Category: living by faith

I have come into the world as a light,
so that no one who believes in me
should stay in darkness.
John 12:46 (NIV)

One of the great stories in the Gospel of John is Nicodemus. He came to Jesus at night and Jesus told him that those who love the truth come to the light. Later, Nicodemus spoke up for Jesus even though he was ridiculed for it. Then, at the worst possible time politically and religiously, he showed himself as Jesus’ disciple: he took the broken and dead body of Jesus and helped Joseph of Arimathea place him in a tomb. Nicodemus didn’t stay in the darkness. Neither should we. Jesus is the light of the world; if our light cannot be found in him, how deep is our darkness!

Father in Heaven,
I want to walk in the light with you.
The darkness of Calvary did not
extinguish the light in Jesus;
it made it burn more brightly for me.
At the cross, I see your love for me.
At the cross, I realize that
Jesus took my sins away.
At the cross, I see Jesus’ love
for both you and me perfected.
Thank you, Father for your
gracious salvation.
Thank you, Jesus
for your incredible sacrifice.
In the name Jesus,
your perfect Lamb I pray.
Amen.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

When this was written, temples were the places where the gods were thought to live. More than places of worship, these were places of presence. So when Paul reminds us that we are temples of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit, he is saying something quite profound. God lives in us! We are the places of God’s dwelling. We are holy temples, not because we cleansed ourselves or made ourselves into some incredible dwelling place but because God bought us and sanctified us with the price of Jesus’ life. We are his purchased prime real estate so that his glorious presence can be seen in the world in which we live. As the place where God lives by his Spirit, we are challenged to honor and glorify God with our bodies, his temples. No matter how you may look at your physical appearance, remember this: You are holy, precious, and glorious because the King of Glory has made his home in you through the Holy Spirit!

Father God, today’s passage reminds me of your incredible nearness to me, even within me. Forgive me when I have not realized your presence in me through the Holy Spirit. Forgive me when I have devalued myself and my body as a temple of your holy presence. Please be glorified in who I am, what I say, how I live, and what I think. To you be glory, in Jesus’ name and through your Spirit’s presence. Amen.

Dear Father God, Blessed Son and Holy Spirit,
Help us to focus on you every day, remembering that the gift of Christ, Immanuel, is our most treasured gift for the whole year through. Fill us with your joy and the peace of your Spirit. Direct our hearts and minds towards you. Thank you for your reminder that both in seasons of celebration and in seasons of brokenness, you’re still with us. You never leave us. Thank you for your daily Presence in our lives, that we can be assured your heart is towards us, your eyes are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers. Thank you that you surround us with favor as with a shield, we are safe in your care. We choose to draw closer to you today and each day to come.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me [Ezekiel], and he told me to say, “This is what the LORD says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes into your minds.
“Ezekiel 11:5 NLT

We can scheme, plan, and plot quietly. We can tell our inner thoughts to no one else. The Spirit of God, however, knows our inner thoughts, schemes, plans, and plots. The Spirit not only inspired God’s message in Scripture, but he also convicts, informs, and transforms our mind and spirit, helping us overcome the pull of our fleshly nature. The Spirit challenges and confronts the thoughts we wouldn’t dare say out loud. When God’s words are spoken, heard, and read, they are directed to the struggle of each heart seeking to be conformed to the will of God. The message of God comes from the Holy Spirit. That message has power because the Holy Spirit convicts as well as informs. Let’s ask the Spirit to speak to our hearts, minister to our needs, inspire our godly longings, support us through our weaknesses, confront our duplicity, and help us know God’s truth!

Father in Heaven, please make your will clear to me through the work of your Holy Spirit in my heart. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
John 6:68 (NIV)

When Jesus asked his disciples if they would leave him like everyone else had, Peter’s response is powerful and great. He knew where truth originated! He had heard the voice on the Mountain saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; listen to him!” He had seen Jesus’ words change reality and destroy barriers to God’s love and truth. Indeed, he knew that there was no one else who had the words of eternal life! So who are you listening to?

Almighty God, thank you for making Jesus so accessible to me. Jesus helps me see the full extent of your love. Jesus helps me more completely understand your message about wanting to redeem me and make me your own. I want to always come to Jesus for truth, grace, refreshment, and hope. There is no other one that I want to be my Lord except my crucified Savior, Jesus. Today, Father, gently confront me in those areas where I have yet to fully yield to your Son’s lordship in my life. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
John 6:66 (NIV)

This verse is disquieting because it is a great reminder that many folks simply gave up following Jesus when things became hard to understand. When he shattered their preconceived notions of religious things, when he confronted them about their motives, they went away. What will I do when things get difficult in my discipleship and I can’t figure out all the answers to what is going on? I will hope, I pray, and I trust until the way and the will of the Lord becomes clear!

Awesome God, I confess openly that I cannot begin to understand all the complexities of your will and the way you work in our world. But Father, when I’m confused, please bring people into my life who will help me hang on to my faith until the confusion passes. And today, dear Father, please use me to help bless someone who is struggling with his or her faith. In Jesus’ name I ask it. Amen.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
– Acts 3:19 (NIV)

I’m not sure what we fear about turning our hearts and lives to God? He will not only receive us; he will also redeem us and remake us. But that repentance is often so hard for us to do. We get stuck in old patterns of destructive and addictive behavior. We believe Satan’s deceptive lies. We use self-deprecating thoughts to defeat the Spirit’s work in ourselves. So why not come clean and confess our sins and truly turn our lives over to God? If we will, we will find something truly refreshing!

Holy and righteous Father, I am not sure why I so stubbornly hold on to some of my sins. Part of me wants to break free of these stumbling blocks, but part of me doesn’t. I need your help in turning myself fully over to you. Please send your healing, cleansing, and refreshing power through the Holy Spirit to help me as I commit in my heart to fully and completely turn my life over to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
– Acts 3:19 (NIV)

I’m not sure what we fear about turning our hearts and lives to God? He will not only receive us; he will also redeem us and remake us. But that repentance is often so hard for us to do. We get stuck in old patterns of destructive and addictive behavior. We believe Satan’s deceptive lies. We use self-deprecating thoughts to defeat the Spirit’s work in ourselves. So why not come clean and confess our sins and truly turn our lives over to God? If we will, we will find something truly refreshing!

Holy and righteous Father, I am not sure why I so stubbornly hold on to some of my sins. Part of me wants to break free of these stumbling blocks, but part of me doesn’t. I need your help in turning myself fully over to you. Please send your healing, cleansing, and refreshing power through the Holy Spirit to help me as I commit in my heart to fully and completely turn my life over to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

[Jesus said,] “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you — they are full of the Spirit and life.”
–  John 6:63 NIV

The apostle Paul said essentially the same thing as in today’s verse when he wrote, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him …” (Philippians 3:8-9). Paul was saying that everything is nothing without Jesus. So much of what we pursue — what I have pursued — really counts for nothing. Economic meltdowns, which invariably happen, are reminders that the only investments that last, that are sure, are investments in Jesus and his kingdom. So we are called to turn our hearts to Jesus, to be shaped by his words, guided by his Spirit and conformed to his character. Jesus’ words are lasting, eternal, and life-giving. Better yet, there is someone lasting and eternal and life-giving in his words — the Holy Spirit. That is why one of the ongoing works of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, is to bring to our minds the words of Jesus (John 14:26). So read the Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But more than reading the words, ask the Holy Spirit to be alive as you read and are shaped and given life through the words of the Savior!

Holy God, I praise you! I thank you, Father, for sending the Son to die for our sins and for showing us the way home to you. I thank you, Jesus, as Son of God, for sending the Holy Spirit as my Advocate and Comforter, to be your presence within me and to bring me life through your words. I thank you, Holy Spirit, for living within me, and I ask that you conform me to Jesus and produce your holy fruit in me. Amen.