The childish idea that prayer is a handle by which we can take
hold of God and obtain whatever we desire, leads to easy
disillusionment with both what we had thought to be God and what
we had thought to be prayer.
-- Robert L. Short
In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley
May 21, 2007 – Unforgiveness and Hate – Ephesians 4:31-32
Welcome to the In Touch Devotional.
One of the most destructive attitudes for a Christian is hate. Think about it. How well can the saving light of Jesus Christ shine in a life that is totally covered in hatred, anger, or rage? And what picture of Christ does this type of person show to the unbelieving world?
Hate is a total breakdown in the Christlike attitude we’re called to exhibit. But even in churches, it’s not hard to find individuals boiling over with hostility. Where does it come from? One of the key reasons believers can be prone to hatred is the inability to forgive those who caused them an undeserved hurt.
Let’s take a “hate test.” Think about someone who hurt you in the past, and consider these three “heart checks.”
First, if you hate someone, you cannot shake the memory. Does the scene play out in your mind over and over?
Second, if you hate someone, you cannot wish him or her well. Can you still wish the best for a person who’s hurt you?
Third, if you hate someone, you want that person to hurt just as you hurt. Do you secretly desire this individual to experience the same pain you felt?
If these questions revealed any hidden animosity in your heart, don’t leave your chair until you prayerfully meditate on Ephesians 4:31-32. Read the passage aloud. Personalize it into your prayer. And let God’s Holy Spirit cleanse your heart of hatred by empowering you to forgive an old hurt.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold
as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1, King James Version
May 22, 2007
VERSE:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and
in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
earth.
-- Acts 1:8
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Acts+1:8&translation=kjv
THOUGHT:
Sometimes the most profound truths are very simple. The power to
reach the world for Christ involves God's might through the Holy
Spirit, God's plan of beginning where we are and reaching out to
the world, and our willingness to tell others what God has done for
us in Jesus.
PRAYER:
Father of all people, fill us with your powerful Holy Spirit,
enable us to be effective in sharing our faith, and motivate us to
reach our city, our region, and our world with the Gospel. I still
believe, Father, that you desire to do in our day what happened
long ago. Make your Name great. Exalt your holiness in the eyes of
all people. Use me and the rest of your people to accomplish your
will of reaching all nations with the Gospel of grace. In the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Jesus remains unshaken as the practical man; and we stand
exposed as the fools, the blunderers, the unpractical
visionaries.
-- George Bernard Shaw
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water:
therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Proverbs 17:14, King James Version
To make the improving of our own character our central aim is
hardly the highest kind of goodness. True goodness forgets
itself and goes out to do the right thing for no other reason
than that it is right.
-- Lesslie Newbigin
In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley
May 23, 2007 – The Faith that Conquers – First Samuel 17:1-30
Welcome to the In Touch Devotional.
The well-known story of David and Goliath teaches modern believers about faith that conquers. At some point, everyone faces a Goliath in his or her life. Whether the “giant” is human or some overwhelming situation, victorious people, like David, trust God to see them through any challenge.
For David, past experience proved God was faithful. In 1 Samuel 17:36, the young shepherd recalled God giving him victory over a lion and a bear that threatened his flock. In a similar way, we strengthen our faith by reading how the Lord protected men and women in the Bible. We also learn to trust God by remembering His provision in our lives. For this reason, Dr. Stanley urges people to keep a journal. When facing a challenge, believers can look back and be strengthened by the knowledge of God’s prior trustworthiness.
Trusting the Lord gives us the courage to face our “giants.” We can then respond to difficulty on the basis of three important truths. The first is our identity in Christ. We’re adopted children who are eternally secure with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Second, it’s important to know who Christ is in us???our Savior and Provider. The third important truth we should know is, in Christ, we have the promise of access to almighty God.
The victorious believer knows that the Lord is making him adequate for any difficult situation. That’s why God gives us the Holy Spirit. When we depend upon God, we’ll conquer our “Goliaths.”
Creative Spiritz
