Soitettu
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SCRIPTURE
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For in him we live and move and have our being.
-Acts 17:28
DEVOTIONAL
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From the beginning, God established a precedent by walking in the garden daily with Adam and Eve. We were all made to walk with and experience God’s presence as a natural, every day part of our lives. This is in our DNA. God actually created us to depend on Him and His presence — even partner with him in our decision-making processes.
Jesus emphasized the importance of this when He said, “I’m telling you this straight. The Son can’t independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does” (John 5:19). Jesus went even further when He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) We are to draw on God’s word and His presence … like we draw each breath.
Did you know that many scholars believe that the name Yahweh could not be spoken at all — only breathed. Many are convinced that its correct pronunciation is an attempt to replicate and imitate the very sound of inhalation and exhalation. Therefore, the one thing we do every moment of our lives is to speak the name of God.*
What is it in the heart of God to want to draw so near to us that He gave Himself a name that we can’t help but speak every moment we’re alive? All of us, always, everywhere, waking, sleeping, with the name of God on our lips. **
Of all the scriptures in the Bible, one of the saddest is when Adam said to God, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” (Gen. 3:10)
Adam heard God, but his response was fear. He was naked (unclothed, unprotected, and vulnerable), so he hid. When we feel fear and when we feel vulnerable, do we run to God’s presence or away from it? God called out to man and said, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9). Thankfully He is still calling out to all of us today.
Why is it so important to be in God’s presence? Because God’s presence changes everything! We become what we behold. The presence of God brings release to the captives, healing for what’s broken, and freedom for the oppressed. It’s not our striving or straining — not our performance or working harder at being better. No, it is God’s presence that changes and transforms us.
* Richard Rohr
** Jason Gray
REFLECTION
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“Where are you?” (Gen 3:9) What part of you is hiding from God’s presence? What part of you willingly runs to God?
PRAYER
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God, I know there are parts of my heart that hide from you, even hide from myself. Thank you for being so patient and kind with me. Thank you for calling me by name. Teach me how to run to you, even when I am afraid. -
DEVOTIONAL
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One night when my son was about 4 months old, I stayed up all night staring at him. I was so amazed by this beautiful gift God had given me, I just wanted to gaze upon him and feel the joy and pleasure that he brought to me. I was so fulfilled just knowing he was mine. And in reality, there was nothing my son could give to me in that moment. All he could do was receive my love.
This is where we must start with God. God loved us first and this love compels and empowers us to love Him back. We do not start the journey by loving God. We must begin by simply receiving God’s love. This time of fasting is about creating space in our lives to experience God’s love and respond to God’s love -- not earn or attain God’s love for that is already settled. The scriptures teach us that God saw us at our worst and thought we were worth the price of His Son. Imagine that!
QUESTION
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What do you feel, knowing that God loves you in that way? What are your barriers to receiving it?
PRAYER
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Father, You love me so much that even when I was lost and had nothing to offer You, You sacrificed Your only Son so that You could be with me and I could be with You. Thank you for the blessing of not having to do anything to earn your love, but that I can simply receive it…what a gift! Father, show me how to surrender and accept Your great love for me. -
PROLOGUE
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We have spent 21 days in centering prayer, focusing our attentions and affections on God. What a precious time it has been. The nearness of God is surely for our good. The kindness of the Lord truly leads us to repentance. The steadfast love of God and his beautiful presence is transformative. Taking time to behold him really does change us. He is with us always. And His steadfast love endures forever.
SCRIPTURE
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“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” -Esther 4:14
DEVOTIONAL
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The scripture in Esther 4:14 is in reference to God positioning Queen Esther (Queen of Persia) in a place of influence so that she could speak up for the Jews who couldn’t speak for themselves. Her obedience to “her” moment in history actually saved her people from being destroyed.
Yesterday, in the United States it was Martin Luther King Day. On this day we celebrate and think upon a life of one who lived and died to work for the Kingdom of God to be established on earth through racial equality.
Dr. King’s life was an example of a life lived “for such a time as this.” He said, “I have a dream.” And he did. That black and white and red and brown and jew and gentile and boy and girl and all God’s children would live together in peace and unity. But the authority of his conviction was on the fact that his dream was originally God’s dream. Dr. King knew what was right. He knew who God was and what God loves and hates. Dr. King knew when he fought for the kingdom of God, he was moving within the will of his loving father and God was with him. He was acting as a prophet, priest, and king, to co-labor with God - to establish “thy kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.” He had confidence to go up against oppression because God hates injustice and robbery.
You are also a prophet, priest, and king. And you were chosen to be alive “for such a time as this.” It is no mistake that you have been brought to this day, to this hour. Your age, your race, your background and lineage, your skill set, your personality, your story - it is all part of this moment. God is wanting to establish and increase his kingdom of peace and love inside of you and establish it on the earth through you.
You may not be called to do something extraordinary in man’s eyes. You may not get the recognition of man. You may never step on a podium or stage. In fact, you may not be called to do it in ways that bring attention to anyone but your loving Father in heaven. Or you may be called to risk reputation, financial stability, the comforts of daily living, and even risk your life. These things are between you and God.
But what is known is this. God is sovereign. God is good. God is with you always. You are secure in God’s love. You are already seen. You are already known. You are already important, and valuable, and irreplaceable to God.
God’s call to us not about comparison. We all belong. We all have a place. We do not need to earn God’s love or man’s praise. There is no need to be bullied by the values of a broken world, by what man sees as valuable or productive. And we all have good works to do that were set out before the foundation of the world.
This is a call to step into your time...each day...saying yes to the love of God for yourself and others...and the purposes of God that he has for you...daily...for such a time as this.
QUESTION
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Where have I said yes to dreaming with God? Where have I said no to dreaming with God? Why? Where have I said yes to living a life of “for such a time as this”? Where have I said no to living a life of “for such a time as this”? Why?
PRAYER
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God wake me up to my design. Wake me up to why you have created me for this place and this time in history. Help me to embrace your dreams! -
SCRIPTURE
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“I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb … And they were shouting with a great roar, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’” -Revelation 7:9-10
DEVOTIONAL
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Imagine this scene. A crowd with people from every nation, every tribe, every people, every language. All standing in front of the throne joyfully worshipping at the top of their lungs. That scene sounds like the most electrifying, exciting, chaotic, joyful, unified display of life I can think of.
How did John know they were from different tribes, tongues, nations, and people groups? He knew because he could see it and hear it! It was a joyful celebration of different people with different languages and colors and expressions of praise.
There were differences of all kinds, but there was something they had in common. They had all been bought with a price and brought into the family of God. They had been redeemed and restored and made whole. And they were unified in who deserved their affection and praise.
Often, when we talk of heaven, we talk as if we will be changed into someone other than who we are. But that is not what happens in heaven. The Kingdom of God is about completion. It is about restoration. It is about returning everything to the original plan - God’s original dream!!! Of course, where sin and trauma and illness and evil of all kinds have twisted us and marred the original design God had for us - that will be removed forever. But Jesus did not come to turn us into someone else. Jesus came to bring us into OUR fullness.
We also might imagine that the harmony in heaven will be a result of us all being the same. But that is not what John saw around the throne. No, he saw a vast multitude of diversity. God’s perfect will is for us to be uniquely different but unified under him.
That is heaven. Everyone different in size and shape and color and background but everyone the same in the spirit of adoption - one God, one King, one Lord, one Father, one Savior. No need to compete for attention or control for security. Instead, in the Kingdom, everyone is satisfied in God’s love and able to fully celebrate and honor the beauty and uniqueness of all God’s children.
by Anthony & Mary Keith Skinner
QUESTIONS
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Am I afraid of people who are different than me? What differences make me the most uncomfortable? Ask God why. Talk to God. Let him transform your thinking through His kindness.
PRAYER
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God, you came to restore me. You came to reconcile all things to yourself. Give me eyes to see your original design for me. Give me a heart to embrace and even celebrate the differences in race, color, personality and nationality of others. Exchange my fears for your peace. Teach me to love as you love.
