The Path: Grow With Us

Day 9

2 Timothy 3:16-17 MSG

“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”

Your bible is amazing. It’s one epic story that leads to Jesus. It’s about people who lived thousands of years ago. And it’s all about you and me. It’s about God’s incredible pursuit of our hearts and how through Jesus we can now have a relationship with Him. It’s about the birth of the church, which we are a continuation of today. That’s why I think the book of Acts finishes open ended; our story is writing part of Acts chapter 29!

Beyond that, Scripture is the primary way God speaks to us. We hear him speak the truth about who he is and who we are. It can be a mirror he uses to help us see our faults and the things we’d rather hide. Sometimes he uses it to chip away at the stony places in our hearts. And at times, his word leaves us undone. But he always does it with love and compassion towards us with the goal of helping us become more like Jesus.

I like the sound of that. To be more like Jesus.

So where do you begin if you haven’t been too acquainted with your bible? One suggestion is to start with a bible reading plan or devotional from YouVersion, the bible app. Pick one on a topic that interests you. Complete it and do another one. You can also read a Psalm a day. The book of Psalms deals with everything you and I deal with and every emotion we have. Try starting at the beginning of Psalms. Or dig into Luke and watch the life of Jesus.

Whatever you choose, just begin. Read, think about what you’ve read, and then ask God to speak to you about what you’ve read.

Day 8

I love the promises of faith. Even just a little faith.

“Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains,” Jesus once said.

My problem is sometimes I don’t feel much faith, how about you? Sometimes I really believe and sometimes I really doubt. Sometimes I “sort of believe” God can help me, come through for me, and do what He promised. And so I feel the need to fake faith or try to muster it up. Fortunately, I don’t need to do either.

That’s why I’m so encouraged by the story of Mark 9. Here Jesus encountered a father whose son had been emotionally and spiritually tormented since childhood. By now, he’d pretty much lost hope that things would ever change. Maybe you have something like that, too.

In desperation, the father asked Jesus to help “if he can.”

Jesus’ response is pretty bold and sassy.

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

But I love most what the father says next.

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

“I sorta believe,” he confesses. He asks Jesus to meet him halfway. To help him in his unbelief. And Jesus did. And Jesus healed his son and set him free.

God already knows our doubts and struggles. I’m telling you, the seed of faith works well in the soil of honesty. Let’s keep running after God, strengthening our faith by reading and listening to His Word (“faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”) and staying brutally honest about where we actually are. God can work with that.

Day 7 - Jan 11

Matthew 6:16-18 NLT

“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Jesus said “And when you fast”. When you fast, not if you fast. It seems that what he is saying is that fasting is a normal, expected part of the life of a Jesus-follower.

Hmmm. I don’t know about you, but I had followed Jesus for a while before I heard about the importance of fasting. Before that I thought it was something they did in Old Testament days or it was something you did if you were a monk or extra-spiritual. Definitely not for me! But one day, someone who was mentoring me challenged me with this scripture. She told me to fast one meal a day for a week and to use the time I would have been eating to instead spend time with God praying and listening for him to speak to me.

Those seven days rocked my spiritual life. I had felt dry and stuck spiritually. As I persevered through the week - and it wasn’t easy - I found my heart becoming more tuned in to God’s voice and my prayers took on life again.

What is your hope for your fast? Do you feel dry or stuck spiritually? Are you wanting more in your relationship with Jesus? Or are you not sure what you need?

God is ready and waiting for you. He will not disappoint. In fact, just as I was, I expect you will gain more out of these 21 days than you ever imagined. Today when you start to crave the thing you are fasting, pray and thank God for the reminder that he is the only One who truly satisfies. Let faith build in your heart for what he’s doing in your below the surface, even if you can’t see it yet.

Day 6

“In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”- Psalm 5:3 NIV

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” - Matthew 6:33

We’ve been talking about “first fruits.”

It’s the power of firsts. The power of priority. There’s also a practical element to this as well. It’s a really simple but powerful principle for life - do first whatever you want to put first. In other words, whatever you desire to make a priority in your life, prioritize first on your calendar. And in your day. So often in my life, what I claim as most important - my health, relationships, spirituality - these become the leftovers “if I have time” after everything else.

Maybe you’ve seen the big rocks illustration.  A glass cylinder, grains of sand, big rocks. In one example, the grains are poured in first, and then the big rocks try to be added but they don’t fit. In the following example, the big rocks go in first, then all the sand is poured in, and - amazingly - the sand all fits and slides in around the rocks.

This principle works for life as well. When we put big rocks first - spend time with God in the morning BEFORE anything else, tithe off our paycheck BEFORE we spend anything, prioritize church first thing in the week BEFORE the other days - God’s Spirit has space and a way of ordering everything else. Our days begin to take on purpose and blessing and we grow in our faith.

Another translation of Matthew 6:33 says it something like this - “seek God first and He will order everything else in your life.”

What if, during this fast, in just one area you took this challenge - SCRIPTURE BEFORE PHONE. Before you touched news or social media or texts in the morning, you take just 5 - 10 minutes to read over Scripture, pray, and let God’s Spirit and words pour over your soul.

Day 5

Hebrews 13:15 NIV

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”

What does the word “praise” bring to your mind? Compliments from your family and friends?  Awards? Your picture in the news with a story about your accomplishments and what a great person you are? Those are all ways we can be praised. And it’s also how we can praise God.

There’s power in praising Him for who he is. He’s loving and faithful, compassionate, strong. He is your provider, protector, healer and guide. He never changes.  He is merciful, wonderful, and beautiful.

Praise Him for what he has done. If you know Jesus, that means.He has saved you and you are spending eternity in his presence! He promises to provide for you in every way: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Praise Him for all the ways you have seen his faithfulness in the past and praise him that you know that means he will be faithful in the future. Praise him because he gives you the breath in your lungs and makes your heart beat. He gives you the strength in your body to get up in the morning and accomplish what your day holds. Praise him for all the blessings in your life and his sustaining strength in your storms.

Praise him because he has given you gifts and talents and a purpose for your life. And he has forgiven you of every sin you have committed or will commit. Wiped your slate clean. And he has opened the way for you to have intimate fellowship with Him now and for eternity.

Today, take time to praise God. There is power in praise. Especially when we feel like it least.

Make a list of His goodness. Write it down. Tell him how wonderful He is, how much you love him. Remind yourself of how big, and how great He is.

Day 4

Maybe one of the most moving places in all of Scripture is recorded in John 21. Jesus has died and risen but not yet ascended back to heaven. As for his student and friend, Peter, he was back out fishing. Nothing wrong with that, except that was his life before Jesus called him to be something else. And that’s what shame will do - drive us back into what Jesus called us out of. This was, after all, just days after Peter had denied Jesus.

Peter was a failure. A goner. Not someone that could really ever be used again in any kind of great way. So Jesus appears at the shore. Most likely ready to come down hard on Peter, right?

Let’s read.

“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’

‘No,’ they answered.

He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’

None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.”

If you read on later, this is where Jesus restores Peter and his calling.

But I love that Jesus didn’t even bring up the failure in this moment. He knew Peter had already repented. He knew they would address some things in the right time. In this moment, though, He just wanted Peter to know He loved him, He wasn’t through with him, He still had a plan for him.

Maybe like Peter, you’ve had a rough week. Maybe even a rough last night. Maybe a rough few years. You think God’s words for you are, “go straighten your life up and get back with me.” Instead, may you hear His voice today say, “Come, let’s have breakfast.”

I don’t care how bad you’ve messed up. If you still have breath, God isn’t through with you. You’re not too far gone. You’re not second-rate. You’re not too damaged for God to restore you and do something great through your life. Jesus is calling from the shore. If you listen carefully enough, you’ll hear a tone of mercy and grace, not shame and condemnation.

May sound weird, but during this fast, let’s commit to breakfast with Jesus every morning. Don’t let shame drive you away from the table. Whatever is going on, talk to Him, be with Him, and let Him speak to you over some coffee and eggs.

Day 3

This week we’ve been talking about the power of firsts. Our “offering of firsts” (love towards others, prayer, etc.) should be the natural response of gratitude to an incredibly generous God. It also postures our heart and brings blessing and reward.

I want to think (and worship) for a moment today, though, on the reality that we give God the first in every area because He already went first in every area.

Romans 12 says it this way - “Therefore, I urge you… in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.”

See, we honor God with our bodies and life because He gave us our bodies and life - and grace and mercy along with it. Maybe a great prayer this morning is simple – “God, I offer my body and life afresh to you today.”

Likewise, we give God the first of our day because He gave us another day.

Many even give God the first tenth of their paycheck (tithe) because He already gave us the ability to work and the opportunity to live on the earth He created.

Even when we worship, in a sense we are giving God back His breath that He first breathed in us.

Hey, here’s one - and I’m so thankful for it - it’s not that we first loved Him; it’s that he first loved us. Our response of love to Him is incited by His passionate initiation of love towards us.

But here’s maybe the most exciting, especially if you’re feeling afraid of death or just lost someone you love.

Because Jesus rose again, we will, too.

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” - 1st Corinthians 15:20 NIV

Jesus is the first fruits of eternal life, both for life after death, and for fullness of life now (“I have come that you may have life and life more abundantly.”)

This should cause us to think, pray, worship, and wonder today at God’s amazing beauty and wonder and acts. Jesus is mu resurrection, but physically and spiritually. When my heart truly swells with the weight of all God has done for me, the only thing I can do is eagerly follow Him back with every area of my life.

Day 2

1 John 4:19 NLT

“We love each other because he loved us first.”

Let’s be honest - sometimes people are difficult to love. People are messy. Frustrating. At times even hurtful and damaging.

They can hurt us, misunderstand us and betray us. Jesus knows all that and yet still says, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:35a) So why is he commanding me to love? Because he says, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35b). Our loving posture, not our opinions-and-politics posture – that’s what will tell people who don’t know God that there is unusual love and power deep inside us.

This is tough since the norm in our broken world is offence, cancelling, and vengeance. Yet we as Jesus-followers are called to be different. Very different.

He loved us first, before we loved him. He still loves us first even when we are messy and frustrating, even when we are hurting and betraying others. He keeps on loving us and though we don’t deserve it, “if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1John 1:9) That’s why we are to extend that same love to others.  Maybe you feel like they don’t deserve it. Well, neither do we. He loved us first. He forgives us when we mess up.

Loving others. That’s definitely difficult at times, especially someone has hurt us. Maybe that’s why he also says this, ”But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44) Really, Jesus? Even that person?

Yes, even that person.

Today, pray for someone you find difficult to love. Ask God to help you see them the way he sees them and to love them in a tangible way.

Day 1

Nehemiah 10:35 NLT

“We promise to bring the first part of every harvest to the Lord’s Temple year after year—whether it be a crop from the soil or from our fruit trees.”

Welcome, 2023.

Some of us greet this year with anticipation of good things, some of us with anxiety about what may be coming in the next 365 days.

No matter what you are feeling, one thing is for sure: this is the beginning of a new year. And it matters howwe begin the new year. It also matters to God.

The first of anything is special, whether it’s a first day of school or new job, your first car or your first kiss. And maybe you’ve never thought of it this way, but God sees firsts as special, too. He even told the Israelites to bring the first part of every harvest to Him as an offering. Not just to honor Him, but to posture their hearts to receive what He had.That’s what we are doing during the next 21 days.  We are dedicating the first of this new year to seeking him through fasting and intentional prayer.

Fasting is a powerful way to do this. To begin the new year. To connect with God. There are a number of ways to fast. Some may abstain from sweets or caffeine, or even completely set aside one meal a day and talk to to God during that time. You can choose to fast meat or carbs or give up that thing that you turn to when you’re stressed (chocolate anyone?). Or how about your daily Starbucks? The idea is that by eliminating something that normally fills us up we will become more aware of our physical hunger and turn it into hunger for God. The exciting thing is, Jesus promises to fill hungry hearts.

The combination of prayer and fasting is spiritual dynamite. When that hunger hits and instead of reaching for that food,  you instead pray and ask God to strengthen you, that opens a door for God to move in your heart and change you from the inside out. These 21 days have the potential to move internal mountains in your soul!

So - what is your fast going to look like?