understand and Your presence be evident in my ability to rejoice in ALL things. Thank You Jesus, Amen.

Day 20: May my words honor You

Psalm 19:14 NASB2020

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

         There is an interesting experiment you need to do with today’s verse. Write it down on a post it note and put it in your pocket. Keep it in your pocket all day. Keep it in your pocket for the next couple of days. Let this become a verse that you pray and meditate on over the next week. Yes, that escalated quickly into a week... One week from now we will revisit this verse and reflect on how much influence it had over the week.

         Sometimes we miss the point of God’s word because we read it, think about it for a day, and then move on. We often do not do what it is asking us to do. Ultimately, we are to write God’s word on the tablets of our hearts. Check out Deuteronomy 11:18; Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 6:21; Proverbs 7:3; Exodus 13:9 for more references as to how we are to keep God’s word in our lives.

         You may be wondering, why choose this verse to set into our hearts right now? Well, that is because of its content. James tells us that even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it can be very destructive, James 3:5. It goes on to tell us in James 3:8 that no human can tame the tongue. However, God’s Holy Spirit can assist us in our desires to align our heart to His will. He can also help our tongues through the transformation of our hearts and minds.

         This transformative process is very important for us to embrace. God’s word is our most powerful tool besides prayer. It is out of the meditations of our heart and renewing of our mind that the scripture can tame our tongues. It does not mean that we will be successful on our own accord. Yet, it means that we must fill our lives with God’s words and desire. If we desire the words of our mouth to be acceptable in the sight of the Lord, we become more mindful of what we are saying and who we are saying it to.

         Since the Lord is our Rock- a foundation for which we live- and He is our Redeemer- He has infinite power in which to help us modify and perfect our faith over time. This leads us to honor Him in our lives. That honor is perfected in our hearts through the renewing of our minds daily, as to strengthen the resolve of our hearts. The manifestation of these changes reveals themselves through the words of our mouth. It becomes clear evidence of the Spirit within us, because of how we speak or respond to any situation.

         So, there is power in understanding this verse and writing it on your heart through the daily practice of carrying it with you. It will be revealed as a source of strength if you let it.

Dear Heavenly Father,

         Thank You for Your Holy Spirit in my life. Thank You for Your Word. Lord, help me learn how to write Your Word into my heart through the direct application of it in my daily walk. Lord, help my speech become evidence of how much You are a part of my daily living in that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart are pleasing and acceptable to You Father. I want to desire You Father. I want my speech to be uplifting to others. I want to honor You Jesus in all my words. So, Father, I am asking You to help me. Forgive my failings in that I have not honored You in my speech. I know I cannot tame my tongue alone, but that only through heart transformation, that my speech becomes pleasing to You. Your Word says in Matthew 12:34 “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Lord, please grant me an abundance of Your Word in my life so that my mouth speaks of Your goodness all the days of my life. Thank You Jesus, Amen. 

Day 21: Confidence in Christ!

1 John 5:13-15 NASB

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

         Alignment is beyond important in our lives. Alignment with God’s will is particularly important in our walk with Jesus. How much would you like to have confidence in what you ask for from God? Knowing that He hears you… Consider the power that is there in our lives. This is particularly interesting in that we DO have this power. We just do not know how to truly tap into it.

         So, how do we tap into the power and confidence that what we ask for in accordance with God’s will, it will be done. The first thing is that if you have been following this guide to this point, you have been aligning yourself with God’s will for your life. If you are getting up in the morning, sacrificing your body and time to His word and spending time with Him in prayer, meditating on His word, being still and resting in His promises, praying continually, and praying with thanksgiving, you have been working to align yourself with God’s will for your life.

         This does not mean that you will be granted everything that you ask for from God. However, it does mean that He has begun a work in you in teaching you what to ask for. Many of your prayers are already shifting away from yourself and onto God’s desires for you. Learning how to daily submit to God is the first step in a lifelong journey towards perfection that will refine you over time.

         So, what do we ask for in alignment to God’s will? There are several scriptures that can help you understand what to be asking for in your life. One of the best sections of scripture comes from 1 Thessalonians 4. You are encouraged to read it in more detail on your own as it is all about a life that would be considered pleasing to God. 1 Thess. 4:3 is very powerful as it tells us directly what God’s will for our lives is! Ultimately, it culminates in a very important aspect of how we live a life in accordance to God’s will for our lives, “and aspire to live quietly, and mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

         God desires for us to be self-sufficient, living our lives in such a way that God is honored daily and that other see Jesus living through us in our daily walk. This is evident in what we talk about, how we care for others, and how our community sees us in our regular walk. This means every sense of our presence in our walks is reliant upon the Lord. While we may plan our way it is evident that God is directing our steps. We humbly follow His prompting and leading in our lives.

         People are drawn to us as we seek Jesus. When we pray from this place, God hears our prayers. When we ask Him to help align our lives to this portrait, He will answer these prayers. Eventually, our prayers become that of God’s will. Eternity is the ultimate answer to all of prayers, and we have that promised to us in our hope of Jesus Christ! All we have to do is believe and endure this life.

Dear Heavenly Father,

         Thank you for teaching me about your will for my life. It is my desire to learn more about it and align myself to what You would desire for me over my own desires. Lord, I have done life without You, and I would rather live life with You. As I continue growing in faith and walking with You, please help me align myself with Your will and give me the confidence to know what I ask for in You, will be granted. Thank you, Jesus, Amen.