“Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth!” (Daniel 9:12, 13)

I have always considered myself a fairly humble person, but I was reflecting on that this morning and realized that I am arrogant when it comes to God.  Let me explain.

Have you ever seen a child who has just learned to walk? They refuse to be helped?  They just know that their legs work and should be able to take them anywhere.  Over a lumpy lawn, down stairs, up stairs, they can go anywhere.  If you try to help them they become quite frustrated with you and demand that they can do it on their own.  The funny thing is, they can’t really talk at this point either!

We serve a God of abounding grace and mercy.  Guess what though, we have to humble ourselves in order to realize that we NEED it!  This is the text that got me…

“Yet we have REFUSED to SEEK mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth!”  Daniel 9:12, 13. (Emphasis mine)

That is powerful!  In this context it is Daniel humbly confessing to God his people’s wrong doing, seeking God’s mercy in that moment.  Read the whole chapter, it’s worth it!

It is hard to admit we are wrong, it is hard to recognize the truth, and it is even more difficult to turn from our sins!  Don’t act like the child learning to walk and refusing help.  I know that I want God’s grace and mercy to abound in my life.  Looks like I need to spend more time humbling myself before the throne, what about you?

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-42)

It never stops–the vicious cycle of doing things. Running errands, cleaning the house, picking up the kids, putting in extra time on your project at work, studying for another big test. You just keep going and going with no end in sight.

It can even become a pattern in your church life. Helping with prayer meeting, keeping the nursery, teaching Sunday school, visiting the shut-ins, calling last week’s visitors. It goes on and on and on until you’re spending all this time working for the Lord but you’re not spending time on what He desires from you most: your fellowship.

John wanted to share the good news of Christ so others would come to know Him and fellowship with Him. (1 John 1:3, 6) He knew what the most needful thing in his life was.

We need to remember that as well. Mary knew it was better to sit at the feet of Jesus, loving Him and sharing with Him, rather than preparing a five-course dinner like Martha.

To know Him more intimately, we must spend time with Him. Out of this closer relationship, our love for Him grows and we desire to serve Him more.

When Jesus becomes our sole focus, nothing can shake us. If we make fellowship with Him a priority, He will make Himself known to us like we’ve never known Him before.

Questions: Do you typically see yourself as being a “Mary” person or “Martha” person? How can you embrace your nature while at the same time working to appreciate the “other side”?

Although God could instantly transform us, he has chosen to develop us slowly.

Why does it take so long to change and grow? There are several reasons:

We are slow learners. We often have to relearn a lesson forty or fifty times to really get it. The problems keep recurring, and we think, “Not again! I’ve already learned that!”—but God knows better. We need repeated exposure.

We have a lot to unlearn. Many people go to a counselor with a personal or relational problem that took years to develop and say, “I need you to fix me. I’ve got an hour.” Since most of our problems—and all of our bad habits—didn’t develop overnight, it’s unrealistic to expect them go away immediately.

Growth is often painful and scary, but if you want the next ten years to be the best of your life, the work you are doing now will be well worth it. There is no growth without change; there is no change without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain. Even if our old ways are self-defeating, we are tempted to return to them because, like a worn out pair of shoes, they are comfortable and familiar.

You must let go of old ways in order to experience the new, but what God has planned for you is far more than anything you can imagine. Stay steady at it, remembering that “little by little” God is clearing the way for you to grow and change.

Questions: What are some of the reasons why change can often take so long? Why should we remain hopeful if it seems like it’s taking awhile for God to “develop us”?

“Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49)

These are the words spoken by Jesus to His Mother, after she had anxiously been looking for Him. It was their custom to go to Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover every year.  At that time, Jesus was only twelve years old.  His parents, not knowing that Jesus had stayed behind, began their journey back home.

An entire day went by, when they discovered He wasn’t with them.  When their own relatives and acquaintances also didn’t know where he was, they went back. After seeking Him for three days, they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

I can only imagine the look on Mary’s face, when she finally found Him, and asked, (I’m sure with a stern voice) “Son, why have You done this to us?  Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously”.

Jesus answered her and with words they couldn’t understand. His words held a profound truth. If we can understand and take it to heart it will have a great impact on us.

When Jesus said “I must be about My Father’s business”, He was not referring to Joseph, but to His Heavenly Father.  In John 5:19 Jesus said that He can do nothing by himself but only what he sees His Father doing.  Again, in John 6:38 He says that He came down from heaven, not to do His will, but to do the will of the One who sent Him.

Jesus did nothing apart from His Father and longed only to live the purpose His Heavenly Father had for Him.  Only He truly knew what it entailed and all He was called too, likewise, only you know your Father’s purpose for your own life.

Do you know that God created you with purpose? You are His Workmanship and He prepared works for you even before the foundation of the earth was laid. I believe that if we take the stance Jesus took – living out of a heavenly perspective, being aligned with the will of God our Father, knowing His thoughts towards us for our lives – His purpose will prevail and succeed through us, giving Him glory!

Nothing could stop Jesus from fulfilling His purpose to destroy the works of the devil, set the captives free, bring good news to the people and heal all those who were oppressed by the devil.   No, not even His own earthly parents.

We must be about our Father’s business.  We must ask Him what it is He created us for and be obedient walking into His perfectly chosen destiny for our lives.

Heavenly Father, I ask that you show me what Your will is for my life.  I ask that You reveal to me what You have prepared for me to do, Lord, and that You would open my eyes to see as Jesus saw what You had for Him to do, and that You would open my ears to hear Your voice speaking to me the truth of Your will.  Strengthen me to do what you have called me to do.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Find your purpose

Questions: Do you know that God created you with purpose?  How have you sought to live out that purpose by God’s power and the Spirit’s strength today?

About the Author: Brigitte Straub

“Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long” Psalm 25:4, 5

Father in Heaven,

Thank You for the promise and hope of Your Word. Thank You that You can be counted on to guide me through my day. Today I need to walk in the hope that only You can give. My way is unclear, my path sometimes feels like it twists and turns in confusing and busy ways as I wind my way along my journey.

Show me Your ways, Lord. Show me how You would walk in these places. Teach me Your paths of grace and mercy and integrity and love. Help me to grasp Your ways so I can walk securely in them even in insecure places. I need Your perspective today.

Guide me in Your truth, Lord. With out Your Word active in my heart and mind I cannot know Your truth. Help me to make time to read my Bible. Help me to take time to think on it and let it penetrate my heart. Lord, Your Word will guide me as a beacon and a light. I need Your Word to guide me. Forgive me when I have left it on the shelf or have simply grabbed a verse and run off for the day, quickly forgetting what I read.

Thank You that You promise to guide me and teach me as I let Your truth impact my heart and my mind.

Oh Lord, You are my Savior, my rescuer and my redeemer. You alone are the One who restores and renews my spirit and brings meaning to my life. You bless me. May my heart overflow with thanksgiving to You for Your hand in my life.

I will put my hope in You today, all day long. Remind me by Your Holy Spirit to look to You to guide me. Call me into Your quiet presence to think on Your truths and may I not be distracted. This is the oxygen of my soul. Thank You that You give the hope and help and peace I need today. Thank You that You never cease to call me to Yourself. Help me to respond afresh to Your presence in my life. In Jesus’ strong name I pray, amen.

Questions: How would you define hope? What is the difference between wishing and hoping? Why can we hope in God all day long?

About the Author:  Gail Rodgers

“We love because He first loved us” 1 John 4:19

The reason God wants us to love is because He is love, and He created us to be like him—to love. The only reason we’re able to love is because God loves us: “Love comes from God … because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).

We were created in God’s image to do two things on earth: Learn to love God, and learn to love other people. Life is all about love.

But love all started with God. He loved us first and that gives us the ability to love others (1 John 4:19). The only reason you can love God or love anybody else is because God first loved you. And He showed that love by sending Jesus Christ to earth to die for you. He showed that love by creating you. He showed that love by everything you have in life; it’s all a gift of God’s love.

In order to love others and to become great lovers, we first need to understand and feel how much God loves us. We don’t want to just talk about love, read about love, or discuss love; we need to experience the love of God.

We need to reach a day when we finally, fully understand how God loves us completely and unconditionally. We need to become secure in the truth that we cannot make God stop loving us.

Once we’re secure inside God’s unconditional love, we’ll start cutting people a lot of slack. We won’t be as angry as we’ve been. We’ll be more patient. We’ll be more forgiving. We’ll be more merciful. We’ll give others grace.

But you cannot give to others what you have not received yourself, and so my hope is that, as you learn how much God loves you, you’ll also let Him heal your heart so that His love can flow freely through you. It’s impossible to love others until you really feel loved yourself.

Question: What should the results be we see in our own lives as we truly begin to grasp and appreciate God’s love for us?

About the Author:  Rick Warren

“It’s better to be criticized by a wise man than praised by a fool” Ecclesiastes 7:5

Mentors can bring out the best in you and help you achieve God’s unique mission for your life. They help you keep growing—in your roles, your goals, and your soul.

To be mentored, you must learn to listen and receive feedback. I’ve had eight different mentors in my life. I also have a whole list of advisors—they’re like my brain trust. I bounce ideas off them and get their feedback.

The Bible teaches the importance of accepting feedback: “It’s better to be criticized by a wise man than praised by a fool” (Ecclesiastes 7:5).

Feedback is absolutely essential in order to fulfill God’s mission for your life. If you don’t get feedback, you’re going to get off course. Did you know that in all the Apollo flights to the moon the shuttles had to do course corrections literally every second? The earth was turning, the moon was turning, and in order to get the rocket to the spot on the moon where it was supposed to be at a specific time, the astronauts had to continually correct their course.

And that means they had to get feedback.

If you’re not open to feedback, you’re not going to learn, you’re not going to grow, and you’re not going to develop. Go out and find someone you trust, someone with skills and experiences you can learn from and ask that person to be your mentor.

Question: Do you have a mentor? Why or why not?

About the Author: Rick Warren

“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”

Bill Bright had a passion to reach the world with the Gospel. In 1951 at the University of California, Los Angeles, Bill and Vonette Bright founded Campus Crusade for Christ. (Power to Change Ministries is the Canadian division of Campus Crusade for Christ International.) Although the Brights started out with little more than a vision of reaching college students with the Gospel, they trusted in God to provide, and their ministry quickly began to grow. As God blessed it and others saw the same vision and were called into service, the ministry began to thrive. In less than 10 years Campus Crusade was active on 40 US campuses and also in three other countries.

Today, Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI) employs over 27,000 missionaries all over the world, most of whom are entirely supported by partnerships with others.  Although Dr Bright went to be with the Lord in 2003, he lived to see his vision fulfilled. CCCI continues to make a positive contribution as the largest evangelical organization in the world.

Dr Bright was a prolific writer, and many of his writings have been put online for the edification of believers everywhere. Not just concerned with “getting saved,” Bright also wanted people to live fully formed spiritual lives as Christians.

If you are a Christian, you will benefit from his writing. One of the most popular series is the ten “Transferable Concepts,” otherwise known as “Lessons for New Christians“. These are life lessons, which are short interactive studies. When you complete one, you will receive a personalized reply via email from a mentor. The first in the series is “How to Be Sure You are a Christian“. If you have been a Christian for a long time, you might want to consider starting with “How You Can Walk in the Spirit.” Try one today!

Since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be.” (Romans 12:4, Msg)

God deserves your best. He shaped you for a purpose, and he expects you to make the most of what you have been given.

Don’t let another day go by. Start finding out and clarifying what God intends for you to be and do.

Begin by assessing your gifts and abilities. The best way to discover your gifts and abilities is to experiment with different areas of service.

I could have taken a hundred gifts and ability tests as a young man and would have never discovered that I was gifted at teaching because I had never done it! It was only after I began accepting opportunities to speak that I saw the results, received confirmation from others, and realized, “God has gifted me to do this!”

Consider your heart and your personality. This is simple. Paul advised, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.” (Galatians 6:4, Msg)

Examine your experiences and extract the lessons you have learned. Review your life and think about how it has shaped you.

Moses told the Israelites, “Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him.” (Deuteronomy 11:2, TEV)

Forgotten experiences are worthless; that’s a good reason to keep a spiritual journal.

In heaven we are going to serve God forever. Right now, we can prepare for that eternal service by practicing on earth.

Like athletes preparing for the Olympic, we keep training for that big day: “They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.” (1 Corinthians 9:25, Msg)

We’re getting ready for eternal responsibilities and rewards.

Point to ponder: The time we’ve been given here on earth is best used to serve God.

Verse: “Since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be.” (Romans 12:4, Msg)

What will you do about it: Try serving in a new way. Get involved in a ministry you’ve never been involved with before and see if you’re gifted to serve there.

Prayer: Ask God to show you where to serve, when to serve and how best to serve. Ask him to open up the right doors and give you clear direction about your unique area of ministry.

Question: How are you using what God has given you in service, in your church or elsewhere?

About the Author: Rick Warren

TheLife.com is now PowerToChange.com!

This site is maintained by TruthMedia, a division on Power to Change. Over the next days and weeks this site, along with several others, will be moving into a new format branded as Power to Change.

All of your favorites will still be here along with a bunch of new features we’re excited to share with you. Now all of our audiences will have access to blogs, comments and videos along with more frequent updates, bigger images and a wider range of content.

Legacy of a Christian Father
I grew up as a pastor’s kid. I am also adopted. My birth mom was only a teenager when she had me. She was in an abusive marriage with an alcoholic. In order to give me a better life, my birth mother and biological dad thought it in my best interest to be given to a family who could better care for me than they could. I was adopted by a Pastor and his wife who desperately wanted more children. Read more.

Take action: Are there big problems in your life or looming on the horizon? Get help dealing with the big stuff in our online interactive study Confronting Giants: Dealing with the Big Stuff.

You said it: This week kaddee shared on the Back to School women’s devotional, saying “First the best way to be in constant learning mode is to read the Word of God, then there are so many godly authors now that it is way too hard to keep up, books of fiction and non-fiction help with the learning process, and my second favorite is music, gospel music helps me to praise when nothing is going right and I’m feel defeated.” Read the rest of the comments on Back to School, and join the conversation on Devotional for Men and Devotional for Women, each updated daily!

Video: Adoption Conversations
Three Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professors share their stories about adoption, their adopted children, and how adoption has changed and enriched their lives. Read more

Devotional: Displaying God’s Glory
When Jesus’ disciples saw a man who had been blind since he was born, they assumed it was the result of sin. Jesus quickly corrected their misunderstanding with the statement above from John 9:3. God’s intention to display his glory in this man was planned before the man was born. Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Count It All Joy” Join us in the chat room September 29th 2009 @ 4:00pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.