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YOUR GRACE STILL AMAZES ME by Phillips Craig and Dean

“Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your god. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Live with the confidence and faith that God is with you always.

Spiritual Refreshment for the Weary Soul

“…For I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.” Jeremiah 31:25

Many of us do not live in a peaceful, rustic environment where we can sit on our patio and hear the birds sing, watch streams briskly flowing or inhale unpolluted air while watching the deer in our backyard. The noise and constant busyness that has aggressively entered our lifestyles are out of control.

Sadly, we do not recognize the impact until we are mentally and emotionally weary and our physical health is impacted. Yes, we can take a couple of days off and catch up on much-needed sleep, but can we empty our minds of pressing issues or eliminate most of our to-do list? Rest and relaxation extend beyond physical rest. Even the most powerful machines require maintenance to keep them operating at peak performance.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Jesus tells us that optimal spiritual health requires a continuous relationship with Him. The demands of life are incessant and will create greater burdens if we do not stop, recognize, and rearrange our priorities. We were created to have a forever connection with God. Like inanimate objects that require a connection to a source of power, we must stay connected to our spiritual source–Jesus Christ.

Rest and relaxation of the mind and body are considered a waste of time by today’s influencers who give us their standards for our lifestyles. The lifestyle of pursuing worldly success is in opposition to the One who created us. Listening to tranquil music, verbalizing mantras, and performing non-spiritual meditation can never provide the spiritual gifts of peace and replenishment that our souls require.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Only Jesus can give us a life filled with daily spiritual renewal. And that means quality and quantity of time spent with Jesus in worship. Although divine intervention is always available, we must put forth the human effort of putting God first and asking for His help. Search the Scriptures! From Moses to Elijah, and Paul and Silas in their times of mental weakness and spiritual depletion, God’s intervention was immediate.

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17)

The righteous are promised Divine benefits. Yet, we must take the time to establish and maintain a meaningful relationship with the source, Jesus Christ. Through prayer, we have 24/7 access to God, the Father, Jesus, and, the Holy Spirit. Daily, we pray for strength and guidance to live according to God’s plans so we may receive the healing power of spiritual replenishment in our minds, bodies, and souls.

Prayer: God, we ask for Your divine intervention. Please reveal the busyness that keeps us spiritually depleted and distant from You. We pray for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.


Jesus Prays for All Believers

Devotional–The Struggle of Sanctification–Jesus Prays for All Believers

“I have glorified you on earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” John 17:4

John chapter 17 is composed of the three prayers in which Jesus prays for Himself, His Disciples, and all Believers. Our focus will be on Jesus’ prayer for all believers. Jesus clarifies our roles by defining His expectations of future disciples, including you and me.

Three of God’s established characteristics of the church body are Love, Unity, and fulfilling the Great Commission–Witnessing to others.

Love: “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself'” (Matthew 22:37-39).

Unity: “that they all may be one, as You, Father are in Me, and I in You,” (John 17:21), and that we fulfill our spiritual assignment, The Great Commission–Witnessing to Others, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.'” (Matthew 28:18-20).

The Outcome: “…and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23).

Was God pleased with His Son? Yes! Following Jesus’ baptism, God proclaimed His Divine satisfaction: “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

Jesus was our role model. He never deviated from having the mindset to please God, His Father. Even in His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Do we have the desire to fulfill God’s will? Love = Obedience

For us to complete our earthly mission, our hearts must overflow with love for God which is demonstrated by having a thriving relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, and also that we possess unconditional love for everyone [without exceptions].

Two things will determine our future outcome: “Did we have a relationship with Jesus Christ demonstrated by living a life of faithful obedience to the will of God?” and, “Did we complete our spiritual assignment by demonstrating the love of Christ when using our spiritual gifts to witness to others?”

Jesus’ gift of redemption to humanity was paid with His life. Certainly, we can understand that He desires for us to live with Him eternally.

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)

For us to receive eternal life, we must be one with Christ. By diligently studying Jesus’ life, we learn who He is. To abide in His love is to dedicate ourselves to spending time in prayer and study of the Scriptures. Pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit before studying the Bible. Meditate on the Word of God to receive the power to live righteously.

Love is the catalyst that produces a steadfast commitment to living consecrated lives for God. From a loving heart, the fruit of obedience flows like a stream, and without hesitation, our daily prayer is, “Not my will, but Your will be done in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Eve was Deceived

Devotional—The Struggle of Sanctification—Eve was Deceived

One of the most exciting aspects of the literary arts is the ability of a gifted writer to mesmerize the reader with their vision. For the work to be successful, it must be categorized into a genre with readers interested in the subject matter. The readers play an important role in the success or failure of a published work. Yes, the writer relies on the readers intrigued by the cover, title, and author, but the words that are masterfully used are responsible for captivating an audience.

Words are extremely powerful! When used by marketing and advertising experts, we are convinced that we must have the things that are presented. Our imagination leads to a compelling desire of the heart and we do whatever is necessary to obtain the things that promise to give us a higher quality of life. The problem is that someone else has planted a seed of dissatisfaction in your mind for your existing lifestyle often leading to an ungrateful heart.

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'” (Genesis 2:16,17)

Eve, the mother of humanity was fully aware of God’s command, but she desired the one thing that God said that they could not have. Eve was deceived because of her heart’s desire to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Her story exposes Satan’s mastery of using deceptive words as weapons against humanity. Eve fell because she desired more than the perfect life that God had given to them.

“…to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…” (Romans 12:3)

Eve used her logical thought processes to analyze what she saw, a visual deception. As she walked closer to the tree, perhaps the beautiful serpent was wrapped around a branch eating the fruit. She was mesmerized and overpowered by Satan’s deceptive strategy. As Eve attempted to comprehend what her eyes were seeing, a serpent in the forbidden tree, Satan used his powers to speak to her calmly and invitingly.

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)

“And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'” (Genesis 3:2-3)

Although Eve answered the question, at that point, Eve became confused between God’s command and what she was seeing and hearing from the serpent. God never said, “nor shall you touch it.” Can you imagine the serpent lovingly touching the fruit with his head? With its actions and spoken words, the serpent convinced our mother the fruit had amazing power. She rationalized that the serpent must have eaten the fruit because unlike other serpents this one received the power to talk. He had eaten from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and he was still alive!

Surely [definition]: to speak with assurance and confidence; a word used to emphasize the speaker’s firm belief that what they are saying is true and often express their surprise that there is any doubt of this.

“Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'” (Genesis 3:4-5)

Like an experienced salesperson, this was the statement of closure. Satan was aware that his scheme had worked. He planted the seed of doubt in Eve’s confused mind against God. Satan presented God’s warning of death as a lie. Not only had the serpent eaten the fruit and was alive, but the serpent also appeared to be like God because he could speak and conduct an intelligent conversation just like she and Adam.

When the serpent said, “you will be like God,” Eve truly believed that God had withheld the best from her and Adam. Her desire to be like God created a sense of entitlement as she willingly disobeyed, picked the fruit, and ate it.

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6)

Once Eve sinned, Satan used her to boldly approach Adam. And the fall of our earthly Mother and Father was complete. In reading the story of our parents, our hearts should feel a deep sense of grief. Not only their loss of immortality, their home—the Garden of Eden, and cessation of face-to-face communion with Jesus Christ but their disobedience caused our Lord and Savior to suffer an excruciating death to provide redemption for humanity’s sins.

Like Eve, many Christians are living in these last days in confusion. Satan has presented deceptive strategies and beliefs which they have readily accepted. Their hearts are filled with the seeds of doubt and disbelief in the promises of God. Former believers have accepted the worldview of prosperity. Jeremiah 29:11 has been twisted into a message of entitlement for wealth. Instead of using God-given resources to help those in need, many pursue earthly treasures to fulfill their heart’s desires.

Satan knows his time is short, therefore, he has increased his methods of deception. Just as he used Eve to give the fruit to her husband, Satan is using half-hearted Laodiceans to deceive many Christians who are alone and lonely. With an appearance of godliness, these men and women approach the steadfast disciples of Christ with false whispers of love and pull them into unequally yoked relationships and marriages. But their lifestyle reveals that they do not love God with all of their hearts nor are they preparing for eternal life.

Yes, matters of the heart also affect those who truly love God. Even so, we must stay close to Jesus by praying daily for the anointing of the Holy Spirit or our emotions will serve as a gateway for deception. Avoid forming alliances with those whose interests are worldly. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

Praise God! We know how the story ends! God has faithful and obedient remnant people standing on the truth of His Word. We are fully aware of our daily involvement in spiritual warfare. Yet, we still believe that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”(Romans 6:23). And we believe in God’s warning “you will surely die” for unforgiven sins.

With grateful hearts, the righteous love Jesus for His unequaled love and sacrifice for humanity. We have the blessed hope that one day soon, we will see our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ coming again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to give us the reward of eternal life.

Through many sacrificial offerings of a spotless lamb, Adam and Eve received forgiveness for their sins. Yet, because of the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, one day the faithful will meet and talk with our earthly parents, Adam and Eve in heaven. Hallelujah! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

Prayer: God, we pray for those who are living as Laodiceans that they awaken from their spiritual slumber to fully commit their hearts to You. And Lord, we ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our lives as we prepare every day for Jesus’ soon coming. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus, Amen.

The Hands of Jesus

Devotional—The Struggle of Sanctification—The Hands of Jesus

There are two thought processes when one hears or reads about the hands of Jesus. Either we think of our Savior’s nail-scarred hands on the cross or His righteous hands that hold us up, imparting strength to the believer.

Both concepts accurately describe our Savior’s hands. The scars represent Jesus’ love for humanity. Because of His sacrificial offering, we are recipients of the Plan of Redemption. In giving His life, everyone has the opportunity to be transformed into the righteousness of Christ. And there is more to the story, we will receive the reward of eternal life if we choose to faithfully and obediently serve Him. Read John 14:1-3.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Although we should have courage because the righteous are held in Jesus’ hands, many feel insecure and alone. The young man posted, “I have accepted Jesus as my Savior, but I feel lost.”

Hardships reveal our level of commitment to Christ. We are often surprised by our responses of weakness and disbelief to life’s harsh challenges. And many accuse God of forsaking them. Yet, we failed to do our part in strengthening our relationship with Christ. Accepting accountability for our failure to hold onto Jesus’ hands requires a heartfelt prayer of repentance. Giving 100% of our hearts through faithful obedience and daily worship is the only way to stay connected to the Source–Jesus Christ.

“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9, first part)

Many have accepted Christ and desire to serve Him, but do not know the Scriptures. Daily Bible study, prayer, and asking for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are the requisites for building and sustaining our relationship with Jesus. It is a personal decision to build your foundation on the Rock, of Jesus Christ.

Delete time-consuming activities and replace them with diligent searching for the treasures contained in the Scriptures. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). When needed, the Holy Spirit will reveal the promises that are hidden in our hearts to give us comfort.

Memorizing God’s promises increases our faith. Faith is thinking beyond the impossible and admitting that only God can resolve our challenges. Trust is faith in action—never losing hope although the answer remains unseen. Our hope does not waver. Every day we rely on Jesus to give us the supernatural power to keep moving forward.

When our focus is on Jesus, and we are determined to have relentless faith and trust in Him, we can walk through life with courage. Peace replaces anxiety and worry, and we experience the joy of the Lord, even in times of sorrow.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Holding on to the hands of Jesus takes a concerted spiritual effort. Imagine that you are walking on the troubled sea, feeling as if you will drown, and you cry out, “Lord, save me!” and Jesus extends His hands. Fervent petitions of prayer keep us connected to Jesus. With tearful prayers of faith, we still proclaim Jesus is Lord, and we thank Him for His divine intervention.

We can remain steadfast! Why? Because, in the depths of our souls, we know without a doubt that Jesus’ hands will never let us go. Yes, it is those nail-scarred hands that we hold onto when going through turbulent times.

Whether we are delivered from our tribulations or Jesus gives us the strength to endure the ongoing trials of life, our courage must remain steadfast. Remember the Apostle Paul prayed three times for Jesus to remove the thorn in his flesh–his poor eyesight. Yet, Jesus’ answer of “My strength is made perfect in your weakness” indicated that even if His answer is no, He always provides spiritual strength in our hardships.

Yes, we can remain faithful even when we lack understanding. Our unwavering confidence is built on the solid Rock–Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus’ nail-scarred hands will always hold us and provide the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical strength to keep moving forward. We have the reassurance that Jesus will never let go of us!

Prayer: God, we thank You for giving Your Son, Jesus for our redemption. Jesus, we thank You for your loving heart and hands that hold us up whether in the storms or in peaceful times. We give You the honor, glory, and praise for Your loving-kindness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.