Author: David LaFrance

How do you feel God’s closeness? Maybe it was this morning, bright and early, and some time in His Word.  Last night at small group, or this last Sunday’s worship?  Reading through Acts 13 helped me to think of these times.  I thought of small group, morning devotions, mission trips, interventions, or send-offs where hands were laid…  In Acts 13, we hear about Barnabas and Saul, who were sent to do the Lord’s work.

They were filled with the Holy Spirit.  They had courage.  Do we have that courage to speak to others? Maybe it’s as simple as sharing how God has worked in your life?

They were able to influence others.  Think of the influence that you have every day.  Family, friends, co-workers, neighbors.  The opportunity to change a person’s eternity by introducing them to our Lord.

Acts 13 reminds me of the closeness we all hopefully expereince with God at different moments. In moments of deep vulnerability and surrender- possibly grief or suffering; moments of awe and wonder when checking out one of God’s natural wonders of the world; moments with God in solitude and focus on Him; in moments of selfless service, forgiveness, marriage, the birth of a child; worship in music or prayer.

I pray we all find this intentional space to feel His closeness.  The noise and distraction of the world can keep us moving so fast that we miss these moments.  Maybe I’m just speaking to myself.  Either way, His closeness is nearer than we think.  Can you find an intentional moment right now to be with Him?  I pray you can. Share that with others.

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Matt Redman sings a song inspired by this verse titled “Better Is One Day.” As I read through Psalm 84, it leads me to reflect on the moments when I feel closest to His presence. Where am I? What am I doing? Why do I feel this closeness?

The authors of Psalm 84 were Temple assistants, the Sons of Korah. These assistants knew that serving even as a doorkeeper was a privilege. It helps me understand that even in the simplest of roles, we can experience His presence.

I can imagine these moments of closeness for them took place inside His temple. For us today, maybe that place is church. I long weekly to get away from the hustle and bustle to meet with God inside His house. While we can pray and meet God anywhere at any time, going into a church building helps us step away from the busy mainstream of life into a place where we can put it all aside to quietly meditate and pray. We can find true joy in the praying, singing, preaching, and fellowship that takes place there.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house;

they are ever praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

A pilgrimage involves intentionality and movement toward a holy place. While we can pray anywhere, traveling to gather with other believers requires setting aside time and physical effort. My weekly habit of going to church acts as a mini-pilgrimage—a conscious decision to leave behind daily distractions to encounter God.

Lord, we live in a distracted world that can grip our minds and reactions toward achievement and the next best thing daily. Help us to slow down. Remind us that being in Your presence is what we should be striving for each day. Thank You for reminding me that there is no place in the world that is better than at Your doorstep. Amen

Have you ever asked yourself the question (internally)  Am I being wise or foolish with this decision? 

In life, we have to continuously ask ourselves this question. Our daily life includes relationships, speech, work, and leadership towards others. It’s hard to realize that with each of these decisions we are either building or destroying our

As I read this chapter last week, it has really hung over my head in a good way. Each verse can paint a picture of a decision we can ask ourselves daily.  So let’s look at them.

1. Verse 1:  Building or Destroying
2. Verse 3: Prideful Words or Wise Lips
3. Verse 4: Abundant Harvest or No Progress
4. Verse 5: Being Honest or Lying
5. Verse 17, 29, 30: Emotional Control

Lastly, Verse 12: There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.

The world and our human side have a lean toward what we “think” is right.  Decisions we make every day have earthly and eternal impact.  Lord, I pray that in each moment of today and all days we don’t fall to what appears right and follow You and Your Word.  Lord, we need You! Amen

Today’s Reading: 1 John 2

Question: What does this chapter reveal about grace I cannot earn? Where do I need to receive it afresh?

Where do I need grace? Where do I begin & when will it end? Today’s Reading is 1 John 2.  There is much to hold onto as you read through this chapter.  A few thoughts and personal convictions landed me on the section labeled Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness.

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Oh, to walk in the light compared to the dark.  At the ripe age of 50, I pray for more days in the light than darkness.  John had followed Jesus from when he was a kid. When I was a kid, calling it a walk would have been generous. Our Lord mostly carried me.  I recently was reflecting on the brevity of life.  How the most important aspect of my life is my fellowship with Him.  God then wants me to share this Good News with anyone possible, including my family.

So I pray for each day.  I pray for our Lord to take hold of a simple, intimate, day-by-day, moment-by-moment walk with Jesus. Our tendency is to love the things of the world and focus on the day-to-day and moment-by-moment distractions that pull us away from Him.  I pray for us not to fall for the things of the world and let His grace pour over us ~ Amen

Today’s Reading: Ephesians 3

I love a good mystery, from crosswords to Where’s Waldo, Guess Who, and even the game Clue. Movies with a little suspense I love to solve.  Today, as we read Ephesians, we learn about the mystery we all wondered about in our lives.  The mystery of God’s grace on us.  I have wondered how He loves me so and provides the grace He does. It defies our human logic.  In a world that likes to keep score.  He doesn’t.

4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. ⁶ This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Before Christ, these groups were deeply divided.  God’s grace completely levels the playing field. Just like in our divided world, now only through God do we see all walks of life come together.  Universal access to God.  Mystery solved.

How much does God love us? How much grace does He have?

Dimension wise  His love is

Breadth – It reaches every corner of the earth and covers all people.

Length – it spans from eternity past to eternity future.

Height – It lifts believers up to heavenly places

Depth – it reaches down into the lowest valleys of human suffering and sin.

His love and grace “surpasses all understanding“.

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Today’s Reading: Jude 1

What prayer does this text invite you to say right now? These are verses that made me reflect on where we are at right now. 

In the last times, there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.  Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus to bring you to eternal life.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before You knowing the truth of Your word. We see the division in our world, the disbelief, and the temptation to follow fleeting desires and natural instincts rather than Your guidance. Lord, guard our hearts against cynicism and protect our minds from being drawn into the strife that divides us.

Instead of being worn down by the world, help us to purposefully build ourselves—and each other—up in our most holy faith. When we are weak or unsure, we ask that You fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Guide our thoughts and intercede for us, teaching us how to pray in the Spirit even when we lack the words.

Lord, anchor us deeply in Your love. Whenever we are tempted to drift, remind us of Your steadfast grace. Give us patience and endurance as we look forward with hopeful expectation for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the promise of eternal life sustain us through every challenge we face today.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen

Today’s Reading is Mark 14.  As we read through this chapter, I want us to focus on how our Lord displays strength in His weakness.  Throughout the Bible, get to know our Incarnate Christ.  He experienced the limitations and fears humans can face.

Weakness

•  emotional anguish = In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus says in verse 33, he is, “greatly distressed and troubled”
• desire to escape = Jesus asks his father, “Take this cup from me “
• need for companionship = asks His disciples to stay awake and support Him v 34-36

Strengths 

• calm sovereignty = When the mob surrounds Him to arrest Him, He stays calm v 44-50
• absolute obedience = even in pain and anguish, He surrenders to God’s will.  In agony, He says, “Yet not my will but His” v 36
• prophetic control = predicting Judas’ betrayal, the denial of Peter, and the abandonment of His disciples v 18-20 & 27-30

The chapter strikes a balance between the two yet ultimately shows the unmatched strength of God’s redemptive purpose. His divine strength displays the perfect obedience to our Father over everything.

I pray that we find the strength we need in everything through the obedience we show.  Amen

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. ⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31 is one of these chapters that can provide hope in those dark days and hard nights.  When you feel unequipped to take the next step.  It provides the joy you need to take on the day and have only the fear of the Lord.  The endurance to believe that no matter what the world pretends to offer, there is only One you will ever need.  That one day will be the most important question you will need to answer.

Remember 

• • The Command: “Be strong and courageous”. This is an encouragement to trust God and stand firm when facing intimidating challenges or enemies. 
  • The Reason:
     “The Lord your God goes with you”. Believers are called to be brave, not in their own strength, but because of God’s active presence

Today’s Reading: Acts 17

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with the inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. – so you are ignorant of the very thing you worship–, and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

Do you have an Unknown god? Maybe it’s this game 7 hockey game I’m watching? Is it my kids that I can chase from here, there, and everywhere? Maybe it can be work that can take hold of my thoughts and time. Or could my Unknown god be any of the selfish desires or distractions that can take me away from Him?

Paul reminds us, as I think of any circumstance I’m facing…

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of Heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

It’s time to put away the Unknown gods… the desires and distractions that can keep making me feel like any of my circumstances is under my control.