Devotional For Men Blog
Opened
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“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:31-32)
“Then He [Jesus] opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45)
Luke paints a beautiful picture of the power of God opening people’s eyes. In this chapter the disciples realize Jesus rose from the dead and grasp the truth He was indeed the Messiah. The two disciples who walked the road to Emmaus didn’t recognize Jesus. Though the disciples studied the Scriptures they didn’t understand the Messiah had to suffer and die.
Though Jesus said they were slow of heart to believe, He didn’t leave them in their ignorance. Instead He opened their eyes, opened their minds, and opened the Scriptures so they could understand. Because our sinful nature blinds us from the truth, we need God to open our eyes too. We can’t understand Scripture without God’s Holy Spirit opening our minds and showing us what it means.
Luke tells another story of opening in the book of Acts. “One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” (Acts 16:14)
Even the initial act of believing, cannot be accomplished without God. We need Him to open our hearts to the good news.
Thank you God that You still open hearts. Open the hearts of those around me who don’t know You. Please open my eyes to see You at work in and around my life. Open my mind so that I can understand the Scriptures. Make the Living Word come alive through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Questions: How has God opened your eyes? How has He opened your mind?
Peace and Peacemakers
Jesus came to bring peace.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
We all need two kinds of peace in our lives. We need inner peace with God but we also need peace with others. God addresses both. He tells us what to do to find that peace.
Inner peace is a gift of the Holy Spirit and our thankfulness and faith impacts it. It’s a choice to focus our mind on Jesus and all He is. Peace is the natural result of that choice.
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is focused on You because He trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
Inner peace hinges on my trust in God. Inner peace is there for the choosing.
The second kind of peace, peace with others, starts with the understanding that God has called us to be peacemakers in our world.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Notice that the call is to be “peacemakers” and not simply “peacekeepers”?
Sometimes “peacekeepers” will do anything just to keep peace. That is not what God is asking of us. He is calling us to be “peacemakers”.
Is there somewhere in your own world where you can help make peace?
Is there an invitation that needs to be extended to smooth over a fractured family relationship?
Is there an apology to be made or a silence to be broken that has stood as a barrier for too long?
Is there an issue that needs to be addressed with loving-kindness?
Is there a boundary that needs to be extended to help make a relationship healthy?
Don’t miss the blessing God promises in your life as you respond to His call to be a peacemaker in your own circle.
We can help bring peace to our world one heart at a time.
Prayer of action:
Lord,
“Make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
and Where there is sadness, joy…
Divine Master;
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen”
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Question: Take a look at the questions above. How is God calling you to be a peacemaker?
God Desires Your Success
“…but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:57-58).
We would all agree life can be difficult. Pressures of daily living sometimes overwhelm us, relationships can disappoint us and our own expectations may go unmet. How do we reconcile our experiences with the idea that God wants us to be successful? Consider the evidence confirming that He desires us to succeed.
A Plan and a Purpose
God has a plan for our lives. There is a general purpose revealed in Scripture that applies to all believers as well as a specific design for each individual. (Ephesians 2:10)
His Presence
God does not ask us to work out our own success; He sent the Holy Spirit to answer our questions and to guide us in our decision-making process. (John 16:13)
Special Gifts
The Lord has provided each of us with spiritual gifts selected to fit with what He wants us to do in life. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) Our part is to learn what our gifts are and to use them as God directs.
24-Hour Communication
God, who has given us the privilege of prayer, has much to tell us. He invites – and urges – us to stay in touch with Him and talk things over. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
God has given each of us inborn desires to achieve the purpose He has in mind. He plans to fulfill those desires by transforming us into Christ’s image. Regardless of our difficulties, we are to believe the evidence that He wants us to succeed, and we should respond in obedience. Real success occurs when we act more and more like Jesus.
Prayerful Waiting
If you need prayer, we would like to pray with you.
“They all met together continually for prayer.” Mark uses the same Greek word here translated “continually” to describe a boat floating in the water, waiting on Jesus. The Master, speaking on the beach of Galilee, told the disciples to have a boat ready and waiting (Mark 3:9). The boat was “continually” in the presence of Christ. So are the Upper Room disciples. One day passes. Then two. Then a week. For all they know a hundred more will come and go. But they aren’t leaving. They persist in the presence of Christ.
The followers were willing to do one thing: wait in the right place for power.
We’re so reluctant to do what they did. Who has time to wait? We groan at such a thought. But waiting doesn’t mean inactivity—rather inHIMactivity. Waiting means watching for him. If you are waiting on a bus, you are watching for the bus. If you are waiting on God, you are watching for God, searching for God, hoping in God. Great promises come to those who do. “But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isa. 40:31).
To those who still struggle, God says, “Wait on me.” And wait in the right place. Jesus doesn’t tell us to stay in Jerusalem, but he does tell us to stay honest, stay faithful, stay true.
Desire power for your life?
It will come as you pray. For ten days the disciples prayed. Ten days of prayer plus a few minutes of preaching led to three thousand saved souls. Perhaps we invert the numbers. We’re prone to pray for a few minutes and preach for ten days. Not the apostles. Like the boat waiting for Christ, they lingered in his presence. They never left the place of prayer.
Question: Do you pray only for the “big things”? Do you think God cares about the “small things” too?
Strength in Numbers
Feeling lacking in support from your fellow Christians lately? Talk to one of our mentors, online, free & confidential
The Royal Gorge Bridge in Cañon City, Colorado was completed in 1929 at a cost of $350,000. (The relative cost today would be approximately $15 million dollars.) The bridge spans 1,260 feet and stands 150 feet above the ground below.
As the bridge just passed it’s 100 year anniversary, it seems to be holding up quite well: There are no signs of it collapsing. The bridge is held together by 2,100 strands of galvanized wire. Individually, each wire could easily be snapped. But working together in tandem with each other, they are able to support the entire weight of the bridge, plus much more. This allows the bridge to remain a significant tourist attraction for hundreds of tourists every year, even though it is nearly a century old.
By working together, we can achieve much more than we can on our own. The author of Hebrews exhorts us to “not give up meeting together … but let us encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25). In Acts we read about the early church, and how they would meet together in order to encourage each other (Acts 2:42-48).
This often will be difficult, since our churches are sadly sometimes filled with strife and argument instead of encouragement and fellowship. This is why Paul teaches us to “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
Our work with our fellow Christians is too important to ignore. We as frail individuals are like thin strands of wire: Weak individually, but when mutually supporting one another, enabled to do so and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are strong.
Question: Do you sometimes find it uncomfortable when meeting with other believers? Why or why not?
How Do You Define Happiness?
Are you struggling with anxiety? Talk to us.
“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:22
Of all the phrases bestowed to us by the Founding Fathers, few come up more than pursuit of happiness. Yet who knows where the nation really stands on that score. Now an answer may be forthcoming. Amid a wave of research on the subject, the federal government is seeking ways to measure what some have called Gross National Happiness (GNH).
A panel of experts in psychology and economics began convening in December to try to define reliable measures of subjective well-being. If successful, these could become official statistics.
The idea of the government tallying personal feelings might seem frivolous or impossibly difficult. For decades, after all, the world has gotten by with gauging a nation’s quality of life on the basis of its GDP, or gross domestic product, the sum of its economic output. But economists and others have long recognized that GDP, a dollars and cents measure, doesn’t count everything that might be considered important when assessing living conditions. Our gross national product accepts that which makes life worthwhile.
But as the government ventures into the squishy realm of feelings, statisticians will first have to define happiness and then how to measure it. Neither is a trivial matter. There is even some doubt whether people, when polled, can accurately say whether they are happy. Personally I think they are on the wrong track.
Well, I have a suggestion. First they have to differentiate between happiness and joy. Happiness comes from without; joy comes from within. Happiness is often determined by our economic station in life. Joy comes from inner peace in our soul. Happiness focuses on the now; joy looks to eternity. Happiness comes on the mountain tops; joy is peace in the valleys of life.
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentation 3:22-23). Now that is the wellspring of true joy and the measuring stick for us all.
How to you define happiness? You spell it joy and it’s not something capable of external numerical evaluation since it comes from within and when you have it, no one needs to measure it because it becomes an obvious part of your daily life.
Questions: Are you living a life of happiness and joy? If not, what steps can you take today to move towards having joy?
Word and Spirit
Are you living a Spirit-filled life?
In the description of the tabernacle in Exodus 35 we learn that there’s a lamp and a lamp stand for illuminating the Scriptures. Thousands of years later, nothing’s changed.
What do I mean? As we read, as we live, as we worship, our lives are to be illuminated by the Spirit of God. Without illumination, the stone tablets that contained the Ten Commandments would lie in the dark. Similarly, without the Spirit of God, we will dry up.
His Spirit is like the lampstand – making hidden and darkened things in the word of God visible to us (1 cor. 2:11 and 2 Cor. 3:14). His presence – which is a person, not a feeling – needs to be invited into the things we do, think, and say. He is our Counselor and we are to do all things through His wisdom (John 14:26). We are His temple and He lives in us (1 Cor. 3:16). We are to be sanctified and brought toward holiness by His Spirit (Rom. 15:16). And with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are called to guard the Truth (2 Tim. 1:14).
But what is the Truth? The Truth is contained in God’s word, which is why we can’t live solelyby the Spirit. Without the Word we will drift off the path.
1 John 4:1 reminds us well: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
We don’t want a false spirit, but we certainly want God’s Spirit. Which is why we need the Word and the Spirit.
Spirit of God, would you reign in us? Would you illuminate Truth? Move miraculously in our lives, Oh God, and affirm all Truth that we have learned in your Word. Amen.
Loud Shouts
Give your prayer life a tune up with today’s lesson on Embracing Prayer.
“But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand.” (Luke 23:23-24)
Some call it a mob mentality. People stop thinking clearly and allow emotion to rule. They say things they later regret. These verses describe the scene in Jerusalem when Pilate wanted to release Jesus. The crowd asked for the release of Barabbas the murderer and demanded the crucifixion of Jesus.
That kind of mentality doesn’t always require a mob. This passage makes me think about my own loud shouts and insistent demands on God. Too often, I want what I want – not what He wants – and I want it now!
Obviously God is not like Pilate who knowingly and willfully did wrong in order to save his own skin. God is holy and righteous and just. Yet I wonder if sometimes God gives me what I ask for, even when I ask for second best.
God longs to give me things for my ultimate good – things that will draw me into closer relationship with Him, glorify His name and develop the qualities of Christ in me. Those things don’t always look good from my short-term, earthly perspective. I occasionally see them as uncomfortable, difficult or painful.
My arrogance shows when I insistently make demands of God. Do I know better than He does? Do I want my own way, regardless of what is best?
Gracious God and Father, please don’t give me what I ask for when I ask for the wrong things. Help me to stop demanding and instead be still and know that You are God. You are all wise and all powerful. Help me to want what You want. Amen
Questions: What is the difference between persistent prayers and insistent demands? How do we know how to pray for what God wants?
Peace and Faith
Today’s lesson “Choose Peace” can help you hold on to God’s promises in the midst of the storm.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Walking in peace, with your heart calm even when your life is not, is one of the wonderful benefits of the Christian life. God reminds us to pay attention to what is going on within our hearts and to make some intentional choices.
Your heart is the well-spring of all of your life. It is the place that your reactions, your attitudes, your actions all bubble up from. Some translations say, ““Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” All that you are as you walk through this day, with whatever it holds, will spring from your heart. That’s why God tells us specifically to guard that well-spring. We are wise to check what is residing in that well-spring especially when we find peace has vanished and worry and stress has taken it’s place.
There will always be one of two very specific things in the lead of all the things in our hearts. Faith or Fear. One will always be on the top of the heap. They cannot both occupy the same place. If faith resides there your well-spring will pour out peace and confidence in God’s care for you, even in the midst of uncertain times.
If fear resides there anxiety and depression will be the natural outward flow. Faith or Fear. Every day we choose. Many times a day we choose.
Faith over-rides Fear. Fear over-rides Faith.
God tells us exactly what to do when fear grips our hearts and takes over our minds. Left unchecked it will scatter our faith and our peace like confetti in the wind and leave us anchorless in the storms of life.
Yet God in His love gives us specific instructions as to what to do.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
What a simple formula! Not easy – but simple. Worry is a call to prayer. The moment you become aware of that churning anxiety over ANYTHING, go immediately to your Heavenly Father. Present your requests to Him. Then turn your thoughts and prayers to thanksgiving.
- Thank Him for His promise to never forsake you.
- Thank Him for the power of His name.
- Thank Him for His intimate knowledge of every detail of your life.
- Thank Him for His track record in your life when He has been there for you in the past.
- Thank Him that He works all things together for your good as you trust Him.
- Thank Him that He is at work establishing His kingdom in your life.
Your faith and trust in God will over-ride your fear and His peace will actually put a guard around your heart and mind so fear cannot over run you. It’s supernatural and it’s real.
Prayer of action:
Father God,
I confess that I often allow Your peace to slip from my heart. Fear is often my first response to challenges that come my way. May I be conscious today of choosing to trust You with every detail of my life. Help me to have faith to leave the question marks in Your control and to trust You to carry me and to sustain me with your peace that is beyond understanding. Today I choose to put my trust in You. I choose to walk in Your peace.
Fill my heart with childlike faith today I ask in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.
Question: How can you walk in faith and peace today?
Will the Rope Hold?
If you need encouragement during difficult times, someone is always here to pray with you!
The summer between my 3rd and 4th year of university I worked at Yellowstone National Park. It was a great summer, full of adventures and new experiences.
On a day off, I had signed up for a day long class in rock climbing. I was successfully making my way up the side of a mountain when the instructor surprised me with an unexpected challenge, when he said, “I want you to push yourself off and fall on the rope!” Questioning why he would ask me to do this, I hesitated, and he wisely pointed out that, “You will never be a good rock climber until you can trust that the rope will hold you. Push yourself off and fall on the rope.”
I was afraid. Obviously, my trust was in my ability to use my hands and feet to scale the mountain. The rope was a secondary source of security, in case I slipped (which I did not plan to do!). I eventually did let go of my hand holds, and I’m here to tell you that the rope held!
There are times when God seems to say the same thing to me as my instructor did that day. “Take the step, release your hands on what you are holding and see that I’m trustworthy.” The writer of the Psalms wrote, “O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the person who takes refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8
Just as I would never be a good rock climber without experiencing that the rope will hold. The same is true of my spiritual life. I will never be a responsive Christ follower if I am unwilling to let go of whatever I am grasping when God says, “Let go, trust me.”
Are you willing to let go of the things that give you security? We can only experience God’s goodness when we take those, sometimes scary steps that take faith. Do you trust God is able to hold you securely when you let go of the things that provide comfort or security? What step is God asking you to take? Could it be he is asking you to let go of a relationship, finances or a position … A thought that comforts me is God holds the universe together it is likely He can provide all I need to hold life together … Enjoy the adventure!
Father God, Help me today to truly trust You and to let go of the things I have been putting my trust in. You alone are able to hold me securely! Thank you.
Questions: What step is God asking you to take today? What are the things we look to, other than God, for our security?
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