As the body of Christ lovingly nurtures relationships with people in the church and the community around them, it bears witness to Christ’s love in action.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2

When my husband and I were struggling with a number of unexpected health issues, we discovered just how important our faith community could be. During that difficult period, God blessed us through the love and friendship of our brothers and sisters in Christ (both friends and strangers).

Their help and support remind me of this verse in Ephesians, where Paul exhorts the church to nurture loving relationships through an attitude of humility, gentleness and patience with those around them.

Our family experienced an example of this firsthand. In humble service, people came to our home to do dishes and bring meals. In gentleness, many prayed for and with us. In patience and persistence, many continued to ask how we are and what we need. They stood together with us in our time of struggle and loved us through our difficult circumstances.

As the body of Christ lovingly nurtures relationships with people in the church and the community around them, it bears witness to Christ’s love in action. Being humble, gentle, and patient in love draws people into relationships founded on Christ’s love. As we, the Church, continue to nurture these relationships, God ultimately draws people to a new or deepening relationship with him.

Heavenly Father, You are all-loving. Thank you for teaching us how to love others the way Jesus loves us. Teach us to extend Christlike love to those around us so that we can deepen the relationships we have and ultimately draw people to you. Amen.

Today –  Prayerfully consider how you can nurture a relationship with someone in your church, school, workplace or family with an attitude of humble, gentle, and patient love. What is one thing you can do today to show humility, gentleness, or patience?

By Caran Jantzen
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•   Whatever You Do...
•  Desolate or Fruitful?  How are you with others?
•  Salvation Explained

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The post Building Relationships with Love appeared first on Thoughts About God.

How about choosing a word together with God?

More and more people seem to be exchanging the idea of a New Year’s resolution for a word that sums up a plan or goal for the year to come. Words like Enough, Abundance, Whole, and even Nope have been shared on friends’ and acquaintances’ social media pages.

While I resolved to abandon New Year’s resolutions years ago, I had yet to embrace choosing a word to identify with and focus on for the year to come. I could blame it on indecisiveness, or bucking a trend, but if I’m honest with myself, it has more to do with the exhaustion I always feel around that time of year.

Looking back to when January began, I felt burnt out. Instead of looking toward new and exciting opportunities ahead, I was drained from all of the times in prior months that I had said yes when I should have said no.

As the new year unfolded, my body gave out, and colds and the flu consumed me for seven agonizing weeks. My body was forcing me to say no; it was forcing me to pay attention to myself and my needs–something that has never come easily for me.

If I could sum up my last year with a single word, it would be the word LISTEN. Last year, I began a journey through counselling on learning how to better listen to myself and my body.

I began to dig deeply into my needs, and realized that I had buried many of them in favour of helping others. In the process of talking about my needs, I learned that meeting everyone else’s needs was not the same as meeting my own–even though at the time it felt like it.

I also began to listen to my emotional needs. I have been learning that I am not very good at asking for what I need, especially at an emotional level.

I tend to be introspective, but not allow others into that quiet, often dark space. I’ve been listening more to what my emotions are telling me, and then opening up with my husband and others close to me about what I’m feeling, and what I need.

Most importantly, I started listening more intentionally to God speaking to me through the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe that the Bible is God’s Word spoken to us, but I also believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, speaks to us in a way I’ve learned to call listening prayer.

The intimacy and joy I have experienced through listening prayer is a powerful testimony to a two way relationship with God–receiving from Him, as well as pouring out to Him.

As  the year progressed, my burdens, emotional, physical, and spiritual, became lighter. I felt joy where months earlier I had felt heavy and depleted. Listening to my physical body, my emotions and God my Father gave me a new outlook for the last half of the year.

My incredible counsellor, a prayerful mentor, a supportive husband, patient friends and a Faithful God have all been instrumental in assisting me on this journey.

Early in December, I received an email from a friend about the idea of choosing a word for the new year–but with a twist. Instead of me choosing the word, I would invite Jesus, by the power of His Holy Spirit, to give me a word.

In the midst of the bustle of the Christmas season I brushed this idea off. But one morning, with just days to go before the new year’s arrival, I decided to pray a listening prayer using the prompts my friend had provided. I asked Jesus, through His Spirit, to reveal His word for me for 2020.

The question had barely escaped my lips, when the word ABIDE sprung to mind. I followed up with another question. “Jesus. where in your Word confirms this for me?” Immediately the phrase, ‘apart from me you can do nothing’ came to mind.

I had to look up this verse, as I couldn’t remember the reference. It is from John 15:5. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

God had given me the gift of His Word (John 15:5) and a clear call to abide in Him alone. I look forward to seeing all that this year brings–in my family, in my writing, in my friendships, in my spiritual, physical and emotional health, and in all of the good gifts He alone gives–as I abide in Him.

by Caran Jantzen
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• Listening to God
• God is Speaking
• God Helps Us Pray

The post Have You Chosen a Word for the Coming Year? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?'” Luke 15:4

I have about 100 chickens on our hobby farm. They are in a large, fenced pasture and they enjoy roaming around in search of weeds and bugs.

Almost daily, one or two scratch along the fence until they have made a little hollow, and are able to squeeze under to explore the fresh grass on the other side. We have had to come up with some creative ways to get them back.

People aren’t so different. We peck at new ideas, and scratch around looking for ways to keep busy and active. As Christians, we sometimes push up against the fence of God’s guidelines, testing its strength, its value.

We may even start digging along this fence, looking for ways to escape God’s direction or discipline in favor of greener pastures.

For one, this may mean visiting the pub more regularly to help cope with stress. For another, it may mean telling your spouse you have to work late in order to socialize with a colleague of the opposite sex.

This is where the good news of Jesus comes in. He won’t leave us where we are. He follows us under the fence and into the pub. He isn’t afraid to visit the darkest places of society, or our hearts.

Deuteronomy 31:6 says,

“He (God) will not leave you or forsake you.”

Just as a shepherd goes after his lost sheep, the Lord will continue to pursue us because He loves us.

Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You would come after me to draw me back to Yourself. Help me to trust that Your plans for my life are good, and protect my heart from desiring the things of this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Caran Jantzen
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

• Where Your Choices Can Lead You
• My Lord, My Companion
• A Place We Call Home

The post Lost but Not Forsaken appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
John 13:12b-15

How many of us has heard the expression, “Do as I say, not as I do”? As a teen, I felt that catching my parents doing something less than perfect was license to do the same. Did they speed on the highway? So could I.

As a parent, I feel the weight of this responsibility. My children are witness to my less than perfect life. They could choose, as I did, to use my actions as an excuse to do the same.

There is only one person who lived a truly perfect life. Daily, Jesus modeled unconditional submission to God the Father, and selfless compassion for others. He set the perfect example of how to love God and the people around him.

When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, he did more than wash off the dust from their busy days. He gave them a picture of what it looks like to participate in God’s kingdom. Christ Jesus served his followers; now it was their turn to serve others.

We have the opportunity to serve people all around us in our daily lives. Our homes and churches; our places of work or school; the sports practices or dance classes we attend; the stores, parks, and rec centers we visit; these are the settings in which we can share God’s love with others through our servant-like attitude and actions.

Jesus, thank you for setting the perfect example for us to follow. Thank you for serving us and offering your life for us; help us to live with an attitude of service toward others. Amen.

Pray that God would bring someone into your life today whom you can serve. Go about your day expecting to be interrupted by a person who needs to see God’s love through your helping hands.

By Caran Jantzen
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• Love Like Jesus
• Examples of His Love
• Be an Example

The post Leading by Example appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Do you feel led to give?

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Christmas is over; those shoe boxes full of toys and school supplies for needy children got sent out months ago. The receipts for your tithing at church, and the donations you made to the local charity have been filed. The season of giving has finally come to an end.

Or has it?

The Apostle Paul challenged the first century Church to give financially as they felt led to give, and his words challenge the Church today as well.

Do you struggle with giving?

God does not want you to give as if you were simply following a rule book, or checking something off of a list. God desires that you give as an act of worship, responding to receiving the grace that he has given you through his son, Jesus Christ.

Do you feel led to give?

Give generously, as you feel led! Whether you have an abundance or are living paycheck to paycheck, you can give joyfully and generously. And Paul’s words are an assurance that God can provide for all of your needs, as you continue to do the works he calls you to do.

Most importantly, remember that Jesus gave up his glory and “became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). As you give of your finances, remember what Jesus gave up for you. Rejoice that God can use your giving to help others come to know Jesus as their savior as well.

Father, thank you for providing us with all that we have. Thank you for sending your son, Jesus Christ, to be our savior. Help us to have generous hearts; and help us to trust that you will provide for our needs as we give of our finances. Amen.

Thought: Where is your heart when you think about giving of your finances? If you struggle to give of your money, confess this to the Lord, and ask him to give you a generous, giving heart. Pray that God will give you an opportunity to give, and that he will give you joy as you give to him.

By Caran Jantzen
Used by Permission

Further Reading

• Try Tithing

•  The Generosity Habit

•  Salvation Explained

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The post Joyful Generosity appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” Psalm 36:5

One thing that I love about fall and winter in southern Canada is that I am awake before the sun rises. I love watching the eastern sky become illuminated by the sun’s rays; I never tire of the vibrant pinks and oranges reflecting off of the cloud formations and snow capped mountains.

God’s creation is truly amazing. It points us to our Creator, and brings a song of praise to our lips. What is even more amazing is God’s love for us. Psalm 36 tells of God’s unconditional love being so vast that it unfolds into the heavens; His unwavering devotion so unparalleled that it stretches to the skies.

It is not always easy to see the love God has for us. We get caught up in our own problems and fail to look to Him. We often hide ourselves from His love behind a cloud of guilt or in a fog of doubt. We miss seeing the love he pours down on us every day.

God demonstrated the depth of His love for us when He gave up a part of Himself, His perfect Son, to become a sacrifice on our behalf. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection we can once and for all be cleansed of our sin, forgiven and made new. In love, God sacrificed His own son so that we can become a part of His family.

Dear God, you are faithful and loving. Help me today to grasp how wide and long and high and deep your love is for me. Please help me to believe and embrace the love you have for me; and give me courage to love my family, friends, and even strangers with the kind of love you have shown to me. Amen.

Thought:  Whenever you catch a glimpse of the sky outside today, let it serve as a reminder to thank the Lord for His immeasurable love for you. If you are struggling to believe how much God loves you, read a part of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian Church (Ephesians 3:14-19). Insert your own name, and lift this prayer up to the Lord.

By Caran Jantzen
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  An Unearthly Love – by Max Lucado

•   The Reach of God’s Love – by Charles Stanley

•  Receiving God’s Love –  by Kyle Norman

The post Into the Heavens appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

How do you define spiritual success? Feeding the poor? Defending the weak? Sacrificing your own needs for others?

Earlier in my Christian walk I struggled to feel spiritually successful. I had sponsored children overseas, filled shoe boxes for kids at Christmas, and set aside time to spend with my ailing grandparents. Yet it appeared that believers and unbelievers alike were serving, helping, and sacrificing more than I was. I felt discouraged.

Then one day, a wise friend helped me understand this verse more fully by saying, “Apart from me you can do nothing of spiritual significance, nothing of eternal value.”

At that moment, it was as if God yanked the rug out from under my feet. All of the spiritual accomplishments I had been stacking up around me crashed to the ground. I hadn’t been as concerned with the spiritual significance of the work I was doing as I was with the tangible work I could see.

I knew my focus needed to shift from doing the work to remaining in Him.

Jesus set the example of remaining in His Father through prayer in order to accomplish the work the Father had sent Him to do. As one of the Sisters who worked alongside Mother Teresa in Calcutta simply stated, “prayer is our first work.”

Lord, help me to desire to commune with You. Teach me to pray unceasingly as I work through Your strength, and remind me to place value in the eternal significance of the work You have called me to do. Amen.

Thought:  Read Philippians 3:1-14. The apostle Paul, who had many reasons to boast in the flesh — that is, his spiritual accomplishments — considered them nothing compared to knowing Christ. Consider the ways you are serving. Ask God to help you remain in Him to accomplish what He has called you to. Ask Him to search your heart and reveal to you if you need to confess the sin of wrong motives for your service.

By Caran Jantzen
used by permission

RELATED READING

• How to Rejoice While the World Falls Apart
• The Spirit Filled Christian Life Explained
• Thrive and Serve

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The post A Most Important Work appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away. For our offenses are many in Your sight, and our sins testify against us.” Isaiah 59:11-12a

“It’s not faaaaaair!” How many times have I chastised my kids for their whining, discontented attitudes, only to turn around and say the same thing to God?

To God, we all sound like angry bears and distressed birds when we complain about not getting that promotion, or finding a spouse, or whatever else we feel we deserve. But God isn’t laughing when he hears us moaning and grumbling.

He knows that what comes out of our mouths is a direct result of what is in our hearts — in this case, sin.

In these verses, Isaiah was speaking to the nation of Israel, who had turned its back on God and was pursuing its own unjust interests. But those who follow God and His ways should also take these words to heart. Even one little sin can begin to blur our vision of — and our desire for — God’s just plans.

When we repent of our sins and trust that God’s justice is greater than our own fair-o-meter, we will begin to see His hand at work more clearly.

These verses aren’t promising that God will right all wrongs done to us when we confess our sins to Him. But they do give us hope that we won’t languish under the burden of bitterness and self-pity any longer.

When our eyes are fixed on Christ alone, we won’t whine like selfish toddlers when we experience unfair treatment. Instead, we can be confident that He will provide for us in the midst of life’s injustices, and He will see us through them in His perfect time.

God, please forgive me for the sins I have committed today. Help me to trust that You are just, and that Your perfect plan will be accomplished in my life. Use even the unfair circumstances in my life for my spiritual good, and for Your eternal glory. Amen.

Thought: Is there a sin in your life that you need to confess to God? Are you hanging onto self-pity and bitterness because life has dealt you harshly? God is ready and waiting to forgive. All you need to do is ask! Then, in light of God’s just mercy, think of how you might begin to forgive others.

By Caran Jantzen
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Forgiving Ourselves and Others

The Unforgiving Message

The Power of Forgiveness

The post Growling Like a Bear appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing… And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:3, 13

The headlines are full of stories about violence, tragedy, and suffering. Storms, cancer rates, mass shootings — it might feel impossible to believe that God can work in the midst of these tragedies. How can anything good come from something so horrible, we ask. As followers of Christ, these are the dark places into which we are called.

We are called to go to our neighbor who just lost her husband and is now a single mom; we are called to go to the marginalized groups who feel vulnerable, targeted and afraid; we are called to go to our estranged brother who just got diagnosed with cancer; we are called to go to the homeless camp on the edge of town.

But we aren’t called to go into the darkness alone; we are to carry Christ’s love with us, and lavish it on those who are suffering and in need. Good can come out of a community’s pain, out of a family’s grief, out of a person’s despair when the love of God moves His people to love and to serve them.

Without God’s love, we question whether it is worth it to go to the unsavory side of town; we wonder if new immigrants really care if we make the effort to visit them; we second guess whether we should bother picking up the phone to call our elderly neighbor.

With God’s love, we don’t ask, “Is it worth it?” but rather proclaim, “He is worth it!”

God, please fill me with faith to trust that You are good, hope to believe that You are working all things out for the good of those who love You, and the love of Christ, which moves me to be Your hands and feet to serve those in need. Amen.

By Caran Jantzen
Used by permission

www.thelife.com/dailydevotions

FURTHER READING

How to Love the Unlovable –  by Bill Bright

Keep a Soft Heart – by Gail Rodgers

The Condition of Our Hearts –  by Doug Lim

The post Is It Worth It? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Who may worship in Your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.” Psalm 15:1-5 (NLT)

There is a dear lady at the Bible study I attend. Her clothes look old, and they often don’t match. She doesn’t wear make-up, and she keeps her hair plain.

As I have gotten to know her, I have seen her deep desire to grow in her knowledge of God, and to serve Him whole-heartedly. She comes early to help set up, and she stays late to help put things away. She never seeks attention for herself, and always gives glory to God.

In the secular world, she would be considered a nobody. But to God, she is beautiful, valuable, treasured. She is one of the faithful Christ followers we are called to honor.

The Bible gives us many lists of attributes that describe genuine Christ followers. Those in our culture, and even Christians who are distracted by the world around them, see these lists as nothing but a bunch of rules; they might describe them as backwards, old-fashioned, or only for legalists.

However, Scripture describes the life of a believer in this way because living this way brings glory to God, and joy to those who serve Him.

The Apostle Paul reminds us

“the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:25a).

What doesn’t make sense to the world around us makes perfect sense to God; and what strikes the world as incredibly wise doesn’t even compare to the foolishness of God.

Lord God, You are infinitely wise. Help me to trust Your Word, even when it is difficult and makes no sense to me. I believe that it makes sense to You, and You are trustworthy. Amen.

Thought: Read the list of attributes in Psalm 15 again. Is there something from this list that you are struggling to accept? Pray that the Lord would convict you of your sin and change your heart so that you would desire His wisdom and not the wisdom of the world.

By Caran Jantzen
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• The Way of Wisdom
• The Beginning of Wisdom
• Wisdom for Life’s Trials

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

In September 2014, I got the formal diagnosis I had been expecting: General Anxiety Disorder. Until then, I thought something was simply wrong with me. I felt ashamed of these feelings; I tried to keep them hidden inside. And then a barrage of stressors intersected in my life, and all of these feelings spilled out.

Philippians 4:6-7 had once brought me comfort. Now, the phrase, “do not be anxious about anything,” just rubbed salt in the wound. How was this possible? I felt anxious about everything!

As I recited these verses over and over, my focus shifted from what seemed impossible, to the next phrase in verse six, which says, “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

I petitioned, yelled at, and cried out to God.

I looked for things I could be thankful of, in spite of how I felt: my supportive and loving husband; a Bible study that grounded me in God’s Word; family members who had walked the path of anxiety before me and who accepted me as I am; the Lord God, who loves me in spite of my brokenness.

I clung to this promise: “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In moments of panic or despair, I surrendered my feelings to God and pleaded for His peace.

And in His great mercy, in the moments I felt I couldn’t go on, God filled my heart with overwhelming peace. He also led me to the right doctor, counselor, and friends who helped me get the support I needed.

He even restored a difficult relationship through my diagnosis; our friendship will always remind me how God can take the difficult, ugly, and even shameful things in our lives and use them for our good and His glory when we trust in Him.

Lord, thank You for the ways You uphold us and care for us as we walk through times of difficulty. Thank You that You transform the pain in our lives into things of beauty, as we trust in You. Thank You that You love us in spite of our brokenness. Amen.

We all struggle with worry and anxiety at times. God promises that when we surrender our worry to Him, he will guard our hearts and minds and fill us with His peace. If you are struggling with worry right now, claim this promise. Recite this verse to yourself whenever you have anxious thoughts as a reminder that God will help you when you come to Him.

By Caran Jantzen
Used by Permission

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“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” 2 Samuel 7:14

David’s life story reads like a page-turning biography. As a shepherd, he fought wild animals and giants; as a King, he led the nation of Israel. He was an accomplished musician and songwriter, people were continually out to kill him, and he committed scandalous sins.

My life, by comparison, seems pretty uneventful. I shuttle the kids to and from school, dance, and soccer; I cook for my family and work on our little farm. I sing on a worship team at church, but I’m certainly not writing the songs. And the only animal I’m fighting with is my moody cat.

Yet, looking deeper into the story of David’s life, I can’t help but find things I relate to as well. He stumbled over temptation and sin, like I do. He loved and trusted God, like I do. He passionately worshiped the Lord, like I do.

David wasn’t afraid to fully engage in the life God called him to. He didn’t consider himself too important that he couldn’t worship and dance before God with all his might. And he wasn’t too proud to prostrate himself before God in repentance when he sinned.

David understood that while men and women tend to focus on outward appearances, actions and abilities, God cares most about the heart. From his public displays of celebration and leadership to his private times of confession and worship, David desired to live his life for God.

Dear Lord, thank You for including David’s life story in the Bible to encourage us in our faith. Thank You that even though we sin, you still love us and forgive us when we come to You in repentance. Help me not compare myself to others or worry about what others are thinking about me. Help me to live unashamed to follow you. Amen.

By Caran Jantzen
Used by permission

Further Reading

•  Making a Difference

•  Questions and Answers

•  Salvation Explained

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