Jesus Calling: January 8

Softly I announce My Presence. Shimmering hues of radiance tap gently at your consciousness, seeking entrance. Though I have all Power in heaven and on earth, I am infinitely tender with you. The weaker you are, the more gently I approach you. Let your weakness be a door to My presence. Whenever you feel inadequate, remember that I am your ever-present Help.
     Hope in Me, and you will be protected from depression and self-pity. Hope is like a golden cord connecting you to heaven. The more you cling to this cord, the more I bear the weight of your burdens; thus, you are lightened. Heaviness is not of My kingdom. Cling to hope, and My rays of Light will reach you through the darkness.

Psalm 46:1
English Standard Version
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

Romans 12:12
English Standard Version
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 15:13
English Standard Version
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

My Prayer
Lord, you are in my life. You are with me. Every day I need you. Every moment. Lord, You are over all this earth. You created it. You ordained righteousness, my highest goal. And you are personal. Again,  you are with me. Thank you for living alongside me. Thank you for living in me.

Lord, yesterday was a day of trial and being unsettled about that car purchase. Lord, I prayed for your peace and never got it. There were signs everywhere that I shouldn't get it, and yet I pressed on, not wanting to upset the buyer. Thank  you for my wife and her common sense. O how I needed her. I had prayed that she would be there and would speak. She has good sense. And she spoke when I couldn't. I saw once again Lord how you made her to complement me. You made her for me. She is my Eve. Thank you Lord. Thank you for Your presence through my wife. I sat there in the mechanics window and thought of You and Your presence, realizing I was weak and needed Your guidance. Thank You for showing me Your presence in my weakness.

Father, I pray for Hope. Hope tells me that my tomorrow with You will always be better. My hope of heaven and being in Your presence, intimately connected with You relieves me of the discomfort of this present life. Remind me of this hope. And center me on this future glory. Bruce and I talked yesterday about how we cling to our problems. When we are struck with an illness or medical problem, it begins to take over our life. And all we want is to be free from it. And yet Lord, it should move us to a greater desire for You and a greater hope to be in You. And a greater reminder that in saving me, my future hope is secure. Nothing can hurt me. So, as future hurts come my way and as I age, and health issues become larger, may my Hope remain in You and not simply focused on being freed from current burdens. As a people of God, help us to be focused on this.

Lord, you are my refuge. You are my strength. You are my help in trouble. Teach me patience in tribulation versus a quick exit to the tribulation. Through it may I rejoice in hope and be in constant prayer. Lord, give me peace and joy in believing, so that my hope abounds.

Lord, I pray for the spiritual leaders of our church, all of them. Guide them in their teaching and passing on of the Word. I pray for effective teaching that Your word would be received well. I pray they would each be bold, would look to be bold both in the church and outside of it. Raise each of them up to be laborers for You. Give them humility and help them to be respectful and gentle. Help them to listen and confide in others, to know when there message needs to be altered.

Lord, I pray for my pastors. You have gifted each of these individuals in different areas of the church. In each of their disciplines, may the message of Your Hope and Your Gospel and Presence be clear. Help them to be bold in their witness. Increase their dependence on You. As they have moments of teaching others, may their teaching be accurate and authentic. Help them to be clear and accurate, bold and humble, gentle and respectful. Guide the worship ministries, the youth ministries, missions and evangelism, military, small group, discipleship. Raise up people that want to be more than just buckets, but be hoses that want to carry Your message.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author. 

Ephesians 4:1-6

Erik Christensen Message on January 6, 2013

Ephesians 1-3 = Our Identity in Christ
Ephesians 4-6 = Our Walk in Christ

We need to remember that our identity precedes our walk. We do not picture Christ walking alongside us, but rather He lives in us. It's not a cane, but a stretcher. It also isn't a checklist of do's or don't's.

Paul encourages us to walk worthy of our calling.

• In Love for one another.
• In Peace preserving the Unity of the Spirit
• In Hope of our calling.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

(Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV)

• I am not a prisoner of circumstances, but a "prisoner for the Lord." 
• "urge you" or implore you to come alongside You. Same words as are used for the work of the Holy Spirit. 
• We walk in a manner worth of the calling, remembering the greatness of our salvation. 

Our Calling is there because of the blood of Christ. We have been purchased by the blood of Christ

for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

(1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV)

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

(Acts 20:28 ESV)

What does a worthy walk look like?
1. In Love (verse 2)

• Humility (a low mind)
• Gentleness (meekness, not weakness)
• Strength under control
• Like breaking in a horse
• Do we explode or not even care - this gentlness resides in the middle
• Patience (long-suffering with people)
• Tolerance (to hold back; to bear with one another in love)

All of this is with Agape love. Agape love is not a feeling, but a decision. And these are all relational issues that we do based on a decision, and not on a feeling.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
(Colossians 3:12-13 ESV)

2. In Peace (verse 3)

• Constant awareness to guard the unity we have in the Spirit
• Diligence - watching over something carefully
• Bond of Peace - like a bone ligament that is connected (ACL break example; very painful surgery; not good to be a part)

3. In Hope (verse 4)

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

(Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV) -- One Body

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

(Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV) -- One Spirit

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

(Ephesians 1:18 ESV) -- One Hope

• One assurance - only one way that is assured of God in Christ
• One Lord (over all)
• One Faith (conviction or firm persuasion) - Hebrews 11;1
• One Baptism (the identification with Christ; it is a picture or exterior of what God has done on the inside)
• One God and Father

Jesus Calling: January 7

It is impossible to praise or thank me too much. As it is written, I inhabit the praises of My people. Sometimes your adoration is a spontaneous overflow of Joy, in response to radiant beauty or rich blessings. At other times your praise is more disciplined and measured--an act of your will. I dwell equally in both types of praise. Thankfulness, also, is a royal road to draw near Me. A thankful heart has plenty of room for Me.
     When you thank Me for the many pleasures I provide, you affirm that I am God, from whom all blessings flow. When adversity strikes and you thank Me anyway, your trust in My sovereignty is a showpiece in invisible realms. Fill up the spare moments of your life with praise and thanksgiving. This joyous discipline will help you live in the intimacy of My Presence.

Psalm 22:3
King James Version
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Psalm 146:1-2
English Standard Version

Praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD, O my soul!

I will praise the LORD as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

I Thessalonians 5:18
English Standard Version
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

My Prayer - 1/7/13
Lord, I do praise You. I do thank You for life, for blessing me with salvation. I don't deserve it and never will. I am a wicked man that is often so far from Your ways. There is sin which creeps up in me day by day. I am not gentle. The pastor spoke about this in church yesterday and it was really something that stood out to me as to how I'm not gentle. Lord, make me gentle with my family and with those that I care about the most. I want to learn Your holiness in my life. I do praise You. I thank You for the wonderful praise songs that you have given to us. Thank you for the new songs that have been written. The new ways of taking to music the same ideas that are so true about you. You are a love we don't deserve, we can't comprehend, and yet we have.

Lord, help me not to be a judge or jury of others. Lord, you know me and I tend to be critical of other people and how I think they are expressing or not expressing You. Lord, keep me focused on myself and not on others. If there are things I see in others, may this prompt me to pray for them and not to be critical of them.

You deserve praise at all times. Lord, it is a good thing we have church and scheduled time to praise You because sometimes I don't feel like it or rush to it. And yet other times it comes easy.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author. 

Jesus Calling: January 6

I am able to do far beyond all that you ask or imagine. Come to Me with positive expectations, knowing that there is no limit to what I can accomplish. Ask My Spirit to control your mind, so that you can think great thoughts of Me. Do not be discouraged by the fact that many of your prayers are yet unanswered. Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, to trust Me in the dark. The more extreme your circumstances, the more likely you are to see My Power and Glory at work in the situation. Instead of letting difficulties draw you into worrying, try to view them as setting the scene for My glorious intervention. Keep your eyes and your mind wide open to all that I am doing in your life.

Ephesians 3:20-21
English Standard Version
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


Romans 8:6
English Standard Version
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

³⁰ Isaiah 40:30-31
New King James Version 
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.


Revelation 5:13
English Standard Version
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

My Prayer (1/6/13)
Lord, here I am; still wanting to depend on you; still wanting to walk in Your presence; still desiring to have peace and trust in You for everything. And You are still there reminding me that you can do far beyond all that I could ask or imagine. Once again, I'm working to surrender to You this car situation. It has come down whether to agreeing to buy it and yet my wife woke up in the middle of the night (1) smelling fireplace smoke coming out of the vent and (2) also wondering why the car didn't go up a very small hill very well. So, I'm thinking about just asking him to have my mechanic check it out. I just have to be careful.

Lord, whatever you want to do with this defending your faith class at church, I'm good. If it is to have a couple of people, no people, or a big crowd, I'm good. My time has lots to fill it and I'm good at whatever you provide. I'd love to see people desiring to be laborers of your harvest. And I continue to pray you would raise up individuals and burden them with a desire to preach Your word and be more fired up than me. I am anxious to learn through this course as well. And yet, even I, am nervous about the material and what it asks of me.

Lord, I ask Your Spirit to control my mind. I ask that my thoughts would be held captive to only thinking of things that honor you. Lord, I lift up my friend K and pray that you would discipline him. Discipline my oldest son. Train them both to do things each day that need to be done. And help them to make wise decisions. And to have peace each day as they lay their head down to rest on their pillow.

Lord, I lift up the leaders of my church and their staff. I pray for each one and any other elders you have of this body. Lord, for each one, I pray they are earnestly desiring and seeking to know You more. I pray they would surrender themselves to You daily and spend time praying and reading Your word. Deepen them and challenge them to be ambassadors for Your name. Move them to be laborers for the harvest. I pray for their marriages, that they would honor You, And I pray that they would be an encouragement to people in their life, in and outside of the Body. Draw them closer to You and give them peace and contentment. Help them to trust You each day and maintain joy and gratitude. Lord, give them sound wisdom. And train the body and us in what elders are and meant to be in the Body. And help the Body of Christ to submit to their leadership 100%. Lord, I pray that agreement to their decisions is not the catalyst that moves people to submission, but Lord, You would teach the body that in surrendering to them we are surrendering to You, Lord.

I pray for the deacon leaders, guide them in their service and strengthen them daily as they continue to work outside the home. Give them quality time with You and with their obligations and guidance as they look to you for direction on the work of deacons in our body.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young and you can find the book at many online and local stores.

Jesus Calling: January 5

You can achieve the victorious life through living in deep dependence on Me. People usually associate victory with success: not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes. But those who are successful in their own strength tend to go their own way, forgetting about Me. It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness that you learn to rely on Me.
      True dependence is not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do. It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant My desires within you. I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach. You know that in yourself you cannot achieve such a goal. Thus begins your journey of profound reliance on Me. It is a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on Me as much as you need. This is not a path of continual success but of multiple failures. However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt, nourished by increased reliance on Me. Enjoy the blessedness of a victorious life, through deepening your dependence on Me.

Psalm 34:17-18
English Standard Version

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:7
New King James Version
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

My Prayer (1/5/13)
Wow God. So, the secret to victorious living is not to try my hardest, but to relinquish all to you. Lord, how opposite to that have I trained myself to be in life. My dependence is not deep. Train me Lord to depend on You. Lord, in this time, when we are struggling to pay bills and have enough, in this adverse circumstance we find ourselves in, that in some ways we have chosen, change us. Help us to increase our dependence on You.

Lord, show me how to depend on Your strength. Help me to redefine success in life. So, that I'm walking in Victory versus aiming towards personal success.

Lord, I want your desires to be my desires. I want to be trained by You. Lord, I pray that you would start me going and I would follow, versus me deciding what I want and then asking You to bless it.

I admit that this reliance and trust and dependence on You is something that I don't completely comprehend. I can't see it. I don't know what it looks like. I want to see steps to this.

For instance, this car buying decision. I stare out at our finances and see we are already committed with our future money and to buy this car we need more future money. Can we survive without a car? Do I need to consider the bus or my bike? Lord, 3 months ago we started praying for a 3rd car and now we need a second car. I want to rely on You Lord.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young and you can find the book at many online and local stores.

Jesus Calling: January 4

I want you to learn a new habit, try saying, "I trust You, Jesus" in response to whatever happens to you. If there is time, think about who I AM in all My Power and Glory; ponder also the depth and breadth of My love for you.
     This simple practice will help you see Me in every situation, acknowledging My sovereign control over the universe. When you view events from this perspective--through the Light of my universal Presence--fear loses its grip on you. Adverse circumstances become growth opportunities when you affirm your trust in Me no matter what. You receive blessings gratefully, realizing they flow directly from My hand of grace. Your continual assertion of trusting Me will strengthen our relationship and keep you close to Me.

Psalm 63:2
English Standard Version 
 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.

Isaiah 40:10-11
English Standard Version

Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.

Psalm 139:7-10
English Standard Version
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.

My Prayer - Jan 4, 2013
Lord, it's no secret that right now, in our household, there is a weight on us, as we try to find a car. So, learning to Trust You, like all things in life, "whatever happens" remains key. Lord, we desire to make wise decisions. I'm thankful for friends at work that are so helpful in giving me rides to work. Please direct our paths as we trust in You. It was great to hear my son Tyson remind us all last night that we need to pray for this process.

You Lord have all Power and all Glory. You come with might. Your arm rules for You. You take care of your flock and gather your children in your arms. You carry us and gently lead us. There is no place to go from You. Your presence is with me always. You are there, everywhere. You have power over all that we see and can't see. Your glory is magnificent. You are here with us. And your love for me and my family, all of us, is never ending. Lord, I can't fathom that Love. I know you care. Your love, Your power, Your glory are more ways we can see to trust in You.

Lord, You rule over all the affairs of my life. You have supreme authority. I can't flee from your presence. Lord, I trust that You are sovereign, though I admit, I don't really understand it. Lord, help me to remove this fear of my life in the unknown and realize that I can trust You for this unknown. I'm weak. I only want good circumstances to occur in my life. I only want things to go smoothly. Lord, help me to rely on You and trust in You through the adverse circumstances of life, the circumstances that I don't welcome. I can still trust You in those. In riches and in poverty, I can still trust You. The bottom line is I need to Trust in You no matter the outcomes; no matter how I define them.

You are over all.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. Please purchase the book and support the author. 

Jesus Calling: January 3

Refresh yourself in the Peace of My Presence. Peace can be your portion at all times and in all circumstances. Learn to hide in the secret of My presence, even as you carry out your duties in the world. I am both with you and within you. I go before you to open up the way, and I also walk alongside you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am.
      Because I am your constant Companion, there should be a lightness to your step that is observable to others. Do not be weighed down with problems and unresolved issues, for I am your burden-bearer. In the world you have trials and distress, but don't let them get you down. I have conquered the world and deprived it of power to harm you. In Me you may have confident Peace.

Psalm 31:19-20
New American Standard 
How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men! You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.

John 16:33
Amplified
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

My Prayer
Lord, this is what I'm searching for in my life right now--to be refreshed. And it's in your presence where that refreshment is truly found. There is peace simply in You. Yet, this is not often my way, but instead I often think peace is found in having a better plan (getting organized or having my to do list filled out). There is nothing wrong with making these plans and getting organized, but they are not the means to me having peace. Peace is found resting in Your presence, taking refuge in You, abiding in You, being with You.

Lord, as I'm busy with so many tasks and responsibilities and roles each day, don't let me think for a moment that I can take care of myself and find peace apart from You. My refuge is found hiding in the secret place of Your presence. My confidence is in You Lord. Shift my focus; shift my ways. Teach me and train me correctly. I do not want to live in deception.

Lord, why do I think that you aren't engaged in my daily tasks? Why do I continually think that these tasks and duties are to be solved by my methods. You are with me. You walk alongside me. Help me to not be defined by my feelings, but instead defined by Your words.

Lord, you are there with me, so what should I fear? Nothing. You are my constant companion. You are there. Not just on the shelf for me to dial into when it is convenient. I can be of good cheer. Lord, I need help in this. I get so down on life. Last night, welling up in me, was this dissatisfaction. I got short with with my two oldest children. I got critical with how they were planning their world, thinking that those plans would not have the right outcome. There is no problem with helping them, but I need to help them in the right way. "But be of good cheer!" Take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted. Lord, I get tired of me and the way I react to things in life. Lord, I hate my impatience. And yet this should remind me how much more I need You for I am a sinner. My kids come home and come to me and I will up with disappointment and dissatisfaction. I let circumstances reign instead of the Peace of Your Presence. Lord, trials will come. But, a trial is not my kids wanting to be with me. When my oldest spoke of his leader from church and getting help from him, I hurt for a moment. I am selfish. I don't just want my kids best, but I want to be the reason they are getting the best. I wanted my son and I to work on things together, not him working with anyone else. Oh Lord, I want to be with my kids. And yet I have trained myself to be this tyrant, this judgmental person, with expectations. I feel disconnected from them. I want to be near them. When they were kids, it seemed easier, and yet, all too often, even at that time, I didn't take advantage of those moments. Now they are gone. Re-train me. 

Lord, I want to learn this. I want to learn this peace. Lord, I want to learn that you have overcome the world and so I can be of good cheer. Change my mood Lord. Sure, life is full of trails and frustrations and distresses; they never end. One ends. One gets completed and something new springs up. They don't end. They continue. That is the way it is. But, I can still be of good cheer. Re-train me. I want to learn how to be of good cheer. Lord, I don't want to be weighed down with all these problems. Right now, there is a weight. I'm letting these things take me down. I have many unresolved issues. Show me how to work through them and yet, at the same time, have Your peace; at the same time, be in Your presence; at the same time, be of good cheer. You Lord are my burden-bearer.

Don't let me get down by all these roles and responsibilities and unknowns and tasks and duties. It doesn't mean I am to avoid them. Lord, I need to address them head on. But, through that, help me to remain in Your presence, to be of good cheer, to notice You right beside me, to trust that You have conquered these problems and nothing can harm me. 

Lord, my friend is carrying a weight around today. Lord, help him to give it to You. Show him that he doesn't need those secret sins, but he can find peace and comfort and be of good cheer in You and away from those sins. Show him how you have conquered those things.

As my son begins his time of talking to a counselor today, help him to find comfort in this. Provide a good discussion and help him to see the value of yourself in him. Give him peace. 

Lord, give us wisdom in these car purchases and borrowing money. Lord, part of me wants to just borrow a lot of money so we have it. And yet Lord, you don't want us to be dependent on others and pay interest. Lord, daily I need to learn how to spend money. And daily I need to surrender this to You. 

Lord, if I'm to do this time with You, I need to get to bed sooner. Which means I need to stop thinking that rest is found in watching TV.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. Please purchase the book and support the author.