Post by mommadee48 on Jul 20, 2022 12:44:10 GMT -5
DAILY WORD: (1 JOHN 5:13-15).
CONFIDENT IN GOD:
A 2018 study of adults in the United Kingdom found that, on average, "they checked their smartphones every twelve minutes of the waking day". But let's be honest, this statistic seems extremely conservative when I consider how frequently I search Google to find the answer to a question or respond to endless alerts that come to my phone throughout the day. Many of us consistently look to our devices, confident they'll provide what we need to keep us organized, informed, and connected,
As believers in Jesus, we have a resource infinitely better than a smartphone. God loves and cares for us intimately and desires us to come to HIM with our needs. The Bible says that when we pray, we can be confident "that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1John 5:14). By reading the Bible and storing God's words in our hearts, we can pray assuredly for things that we know HE already desires for us, including peace, wisdom, and faith that He'll provide what we need (v.15).
Sometimes it may seem like God doesn't hear us when our situation doesn't change. But we build our confidence in God by consistently turning to Him for help in every circumstance (PSALM116:2). This allows us to grow in faith, trusting that although we may not get everything we desire, He's promised to provide what we need in His perfect timing.
I write these things 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 we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him.
INSIGHT:
One of the key ideas in 1 John 5:14-15 is confidence. John says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (v.14). The Greek word translated "confidence" (parresia) is also used in Hebrews 4;16: "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence".
In other places parresia is translated variously as "plainly" (Mark 8:32; John 10:24), "openly" (John 18:20), "publicly" (John 7:13; 11:54), "fearlessly" (Ephesians 6:19), and "Courage" (Philippians 1:20). Taken together, the various translations express a sense of being unashamed, unreserved, or audacious. This is the kind of confidence we can have in approaching God in prayer because He's our Father and wants to hear what those who care about His will have to say.
NEXT:
A WORD FROM Dr.STANLEY;
DO YOU EVER DOUBT whether God wants to speak to you in a personal way?
Do you ever question whether you're worthy of His attention?
I can assure you that your heavenly Father desires to communicate with all His children---no exceptions. And your intimacy with Him is vital to the health and strength of your entire life. One of the best ways to hear His voice is to read His Word, which is "living and active, and sharper than any two-edge sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit" (Hebrews 4:12). Now, that's powerful! This month, meditate on the scriptures provided with the daily readings. And as you do, ask God's Spirit to teach you and encourage you---to help you learn the sound of His voice.
NEXT:
SET APART FOR GOD: (ROMANS 12:1-3).
WHEN A PERSON PLACES FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST and becomes a believer, he is sanctified---that is, set apart for God's purpose. Unlike salvation, which takes place in a single moment, sanctification is a lifelong process. As the Word of God and the Holy Spirit work in our life, we are being sanctified. In other words, we're progressively maturing in our faith.
In Romans 8:29, the apostle Paul explained God's purpose for believers: "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son." Our character, conduct, and conversation should be reflections of Christ. On our own, we'd place too much emphasis on behavior and get caught up with following rules and rituals that look Christian without truly reflecting Jesus. Thankfully, we have been given the Holy Spirit, who works through God's Word to renew our mind, but we must cooperate in the sanctification process by filling our mind. But we must cooperate in the sanctification process by filling our mind with Scripture.
You'll never be perfect this side of heaven, but the Lord shows you how to think and act so you can "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called (Eph. 4:1).
CONFIDENT IN GOD:
A 2018 study of adults in the United Kingdom found that, on average, "they checked their smartphones every twelve minutes of the waking day". But let's be honest, this statistic seems extremely conservative when I consider how frequently I search Google to find the answer to a question or respond to endless alerts that come to my phone throughout the day. Many of us consistently look to our devices, confident they'll provide what we need to keep us organized, informed, and connected,
As believers in Jesus, we have a resource infinitely better than a smartphone. God loves and cares for us intimately and desires us to come to HIM with our needs. The Bible says that when we pray, we can be confident "that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1John 5:14). By reading the Bible and storing God's words in our hearts, we can pray assuredly for things that we know HE already desires for us, including peace, wisdom, and faith that He'll provide what we need (v.15).
Sometimes it may seem like God doesn't hear us when our situation doesn't change. But we build our confidence in God by consistently turning to Him for help in every circumstance (PSALM116:2). This allows us to grow in faith, trusting that although we may not get everything we desire, He's promised to provide what we need in His perfect timing.
I write these things 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 we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him.
INSIGHT:
One of the key ideas in 1 John 5:14-15 is confidence. John says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (v.14). The Greek word translated "confidence" (parresia) is also used in Hebrews 4;16: "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence".
In other places parresia is translated variously as "plainly" (Mark 8:32; John 10:24), "openly" (John 18:20), "publicly" (John 7:13; 11:54), "fearlessly" (Ephesians 6:19), and "Courage" (Philippians 1:20). Taken together, the various translations express a sense of being unashamed, unreserved, or audacious. This is the kind of confidence we can have in approaching God in prayer because He's our Father and wants to hear what those who care about His will have to say.
NEXT:
A WORD FROM Dr.STANLEY;
DO YOU EVER DOUBT whether God wants to speak to you in a personal way?
Do you ever question whether you're worthy of His attention?
I can assure you that your heavenly Father desires to communicate with all His children---no exceptions. And your intimacy with Him is vital to the health and strength of your entire life. One of the best ways to hear His voice is to read His Word, which is "living and active, and sharper than any two-edge sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit" (Hebrews 4:12). Now, that's powerful! This month, meditate on the scriptures provided with the daily readings. And as you do, ask God's Spirit to teach you and encourage you---to help you learn the sound of His voice.
NEXT:
SET APART FOR GOD: (ROMANS 12:1-3).
WHEN A PERSON PLACES FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST and becomes a believer, he is sanctified---that is, set apart for God's purpose. Unlike salvation, which takes place in a single moment, sanctification is a lifelong process. As the Word of God and the Holy Spirit work in our life, we are being sanctified. In other words, we're progressively maturing in our faith.
In Romans 8:29, the apostle Paul explained God's purpose for believers: "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son." Our character, conduct, and conversation should be reflections of Christ. On our own, we'd place too much emphasis on behavior and get caught up with following rules and rituals that look Christian without truly reflecting Jesus. Thankfully, we have been given the Holy Spirit, who works through God's Word to renew our mind, but we must cooperate in the sanctification process by filling our mind. But we must cooperate in the sanctification process by filling our mind with Scripture.
You'll never be perfect this side of heaven, but the Lord shows you how to think and act so you can "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called (Eph. 4:1).