Mirror, Mirror

“But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the Word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. — James 1:22-25

God has been challenging me lately from this passage in James. As I read His Word, do I really believe what it says? Do I live like I believe His words are true?

I love to read passages of Scripture from different versions of the Bible. This often gives me a fresh outlook on a familiar passage. Recently, I looked at Ephesians 1 from The Message version. As I did, I sensed the Lord encouraging me, “Personalize it, read it out loud to yourself, and then declare it over those you are praying for.” Here’s a sample of what this sounded like:

God is the Father of [my] Master, Jesus Christ, and He takes [me] to the high places of blessing in Him. Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had [me] in mind, had settled on [me] as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt [me] into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted [me] to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son. — Ephesians 1:3-6 MSG (personalized)

After going through this exercise, I sensed the Lord steering me back to the passage in James and asking me, “Can you look in the mirror and read these verses from Ephesians to yourself? Can you receive what I’m saying about you?” I realize that part of obedience is receiving in my own heart the identity bestowed upon me by my heavenly Father, and then living like a child who knows she is the focus of her Father's love.

How often I forget who I am – and I bet I’m not alone.

Will you take the mirror challenge with me?

Karen Sergey

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Touch His Heart

"And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for." 1 John 5:14-15

I believe the Father will move all of heaven to answer the prayer that moves His heart. But who will touch His heart today?

The Father has given you unhindered access to His heart as a child of God. Abba delights in you, just as He delights in His very own Son. Do you believe it? So much hinges on your ability to receive this truth. God sees you, and hears you. You’re the apple of His eye.

Jesus demonstrated a lifestyle of intimacy with the Father while he was here on earth. He enjoyed Abba’s presence and listened for His voice every day. Pulling away from the noise and the busyness, He drew near to the heart of God in prayer, prioritizing the Father's will above His own, and living in response to what He experienced in the secret place of prayer. I think we’d all agree that this relational prayer strategy yielded extraordinary fruit in the life and ministry of Jesus.

Sons and daughters of God, now it's your turn to do the same. You hold the key to Abba’s heart. Everything Jesus experienced with the Father while here on earth is available to you today as a child of God. The whole enchilada. Doesn’t this make you eager to draw near to the voice of your good Father today? As your identity is rooted more deeply in Him, you become so aligned with His purpose and filled with His pleasure that passionate prayers will burst forth from your lips, moving your Father's heart. You can be confident in this.

Go ahead, reach out and touch His heart.

AJ Picard

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Living Water

"Jesus replied, If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me and I would give you living water." John 4:10

Recently I was sitting in a waiting room, using the time to pray for loved ones and friends. As I was praying quietly to myself, the above Scripture came to mind. Instantly the unsettling thought dawned on me that I was begging God for answers instead of approaching Him as the one who is able to give out living water.

I realize that the response Jesus gave the Samaritan woman was an opportunity to teach her divine things regarding her sinfulness and need of a Savior. But every time I read this verse, its impact upon my heart leaves me speechless. This woman had an encounter with Jesus that transformed her life. When Jesus revealed to her that He was the Messiah it says, "she left her water jar beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone.” (John 4:28)

This got me thinking about the way I approach God when I pray. Do I always approach Him as if I’m begging Him to move on my behalf, or do I approach Him with the full awareness of who He is and the gift that He offers? I'm realizing that when I do the latter, it engages my faith and allows me to fix my eyes on God instead of my circumstances.

Do you know who Jesus is to you and the gift He wants to offer you today? Why not come to the well for a fresh encounter with God. Take some time to reframe the way you approach Him, gain a transformed view of His goodness, and receive living water for your soul. 

Lynne Bauman

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