Know Christ

Believers Ministry Daily Devotional

7-28-09

Donna Braman

Today Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

A PASSION TO KNOW CHRIST

Read: Philippians 3: 3-12

In today's society, "passion" usually refers to senuality or sexuality. But the word's meaning is an intense desire toward something or someone, and can include spirituality. The one place passion ought to appear is in the believer's life: we should fervently seek to know the Lord Jesus Christ who saved us.

When we claim to now someone, we often mean that we've accumulated facts about the person or simply are aware of his existence. Unfortunately, too many Christians "know" Jesus Christ in this superficial way. He is the world's Savior, the virgin-born Son of God who accepted death in our place and then rose again to sit at the Father's right hand. Those are the facts, but collecting and sharing data points will not bring lasting satisfaction. Who is this Jesus that willingly died? Why did He give His life? The quest for these answers begins a journey to intimacy and true knowledge of Christ.

By recognizing Jesus as our Savior, we are blessed with redemption and a basic spiritual relationship. But though we've gained heaven, we can miss the treasure of experiencing Christ as Lord, the one that gives rivers of living water for our souls. Few people will delve deep enough into Scripture and spiritual intimacy to claim Him as their life, as the one who makes believers complete. The apostle Paul was so intimately acquainted with God that he viewed his own history and experiences as trash when compared with knowing Jesus.

SEED WORD:

If you want to thirst for Jesus as Paul did, only Scripture and your experience with Him can fuel your passion. Start by opening the Word and drinking Him in. The word is life, it is the discerner of the heart, it is the sword of the Spirit, instruction for your life and empowers you to have victory in warfare with the enemy, and its power can save your soul. When we start to do as we see Jesus do, His Holy Spirit begins to manifest in our life. His transforming power quickly shows the believer that nothing in this earthly realm can come close to life in the Kingdom.

Fuel

Believers Ministry Daily Devotional

7-22-09

Donna Braman

Today Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

FUELING A PASSION FOR CHRIST

Read: 2 Peter 1:1-4

Studying God's Word is the essential first step to developing zeal for Christ. We must understand His ways and promises before we can fall deeply in love with Him. While the Bible creates the first spark of passion, we must continue to add fuel. Believers described as "on fire" for the Lord practice biblical principles.

Like any loving relationship, our intimacy with Jesus requires that we give Him our time. These quiet moments are meant for worship or meditation instead of working through a request list. Too often we Christians stretch out our hands, but not our hearts, we rather know Him as the One who answers prayer instead of loving Him for himself. To acheive a true friendship, we muct talk with Christ as our Friend and listen for Him to speak through the Holy Spirit.

Passinate believers also seek evidence of Christ's work in everyday circumstances. He assures us of direction and provision. If we are on the lookout, we will witness the promise in action. Sometimes events seem too random or tragic to yield good, but continued scriptural study, prayer, and patience often reveal God's greater purpose. We are wise to record the Lord's work as we see events unfold. When our faith falters, a written testimony outlining His daily divine management of earthly affairs encourages us to trust and obey.

SEED WORD:

Feuling a passion for Christ is not a one day affair, or just on Sunday. You must lay aside everything that competes with your devotion to Him. Jesus captured my heart the day he reached down to my dead spirit and sin filled life and saved me. When I began to plant the seed of his word in me, my spirit quickened, my mind renewed and as he began to prepare this vessel called my flesh I was completely regenerated by the blood of Christ. As his work at the cross became a part of who I am, I had been transformed to the image of my creator, my covenant with him became clear and as I began to live my inheritance and promises my love has deepened for Him. When Christ begins to manifest into a power that is beyond yourself and your faith becomes an action word you will begin to see the Kingdom, the power and the Glory at work in your life. Such love can only occur when you no longer see the old self and you're living the miracle of the depth, the height, the width and length of His Love. Coming into His presence everyday in the stillness of the 3rd watch of the night when He is in you and you are in Him produces joy unimaginable and empowers you to call things that are not as though they are and you reap a 100 fold manifestation into your life circumstances. There is nothing of this earthly nature that can produce such passion.

Profit from Pain

Believers Ministry Daily Devotional

7-21-09

Donna Braman

Today Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

PROFITING FROM PAIN

Read: Psalm 23:5-6

People rarely think of suffering as profitable. But when facing the difficulty and pain of a valley experience, we mature spiritually. We make discoveries about ourselves when trials peel away that facade we've created on the outside and our inner selves are exposed. As our life is shaken, we learn what forms our faith: the Scriptures, the preoccupation with self or our popularity with man. Consequently, valley experiences reveal priorities, spiritual crutches, and whether we boast of Christ or our own strength. God's purpose is to wrench away everything we depend on until nothing competes with Jesus' reign.

Crutches and bravado are to be replaced by a real dependence upon God. Believers are encouraged to recall that He provides for our needs. Psalm 23, and he prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He heals our wounds, he anoints my head with oil. (vs. 5) A good shepherd rubbed oil onto the scrapes his sheep received while foraging on. In that way, healing began before the animal left the valley floor. As a result of relying on our Sheperd, we experience renewed intimacy and a sense of inner peace that sustains us through the challenge and beyond.

SEED WORD:

God's children can profit from pain only by accepting the Father's work in the valleys. Fighting or crying or blaming gains us nothing. Accepting means asking the Lord two questions: What is Your will for me at this time? Lord, how am I to respond to this valley? Whatever the Lord's response, our next step is submitting ourselves and all we have to Him with the knowledge that our valley is really a gateway to His purpose and will for our life.

The Valley

Believers Ministry Daily Devotional

07-16-09

This Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

THE BELIEVER'S VALLEY EXPERIENCES

Read: Psalm 23: 1-4

In the Bible, valleys symbolize periods of hardship and suffering. King David describes to us in the Psalms a particularly dangerous and painful image when he refers to "the valley of the shadow of death" (vs-4). In the midst of a poem meant to provide comfort and assurance is a cold reminder that spiritual valleys are inevitable. But if we read only of green pastures and quiet waters, we miss the heart of Psalm 23 and a core truth about the believers life.

The valley verse contains a promise not found among the lovely first lines. In hardship, believers discover "Thou art with me" (vs 4). God's unwavering presence becomes most obvious to us when we are vulnerable. And along with our experience of His assurance and comfort comes the understanding that the Lord goes with us daily - even into the depths of our despair. When people do not recognize His constancy they turn to other coping methods, such as going to bars for a so-called happy hour or burying themselves in work. But filled with the knowledge that God holds us no matter how deep or wide our "valley" is, believers can release fear and endure suffering.

As the Good Sheperd, Jesus protects and guides His lambs through trials. Even in these low places, we cannot be snatched from Him. (John 10:29) His rod beats away predators trying to drag away one of the flock. And His staff's crooked neck pulls a wandering sheep back from the cliff's edge.

SEED WORD:

When we are in a dark valley, God may be our only comfort. But we can take heart because He's always there, our Sheperd never forsakes His beloved lambs. It is not the valleys that you must worry about but how you go through the valley is what counts. We can mope around in our valleys or we can turn things over to the Lord, start praising him and thanking him for that valley because the sooner you come out of it the quicker he will bring you into the still waters. Remember the potter keeps putting his pot back into the fire until it sings. Look what happened to Paul and Silas in their midnight hour, as they began to sing praises, the bars fell open.

Courage

Believers Ministry Daily Devotional

07-11-09

Today Is The Day The Lord Has Made And I Shall Rejoice In It!

COURAGE - AN EMPOWERING EMOTION

Read: Joshua 3:1-17

What would you say if God asked you to lead many others, as Joshua did? Speak His words to prominent leaders, as Daniel did? God wants us to repond with courage when He calls us to tackle something beyond our ability.

Our first step toward bravery is meditation on the Word of God - we are to search for its meaning as if for treasure. With the spirit's help, we will understand the Bible and learn how to apply its wisdom to our situation. Next is obedience to the Word. As we contemplate God's truths, they become imprinted on our minds and influence our actions. Scripture is meant to shape our thinking and cause us to follow biblical principles. The more we think God's way, the more we will act like Him.

Trusting in God's promises is the third action needed for building courage. Joshua moved across the Jordan River towards Jericho because he took God at His word. The fourth step in developing fearlessness is to recall past victories. Young David, the shepherd boy, did this effectively. His remembrance of God's past protection gave him the courage to fight the Philistine giant, Goliath. (1Samuel 17) Practicing these steps will empower us to focus on victory rather than defeat, reject others' fearfulness, and obey God without alarm when He calls us to do something, and don't worry about possible consequences.

SEED WORD:

God wants His followers to bear witness of Him to an unbelieving and often hostile world. Will you speak the truth of Christ's resurrection. His saving power from sin, and His promised return? The Lord is calling your name. What reply will you give?