Colin S. Smith's Blog, page 7

Praying the Bible for Someone Who is Suffering

I recently talked with Tim Augustyn, Pastor of Ministry Resources at Open the Bible, about a simple but powerful tool for praying for others: Nancy Guthrie's book I'm Praying for You: 40 Days of Praying the Bible for Someone Who is Suffering (10 of Those, 2021). Here are highlights of our conversation.



Kevin Halloran: Tim, how are you using the book to pray for others??

Tim Augustyn: I put together a list of about fifteen people that I'm praying for every day. They are people who are going through some sort of trial--suffering with a health problem, grieving the loss of a loved one, or struggling with some relational difficulty.

The book has a QR code that allows you to send a text with a prayer to the person you're praying for that is based on a Scripture passage. It really engages people. They've been very interactive about what I'm praying for them, and commenting on it, and sharing other prayer requests. A number of people are also intentionally working through the Scripture passage for themselves.



It's a Spirit-inspired way to love others and point them to Christ.

One person said to me, "I've never before had a pastor pray for me specifically and regularly--that I'm aware of." They probably have, but they didn't know it. And so it's made me reflect on the fact that we do pray for people, but oftentimes they're not aware that we are praying or what we're praying for them. It's a double benefit for them: you're praying for them and you're sending them the encouragement of the Scriptures. I'm finding it to be an effective way to engage with the person who's going through a trial over a period of time.

I love things that are simple, but profoundly helpful. And this book and approach seems to be both.

It really is. I'm doing it for fifteen people daily which takes me about 10–15 minutes. It's simply laid out. Nancy Guthrie gives you a Scripture passage for each day, a one page explanation of it, and then a little prayer with fill-in-the-blanks for the person you're praying for. And then she gives you a prayer to send to them using a QR code. It's all there for you, and it helps me think about the person and what their situation is and try to apply it. It's a really helpful way to pray for people. I think the most surprising thing is how encouraged I've been with the interactive element. Praying for others is a real privilege!

Often we want to pray more for others, but without intentionality our desire often falls by the wayside. This book's simple technique gives you steps to follow.

I'm done with the forty days, but I still wanted to pray, so I started choosing my own Scripture passages and writing prayers, based on the model Nancy set out. Nancy's book is teaching me how to pray the Bible for others, in an ongoing way, which is a great gift to me and to those I'm praying for. And anyone can do it!

Is there a specific Scripture or truth that you've prayed that has touched people in a special way?

What I noticed is that there are certain things that resonate with people. For example, one of the prayers that Nancy wrote addresses the reality that our suffering often continues for a long time, and I immediately had three or four people text me back. It clearly touched them.

Nancy Guthrie's book was so helpful to me in understanding what suffering people are going through. She helps you see the connection, because of her depth of experience, between suffering and the Scriptures. She's very tenderhearted and that has helped me to be more tender with those I'm praying for.

I am excited to recommend I'm Praying for You by Nancy Guthrie to more people and hope that it will be a useful tool for personal growth and for ministry to others.

A Savior Who Knows What It Is to Weep

When Lazarus died, Jesus went to Bethany. Martha came out to meet Him, and later her sister Mary. These two women were grieving the death of their dearly loved brother.

When Jesus saw her [Mary] weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. (John 11:33–35)

Why did Jesus weep if He knew that in five minutes He would raise Lazarus from the dead?

He told Martha, “Your brother will rise again” (11:23) but He did not say to Martha, “Don’t grieve.” He is the Resurrection and the Life, but He weeps with Martha and Mary over their loss. Jesus wept!
He Knows Your Tears
God is always intimately involved in the grief of His people. There is a beautiful verse in the book of Psalms that speaks of God gathering all our tears in a bottle:

You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book? (Psalm 56:8)

Every tear you have ever shed is completely known to your heavenly Father. Not one of them is ever forgotten. The tears of God’s children are precious to Him. They are part of why He sent His Son into the world.

There are many wonderful statements in the Bible of why Jesus Christ came into the world. In one of them the Messiah says, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to… bind up the brokenhearted… to comfort all who mourn… that they may be called oaks of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:1-3), so that you may be able to stand and not be destroyed in your grief.
Bring Your Pain to Him
Our Lord was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). In the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow” (Matthew 26:38 NIV). When your soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, your Savior has been there. You have a Savior who knows what it is to weep.

You also have a Savior with Whom you can talk. There is a great gulf between this world and the next. You cannot talk to your loved one who has died. But if your loved one was in Christ, he or she is with the Savior, and you can talk to the Savior about your loved one who is now in His house. You can tell the Savior how much you miss them and how much you love them. You can bring the pain of your loss to this Savior Who is familiar with sorrow and grief.

One day Christ will wipe away all tears from your eyes. Literally, the Bible says He will wipe all tears “out of” our eyes (see Revelation 21:4), as if He would take away not only the tears, but the tear-ducts themselves (in the resurrection body), because they would no longer be needed. It is not only the tears that God will take away, but also the sorrow and loss that gave rise to them. Lord, hasten that day!

That day has not yet come, and until then, there will be tears. But there is also the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief, who says in the book of Lamentations, “See if there is any sorrow like my sorrow” (Lamentations 1:12). He plumbed the depths of sorrow when He suffered on the cross. And no one is more ready or more able to walk with you through the valley of grief, sorrow, and loss than Jesus Christ.

 



 

Learn more about God's comfort for our sorrow in the book For All Who Grieve: Navigating the Valley of Sorrow and Loss. Get your copy this month for a gift of any amount.

The King Who Longed for God’s Presence

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Earlier this year I stood with my family in the throne room of Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. We weren’t there for an audience with the Queen. No one was even on the thrones. We were just tourists, and like most tourists, we were impressed. The building was ornate, and every corner was packed with the history of important events that shaped the course of nations and generations of humans—events that still impact our world today.

To stand in the courts of real kings and queens is awe-inspiring. The power wielded there, the decisions made, the victories and defeats and intrigues—it all fills the air with a kind of heaviness, a weight of significance and importance. I wonder: if the royal courts still feel this significant for today’s tourists, how did they feel for the kings and queens of old? Can you imagine even one day of sitting on that throne, wielding that kind of power, authority, and influence over an entire kingdom?

In Psalm 84, we get a surprising glimpse of how a king felt about the significance of his royal court. What makes it surprising is that his focus is on another court, belonging to another King. King David writes this:

“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10 ESV) [1]

Better Than a Crown
David was a real king, an absolute monarch with a real throne and a palace and a court where his people came before him to hear his decisions and his enemies came to bring their tribute. He was already living at the very top of human society. In modern terms you could say he was on the top rung of the ladder of success. He had power, in the extreme. Wealth, in excess. He had fame, and his influencer status was unrivaled. Even his song-writing skills were legendary. What else could this man achieve? He already had it all. And what does this man, who had everything the world could offer, value above the everything he had? He tells us plainly:  he would rather have one day close to God, as a doorkeeper, than a thousand days of earthly prosperity anywhere else without him.

A doorkeeper?

You mean those people that everyone looks past and walks past and takes for granted? How can a king speak this way? Would he really trade his crown and royal court for a post as the doorman of another King? Yes. If that was how he could be close to God, he would.
Beyond The Ladder of Success
David may have been at the top of the ladder of success, but he refused to live for it. His goal was simpler: he wanted to be as near as possible to God, the King above every king. That’s it. If it meant serving as a doorkeeper, that was fine with him. His own relative position on the ladder of human success was nothing compared to this one consuming passion. He knew that power and privilege and money in themselves could never replace the love of his Creator. He shuddered at the thought of living in “the tents of wickedness”, the encampment of rebellion against his King, among those who vainly attempt to replace God with the good things that he himself made.

Many generations later, one of David’s descendants would come from a far higher throne all the way down to the lowest and least—Jesus, the King above all kings, would willingly give His life as a sacrifice and service to God and win salvation for small, ordinary, sinful people like us. He left Heaven  (Luke 22:25-27). He showed us that the treasure of being close to God, and the privilege of serving the people He treasures, are greater rewards than anything we could ever find in the high places of human society. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 ESV). King David understood this. Do we?

The world around us tells us that it’s good to be king, because kings have the power to do whatever they want. In Psalm 84, a king tells us that it’s good to be a doorkeeper, because the highest places in human society are not the highest places at all. A doorkeeper who faithfully serves the King of Heaven for one day is in a better position than a king who has a thousand days to serve himself. David knew what it was like to be a king, and he also knew that the lowest position of ordinary service close to God was greater than the highest position of privilege without him. As the world shouts in our ears about power and success, will we listen to the king who said he would rather be a doorkeeper who was close to God than have anything this world can offer?

“Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!” (Psalm 65:4 ESV)

 

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[1] The author of this article takes the view of Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, Matthew Henry, and many others who see King David as the author of Psalm 84, writing “for the Sons of Korah”. The time period, content, style, and sentiments of the Psalm are reflective of other Psalms that David authored.

“Nearer My God to Thee”: A Serious Song of Hope for Sufferers

The songs we sing do not always provide realistic expectations of the Christian life.

Consider the line from a well-loved hymn which states that it was at the cross by faith, “I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day.” The first phrase is true. The second is strictly unbiblical.

We should always rejoice when we remember the sight God gave us by faith in our crucified Savior. As a result, the nature of our burdens has been forever transformed! But the punchline, “and now I am happy all the day” should make true Christians cringe. The world, too, could rightly mock us for that pronouncement. We all know it’s not true, so why do we sing it?

A Trouble-Free Life?

It's so easy to pretend that faith in Christ removes our troubles. Nothing could be further from the truth. The world hated Jesus, and it hates His followers (John 15:18–20). As Christians, we suffer from our own sin and from the sins of others. Our family lives, work lives, church lives, and friendships are troubled.

Neglecting this reality might cause a troubled unbeliever to come to Christ under false pretenses. All too often, his seed falls among the thorns when the promise of utopia proves to be a lie (Matthew 13:5, 20-21). Believers, too, upon singing that line with their fellow travelers, must conclude that there is something wrong with them. They see the smile on everyone else’s faces and determine that they must not be trying hard enough.

Draw Near to Christ Through Suffering

I recently attended a funeral where “Nearer, My God, to Thee” was sung congregationally. It seemed to me the perfect song for a funeral and for life. It is at once realistic and uplifting, not painting a utopian picture of Christianity in our current existence but portraying a dependence on God during our temporary sufferings here on earth.

The first verse recognizes that God’s design is to draw us nearer to Him through suffering:

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee

E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me

Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee

This is biblical. Romans 5:3-5, to name just one of many passages, teaches us to rejoice in our sufferings because of all they accomplish in our lives by faith. Endurance, character, and hope emerge in the person who takes up her cross and follows Christ. Her desire is to draw nearer to Him whose promises are much greater than the taunting notion of a comfortable life.

The second verse admits that darkness is near for the believer:

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness be over me, my rest a stone

Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee

In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writes about how trials and darkness produce nearness to God. He portrays his suffering as a qualifier for his ministry (6:4-10; 11:16-33) and enumerates some of the benefits of suffering, which believers recognize from experience:

Jesus comforts us when we suffer, and in turn, we comfort others (1:3-4).
Suffering will not bring about our defeat; rather, it produces thankfulness and assurance of victory (4:7-18).
Suffering produces repentance and joy (7:10).
Suffering can produce a deeper experience of God’s grace in the end (12:9-10).

Verse 4 gives us an even closer view of how suffering can bring us near to God:

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee

Bethel is a reference to a memorial that Jacob erected after a key interaction with God. From his duplicitous father-in-law (Genesis 29) to his treacherous sons (Genesis 37), Jacob had many complaints about his life. He even used to live in fear of his brother Esau (Genesis 32), but God helped him in a famously odd and painful way. Through his struggle with God, Jacob learns that through pain comes blessing and remembrance that God is the One who helps us in our trials, which is the meaning of the Bethel monument.

Suffering No More

The last verse of the song recognizes that suffering is temporary and leads to glory.

Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky

Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee

Today might be another day of labor and service and pain. Or… it might be my final day on this earth! That day will come, and for the Christian, it will be far better than all the days leading up to it. The fruitful labor of this life on earth was important and full of adventure. But when that last day comes, I will fly away to be nearer to God, who’s been faithful throughout my life. He was the One I most wanted all along. Ever since my conversion, my life was a pursuit of Him, and now I shall see Him face to face and live with Him forever.

Many churches look for positive messages in the songs they sing, but they often fail to realize that suffering is a God-given partner for Christians in their walk with Him and in their growth toward holiness. My prayer is that many will embrace it and find greater joy in this life and the next.

Here is a great version of this powerful song:

 

10 Things You Can’t Do In Heaven

 “Whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9 ESV).

Believers will please Christ forever in heaven, and our aim on earth is to start pleasing Him now.

Some of the ways we bring pleasure to Christ on earth will continue in heaven: Worship, love, serving, and fellowship will bring joy to us and to Christ in heaven as they do on earth. But right now, we have opportunities to bring joy to Christ that are only possible during our life in this world.

Here are ten examples:

All the believing we will ever do is the believing we do in the body. We won’t need to believe when faith has turned to sight.
All the interceding we will ever do will be done while we are in the body. There will be no needs for which to intercede when we are in heaven.
All the courage we will ever show is the courage we show in this world. There are no dangers in the presence of Jesus.
All the resisting of sin we will ever do will be done in this life. There will be no sins or temptations for us to fight in the presence of Jesus.
The only opportunities to trust God in what we do not understand are here in this world. In the presence of Jesus, all that was hidden will be revealed, and we will know fully as we are fully known.
The only dark places where we can shine like a light are the dark places where God puts us in this world. There are no dark places in the presence of Jesus.
The only patience we will ever show is the patience we have while here in the body. There will be no need for patience in heaven.
The only bearing witness to Jesus that we will ever do is in this world. There are no lost people in heaven. But right now, there are many around us.
The only comfort we will ever offer is the comfort we give to those who suffer in this world.  There will be no suffering in the presence of Jesus.
The only sacrifices we will ever make for Christ and His kingdom are made in this life.  The saints rest from their labors in heaven. The only opportunity you will ever have to move beyond your comfort zone for the sake of Christ is now!

There are opportunities to please Christ now that we will never have again, so let’s seize them and pursue them while we can!

 

This article has been adapted from the sermon Bringing Joy to Jesus Christ.

Make a Withdrawal from God’s Bank Account

C. H. Spurgeon is widely held to be one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century. I would recommend getting your hands on anything and everything of his that you can find. His lively faith in Jesus, his love for the Word of God, his timeless illustrations, and his engaging character come through loud and clear, even in the “thee’s” and “thou’s” of his old English writing.

The spelling of “Cheque Book” aside, this unusual book from Spurgeon is a rare jewel. Imagine God having all of His resources—all of His power, all of His strength, all of His comfort in a great bank account. And God writes checks that we can cash in. That’s what the promises of God are. They are His resources being made available to us.

What Spurgeon has done in this little book (that is shaped just like a checkbook) is that he has chosen one promise for every day of the year. Under each day’s verse (that contains the promise), Spurgeon includes two or three paragraphs to help us apply the promise to our lives. You could read each of the 365 days of this Christian classic in less than two minutes.

Here are just ten of the many gold nuggets you will find sprinkled throughout Spurgeon’s fine book:

10. My own weakness makes me shrink, but God’s promise makes me brave.

9. Let the reader lay this passage [of Scripture] on his tongue, and keep it in his mouth all the day, and it will be to him as a wafer made with honey.

8. No physician like the Lord, no tonic like his promise, no wine like his love.

7. Heaven, where Jesus is, will be our honorable mansion, eternal bliss our honorable portion, and the Lord himself our honorable companion.

6. Worry kills, but confidence in God is like healing medicine.

5. He who gave parents a love for their children, will he not listen to the cries of his own sons and daughters?

4. Who would not be much in prayer when he knows that he has the ear of the King of kings?

3. Tribulation in and of itself worketh petulance, unbelief, and rebellion. It is only by the sacred alchemy of grace that it is made to work in us patience.

2. The Lord keeps his people as a rich man keeps his treasure.

1. God loves because he is love, he frowns because it is necessary for our good.

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Get your copy of C.H. Spurgeon's Chequebook of the Bank of Faith: Daily Readings this month for a donation of any amount.

Will We See People in Heaven Who’ve Caused Us Pain Here on Earth?

Question: Will I see my abusive ex-husband again in heaven? He claimed to be a Christian.

Answer: As you probably already know, the answer to your question is not simply a matter of what you or I (or anyone else) would like it to be. As Christians, we try to be faithful to what God has told us about heaven in His Word.

Let’s think together about three things that I believe will put your mind at ease.

1. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is an authentic believer.

Jesus Himself said, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:22-23).

Many who claimed to be Christians while they were here on earth will be surprised on the last day to find out that they were not. This could very well be the case with your ex-husband. Of course, none of us knows until that last day, for sure, who was and who was not an authentic believer.

Our own hearts are sometimes difficult to understand, let alone the heart of another. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). It sounds, from what you have said, like your ex-husband did not consistently display a godly lifestyle while you were together. However, it is possible that toward the end of his life he came to a saving knowledge of Jesus. (Remember the thief on the cross in Luke 23?)

On one level, you may find this to be a relief. But it is also a warning for us—that we do not assume we are Christians simply because we go to church or try to do good things. Authentic faith always leads to a changed life. If you have sins in your life that you have not dealt with, I encourage you to do so today. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Hebrews 3:15). How sad it would be for you to worry about seeing your ex-husband in heaven, and then end up not being there yourself.

2. Every Christian believer in heaven will be made perfect.

John said, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

Every one of God’s children will be made like Jesus Christ in heaven. We will be without sin. So, all of us—you, me, and your ex-husband—none of us will be made perfect in this life. We still continue to struggle with sin, all of us, to the very end. Sin will not be removed from us until we get to heaven.

So, if your ex-husband was a genuine believer, he will be a very different man from the one you knew. You do not need to fear seeing him in heaven. I suspect, if he is there, that he will want to profusely apologize for the many ways that he hurt you.

3. Heaven will be a place of joy, not pain.

In a vision John was given, he says about heaven: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).

The first thing to say about heaven is that God Himself will be there! So that will mean joy for all who have loved Him and longed for His coming. But it also clearly means that there will be no sin in heaven. And since every cause of sin will be excluded from heaven, all the effects of sin—tears, death, mourning, and pain will pass away too. Your ex-husband, if he is in heaven, will no longer cause you grief, sorrow, or pain. These things will no longer be a part of your experience in heaven.

I hope and pray that you will be encouraged by these things. I pray that you will be able to reflect on these verses and see that there is nothing for you to worry about regarding your ex-husband. Either he will be in heaven, and be a very different man from the one you knew, or he will not be in heaven at all.

Warmly in Christ,

Pastor Tim

Five Steps to Renewing Your Mind

What does your stream of consciousness sound like?

There are words floating through my mind at all times; some are good and purposeful, and others are not. My mental monologue generally contains too much self-focused and self-defeating babble.

“What a stupid thing to say!” (Imaginary palm to the forehead.) “Did she just ignore me?” (Anger, followed by a fearful feeling that I am easily forgotten.) “That's a good idea for a blog post...or maybe it's just dumb.” (Internal debate.) “I'd like to ________, but I don't know if I can pull it off.” (Who do I think I am?)

On, and on it goes. It's exhausting.

My mind needs a refresher. Maybe you too will benefit from these steps.

Step 1: Ask the Lord to guard and direct your mind.

My mind is the place of my intellect, reasoning, and intentions; my behavior begins in my mind, and my mind is where spiritual transformation happens (Romans 12:2). The object of my regular thinking will determine how my days, years, and ultimately my life plays out. Everything starts in the mind.

Too often, I simply don't bother to ask for the Lord's protection, direction, and oversight of my mind. From now on, I will do my best to start my day with a simple prayer: Jesus, by your Holy Spirit, keep my mind firmly set where you want it to be focused today.  

Step 2: Recognize the source of self-focused and self-defeating thoughts.

Given that my behavior begins in my mind, and my mind is where spiritual transformation happens, is it any surprise that the adversary wants to mess with my thinking?  It must be his favorite first attempt to distract and disarm Christians, and it usually works.

I have experienced periods of mental oppression that seem almost physical. A feeling of heaviness accompanies my self-defeating thoughts. Most of the time, I realize that I am engaged in a spiritual battle of some sort, but I cannot immediately free myself of it. I pray. I confess. I read God's Word. I pray some more. (It should be noted that in my case this is not clinical depression and, if it were, I would seek medical treatment.)

Eventually my mind is unencumbered, but it is not because I thought positively enough or talked myself out of it. That may work temporarily, but it won't root out the problem.  I know who the enemy is, and I also know the only One who can defeat him.

Recognize the enemy, and fight him with God's power and with Scriptural truth.

Step 3: Replace self-focused thinking with a God-focused mindset.

After praying for the Lord to protect my mind and recognizing the enemy, I have a choice. Will I train my brain to concentrate on the things of God, or will I let it be consumed by the things of this world?

To focus my mind on God requires some work. If I don't take purposeful action to set my mind on Jesus Christ, then I'm allowing my mind to go anywhere it wants to go. I know where it will go, and it's nowhere good.

I know myself. So, even when I am fully confident of God's love and care, I still must decide what I will and will not think about.

The following verses help me to set my mind on things above, and not on earthly things:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2)

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Step 4: Rest in the truth that you are accepted in Jesus Christ.

I'll pray for the Lord to protect my mind, help me recognize the enemy, and work to keep my mind focused on God. Sometimes I will be successful, and sometimes I will not be. Over time, it will be more often the former.

There are days when all I can do is rest in the truth that I am at peace with God, that I am free from accusation, and that I am God's child.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are at peace with God. "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

In Christ, we are free from accusation. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

In Christ, we are children of God and heirs along with Jesus. "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ..." (Romans 8:16-17).

My identity in Jesus Christ is the central fact that influences my present circumstances and determines my eternal future, and it is available by faith alone. Don't doubt; don't wonder; don't question it.

Accept God's gracious gift, and rest in it.

Step 5: Repeat steps 1-4 daily.

By using these five techniques, I hope that the next time I feel stupid, ignored, or I question my ability, I will learn to test my thinking. God doesn't condemn me, so I know that thoughts of self-condemnation are not from him. There is no fear in God's love, so when I feel afraid or defeated, I can safely ignore those thoughts too.

Ultimately, God wants me to be transformed to be like his Son, Jesus. Jesus did not engage in the type of mental machinations that I've described—he was totally focused on the will of the Father. Because that was true of him, it will increasingly be true of me...and someday, that work in me will be complete.

How do you keep your mind from dwelling on unhealthy, untrue, or distracting thoughts?

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Watch Pastor Colin Smith explain why the Bible is more than mere information. 

https://vimeo.com/729256765

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Serving the Lord When You Aren’t Ready

When my wife and I considered having kids, we worried we weren’t ready. In response, a friend of ours commented, “If you wait till you feel ready, you’ll never do it.”

It’s often the same with serving. There are constantly things getting in the way of our feeling ready to serve.

Serving When Too Busy

Life has a lot of responsibilities, and it would be nice to get a few of them sorted out before adding regular service.

Jesus encountered several people with a similar mindset:

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62)

If you think that you’ll start serving after you get things squared away, you won’t. There’s always some excuse not to serve. Jesus doesn’t want your excuses, he wants you. If you’re too busy to serve, then you are too busy.

Serving When Spiritually Weak

Perhaps you feel unworthy to serve. This is one of my struggles—how could God use someone like me? 1 Corinthians 1:27 reminds us that “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” Knowing you are weak is a wonderful starting point for service. It’s where Simon Peter started from when Jesus called him. Seeing the power and holiness of Jesus, Simon “fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord’” (Luke 5:8b). Like he did with Simon, Jesus uses people of contrite spirits to do his work, using that work to expand their capacity for service.

Serving When Not Gifted

Knowing your God-given gifts is a great step in determining where you may be of most use. However, spiritual gifts aren’t the only metric by which we gauge our ability to serve. There may be times when a great need, a wonderful opportunity, or a change in circumstance may be a better indicator.

In Nehemiah, people come together to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. With God’s guidance, they overcome opposition and hardship to complete their task. In Chapter 3, there is a description of the people doing the work: priests, goldsmiths, perfumers, merchants; men and women even came from other towns to help. Wall building was likely not a skill any of them natively possessed, but the need was there.

A perceived lack of gifting in an area may cause you to think that your contribution will be small or substandard. The contribution of the woman who gave her two coins to the offering in Luke 21:2 was small but greatly blessed because she gave all she had.

Ezra worked with Nehemiah on the walls of Jerusalem, and then also on the temple. Ezra records that “many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid” (Ezra 3:12.) Some of their weeping was due to the comparison of the new temple to the old and finding the new lacking. But Haggai gives us a glimpse of how God sees their service:

Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?...The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:3,9)

Some areas of service require a level of competence, but even then there are often ways to serve if you are willing to be humble and teachable.

You should not avoid service from worry that you will serve inadequately. The Lord is not constrained by the quality of our efforts; he brings himself glory in all circumstances. So serve him in your mediocrity, and he will glorify that service as he sees fit.

Serving When Hurt

It’s hard to serve God and others when we are in pain, especially if that pain is caused by those we are serving.

The week leading up to Jesus’s crucifixion must have been consistently painful: as he entered triumphantly on Palm Sunday, he knew that in just a week he would be killed; as he washed his disciples’ feet, he knew they would all run when he was taken; as he ate dinner with them, he knew Peter would deny him and Judas would betray him. Yet, Jesus went willingly into the pain of the cross to serve God and us. He bore the sins of those who spat on him and murdered him.

Jesus suffered this way to pay the penalty for our sin and reconcile us to God, and also that we would know that he understands our suffering. We can feel confident to find solace and comfort in Jesus because he has also suffered.

We must remember that in his suffering, Jesus continued to serve God by doing the work he was given.

As should we.

Serving Courageously and Constantly

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. A master calls his servants together and gives them each some money. The first servant receives five chests of money, the second. two chests, and the last receives one. The first and second servants use the money in trade and commerce and double their money. The last servant is afraid of losing the money, so he buries it. When the master returns, he rewards the first two servants, and punishes the last servant for doing nothing.

None of the servants were judged on the basis of the amount they returned to the master, but instead on the faithful use of what they were given.

We have all been given something—gifts, experience, opportunity, counsel, desire, or eyes that see needs. Our work is to be faithful in what we are given, whatever it is, whenever it is, or however we feel about it.

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If you're a small group leader, Sunday School teacher, missionary, or pastor and are looking for practical ministry training, Open the Bible for Leaders is for you. Learn more or watch a preview of Pastor Colin's Watch Your Life course:

7 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Fear Evangelism

If the word "evangelism" has ever sent a shiver down your spine, I have some encouragement for you: the apostle Paul sometimes battled fear as well. Why else would he ask for prayer to proclaim the gospel boldly as he did in Ephesians 6:19–20? In fact, the NIV even translates this request as proclaiming the gospel fearlessly.

And certainly Paul had reason for fear. His ministry rap sheet included imprisonments, beatings, a stoning, and seemingly constant danger (see 2 Corinthians 11:23–27). He knew the temptation to shrink back when he had an opportunity to share the gospel, so he asked other believers for prayer.

Many Christians find themselves fearful when thinking of sharing the gospel. After all, society seems more angry and divided by the day. But our lost and broken world needs to hear the good news of Jesus (1 Peter 3:15; Matthew 28:18–20; Mark 16:15).

Thankfully, the Bible is filled with encouragement to help us trust God as we proclaim the precious truths about His Son and what He has done for our broken world. Here are seven encouragements.

1. God saves people, not you.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… (Romans 1:16)

Your lack of eloquence or skill in presenting the gospel will not stop God's plans to save. Pastor J.T. English's conversion story illustrates this. While biting into a Big Mac at McDonalds, English's friend read a gospel tract nervously without emotion. But God cut to English's heart, converting him. Proclaim the gospel faithfully and leave the results to God.

2. God can supply boldness when needed.

After Peter and John were threatened by religious leaders for preaching about Jesus, they prayed with the church, "Lord…grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness" (Acts 4:29). Instead of shrinking back, the disciples doubled down and asked for divine strength in their proclamation.

"And when they had prayed," Luke records, "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). When we lack boldness to proclaim Christ, we can ask God to supply our lack by the power of His Holy Spirit.

3. People rejected Jesus, too.

Success in evangelism is measured in our obedience, not the outcome. Consider the story of the Jesus and the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-30). The young man approached Jesus, interested in hearing about how to get to heaven. You would think that any encounter with Jesus would have been a sure-fire conversion. Nope. After Jesus led him through the law (which shows us our sin and need for the Savior) and told him the cost of discipleship, the young man went away sorrowful. If you've ever been rejected after sharing the gospel, you're in good company.

4. When we are rejected, we are promised heavenly rewards.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

If you think about it, every possible outcome of witnessing of Jesus to others is a win. If the person comes to Christ, that's an obvious win! If they listen (even without interest), you plant seeds that God could grow in the future. Another win. If they reject you, you get heavenly rewards (see Matthew 5:11–12 above), which is definitely a win!

Don't let the fear of rejection keep you from sharing the good news of Christ. You can't lose.

5. The Holy Spirit will give you words.

Every Christian needs to be ready to share a reason for the hope within them. That presupposes some ability to share what they believe and why. That doesn't mean we will have all of the answers—nobody has all of the answers!

When Jesus talked to His followers about defending themselves before rulers and authorities, He commanded, "do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say" (Luke 12:11–12).

If God can speak through donkeys like He did in Numbers 22:28, human beings should be no problem for Him!

6. Our job is to plant seeds or water the soil. God takes care of the growth.

Just like a gardener cannot force seeds to grow merely by his will, evangelists cannot force people to respond to the gospel. God is the One who gives new life. We should take advantages of the opportunities we are given to plant gospel seeds and to water existing seeds, trusting the growth to God (1 Corinthians 3:7).

7. God will be with you.

After He gave the Great Commission to go and make disciples in Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (v. 20). Going out on your own can be a frightening thing, but that is never the experience of the Christian. Christ promises to always be with us as we go and proclaim His gospel.

News Worth Sharing

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37). Are you going to be a laborer, someone willing to take a step of faith and love to share the message of the gospel?

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Strengthen your grasp of the gospel so you can share it with others by taking the free course Grasp the Gospel by Dr. Scott Lothery. Watch a preview below. Learn more about our practical ministry training program called Open the Bible for Leaders .

https://vimeo.com/718334544