Day 46: Jesus, You Make Me Brand New

Have you ever wished you could fly? Well, in God’s economy we are given wings like eagles, we can run and not get tired, and walk and not become weary (Isaiah 40:28-30). I love thinking about how the Lord has made me a new creature; the old things have passed away and new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17). We need to remember that the Lord doesn’t alter something old, but instead makes us brand new. The word for transformation in Romans 12:2 is metamorphousthe and means an inward and complete change. The change the Lord works in us is seemingly unreal at times because we wrestle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. But, in fact, the Holy Spirit is now in us and we are “born again.” Sanctification is the process of becoming more and more like Christ every day. We are sanctified and are “being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:10-14). In other words, we ARE a new creation and we are BECOMING who we really are. We grow and mature through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a reminder to all of us that we are made to fly – to soar with wings like eagles – and not live in the barnyard dirt of this world. We are like this butterfly and no longer the caterpillar it once was. We have been made into a brand new creation. So today, let’s fly! Let’s walk and talk with Jesus and follow Him wherever He leads.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You that You have made me brand new. I want to soar with You in life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 45: Jesus, You Lead Me On To A New Day

Jesus leads us out of despair, failure, difficulties, and sorrows on to a new place in His plan for our lives. When we are in the midst of these trials, we can feel as though we are in a black hole that goes on seemingly forever. But take heart. The Lord will lead you out. You see the Lord doing this again and again in Scripture. Look at the failure of Joseph’s brothers. They sold him into slavery and broke their father’s heart. But in the end, God was merciful even to them. Joseph rescued them in the great famine and brought them and their father to a safe place. When Joseph sent his brothers to bring the family back to Egypt, he said, “See that you do not become troubled along the way” (Genesis 45:24). I love those words. They point to a trustworthy God, who rescues us in spite of our failures. God can be trusted and He does not want us troubled along the way. Look at the disciples with Jesus. They could not stay awake with Jesus while in the garden of Gethsemane. They failed, not once or twice, but three times. Three times they could not watch and pray. Did Jesus fire them from serving Him? Did He leave them and look for better disciples? No! He said, “Get up, let us be going…” (Matthew 26:46). We need to remember that Jesus is so very different than people in the world. He does not respond or act the way people in the world react. He is more than a man…He is God. And He knows our hearts better than we understand ourselves. And He has taken us on as His own. He will lead us on to a new day. I firmly believe in the theology of the “new day” for failure, sin, sorry, difficulties, despair, and mourning. The Lord’s plan for us does NOT stop even though we feel we have come up against an immovable wall. The roadblocks we face in life are as paper to the Lord. I love what Oswald Chambers says: “The disciples went to sleep when they should have kept awake, and when they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of the irreparable is apt to make us despair, and we say – ‘it is all up now, it is no use trying any more.’ If we imagine that this kind of despair is exceptional, we are mistaken, it is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize that we have not done that which we had a magnificent opportunity of doing, then we are apt to sink into despair; and Jesus Christ comes and says – ‘Sleep on now, that opportunity is lost forever, you cannot alter it, but arise and go to the next thing.’ Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ, and go out into the irresistible future with Him.”

My Response: Lord Jesus, today I lift my eyes from every crushing thing that could weigh me down and follow You as You lead me on into the irresistible future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 44: Jesus, You Give Grace For My Need

In my greatest trials, I struggle with a sense of helplessness. No wonder the author of Hebrews says, “So then, since we have so great a High Priest who has entered heaven; Jesus, the Son of God; let us hold firmly to what we believe” (Hebrews 4:14). Holding firmly to what we believe is a challenge, especially when everything seems to be falling apart before our very eyes. We need to remember that in Jesus, “all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). The great trials occur in seasons, and don’t last forever. Difficulties have time stamps on them. In the greatest challenges of our lives we need endurance. The Holy Spirit is our Helper and He will use the Word of God to strengthen our heart, enabling us to endure and “hold firmly to what we believe.” What should we do first when we find ourselves helpless and losing our grip on faith in God’s Word? Again, the writer of Hebrews gives us the answer. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT). When the Lord gives you grace, He pours out everything you need in your trial. You may sit and cry for awhile. But finally, remember to draw near to the throne of grace, and pour out your need to your Lord. Then, dry your eyes, get up, and keep going in the strength of your Lord. You will be amazed to discover that things look different after you’ve been to the throne of grace. Why? Because you are different. Grace never fails to change you, strengthen you, and move you on to a new place in your relationship with the Lord. So today, find courage in a fresh supply of grace for every one of your needs.

My Response: Lord Jesus, I come to You now with my need. I lay out my helplessness before You. I have a lack of answers for my difficulties, but I know that You have grace enough to match every one of my needs. Help me continue to run with endurance the race that is set before me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 43: Jesus, You Are My Blessed Hope

We live in that sometimes uncomfortable place of the “now and not yet.” The future for any who know Christ is bright and filled with promise. There will come a day when we have a true face-to-face experience with the Lord Jesus Christ. He will “appear” and we will see the magnificent glory of His appearing. Titus 2:13-14 says that we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Malachi 3:16-17 speaks of the time when the Lord makes up His “treasured possession.” He says “They will be Mine” (Mal.3:17). I wonder if we realize just how precious we are to the Lord. I wonder if we know His own personal longing to hold His treasure close to His heart in eternity forever and ever. Such an experience for us will be like the sunrise – a dawning of a new day. All shadows will flee and sorrows disappear. Until then, may we heed the words of Paul written to Titus and “wait for the blessed hope,” giving ourselves to Him and serving tirelessly until we step from time into eternity.

My Response: Lord Jesus, I am learning to wait in the midst of all challenges, sorrows, darkness, frustration, and difficulties. You are my blessed hope and Your appearing changes the landscape of every day. Shine brightly in and through Me and touch the lives of those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 42: Jesus, Your Word Satisfies My Soul

Have you ever eaten a meal and you still experienced hunger pangs long after the last bite? The Lord lays out a feast for us in His Word. And while our hunger for His Word grows and grows, our heart is satisfied every time we enjoy its delicacies. We are to let the word of Christ richly dwell in us (Colossians 3:16). That means we must eat extravagantly from its treasure. I enjoy meals from the psalms almost every day. And then, using the Daily Light devotional, I have an appetizer of related verses on particular topics. Using one of my devotional Bibles and a current Bible study, I feast at great length in a particular passage of Scripture. And then, there is always that one verse that I carry with me as takeout, enjoying it moment by moment throughout the day. So today, are you hungry? Be a Jeremiah, who said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You today for the rich delicacy of Your Word. I am going to enjoy this feast through the day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 41: Jesus, You Are My Audience

I dance for the Lord and no one else. Yesterday I heard the story of a woman who played for a Philharmonic orchestra – can’t remember the instrument she played. Anyhow, she received a standing ovation. The next morning the critics in the paper were brutal about her performance. A reporter asked her how it made her feel to receive such harsh criticism after receiving a standing ovation the night before. She replied, “I listen to neither the crowds nor the critics, only the conductor. He alone knows whether I gave a good performance. I loved that story for it is the same with us. We must live in the audience of our Lord, and look for His smile. In Streams in the Desert today, Mrs. Charles Cowman said that the apostle Paul “did not count as we are apt to count; he did not care for ease; he did not care for his mortal life. He cared for only one thing, and that was to be loyal to Christ, to have His smile.” Those are good words for today. “I count all things as loss in view of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 Williams Translation).

My Response: Lord Jesus, today I pray that You will give me the sense of Your Presence and remind me that I live for You and You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 40: Jesus Is In Charge Of My Day

I did more today than I can even believe. Worked all morning and even designed a nice campaign flyer with Adobe InDesign, and printed it. Then, enjoyed a wonderful time with many of my leaders as we celebrated the birthday of a true woman of God. Drove to Saddleback for day 1 of the Purpose Driven Conference. Registered and arrived at the room where our team was. I was standing in the back and looked to my left and there was Debbie Eaton, Dir. of Women’s Min. there at Saddleback (I had met with her earlier this year). We smiled, hugged, and stepped outside in the pouring rain just to talk. Then, up walked Lance Witt, who worked many years with Debbie there at Saddleback. So we are all standing under my umbrella in the pouring rain talking. It was fun to have that special time in the context of this conference. It took me an hour to drive to my hotel in the pouring rain. Checked in, ate, then drove 30 minutes to a team meeting. An hour later, arrived back at my hotel. Ordered tortilla soup and chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream - totally decadent. And now, I’m sitting here thinking about how the Lord Jesus is in charge of days like this. Seems like you do a guzillion things that don’t relate. But in the midst of it all, I so loved conversing with the Lord and moving through the moments walking and talking with Him. Seems like life can never be more purpose driven than when you are walking intimately with the Lord Jesus, trusting Him moment by moment for power and guidance.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You for another day, living with You moment by moment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 39: Jesus, You Pour Out Your Spirit

Today the Lord specifically reminded me of the indwelling Holy Spirit. I thought again of the woman at the well. But this time a light seemed to shine around Jesus’ words in John 4:10 when He said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” When He speaks of “living water” and “the gift of God” we know He is talking about the Holy Spirit. He specifically says in John 7:37-39 that the “rivers of living water” that flow from within our innermost being refer to the Holy Spirit. So today I thought long and hard about the living water of the Holy Spirit constantly flowing from within our hearts. This picture of the Spirit as constantly flowing water in our hearts is seen throughout the Old Testament. And when you meditate on that picture, the beauty and power of the Holy Spirit will give you new hope to face the day. Isaiah 12:3 reads: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation”. I loved those words. I wonder if the Lord thought of the woman at the well for, of course, He knows everything at once. He is omniscient and eternal. In Isaiah 43:19-44:4 I read, “Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert…For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring and blessings on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.” I LOVE this picture of a willow by a flowing stream. Imagine yourself as a willow by a constant, flowing stream. That’s us with the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts. Never underestimate the work of the Spirit in you, or His power though you may feel weak and powerless.

In Blackaby’s book, Experiencing The Spirit, he says, “Because God has a purpose for your life, He has sent you the Holy Spirit to enable you to fulfill the assignment He wants to accomplish through you. God isn’t looking for proven leaders. He is looking for those who have hearts that are pure and responsive, and then He equips them by His Spirit to be leaders. So hear this carefully. The Lord is looking not for the talented, but for the obedient. He’s looking not for the skilled, but for those who are sensitive to His Spirit.” May we run to the Lord Jesus today, ask Him to fill us with the Spirit, and then run our race with joy, knowing He is pouring out the living waters into our innermost being.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You for pouring out Your Spirit in my heart today. May I drink long and deep from the fountain of living water and enjoy Your continual restoration, renewal, and refreshment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 38: Jesus, You Gave Me Peace

Today was a travel day and just got back home not long ago. But I wanted to share part of my experience this week with Jesus. When I prayed throughout this last week for those things that were weighing me down, I experienced the peace of Jesus. He promises when we choose to pray instead of worry, He will give us His peace. Sometimes I know certain truths theologically but when I apply them by faith in my own life, and act on them, I experience the powerful application of them through the Holy Spirit. Philippians 4:6-7 was my experience this last week.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your peace in the midst of any storm. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 37: Jesus, You Help Me Say Yes To You

This is a short one today because I’m out of town with family. It may be short, but I promise I will continue my thoughts on this in future days. It’s probably one of the most profound for us in our pilgrimage of the heart. Jesus helps me say yes to Him in our relationship. Yes to salvation, yes to following Him, yes to surrender, yes to forgiving others, and yes to so much more. Paul says, “With regard to his own promises, God did not vacillate between “Yes” and “No”; rather, his assured “Yes” has taken effect in Christ. For however many promises God may have made, they all find their corresponding “Yes” in Christ who fulfills them. This is why our “Yes” of concurrence and commitment, our answering “Amen,” goes up to God through Christ and brings God glory through us. And it is none other than this God who causes us, along with you, to be firmly established in our relationship to Christ, the Anointed One, and who consecrated us all for his service. This same God sealed us as his own protected possession when he placed his Spirit in our hearts as the deposit and guarantee of our full inheritance” (2 Corinthians 1:19-22 NI Grk Com).

In this passage I see that the Lord’s promises and His indwelling Spirit help me say yes to Him. I wonder what the Lord is asking of us today. May we say yes to Jesus.

My Response: Lord Jesus, today I say yes to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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