6/16/2021 0 Comments Pray with HopeEyes are useless without light. Paul prays for the “eyes of your heart” to be “enlightened” (i.e., to be given light; the Greek word has the same root, “phôs/light”). And what does Paul want us to see with the light of the Holy Spirit? Hope. And not just hope for a sort of nice, vaguely decent life, but for the “riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” This is not a “someday I’ll go to Heaven” hope but an in-dwelling hope for an inheritance we can activate now, because we are set aside to glorify God here and now. We are His saints.
Questions for further thought: 1. Does the light of hope illuminate your prayers? 2. Do you feel bold enough to claim the title of “saint”? Challenge: While you are praying, imagine the eyes of your heart being illuminated with a beam of light. Remember your glorious hope in Jesus. Dare for just a moment to be a saint. If it helps, think of how you could shine if Jesus stood next to you.
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6/15/2021 0 Comments Pray for the SpiritAs Christians, we are often weirdly hesitant to try to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit, especially here in the Midwest. Maybe we don’t think we can really tap into the Holy Spirit because we aren’t good enough Jesus followers. And if we are slow to seek God’s spirit working in our own lives, then why would it occur to us to pray for the Spirit to infuse other Christians’ lives?
Questions for further thought: 1. Do you pray to have the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your own life? 2. Have you ever prayed for someone else to be led by the Spirit? Challenge: Try to zero in on what gives you the greatest sense that the Holy Spirit is working in you: Worship music? Serving others? Prayer? Take a moment to remember that feeling and dwell in it. Then pick one person and pray for him or her to be touched by the Holy Spirit. 6/14/2021 0 Comments Paul, the PrayerWe think of Paul as a teacher, preacher, writer, tentmaker, missionary and apostle. However, practically the first thing Paul mentions in all of his letters is prayer. He seems like a thorough kind of guy, so when he says he mentions believers in his prayers and thanks God for them, you get the impression that he maybe even prayed for each member of a church.
Questions for further thought: 1. How often do you thank God in your prayers rather than just offering a laundry list of things that require His help? 2. Have you ever prayed for other believers at church, other than maybe the pastors or someone on a prayer request? Challenge: Pray this week for the people who sit in the row ahead of you, next to you, or behind you at church. Even if you don’t know them personally, try to pray for them like Paul would. 6/11/2021 0 Comments Be the Light!As individuals and as a church we are called to be salt and light in this world to those around us. This applies to our immediate families, friends, co-workers, fellow church members, our neighborhood, city and world. Hillcrest has done a good job of this in the past, but this is a great reminder to never stop, never be satisfied of our hunger to do good. As long as we are here on this earth we should be looking for opportunities to reach out to others and make a difference.
Questions for further thought: 1. What can you do to be a more effective member of our church? 2. Can Hillcrest help you in any way in this endeavor? Challenge: Here at Hillcrest we are committed to helping you become salt and light. There are ministry and service opportunities many times during the week. If you have ideas for additional areas we can be a part of or something you feel lead to be a part of, we would love to hear about it. We are open to partner with you in any way we can to help you fulfill God's plan for your life. 6/10/2021 0 Comments I Am Too BusyGod is teaching us to be still, take time to listen to what He has to tell us and recharge so we will be ready to act. This life has so many things competing for our time, even our down time is filled with social media, constant stimulation and entertainment. We need to slow down, be still and listen to what God is asking us to do with our time he gives us on this earth. I believe God speaks to us every day, we just need to have the time and focus to listen.
Questions for further thought: 1. Think about how you spend your time each day, do you take time to be still and listen? 2. What changes do you need to make in your daily life to allow yourself time be still with God? Challenge: I have heard many times over the years that if Satan can't make you stumble with temptations, he will make you so busy you won't have time to spend with God. If your relationship with God is not solid, you may be a Christian, but ineffective in making a real difference for Christ in our world. This is something to really take a moment and think about; do it today because time is valuable! 6/9/2021 0 Comments Do Not Be AfraidThis passage is teaching us not to be anxious about anything, but to turn to God for peace and courage. At times I think we shy away from helping others or engaging in their lives out of fear of what we might find; we may be pushed out of our comfort zone. In a study I am presently going through there is a term that really spoke to me. We need to develop a non-anxious presence when dealing with our lives, in good times and bad. If we approach every situation in our lives in this way we will be much more effective in helping others and living the lives He is calling us to live.
Questions for further thought: 1. Are you currently experiencing a non-anxious presence when approaching situations? 2. How could this absence of fear make you more effective when helping others and living your daily life? Challenge: Fear can limit our ability to be used by God, but He teaches us that we don't need to be afraid. Nothing on this earth can separate us from Him, so what do we have to be afraid of? If you suffer from fear and anxiety, be in prayer that He will help you work through it and give you the confidence and freedom that He has to offer. If you need help with this, please seek advice from our pastors or other mature Christians that can help you achieve success in this area. 6/8/2021 0 Comments Adopted!Reading this passage about God adopting us into his family hit close to home for me and really brought some clarity to this issue. My family as well as others in our church have adopted a child into their families. Weather you have experienced this or not it makes this even more special to think about what God has done for us. He didn't have to bring us into his family or bless us more than any of us can imagine, but He did! He opened his home and everything He has to us so that we can live with Him forever.
Questions for further thought: 1. How thankful would you be to someone who opened their home to you if you had none? 2. How does that train of thought change the way you relate to God? Challenge: Adoption is an amazing thing for the one being adopted, but it is also just as amazing or more so for the family adopting. God's unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family. He planned this before the world was created and it is amazing to think about; we serve an amazing God! 6/7/2021 0 Comments Chosen OnesIn this passage we are reminded that we are God's chosen ones and we have no fault in His eyes. This is an amazing fact that is really difficult for us to wrap our minds around. We belong to Him and nothing we do in this life can change that. As long as we are in relationship with Him we will live with Him in heaven forever. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. This is amazing!
Questions for further thought: 1. How does it make you feel that you have been chosen by God? 2. Does this fact change the way you live each day of your life? How? Challenge: Spend some time in prayer this week thanking God for choosing you to be His child. This is an amazing gift that there is nothing we can ever do to earn it or live up to what it really means. 6/4/2021 0 Comments The Gift that HealsPerhaps forgiveness is the word that best ties together both mercy and grace. To quote a classic song lyric, “He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away.” Forgiveness is God’s great gift to us. Jesus makes it quite clear that it is a gift He fully expects us to give to others. And it’s a gift that may help the giver as much or more than the recipient.
Questions for further thought: 1. What do you think Jesus meant in verses 14 and 15 of today’s passage? 2. Have you been the recipient of forgiveness from another person? How did that feel? Can you recall a time when you forgave another? Again, how did that feel? Challenge: Is there someone, living or dead, that you need to forgive? Or are you in need of forgiveness? Write a letter, make a call or visit and give, or ask for, that forgiveness. If the person is no longer living, write that letter anyway. You’ll reap the benefit. 6/3/2021 0 Comments Our Graceful GodIf mercy can be defined as not getting what we deserve, then grace might be explained as receiving a gift that we did not and cannot earn. God was and is under no obligation to forgive us for the times we’ve missed the mark He’s set for us. But He is incredibly gracious to us. There’s an acrostic you’ve likely heard that describes this well – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
Questions for further thought: 1. What difference has the gift of God’s grace made in your life? 2. Do you find it easy or hard to extend grace to others…or possibly just to certain people? How about extending it to yourself? Explain your answers. Challenge: Sometimes we can understand the concept of grace perfectly yet still not truly live like we have received it. If this is you, look up at least five verses on grace today and ask God to make personal grace real to you. Pray that prayer until it happens! |
AuthorThis devotional is written every week by Hillcrest members. Archives
March 2024
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