God’s promise for Week One:
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
Day Six
Day Seven
Day One
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see." (Heb 11:1)
Have you ever thought: “It will be easy to have faith once I’m not in this painful place in my life; when my circumstances change, I will say that God is good, and my faith will be so strong!" Faith is not found only in the absence of pain, or it wouldn’t be possible to grasp on this earth. Each one of us holds in our hearts some measure of pain. For some it is a painful relationship that just doesn’t seem to get better, no matter how hard you try. For some it is the huge hole in your life left by the loss of a loved one. For some it is the painful reminder of choices you made that hurt others, and no matter how sorry you are the pieces just don’t seem to be fitting together again. For some it is the struggle against addiction, both past and present, that rages in your mind every single day. Maybe for you it is the battle of self-worth—you just don’t feel like you’ll ever be good enough. Does any of this hit close to home? Life involves pain. So if faith ISN’T found in the absence of pain, where is it found? Yep, you guessed it. It’s found in the midst of pain. Right where you are today, it is possible to have a faith that won’t be shaken.
Let our prayer over the next 40 days be that we would learn to “look through our circumstances to something behind it " (Les Hack). Let us strive to have a faith like Moses, Noah, and Abraham, who “died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—a heavenly country. You can see why God refers to them, and has a “City waiting for them" (Heb 11). Let’s trust God to take us into and through any trial or problem. So how are we going to do this? By faith in the Christ who has proven Himself to be faithful.
Prayer:
God, I give you the next 40 days. Help me to trust you more and more as I spend time with you everyday.
Day Two
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Heb 12:1).
The “great cloud of witnesses" mentioned in this verse refers to people like Moses and Abraham who are noted in the Bible as people of great faith. We can’t help but be awed at their faith and what amazing things resulted from that faith. Sometimes it is tempting to say, “Yes, but they were great people. I’m only me—how can I have that kind of faith?" I once heard someone say the Bible is not stories about the great people of God, but rather about the great God of people. Those people whose lives are recorded in the Bible were ordinary people. They sinned and failed just like we do. In the list of people of great faith in Hebrews 11, there is one that stands out. Her name was Rahab and she was a prostitute. When Joshua and Caleb came to Jericho to spy out the land God had promised to them, she hid them and helped them escape unharmed. Why did she do this? In her own words: “I know that…the Lord God is He Who is God in heaven above and on earth beneath" (Joshua 2:8-11). In short, she protected Joshua and Caleb because she had faith in their God, and because of that faith, she “escaped the destruction that came on those who refused to trust God" (Heb 11:31). Later, this woman who had been a prostitute married an Israelite (Matt. 1:5) and became the great-great-great (many greats) grandmother of Jesus Christ! This story encourages me, does it you? It wasn’t because she never lost her temper or because of her spotless past that she was listed here along with Moses and Abraham, but because of her faith. She believed that God could do anything. Rahab was “not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved" (Heb 10:39). Rahab saw God in the midst of her less-than-perfect life and she believed in His power to save her. And He did.
Prayer:
God, help me today to know that You can do “far more that I could ever imagine." Help me to trust You in the midst of difficult or painful circumstances.
Day Three
“Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown up and down by the wind…They should not think they will receive anything from the Lord." (James 1:6-7)
True faith in God always leads us to increasingly trust what God says He has done and will do. Faith needs a source and that wellspring is God and His Word. If we don’t read and believe the promises of God in his Word, doubt will creep in and blow us aimlessly around this life. And sadly, when we live like this, we “should not think [we] will receive anything from the Lord." The fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives depends on whether or not we believe that God means what He says. And we can’t believe what He says unless we constantly remind ourselves of what He says. There is no way around the fact that spending time reading the Bible and in prayer is the only way we can really live by faith toward God in this life. When we regularly fill our minds with the promises of God, the battle between fear and doubt can be won. When we choose not to doubt the promises of God, we will find we become more like an anchored ship than an aimless wave. Let’s have a holy determination to stop being aimlessly blown around this life and choose to be anchored to this promise: “God can do anything."
Prayer:
“Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer." (Psalm 94:19)
Day Four
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Heb 12:1-3)
Let’s revisit the familiar story in Matthew 14 of Jesus walking on the water. There is no more powerful example of what it means to “fix our eyes on Jesus" than when Peter stepped out of that boat and began walking toward Jesus. As a child, this is how I pictured the scene: the sun’s warm rays reflecting on the glassy smooth sea, the warm breeze gently blowing, while a bird or two chirped in the distance. Of course, this isn’t remotely what it was like that day. First of all, it was the dead of night. Secondly, the warm breeze was actually a ferocious storm, and if the birds were chirping, no one could hear them over the howling wind. And the disciples were afraid. Does the setting of this story remind you of your own life? Are the waves high and the wind strong? Are you afraid? Your marriage is in trouble and you don’t know what to do. Your kids aren’t serving the Lord despite your attempts to teach them what’s right. Your parents seem frustrated all the time. Your health is failing and you’re not sure you can handle it anymore. Your finances are a mess and bills are due again. Or maybe it is the constant discouragement of feeling like you’ll never be the kind of Christian you think you should be. Many times we feel the waves and hear the howling wind as the problems of this life surround us. So let’s go back to that dark night on the stormy sea and learn from it. When Jesus saw the disciples’ fear He said, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid." That’s what He’s still saying. In the midst of the uncertainties, difficulties and discouragement of life, He says to us: “Take courage—Don’t be afraid." So the ever-eager Peter left the safety of solid wood under his feet and began to walk toward Jesus. I can guess what his next thought must have been: “What have I done?! I’m out here trying to walk on water—what was I thinking?" And we know what happened next: "When he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" (Matt 14:30,31). Peter didn’t hesitate in getting out of that boat, but immediately he looked away from Jesus to the raging waves and the howling wind and his fear took hold of him and he began to sink. So where are you right now? Are you cowering in the boat, afraid to step out onto the water because you’re not sure if God will help you? Or are you out on the water, sinking lower every minute because your eyes are on the difficulties instead of on Jesus? Or are you up to your neck and frantically swimming against the waves because you think you can do it on your own? Wherever you are, the answer is simple. Do like Peter did. Cry out, "Lord, save me!" and He will “reach out His hand to catch you."
Prayer:
Lord, “I believe! Help me with my doubts." (Mark 9:24)
Day Five
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2Cor 12:9)
Do you ever feel like you’re not a very good Christian? Do you ever feel like you will never have victory over your bad habits? Good. You’re exactly where God wants you to be. We need to constantly remind ourselves that it doesn’t matter that we’re weak. In fact, it is better that we understand and accept our weakness so that we can learn to trust in God’s power instead of our own ability. Let’s look again at Peter—he was constantly losing heart in the face of difficulties. He took his eyes off Jesus and sank in the waters of the stormy sea (Matt 14). A short time after acknowledging Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God!" he denied even knowing him. But in spite of his fears and failings, listen to how Jesus described him: “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it." God used this weak and wishy-washy man to be involved in building up believers who were part of Christ’s church on this earth! Jesus is still building his church today, and he is still using weak people like you and me who trust, not in their own strength, abilities and gifts, but in the power of the living God.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to focus on you and your awesome promises instead of on my own weakness.
Day Six
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)
Have you ever had difficulty keeping your mind focused on good instead of bad, right instead of wrong, something holy instead of unholy? God knows our peace of mind will be in proportion to whatever occupies our thoughts. God loves to give peace and His peace is always associated with believers whose minds are occupied with what honors God. Our Scripture for today is designed to keep our brain cells dwelling on those subjects that lasso in our thoughts and keep us thinking rightly. Just listen to the “sound of holiness” regarding these words, “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy.” Paul pointedly tells us to, “think about such things.” Paul the apostle had made that his daily habit. His pattern of not dwelling on immorality, indecency, hatred, self-gratification, pride, and lying, did not just happen naturally. Instead, Paul had trained up his mind to think about those topics that demonstrated his trust in Christ and obedience toward God. God the Holy Spirit desires to fill our heart and thoughts with what is a pleasing aroma to God. If your thoughts spilled out would they stink, or would they be a refreshing fragrance to the Lord?
Prayer:
Lord, may my every thought and consideration be compatible with your holiness.
Day Seven
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some… (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Come to church tomorrow expecting that God will use you! Worshiping Jesus Christ together is a vital part of our spiritual life. Sadly, many people, including those who say that are Christians, have disconnected from being together with other believers when the church body worships the Lord. Worshiping God with your church family presents the opportunity to be “stirred” up and to “stir” up others, not to cause trouble, but to encourage others to do “good works” for Christ. Every time SonRise Community Church gathers, God is alive and thriving here, and He uses each of us to spur one another on toward loving each other and for inciting good deeds among one another. So tomorrow when we meet let’s praise our Lord with singing, show our love toward one another, apply what we hear through the preaching, and incite good works to flow through all of us.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to increasingly love my church family.
