One Verse Devotional

In order to experience all that God has for you, you must let go of your past. God has!

Yesterday, we learned that God is doing a new thing in our lives. He is creating streams of life-giving water in what sometimes feels like the wilderness of life. Today, we learn another critical piece to this puzzle. The verse prior to yesterday's One Verse explains HOW we can experience the new things God is doing in our lives. Isaiah 43:18 teaches us that we have to stop dwelling on the past and forget the sins and mistakes we've made. And here is the best part, God is the one speaking! He doesn't want to judge you. He doesn't want to hold you back or keep you down. He wants you to move on into the future blessings that He has for your life! Let's finally forgive ourselves. God has. It's time to let go of the past and move forward into the future that God has laid out for us!

God is doing a new thing in your life. He is creating streams in the wilderness.

Sometimes life is confusing. We don't know what the future holds. It can feel like our future is nothing more than a barren wilderness of options. But that's not true, even if it feels that way, because God is doing a new thing in our lives. In our One Verse today, God is talking, and He tells us that He is doing a new thing. He is forming streams in the middle of the wasteland. Life is never perfect. There will be times when it feels like a wilderness. But God has not left you. He has a plan, and He is not surprised about your circumstances. Stay true to Him. He IS doing a new thing in your life. Keep your eyes on Him, and He will show you the life-giving stream you've been waiting for!

I wanted to give you an update of some things God shared with me this past weekend. It really comes down to asking ourselves a tough question: What do you want?

Yes, that question may seem selfish, at first. And it can be if we are seeking after ourselves. But if we are seeking after God, He promises to show us the TRUE desires of our heart. The desires that God placed there! As long as what you want--your desires--line up with the Bible, you can be confident that it is coming from God.

Sometimes, we need to spend time in deep reflection. That is what I did this past weekend. I did an exercise that I learned from a friend and former pastor. It goes like this: Take a piece of paper and draw a line, like a timeline. Then think of a certain period of time. This can be your entire life or a smaller section of time. Since it has been a rough summer, I chose to focus on that past 3-4 months. Now, on top of the line, you write the word PASSION and below the line, PAIN. Then you simply plot out all the things that brought you passion and joy, as well as those things that brought you pain. Through this, you will uncover themes in your life.

For me, it showed me that I must be creating and building something that has Kingdom value. It showed me that I can't be done with the podcast, yet. It showed me that I need to focus on the calling God has placed on my life to draw people closer to Him and teach everyone about how to live with a "Love first" worldview.

What about you? What do you want? What is God trying to show you? And what desires has God placed in your heart?

Today's One Verse is one of the great promises of the Bible, yet very few Christians know about it or act on it. James opens his letter with this plea: "Does anyone lack wisdom? Ask God! He will give it to you!" What an awesome verse! What an amazing promise. Do you need more wisdom in this life (Um, yeah!). Ok, Ask God. He promises to give it to you. It doesn't get any more simple than that! There is no technicality or red tape. There is no trick. You need it? Ask for it. He'll give it. If you are reading this, I STRONGLY encourage you to take God up on His promise. Add into your daily prayer life. I truly believe this one simple prayer can alter the path of your life. How would life be different if you would have God's wisdom with every decision? If we take Him up on this promise, our future is in much better hands!

Let's be quick to open our ears and slow to open our mouths.

The Book of James teaches us that we need to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to have anger. Have you looked at your Facebook newsfeed, lately? Oh, my! The internet has given us a voice. What we haven't realized is that it has given us a great way to listen, as well. You can be firm in your beliefs. This verse isn't about compromise. Look at Jesus. He spoke to tax collectors and prostitutes and all sorts of people. He always listened. Let's follow the teaching of James and the example of Jesus. Let us listen before we speak. Understanding James 1:19 is a core foundation to living a "Love first" lifestyle.

Many of us feel pain and regret over past mistakes and sins. However, you will never fully realize the glorious future that God has for you until you let go of your past.

In our One Verse Devotional today, Paul says "this one thing I do" and then goes on to list two things. Was Paul stupid? No. Paul was a very well-educated man. But he is using this as a word illustration to point out and teach us a critical principle of life. In order for us to be able to move into the future and live out our God-given purposes, we have to let go of our past mistakes, sin, guilt, and shame. I know this because I've lived this. For over 10 years! I just couldn't get over my guilt and shame, but I would still try to step into God's will for my life. And it was impossible! Why? Because we have to do this ONE thing: Forget what is behind AND move into what is ahead at the same time. If we follow this principle, it will allow us to step into God's best for our lives.

This world needs love. And if God is Love, His people need to lead the charge.

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other." What a beautiful way to begin a verse. It is a prayer of blessing. May the Lord bless you. May He keep you. May the Lord make your love increase. That is kind of how I read this verse. I also love that Paul purposefully says "for each other and everyone else." We can't read this verse and think that it only means we show love to other Christians. There is no stipulations to this verse. May the Lord increase your love to everyone. That's it. May God increase your love. It doesn't matter who. May God increase your love for everyone. Always.

Let's have an honest conversation about depression, shame, and grit. Today, I wanted to share a little bit about what has been going on in my life, as well as a recent sermon I preached. I talk a little about the podcast and the shame I've felt from not posting regularly. Love you guys. This is a long one! I hope you enjoy it.

Yesterday, we talked about being crucified with Christ. But what does that mean for our lives? Where do we go from there? Our One Verse, Colossians 3:2, answers this question: We must set our minds on the things above. As followers of Jesus, we are strangers in this world. We belong to a different kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven. Yes, we have jobs and homes and bills. Yes, it's ok to have fun and take vacations. But where is our FOCUS? If we can remind ourselves daily that the "old self" is gone and we are new creations in Jesus; that we belong to His Kingdom more than this world, it will give us a different outlook on God, our lives, and other people.

The Christian life has some strange themes and ideas. It's true. Many of the teachings of Jesus simply confused the people He was talking to. In today's One Verse Podcast Devotional, Paul writes about death and life. A strange thing to write. Why would Christians be called to die? This idea of death and life deals with our spirit. We all have a dark side, deep down, that we would rather not think about. I do. The greed, jealousy, envy, pride, and lust that wants to creep up in my life. That is the "old flesh" as Paul called it in another passage. There is only one response to the old flesh: death. We crucify is with Jesus on the cross. BUT through this death, we experience true life in Jesus. We are transformed. We are given new life and the "new flesh" in Christ. Now, we no longer live for #1. Because Jesus didn't either. He gave His life away. Let's follow Jesus's example and spread His Light and Love to this dark world.