He Is Compassionate

CONSIDER
Perhaps one of your earliest childhood memories recalls singing, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.” This elementary song may have saturated your soul, but even in adulthood it is difficult to comprehend the depths of that simple truth.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Rom. 5:6–8 NLT).

BIBLE TRUTH

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:35–39 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
The truth of God’s love is not just a fact; it becomes a reality when we can recognize that because God loves us, He cares about every area of our lives. Not only does He care, but He also understands our deepest struggles, and He desires to be the solution for our every problem.

PRAYER
Jesus, You are our High Priest who can empathize with my weaknesses. You have been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet You did not sin. I approach Your throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need. . . . (Heb. 4:15–16)


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


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You Are Loved!

The truth of God’s love is not just a fact; it becomes a reality when we can recognize that because God loves us, He cares about every area of our lives. Not only does He care, but He also understands our deepest struggles, and He desires to be the solution for our every problem.

On a particularly desperate day, the simple fact of God’s love for me (Kirk) became a powerful, relevant truth. Submitting to lifetime ministry did not isolate us from crisis and tribulation. The fiery darts of the wicked one inundated us with unrelenting force. The battle was fierce. It was the kind of spiritual warfare that challenged every fiber of my being.

As I was driving en route to pay a bill, I looked up and said to God in the privacy of my truck, “Lord, I’m at my end. I think I’m finished. There is nothing left in me to carry on. I don’t have anything else to give.” I was beaten. I had no more stamina. No more ability to endure. I was not depressed; I did not want to die. I was, however, pressed beyond my measure to continue the fight. I was exhausted.

“God, . . . I am finished! I don’t know what will become of me or how I will continue into tomorrow. God, unless You do something, it’s over for me.” My prayer to God was as tired and devoid of emotion as it could have ever been and still be articulated. All I could do was to look to God and say, “Please help me.”

God had me right where He wanted me. It was at this broken place I received from God the greatest gift I could ever have—His love! I have placed this event in the annals of the most significant experiences with God I have ever had.

God’s Spirit opened my mind that day to all verses of Scripture, sermons, and songs I have ever read, preached, heard preached, or sung, testifying to His great love for me. I began to be flooded with the love of Christ beyond anything I have ever known or thought was possible. His nurturing was powerful and tangible; I could feel His presence. As I was being cocooned within His love, the peace of God surpassed my understanding while I was serenaded by the very songs of how much He loves me. All my worries, my fears, my concerns for life, and how I would make it past today were enraptured in the vortex of His person. I was now strengthened with His might. It was at this moment that I wanted nothing more than what God wanted for me.

You too, may be assured of God's love for you!

INSIGHT JOURNAL
Complete this statement:
I know God loves me because … (try to make an extensive list, not just a preprogrammed answer).

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


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

My Way or His Will?

CONSIDER
We want to meet with God on our terms, but He will meet us only on His terms. We want to relate with Him in a way that is comfortable to us, but anything short of God’s plan is a deception. We forfeit reality for comfort and give up a relevant encounter with God.
The Bible uses the term confess to identify the juncture where we become congruent with the mind of God regarding His revealed truth. God asks us to confess foundational truths such as Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Lord (1 John 4:15; Rom. 10:9), Jesus is relevant (Luke 12:8), and we are sinful (1 John 1:9). Confession is key to an authentic relationship with God.

BIBLE TRUTH
“On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws’” (Matt. 7:22–23 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
As we become congruent with God’s description of us and our sin, we no longer succumb to Satan’s deceptions that keep us bound. When we confront the truth about ourselves, we agree with God that He is the only one capable of delivering us. We are incapable of living an independent life. Under the pretext of spirituality we miss a relevant relationship with Jesus. Christ asserted to His disciples that a true relationship with Him is more than just performing good deeds, even if they do appear to be supernatural and miraculous.

PRAYER
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. . . . (Ps. 139)


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


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