YOU TRIED IT? THEN TRY HARDER.

“Unless we really try, whatever we say there will always be at the back of our minds the idea that if we try harder next time we shall succeed in being completely good. Thus, in one sense, the road back to God is a road of moral effort, of trying harder and harder.” – C.S Lewis, Mere Christianity.

The prevailing conventional thinking out there right now says that if we just reach in a little further and try a little harder, we will get where we want to be. Whether it’s happiness we seek or the status we want or a new lifestyle we’re dreaming of, it’s waiting for us if if we just try a little harder. We simply have to go for it.

It makes sense. The underlying assumption was that you would succeed if you worked hard enough for long enough. So we tell ourselves we can do this.  We need a plan. We can break or build a habit. We have what it takes—we just need to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps by digging a little deeper. But what if the bootstraps are pulled as high as they can go? What if trying harder is not the answer?

Sometimes, we need help. Sometimes, we need encouragement. Sometimes, we need someone to see us through. Sometimes, we need the strength of someone more powerful than we are.  Sometimes our best efforts don’t get us where we want to go. But fortunately, there is Somebody who can get us where we want to go. Ultimately, we have little control in this life, but Jesus Christ holds everything together.

Over and over in Scripture, Christ enables, heals, and changes people. Yet, we keep trying to fix ourselves by digging a little deeper. The crippled don’t make themselves walk, and the blind don’t make themselves see, and the hungry don’t feed themselves. Paul could not find strength within himself: “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:1).

Success in this life is not about finding a better plan or a more sensible solution or working harder; it’s about seeking my Savior’s willing and available help. Isaiah 40:29–31 says, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”  

Habits are hard to break no matter how much we try, yet we keep trying.  Job 9:4 says of God, “For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?” It’s okay if we don’t “got this”  because God’s “got this.” Strength for today, hope, joy, love, peace, success—it’s found in Jesus Christ. We won’t find it by trying harder; We’ll find it by seeking the faithful and assuring the presence of our Savior.

  

Discussion questions:

  1. When is it the time to stop trying harder and give our habits to God?
  2. Please talk about your mindset when it comes to your habits. What needs to shift in your mindset in order to toggle your habits to God?

THE POWER OF UNITY

“all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey. …All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.” – Nehemiah 8:1-3 .

The book of Nehemiah is written during a momentous time in the history of God’s people. After hundreds of years of running after false gods and not obeying God’s voice, God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to conquer the kingdom of Judah and carry the Israelites into captivity in Babylon. After years in exile, thousands had returned home. While filled with joy, there were monumental hurdles to go over.

One of the first acts of these returning exiles was to assess their situation and evaluate what needed to be done. Realizing they faced overwhelming problems, they focused on unity. They didn’t dwell on issues that divided them but “came together as one”(Nehemiah 8:1 NIV).  They assembled “with a unified purpose” (NLT). This initial meeting would not solve all their problems. In fact, they would face a series of challenges in the years to come. However, they recognized that their plans and actions needed to be unified.

The Bible consistently reminds us of the importance of unity. David said “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” (Psalm 133:1 ESV). Jesus taught His disciples that their unity was central to their effectiveness. He prayed that His followers “May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:23). Paul taught that believers “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

As we face old and new challenges in the new year,  remember the importance of unity. Our unity is not based on shared cultures, personal interests, or personal tastes but on something much more profound.  It is not what we have in common that matters, but who we have in common.  There are a thousand ways to splinter church unity and one way to unite it again.  We need to walk the same path and head in the same direction.

A united church is a powerful tool.  Paul says we exist as a church so “…all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:6)

If we’re going to be successful in doing that, it will take everyone making that our goal.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How important is living in harmony?
  2. How would you describe the power and impact of unity? When or where have you experienced that?

IS CHRISTIANITY TOO COMPLEX?

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 11:3 (KJV).

People are making Christianity far too complicated. Those wanting to know more about Jesus and His gift of salvation are confused. What seemed so simple now seems complex as they try to see Jesus through the prism of seemingly contradictory or differing requirements for living a Christian life. In reality, it is not that complicated.

The main thing about being a Christian is to see that the main thing remains the main thing. That is what Paul is saying in 2nd Corinthians. The “main thing” is that at the heart and center of your life is the “simplicity that is in Christ.” Religion becomes complicated when we lose sight of the simplicity of knowing Him and being known by Him.

Jesus doesn’t complicate things. His teachings are designed to be short and to the point. No talking around the subject. No long-winded explanations. Jesus uses the minimum number of words to make the most straightforward point: “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10).

When religion becomes complex, it is a sign that it is departing from Christ. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus boils down the whole counsel of God into its purest and simplest form: love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. That’s it. Simple. Love God. Love people. Nothing is done in this life that is not directly tied to these two things, and these two things are so interdependent upon each other.

The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, “For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). The message is not Christianity; it is Jesus Christ. It is not complex. The goal is not to make people religious. The goal is an intimate relationship with God.

Christianity is about living a vibrant, exciting life in Christ. Growing in your relationship with Jesus means knowing Him better and loving and obeying Him more. When the Holy Spirit directs your life, you experience a deeper relationship with God, and you will grow in your ability to trust Him.

This week, take a fresh perspective on your relationship with God. Take inventory and ask yourself why you do what you do. Is it out of obligation? Or is it because you love the Lord and desire intimacy with Him? A relationship with God is rich, meaningful, and life-changing. 1 John 3:1 says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you find most challenging about the Christian life?
  2. What can we do this week to keep it simple… love God and love others? 

COME AND SEE

“…They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”“Come and see,” …“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.”   John 1, 39,46.

The phrase “come and see” – shows up four times in the Gospel of John. In John 1:39, Jesus invites two men to “come and see” where He was staying. In John 1:46, Philip tries to talk to his friend Nathanael about Jesus and begins to get some pushback. So he invites Nathanael to “come and see.”

In John 4:29, a Samaritan woman runs back to her town, fresh from an encounter with Jesus. She tells everyone she can about her conversation with Jesus. “A man who told me everything I ever did” she exclaimed. “Come and see.”  In John 11:34, Jesus has just lost a friend. Lazarus dies, and his family mourns him. Jesus shows up during the funeral and meets with the family. He asks where the body is, and they reply, “Come and see.” Jesus raises Lazarus from the grave.

It is hard for some people to put aside old ideas and notions about Christianity, Christians, and the church in general. It’s a skepticism born from a life of bad experiences with Christians and with the church. But all that would change if they “come and see” Jesus.

Lots of people know about Jesus. He is recognized worldwide. He is the subject of countless books, movies, artwork and conversations. But He is much more than that. Jesus is not just an amazing person; He is the Son of God—and God’s gift to us. Psalm 66:1 says, “Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!”

If we want a personal relationship with Him, we must come to know Him through scripture. While it can be hard to understand, it is also comforting. We don’t need a philosophy or theology degree to know the truth. We need to get to know Jesus.

The Old Testament prophets proclaim the coming of a Savior, and then Jesus comes. He lives, He teaches, and He performs miracles. We know the big events. His birth at Bethlehem. The miracles, His crucifixion and resurrection. Knowing Jesus is having a personal relationship with Him. However, a relationship with Jesus is not just about head knowledge or facts, it’s about a connection with Him deep in our hearts. It’s about letting Him lead, guide, convict, and even correct you.

So come and see the One who died to reconcile us to God. Come and see the One who fulfills our most profound hopes and needs. If you have never had a relationship with Jesus, it is never too late to know Him.

Discussion Questions: 

  1. What does a life of intimate relationship with God look like? Spend a few minutes thinking about your relationship with Jesus. Reflect on Psalm 139 and Philippians 3:8. What’s your relationship with Jesus like? Is it more about facts and rules than an intimate, personal relationship?
  2. What might you be missing out on in your relationship with Jesus? What needs to change for you to have a more intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE A CRAVING FOR?

“The more Christ fulfills the cravings of our souls, the more he changes our taste capacities from the inside out. The more we walk with him, the more we want him. The more we taste of him, the more we enjoy him. And this transforms how we live and what we live for.” — David Platt.

All of us have cravings from time to time. Cravings are those sometimes deep, intense needs for something. It could be a snack at night. Or maybe it is sitting in front of the television, binging on a series. They come when you least expect it and sometimes will not subside until they are appeased. It can be a tough battle not to indulge yourself with those cravings. That’s why it’s so essential to develop good habits.

C. S. Lewis illustrated the destructive power of worldly cravings in The Silver Chair. The great lion Aslan sends Jill and Eustace on a quest to rescue the lost prince of Narnia. He tells Jill to memorize the signs leading them to the prince. Puddleglum, a wise Narnian marsh wiggle, joins them. The three encounter a charming lady who urges them to seek refuge at the castle of the giants, where they’ll find a hot bath, a soft bed, and delicious food. After nights of camping in the cold, the children can think of nothing else. Driven by a craving for comfort, they ignore Puddleglum’s cautions and forget their mission. At the risk of giving what happened away, their desire for comfort took them off their quest and led them straight into the peril of death.

1 John 2: 15-17 tells us, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”   

Worldly cravings are part of the human condition. But we don’t have to give them control. God offers a way out if you feel trapped by a craving. Romans 8:1 says, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that we are not alone: ”The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

Recognize emotional triggers so you can deal with them. Pay attention to how your emotions are triggering you to give in to cravings. Use that to make yourself pause the next time you feel those emotions, and decide to pray about your feelings rather than giving in to the craving.

Ask God to help you break free of all the unhealthy habits that have been pulling you away from God. Then enjoy filling your soul with the love God will give you when you draw closer to Him.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do we crave? In what areas are you feeding those cravings? 
  2. What is one craving you need to starve? How can you begin to do that today?

WHERE DO WE TAKE OUR CUES?

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” – Colossians 3:15-17.

We are living in a culture filled with competing voices. How can we figure out what’s best for us in this environment? One way is to start looking at our cues.

If we want to be faithful followers of Jesus, we must carefully consider our habits. Because we hand over much of our lives to our habits, much more than we probably realize. Every habit we develop begins with a cue, something that triggers a behavior that is either good or bad. A cue can be anything.

The Holy Spirit warns us when certain sights, sounds, or feelings may trigger sinful responses. Triggers are sights, sounds, smells, painful memories, or even body movements that trigger us to think, say, or do things that we know are physically or spiritually harmful. That sounds complicated – but it’s important to understand the role of triggers to stop an unwanted behavior. The goal is to recognize a bad habit and the cues that often drive that habit. We are very good at fooling ourselves into thinking that what we’re doing isn’t causing anyone a problem, but we could be wrong. More often than not, bad habits are hindering our relationship with God, which is why it is so important to recognize the cues that drive our habits.

Controlling our triggers is not a matter of willpower or “won’t” power. We can’t do it on our own. Identifying and disarming our triggers will only occur when we yield to the healing power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Consider which triggers may keep you from experiencing the joy of life, and ask the Holy Spirit to disarm your triggers.

We can learn to take our primary cues from God. Are we keeping God waiting in the wings while we are at center stage? We make Him wait in the wings while we act out our anxieties, our will, our frustrations, and our plan for our lives. And there He is, patiently waiting for us to relinquish the spotlight and hand our habits to Him. God won’t barge in. He stands at the door and knocks. He stands. Waiting for us to surrender the spotlight.

Being reminded of how powerful my habits are and how important God’s calling should be in my life, has made me realize the very things I don’t usually think about are some of the most critical things actually to spend time thinking about. Harnessing the power of our habits is certainly not easy, but yielding to the Holy Spirit to help us do it gives us a power that’s even greater than the force of the habits themselves.

Discussion questions:

  1. Think about some of your different habits. What are some of the cues in your life that trigger these habits?
  2. Talk about your mindset when it comes to your habits. What needs to shift in your mindset to break bad habits?

MOUNTAINTOP MEETING WITH GOD

“When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD.”  Exodus 34:29.

God summoned Moses to the summit of Mt. Sinai. Moses was called to the mountaintop to receive instructions from God that would shape the life of the People of Israel, teaching them how to live godly lives.  We know those instructions today as the Ten Commandments.

In the presence of the Lord, Moses changed. But when he came down from the mountain, the Israelites worshipped a golden calf statue they had created.

Moses was angry and returned back to the mountain to do some damage control. The people had broken their covenant with God. Moses pleaded with God not to give up on them, and when God finally agreed to continue going with Israel, Moses made this request to Him in Exodus chapter 33 verse 18: “…show me your glorious presence.”

Moses led a very stubborn group of people who had seen God do miraculous things. And yet, they still rebelled against Him. Moses was frustrated and needed to feel God’s presence in his life. Moses asked God to show him His glory; Moses was asking God to show him His presence, to show him who He was.

Moses got everything he needed from this mountaintop experience.  He couldn’t see himself. He didn’t know that he had become radiant. The Bible tells us that:  “his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD”  (Exodus 24:29).  In other words, His face shone, not because of who he was; but because of who he was with.  His face reflected the glory of God. When Moses came down from the mountain, scripture tells us that his face radiated with God’s presence. Moses took the time to get away, to climb those mountains, and to have those life-defining experiences with God that shaped him into who he was.

The expression of Himself which He gave to Moses, He now offers to each of us, ordinary though we are. He shines His glory into our very hearts, limited and broken though they may be.

Maybe you see yourself in some aspect of Moses’ story today. Maybe you need to feel God’s presence in your life right now. If so, follow Moses’ example. Climb that mountain, whatever that looks like in your own personal spiritual life, and ask God to show you His glory. Choose to make today one of your mountaintop experiences. If you climb that mountain, you will find Him there. Your life will never be the same.

He is already there waiting.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What constitutes a mountaintop experience in your life?
  2. What can we do this week to have a mountaintop experience?  

WHAT DOES GOD WANT FROM ME THIS YEAR?

“I want what God wants for me.” – Unknown

Have you ever wondered, “What is God’s will for my life? That’s a great question. Of course, God has specific and unique things that He wants for each of us. We are each gifted and called differently. But God also has some things that He desires for all of us. We can get so hung up on the particulars that we miss the universals—the big things God wants for all of us.

God wants a love relationship with you in 2024. That, in a nutshell, is the theme of the Bible, cover to cover. It starts in Genesis. God created you in His image—like Himself—to have a relationship with you. God is love, and that love was shared and expressed long before God created us. We were created for His pleasure, to be loved by Him, and to love Him back.

Revelation 3:20 says, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” The Bible starts with God “walking about in the garden” (Genesis 3:8) and ends with Jesus knocking on our doors, hoping we’ll invite him in for a meal. God wants a relationship with you.

Christianity is fundamentally relational. It is about a relationship with God, which He Himself made possible.  We were created to know God, to be close to God, to enjoy God, to worship Him, and to bring Him glory.  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 when we have a real hunger and desperation for God. There will be times when we 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 keep popping up, and it is a labor of love to pray, to spend time in the word, and to serve. The most profound growth in intimacy in our relationship with God comes when we worship and serve God regardless of adverse 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.”

God wants a relationship with you.

What will you do this year to draw closer to Jesus?

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?

MAKE SMALL CHANGES AND MAKE IT EASY

“…Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” –  1 Timothy 4:7b-8.

The American philosopher, writer, and historian Will Durant once said, “You are what you repeatedly do.” Our habits are what shape our lives. There are habits we want to implement, and there are habits we want to stop.

The problem many of us face is that we are far too ambitious in trying to change our habits. We don’t just want to exercise daily. We want to work the stair master for an hour. We don’t want to just read a few verses each day we want to read an entire book. The reality is that the more difficult the change in habits the less likely we will succeed.

So, if you want to change your life, you need to change your habits. And to change your habits, you have to start small and make it easy, at least at first. When we think about needing to fit devotions or prayer time into our lives, often it seems overwhelming. We’re just too busy, and we don’t have time. That’s because we make the goal too big. We think to make it really meaningful, we have to devote an hour to concentrated Bible study every day, or we have to pray for every single person we know. Sometimes even 10 minutes seems like too much. And so we don’t even try. We quit before we start.

But what if we apply that baby step mentality to our spiritual growth? Maybe you can’t find an hour, or even 10 minutes at a time. But could you find time to open your Bible (or your Bible app) and read one verse? Take the habit that you want to incorporate into your life and make it as small as you possibly can. If you want to read your Bible, start by reading five minutes each day.

If you want to wake up earlier, don’t start setting your alarm clock for two hours earlier than you normally get up. Start with 15 minutes earlier. The key to building a successful habit is being able to be consistent with it for 2-3 months. So you want to choose something that you know you can maintain. If your goal is to pray for 30 minutes each day, start small and just pray for five daily. When that becomes a habit add 5 more minutes.  Building a habit is more about being slow and steady than over-ambitious and burning out.

That is good news for each one of us because our life is not typically an ongoing series of large events spiritually. Very few people are going to have an impact on tens of thousands of people. Most of us tend to sweat the small stuff. But sometimes in our walk with the Lord, we neglect what we might perceive as “the little things” due to our hectic schedules. We forget that daily time with God in His Word, prayer, and serving others all help us learn to be faithful. Luke 16:10 tells us, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” In other words, how we handle small stuff makes a huge difference in how we’ll handle the big stuff.

If little things can make a big difference to Jesus, then little things can make a big difference for us.

Discussion Questions: 

  1. Think about your past attempts to change. Have you made resolutions or sweeping promises to change? How well did it work?
  2. How can little things make a difference in our walk with God?

SAME OLD WAY OR A NEW WAY

“You have heard my predictions and seen them fulfilled, but you refuse to admit it. Now I will tell you new things, secrets you have not yet heard.” – Isaiah 48:6.

Habits affect us in one way or another.  We all have them, some good, some bad. Giving up a bad habit is not easy. According to research, it takes 21 days to break a bad habit. In just three weeks, you can change those things in life that have become routine and compulsive.

The reality is it’s often more challenging to give up an old habit than to start a new one. Neurologists and cognitive psychologists will tell you it is not easy to give up habits because they are deeply ingrained in our brains: automatic responses that we’ve developed over time. Habits are complex and affected by our genes, temperaments, experiences, family and friends, churches, cultures, health, preferences, strengths and weaknesses, unseen spiritual influences, and more.

For every bad habit that distances you from God, Jesus wants to give you a new habit to draw you near to Him.  The goal is to stay connected with God and strengthen your relationship with Him. The habits that conflict with your desired identity, or in other words they conflict with you being Christ-like, are your bad habits. On the other hand, the habits that reinforce your desired identity or help you become more like Christ, are your good habits.

Now, our habits define us; in other words, we become what we repeatedly do. Jesus developed habits in His life. Luke 5:16 says, “ But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” Prayer was a habit for Jesus. Luke 4:16 it says, “When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.” Or, in other words, as was His habitual practice. So, prayer and going to church were both habits for Jesus.

And we all know it’s important to create good exercise routines or habits. Paul says in 1 Tim. 4:7-8, “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” So, how do you train yourself for godliness? By daily deciding to practice righteousness and develop good habits.

We’ve all been given a race of faith to run. And if we run faithfully with endurance, laying aside every encumbering weight and sin, we are promised a glorious, incomparable, imperishable, eternal prize: Jesus Christ. Paul tells us, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

So, we take our habits seriously. Because they influence the way we run — for good or for evil.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you ever feel like you want to break your habit but can’t convince yourself that you need to break the habit? 
  2. Think of the last time you broke a habit. What worked? What didn’t work?