This Can Be Habit Forming

“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” – Daniel 6:10.

At some point in our life, we long for a mentor: somebody who can widely mold and shape our thoughts and habits, and give us the insight we need to help us find our way through life. You may not have a mentor now but there are plenty of them in the Bible. Daniel is a great example of a mentor. His story is truly remarkable because he had an excellent spirit. “Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” (Daniel 6:3 ESV)

But he also had courage. Daniel’s courage was not summoned in a moment of need: his courage was developed through a lifetime of small yet brave decisions. One of those decisions was choosing to pray when self-preservation would prompt a different action.

Daniel’s habits of prayer were known to the people around him since he practiced the habit of prayer in the open. There was no question of where Daniel’s allegiance centered. The king himself commented about the God whom Daniel continually served. “Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” (Daniel 6:16 ESV)

Spiritual habits can also be helpful disciplines—powerful practices to reorient our hearts to God in the midst of life’s chaos. Regular routines are helpful for keeping us centered on God. We often need a break from busyness, and quiet time with God helps us reconnect with Him as the source of our strength and encouragement.

Based on his spiritual foundation, Daniel was able to take a stand and maintain a steady commitment to the Lord.  Daniel was a young man when he said in Daniel 1:8, “But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king.” Other versions say, ” He made up his mind,” (NASB) “he resolved” (ESV), and” he purposed. “(KJV)

The purpose of engaging in and putting spiritual habits into practice is to become more like Jesus, to become holier, or even to become healthier. Those are all results, outcomes, and byproducts of spiritual habits. But the purpose for them, the reason we devote ourselves to these practices and develop these habits is much greater.

The great end to the means is knowing Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior more and more each day and enjoying Him. It’s finding ourselves drawn deeper into the One in which we find our identity, belonging, and purpose. The true purpose, final joy, and end goal of each habit or discipline are so perfectly stated by the apostle Paul in Philippians 3:8 (NIV): “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is a habit you would like to break? What can you do to start breaking that habit this week?
  2. What are some spiritual habits you would like to start?

It’s All About A Relationship

“Christianity is not a religion or a philosophy, but a relationship and a lifestyle. The core of that lifestyle is thinking of others, as Jesus did, instead of ourselves.” —  Rick Warren.

You could make a strong case that human beings are defined by their relationships more than anything else. Relationships tell us who we are, whose we are and what is expected of us. Our relationships define where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. The company we keep is one of the most telling characteristics of who we truly are. And that includes our relationship with God.

Too often we try to define our relationship with God when in reality our relationship needs to be defined on His terms. Right now, God is actively seeking a relationship with you that is life-changing. He wants you to identify with His will and work in this world, but He wants you first to identify with Him.  He invites you to be forgiven and enjoy His life in you.  He wants to be your Father and desires that you be His child.

Relationships with people are dynamic, in that they often change with time and can grow deeper. So it is also with your relationship with Jesus. Just as God’s mercies are new every morning, your relationship with Jesus can also be new and alive every morning. The relationship becomes deeper as your love for Him increases, and as your own will decreases.

Today people want a relationship without putting in the work to make the relationship strong. In the same way, we want the benefits of a relationship with God without spending time with God. We want access to the power of God without the work and time needed to build an intimate relationship with God. A real relationship with God means getting to know God and we don’t get to know God in a day or over a weekend.

 A true relationship with God will not happen automatically. We must want it, really want it. If you want an intimate relationship with God, He must become a priority. It must be something that you are motivated to do. It will not come from a sense of obligation.

There will be times in our lives when we have a real hunger and desperation for God. There will be times when we just can’t get enough of Him. There will be times when we feel His presence in tangible ways. At times like these God will feel close and there will be the intimacy we seek. But real intimacy means we do those things even during times of trial or when bad things just keep popping up and it is a labor of love to pray, to spend time in the word, and to serve. The deepest growth in intimacy in our relationship with God comes when we worship and serve God regardless of negative circumstances.

Augustine said, “To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; To seek Him, the greatest adventure; To find Him, the greatest human achievement.”

Discussion Questions:

  1. What keeps you from having a more intimate relationship with God?
  2. What role does fear play in developing an intimate relationship with God?
  3. How can we improve our relationship with God?

Knowing God In A New Way In 2023

“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” —  2 Peter 3:18

How does getting to know God better in 2023 sound? Imagine being closer to the Creator of the universe—the one that created you.

Knowing God doesn’t mean knowing about God. It doesn’t mean accumulating a fact book in your head. To know God means I don’t just know about Him, I know Him. I’ve seen Him work in my life. I’ve built my life upon His promises, and I’ve seen time after time He is faithful to them. I’ve noticed that He never fails.

Too often we view truly knowing God as a chasm seldom crossed. We assume that “encountering or really knowing God” is reserved for those with seminary degrees. Knowing God is more than an acquisition of knowledge or information. Nor is it just a fact-finding mission.  Scripture teaches that everyone can have a true and personal knowledge of God. Knowing God is not an optional part of the Christian life; it is the Christian life.

In 2023, we want to go a little deeper into knowing God. When you want to deepen your relationship with God, you need to move beyond head knowledge to know Him well enough to seek personal encounters with Him. Daniel 11:32 (TLB) tells us, “…But the people who know their God shall be strong and do great things.”  

 John Piper said this about the subject: “But to enjoy Him, we must know him. Reasoning, thinking, knowing God is the necessary means, and delighting in, being satisfied in, enjoying and treasuring God is the ultimate end of the human soul.” J.I. Packer wrote a book entitled Knowing God. He said, “It [knowing God] is the most practical project anyone can engage in. Knowing about God is crucially important for living our lives.”

The ultimate goal of every Christian is to get to know God. Many verses in the Bible make this very clear. “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” (John 17:3) “And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.” (1 John 5:20.)

Knowing God means encountering Him. Knowing God means communing with Him. It is getting to know Him as a loving Father. Knowing God means there is a relationship. Knowing God is the byproduct of regular, consistent time spent with Him, in His word, and in prayer. Knowing Him is when we are no longer content with learning about Him but want to really know Him.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does it mean to you to “know” God?   
  2. What can we do in the short-term to better know God? 

Not Without You

“The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.  How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” – Exodus 33:14-16,

The background here in Exodus 33 is so important. Moses, the chosen leader of the Israelite people, was on Mount Sinai receiving the law when God told him it was time to go back down the mountain. Because the Israelites grew tired of waiting on him to return, they quickly turned away from God and what He had commanded them. Upon descending the mountain, Moses discovered that they had made themselves a golden calf to worship.

Although God was displeased, He was still giving them the Promised Land, but He would not be going with them. That is when Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.” Basically, we won’t go without you. God answers his prayer and says, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”  (Exodus 33:17) Moses is a terrific role model here.  He recognizes the importance of having God with him and acts accordingly.  He knows the consequences and he is adamant about not going anywhere without God.

Consider this hypothetical question: If God said “I am prepared to give you everything your heart desires, make all your dreams come true. I will give you a great job, a successful spouse, and smart respectful children. You will have no more health problems or stress. But there is this one caveat: you get those things but you don’t get me” Would you take that deal? Would we be bothered if went into the personal promised land without God? Or is God’s presence in our life so important that like Moses we would say, “If you’re not with me, I’m not moving? Not without you.”

God didn’t take the Israelites out of Egypt so they could get to the promised land  He took them out of Egypt so they could know Him.  God didn’t rescue you and lead you to Christ so you could be more blessed, and happy, and see more positive results.  He rescued you so you could know Him.

So how do we encounter the presence of God? How do we experience His nearness? The more you draw near to God, the more you will experience Him in your life. The more you pray, the more you realize He hears you. The more you read your Bible, the more you realize how true and unchanging He is. The more you choose to trust Him, the more you will miraculously witness His faithfulness.

In 2023, don’t move without Him.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do we ensure we don’t go without God in our daily lives this week?  
  2. What can we do this week to better feel God’s presence? 

Your Identity Matters

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” Psalm 139:1.

Our culture is very interested in the journey of discovering individual identity. Personality tests, assessments, and quizzes are available everywhere you look. It seems like everyone is searching for something to tell them who they are, where they belong, and how they relate to the world. You can look for your identity anywhere, but followers of Jesus are called to find their identity in Him.

We can go back to the very beginning of creation to see our worth and identity when God created us “in His own image.”  We are unique to Him, His created “masterpiece.” Genesis 1:27 tells us, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Ephesians 2:10 adds, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

So what does God see when He looks at us? Jesus has plenty to tell you about your identity.  He wants you to know you can always turn to Him to lean on. You can depend on His love and grace regardless of what you look like, say or do. He is so completely dependable that there is no situation He can’t walk you through.  He always is available to listen to your thoughts, dreams, needs, and struggles.  Jesus wants to give you direction and guidance in all aspects of your life. You may retreat from Him at times, but your identity in Him remains.

When you see yourself as Christ sees you, others may begin to see you that way too. If you are steady and secure in your identity in Him, your actions, speech, and life will express God’s love. You may find more opportunities to share the gospel, and Christ will be all the more glorified. Remember who your Father says you are because it’s in Him where your true identity can be found.

Moses was a Hebrew castaway adopted and brought up in an Egyptian world.  He didn’t “fit in” with the surrounding culture.  While his people were enslaved; he lived as royalty. He made a mistake when he murdered an Egyptian and ended up in the wilderness.  When God comes to Moses and gives him a job to do, Moses had another identity crisis. He felt unworthy and incapable. “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11) In response to Moses’ statement of unworthiness, God said, “I will be with you…” (Exodus 3:12). And the rest of Moses life was proof of what can happen when God is with you.

Our single most valuable –yet least understood– treasure here on earth is our identity in Christ. Until it becomes prominent in our thinking, we remain stuck in the impossible struggle to make do what is right as the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans: “The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin….for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate…” (Romans 7:14-16)

Discussion Questions:

  1. The only way we grow in our identity in Christ is by seeking the Lord because He is the one who restores and transforms us. Agree or disagree and why?
  2. Our fingerprints identify us as unique individuals with a specific identity. According to Ephesians 1:4, what truth should be fully realized in order to find identity in Christ?

Start With “Who” Goals Not “Do” Goals

“But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.” – Isaiah 32:8 (NIV).

It can be very difficult to figure out what you want to do in life and what your purpose is. We were all put on this earth for a reason and to make a difference. We often have a hard time finding our purpose, but God has one for each and every one of us. We tend to think that our purpose is to do things, and in some cases, it is, but not at the expense of becoming who God wants us to be.

When people accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, our first instinct is to teach them what to do and why they should do it: we teach them to read and study the Bible, attend church, become part of a small group, give, and so on.  Those things are very important but we can’t miss the importance of becoming more like Christ. Those are the do’s and don’ts. God has given us the rulebook for living together on this planet. But those are still not His ultimate expectations for us. So, what does God expect of us? God expects us to accept His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Savior. He expects us to give our lives to Him, and in so doing, develop the character of Christ. God wants us to become more like Christ.

When we give our hearts to Jesus Christ, the work within us has begun. Rick Warren said, “Much confusion in the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God is far more interested in building your character than he is anything else. God is far more interested in who you are than in what you do. We are human beings, not human doings.”

So how do we become the person God wants us to be? The most valuable example that the Bible offers us is our Lord Jesus Christ. Probably you tell others that Jesus is your Savior. Perhaps you think of Him constantly as your Lord. Did you ever play “follow the leader”? One person does a series of actions—jumping, bending, walking— and the others have to do their best to copy the leader’s movements. If you cannot copy him or her, or are the slowest to do so, then you lose. That game is built on imitation.

The idea of imitation is throughout the Bible. Paul writes, “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1). in Philippians 2:5. 8 Paul advises “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: . . .he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

We are on a journey that has not yet reached its end. God has started work on us but the work is ongoing. We are a work in progress not work completed. The reality is that we haven’t arrived at complete maturity. We still stumble and fall. We let ourselves and others and our God down. The goal is to be a little more like Jesus each day. The good news is that one day the journey will end. The One who launched us on the journey and who accompanies us on the journey will take us across the finishing line.

One day, we will be the people God made us to be, and we will be those people forever. No more work in progress, just work well and truly done.

Discusion Questions:

  1. Have you ever asked yourself, “how on earth are we humans supposed to follow Christ, the Son of God?” What was your response?
  2. What can we do on a practical level to be more like Christ this week?

When In Doubt

“Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is can’t believe. Unbelief is won’t believe. Doubt is honesty. Unbelief is obstinacy. Doubt is looking for light. Unbelief is content with darkness.” – Henry Drummond.

Experiencing spiritual doubt can be a lonely experience, but according to a new study from Barna, it’s more common than you think. Most Christians have at some point experienced a time of spiritual doubt when they questioned what they believed about their religion or God. We desperately want answers to our questions, but we are afraid to ask. God actually wants us to come to Him with our doubts and questions.

Consider the people listed in Hebrews 11 specifically for their faith. We are told that by faith Noah built an ark, Abraham traveled to a distant land, Sarah had a son in old age, Moses left a life of royalty to lead God’s people to freedom, and Samson defeated the Philistines. Many of the people who are praised for their faith also had moments of doubt recorded in Scripture. Jesus wouldn’t have had a single disciple if doubt disqualified anyone from following Him. In fact, If we removed from the Bible every person who doubted God, it would be a very short book.

Jesus was no stranger to doubt. And even after His resurrection, Jesus had doubters amongst His followers. Matthew’s Gospel records how even after seeing Jesus resurrected from the dead, some of His first followers doubted while others worshipped: “When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!” (Matthew 28:17). Then there was Thomas. Jesus appears and convinces the others He is alive. Does Thomas believe their story? No. He had his doubts.

We should not be embarrassed by our doubts. We should embrace it as a regular part of the faith life and journey. Timothy Keller said, “Honest doubts, then, are open to belief. If you are really asking for information and good arguments, you might get some.” Doubt is an invitation to journey into a deeper understanding as we “ask, seek, and knock.”

 The Bible shows us that not only is it okay to cry out to God with our questions but that God longs for us to do so. While we may want to seek other people and sources to answer the questions that plague us, God wants us to seek Him first. God knows that even in a place of doubt and disbelief if we bring our questions to Him, He can do for us what He did for many other heroes of the faith.

Whenever they come and whatever form they take, we must each deal honestly with our doubts. To ignore them is to court spiritual disaster. But facing them can lead ultimately to a deeper faith. A faith that’s challenged by adversity or tough questions . . . is often a stronger faith in the end.

Discussion questions:

  1. Why do you think it’s difficult for some to admit they have spiritual doubts? What prevents you from speaking out about your doubts? What makes you feel safe and unafraid to honestly open up with others about your spiritual questions?
  2. How would it change things if you saw your doubts as opportunities to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ, and not a reason for alarm? 

Investigate Jesus in 2023

“The story of Israel as recorded [in the Bible] is filled not with abstract ideas or scientific discoveries but with events of profound and dramatic import, with ‘mighty acts of God’ and thundering words of the prophets.” – Roland Stromberg, A History of Western Civilization.

Most of us grow up accepting the things we are taught as being true. In school, we learned that there are seven continents and that the universe around us is made up of tiny particles called atoms, even though we had no way of verifying that fact unless we have an electron microscope in our house and know how to use it.

If we had the good fortune to grow up in a Christian home then we learned the stories of Abraham, Daniel, John The Baptist, Jesus, and others. We accepted those stories as historical narratives. In addition, we were taught that there is a God, that the Bible is God’s revelation to humanity, and that Jesus is God’s only Son who died for the sins of the world and rose from the dead, thereby offering eternal life to those who follow Him. But whether we grew up in a Christian home or came to accept the beliefs of the Christian faith later in life, at some point we’ve probably wondered whether what we’ve been taught is all indeed true.

Perhaps you’ve been challenged with, or have asked yourself, such questions as, “Can I believe there was a talking donkey or how do I know Jesus rose from the dead?” Or other questions, like  “How do I know the Bible is true and not filled with errors or the made-up ideas of individuals from the past?” These are common questions that have been asked of the Christian faith for generations. And these are the types of questions every believer should be prepared to respond to, both for themselves and for others. (1 Peter 3:15)

In His book, Cold Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace examined the testimony of the Gospel writers. He explored the New Testament to determine if there were reliable witnesses to Jesus. His background experience as a police detective specializing in cold cases has always added a fascinating dynamic to Wallace’s investigations of Christianity. He found out that the Bible and the person the Bible is about, Jesus, are investigable.

Think about it: Jesus is the center of all of history, and it is impossible to erase Him from History. The life of Jesus Christ was predicted and prepared for. The Apostle Paul put it, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:4-6) Jesus impacts virtually every leader, artist, educator, and religious figure. As Wallace points out, Christianity failed to morph around anyone who came after Jesus Christ, but almost every major religion adapted to incorporate Him.

Take the time in 2023 to investigate Jesus. Discover why we live in a world that has been so thoroughly shaped by the life and death of Jesus. You will find out that you don’t have to believe based solely on a collection of ancient manuscripts. The foundation of our faith is anchored to something far more substantial and sustainable.

Discussion questions:

  1. Have you ever spent time investigating Jesus and your faith? What questions did you have?
  2. Does the fact that the Bible (Jesus) is investigable change you views on Christianity?

There Is A Great Wall

Did you know? In Biblical times, any city that had a great wall around it was considered to be a great city. The city of Babylon became known worldwide as a great city. Ancient writing suggests that the walls were 56 miles long, 80 feet thick, and 320 feet high.

The Great Wall of China may be one of the most iconic man-made structures in the world and is a must-see for most travelers. Construction began over four hundred years before Christ and was completed in the 1600s. It’s built over some of the toughest terrain imaginable. You could stretch it from Atlanta to London and still have some wall left over. Think of the time, resources, and sweat it took to build the Great Wall all in an effort to stay separated from their enemies.

As big as the Great Wall is, it’s minuscule compared to the wall that separates man from God. Sin causes this wall and no one can overcome this barrier on their own. Fortunately, we don’t have to be a modern day Joshua wondering initially how we are going to tear down the walls of Jericho. God removed the barrier through Jesus.

“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) God sees our stumbling and tripping. We can’t walk the road ourselves; we can’t remove the obstacles, walls, and barriers, so God does it for us.

God the Father sends Jesus the Son to be pierced, crushed, punished and wounded so that you can be healed. Jesus has been God from all eternity, yet He comes to earth and gets His hands dirty knocking down walls and barriers.  Jesus was constantly surprising and even shocking people as He broke cultural barriers all around Him.

By dying on the cross Jesus becomes the Way to enter God’s presence.  Isaiah 57:15 tells us, “The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.”

If you have a healthy relationship with God, then you will want to eliminate any walls between you and God. If we are truly willing to follow Jesus, then we too should be tearing down any barrier which separates us from one another and building bridges so that all can sit at the feet of Jesus.

Discussion questions:

  1. How often do you think about the walls (barriers) that stand between you and God?
  2. What can you do this week to start tearing down the walls?

Depending On The Dependable God

“But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned the flames will not set you ablaze.” – Isaiah 43:1-2.

Isaiah 43: 1-2 is a scripture that seems relevant for the first few weeks of 2023. In this passage, we read about a promise from God. This promise is there for each one of us as individuals.

God knows me so intimately because He created me.  He knew me before anyone else did and literally no one knows me better than anyone will know me. Then, He reminds me that He “redeemed” me. The one who knows me most intimately, knows my faults, my downfalls, my secret thoughts and fears, and all of the other stuff in my life, and still found me worth redeeming. He calls me by name and calls me His own.

During 2023 we most likely will face difficult situations in life. Regardless of what those circumstances are, God is dependable. You can trust Him with your life and know that it is absolutely safe and secure. You can follow God with your two eyes closed and know that you will not miss the way or fall into a ditch. Think of it in this way: Most of us have held a baby in our arms at one time or another. And we just have likely passed that baby to a child, a brother or sister, to hold for a photo. The baby doesn’t panic but continues to rest or sleep in the brother’s or sister’s arms. The baby trusts whoever was carrying him or she was dependable and up to the task.

It is such childlike faith that is required in depending on God. You should rest in His arms, knowing that He is dependable and up to the task of carrying you. When we depend on God, we get what God can do. Depending on God means we rely on Him and depend on His reliability. Depending on God means that God is bigger, greater, and better than me and you can depend on God to meet all your needs; He has all the resources of the earth. Psalm 24:1 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” When you know that God owns all things, you will not struggle to depend on Him for whatever you need. He said, For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it.” (Psalm 50:10-12) You can depend on God because He holds and rules the entire world.

God is dependable because of His track record of faithfulness and success; God has no record of failure. There is nothing He has ever said that failed; that have either happened or are about to happen. He has all it takes to keep His promises, so you can trust and depend on Him for your today and tomorrow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How have seen God’s dependability in 2022?
  2. How should God’s dependability impact our lives in 2023?