Simplify

CONSIDER
If we followed “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33 NKJV), how would we order our lives? God first? Spouse second? Children third? Job fourth? Everything else falls into place after that? For all the years we have tried to follow that theory, it sounded good, but it’s impossible to do! In actuality, the Greek work translated “first” in Matthew 6:33 means “‘above all’ . . . which corresponds to the central position which orientation to the kingdom of God has in the proclamation of Jesus. Indeed, πρῶτον is so exclusive here that it carries the implication of ‘only.’” [Theological Dictionary of the NT] How in the world do you do that?

BIBLE TRUTH

And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (Luke 12:29–31 ESV)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
If God were to be above all in our lives with the only central position, He would be everything—in the center. With God in the center of our lives, everything we do involves Him and He influences everything we do. As He lives in and through us, we operate through His enablement to magnify and glorify Him.

PRAYER

God, You have shown Your faithful love to me. But now, O LORD my God, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of Your own chosen people. Give me an understanding heart so that I can know the difference between right and wrong. I know You are pleased when I ask for wisdom, so I pray that You will give me what I ask for! I desire a wise and understanding heart to follow Your ways. Help me to seek Your kingdom first.(1 Kings 3:6–12, Matt. 6:33.)

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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Is God Hiding?

CONSIDER
God does not hide His will from us because He does not want us to know His plans. He desires for us to be active participants in relating to Him. “It is God’s privilege to conceal things / and the king’s privilege to discover them” (Prov. 25:2 NLT). There is great reward in pursuing a goal and attaining what the giver intended for us to have. We must simply look in the right place.

BIBLE TRUTH

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (James 1:5–8 NIV)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
As we live lives that are desperately dependent on Christ, the resulting connection will magnify the Lord. Realizing that our central focus of life is to make Him look wonderful, the dross of the world falls away. Our unified adventure with God supplies purpose and meaning to life. C. S. Lewis wrote, “But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”

PRAYER

Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you. My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. . . . (Ps. 143:1–6 NLT)

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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Disappointed with God

CONSIDER
Too often we are disappointed with God because He did not respond in a way we thought He should. We place expectations on Him that He has never promised to fulfill. And then in our frustration and disillusionment we whine that God is distant and uncaring. It is true that His ways are incomprehensible, but for some reason we think we have Him all figured out. “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” (Rom. 11:33 NLT).


BIBLE TRUTH

“For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you," says the Lord. (Jer. 29:11–14 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
God does not want to hide from you. He desires an intimate relationship with you. So then why do we have to seek? God doesn’t work like we expect Him to. We find Him and His answers in the most unlikely places.

PRAYER
Lord, I am so grateful that You publicly proclaim bold promises. You do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. You would not have told me to seek You if You could not be found. I know that You, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right. . . . (Isa. 45:19)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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In the Name of Jesus

CONSIDER
Paul adds a vantage point for whatever we do: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17 NKJV). This is not adding to our job requirements, but delimiting our process. When we do all “in the name of Jesus,” we represent every aspect that is incorporated in the mentioning, hearing, or remembering of His name. When we operate “in the name of Jesus,” we are to be consistent with every truth that is incorporated in His attributes. As the Holy Spirit lives in and through us, we will consistently “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” because we are not operating out of our own resources but are overflowing with His abundant supply. What an astonishing view of God the world would see if all Christians magnified the glory of God in such a fashion!


BIBLE TRUTH

Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. (1 Peter 4:11 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Jesus also speaks of bringing glory to God when we ask anything in Jesus’ name.“You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:13–14 NLT). Praying in Jesus’ name is remembering all the character traits of God, all the ways He has worked in the past, and what a difference it makes that Jesus died and paid for our sins. When we conduct our lives according to everything we know about His character, our expectations will be in line with the reality of who He is, and our hopes will not be disappointed.

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, I know that You say I can ask for anything in Your name and You will do it. I know this is so You can bring glory to the Father. Help me to only ask for those things that will help You bring glory to the Father. Jesus, I will ask anything in keeping with Your name, so You will do it. . . . (John 14:13–14)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

If you would like to receive our blog posts via email, simply submit your email address in the box on the left. They will make you verify your request by jumping through a few hoops, but that is for your safety!


We would love for you to POST A COMMENT about the insights you have received on your journey toward desperate dependency.