Preaching
Blog
Adult Ministries
Family Ministries
Small Groups
Distinctives
Staff and Leadership
Time to Change Radio
iPhone App

For Those With Ears - Entries tagged "Spiritual Disciplines"

WedWednesdayDecDecember1st2010

It is God who works in us

Posted Wednesday, December 01 2010 @ 7 AM byMike Armstrong Tagged Spiritual Disciplines 0 comments Add comment

You know when you're reading through Scripture and there's that verse that really hits you right where you're at? Well that verse for me of late has been Philippians 2:13 which says "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find that I lack the will power to love and follow Christ. Other things in my life become more important than they should and I shove my relationship with God to the back burner. I slack off in my quiet time with him, I become less sensitive to the Spirit's leading in my life and I find that my desire to do his will kind of disappears...

So what do I usually do? Well, what happens is I'll hear a convicting sermon or have a conversation with a friend and be reminded of how I've been neglecting God. So in the past I've tried to dig deep and find that passion within me again only to be discouraged because what I find there is a love for myself and a desire to serve my flesh.

This is where Philippians 2:13 cuts right to the heart. It's God who works in me to will and to work. My human strength has proved to be weak and doesn't cut it - I need more Holy Spirit power working in me to produce godly desire and strength to live for him. I've found that the more I simply humble myself, admit my weakness and confess the sin of pride in my life, the more God works in my heart to transform me.

Loving Jesus with my whole life doesn't come from trying really hard to be better - it comes from realizing that I don't have that ability in and of myself, and I need the Spirit of God to be my strength and power. I love how God's Word remains so relevant and practical for every day life. What verse/passage has stood out to you lately? Mike

TueTuesdayNovNovember30th2010

In the quiet in the stillness I know that you are God

Posted Tuesday, November 30 2010 @ 6 AM byAmy Fotherby Tagged Spiritual Disciplines 0 comments Add comment

I am a night owl…well, I used to be…I’m in transition, desperately trying to train my body for mornings. I am well aware that personal time with the Lord needs to be a significant priority and I tried, sometimes harder than other times, to keep my priorities straight and make sure that I spent time with the Lord every night before I went to bed. Lately I’d been failing in this a lot more than I’d been succeeding and many of my successes were weak.

My small group just finished reading Good to Great in God’s Eyes by Chip Ingram (GREAT read!) and the last chapter focused on developing great habits. Kerry asked each of us to share what habit the Lord was laying on each of our hearts – I will admit to not being initially thrilled about what the Lord was laying on my heart but I knew that disobedience was no longer an option. I’ve been spending years making up excuses as to why I don’t spend my time with the Lord in the morning: “I’m a night owl, morning isn’t my ‘best’ time, the words don’t even make sense to me in the morning, people in my life don’t even try to talk to me before 9 a.m. so why would I spend my miserable hours of the day with God?” …I had more excuses than that but I will spare you!

Honestly as we went around the circle sharing what habits we needed to change I was pleading with the Lord to direct me to a different habit – pretty much anything other than getting up earlier would be fine. However, it was the Lord’s timing and I committed to turning things off earlier at night and trying for one month to get up earlier to spend time with the Lord. I’ve done pretty well with this new resolve and am about three quarters of the way through my specified time commitment…and I’m LOVING it.

The line from None but Jesus that says, “in the quiet, in the stillness I know that you are God” has a whole new meaning for me. There is something so precious about sitting on my couch, wrapped in an afghan, fireplace on, listening to worship music, sipping coffee and spending time in God’s Word by the light of a lamp while the rest of the house is silent – I LOVE it.

I love that there hasn’t been any distraction to my day that early in the morning – no problems that need solving, no emails (that I know of) that need answering…I’m rested and ready to begin a day with my priorities straight and my heart being tuned to the Lord’s. I’ve found myself to be much more aware of my words, thoughts and actions and that I seem to be operating on more grace than I would say is usual for me. I feel like my relationship with the Lord has grown immensely in three short weeks and I’m a bit stunned.

People have told me MANY times about the value of spending time with the Lord in the morning…and there are LOTS of verses in the Bible to support the idea of morning devo time – Psalm 5:3 for example - "O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." I’m not up preparing a sacrifice of anything but my time/sleep…I just needed to come to this on my own and in the Lord’s timing.

If you have the same excuses that I did let me challenge you to give mornings a shot for just one month to see if it makes a difference in your life. You’ll likely need to be intentional – I have to write out the verses I’m reading that really stick out to me and I’m journaling my prayers daily…because early mornings aren’t my sharpest time of the day I do need some tools to ensure that my time with the Lord is meaningful…but it’s working!

Our Journey is another EXCELLENT tool – there are always copies at the bookstore on Sunday mornings. If this is a tool that benefits you make sure to order your copy for the new year!

I would love to hear from you what tools you use in your time with the Lord…

Amy