engage your heart

 

1. before you begin

invite God to speak to you through what you read.

read the Scripture passage.

ask questions about what you read:

what does this verse mean?

how can i apply it to my life?

pray and talk to God about how you will use this Scripture in your everyday life.

 

2. simple

today's scripture reading:

"whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."
—ecclesiastes 9:10a (niv)

engage your heart

over time, i have learned that God’s supernatural power often manifests itself through simple things. we need to recognize these opportunities to see His supernatural power at work around us, in us and through us—not in the past … by mourning missed opportunities, not in the future … which belongs only to God, but in the present … that which has been given to us for here and now.

let’s remember the exhortation from today’s Scripture reading: whatever your hand finds to do—whether it seems small or large—do it with all your might. why? because God may use your seemingly simple gift and abilities in powerful ways.

open your hands

think: think of a chore or task you do every day. next time you do this simple chore, ask God to help you. do it with all your might, as a gift to Him.

prayer:

dear God,
open my eyes so i may see Your grace in the simple things. help me to never minimize them, because they are a manifestation of Your love. help me do everything within my reach with all of my heart and strength. i pray these things in the precious name of Jesus.
amen.

further resources:

audio/video download: the church: keeping it simple by jon courson; http://www.joncourson.com/teaching/teachingsplay.asp?teaching=s533.

 

3. hope

today's scripture reading:

“the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. we have seen His glory,
the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.”
—john 1:14 niv

engage your heart

i’ve learned that what i — and all of us — need is more than things. i’ve learned that what we need is hope. hope that life can be better. hope that people care. but most of all we need to know that we matter … that what we do and who we are really does matter. but more importanly, what we need most is Jesus Christ and His love for all people all around the world. that’s how we all can experience hope.

so this year, remember the gift of hope that God gave us. remember how in an unusual way, redemption — which is simply a relationship with God and the ability to experience His love—was given to us. a Savior was given to us. and because He was, hope was given to each and every one of us.

open your hands

drop: set aside some coins or a dollar or two to give to the church's benevolence fund. consider buying a cup of coffee or a stack of fast food “dollars” for the person standing behind you. step out of your comfort zone and your busy schedule and share the hope of Christ through your encouragement.

prayer:

dear God,
thank you for sending Jesus, the hope of the world, my hope.
amen.

 

4. quiet

today's scripture reading:

“be still, and know that i am God”
—psalm 46:10 (niv)

engage your heart

if your life is anything like mine, you know life is often anything but quiet. my childhood memories are more reminiscent of national lampoon’s vacation than memories of stillness and deep contemplative reflection!

put simply, the average person has a lot going on all throughout the year. sunday is like a race that kicks off with the first swallow of morning coffee to the last sigh at night so we can rest up for an early attack on tomorrow's tasks. on monday, we're back to work or school, where we have deadlines and finals. oh, and come straight home because we really need to get that that garbage out. socially, we have more parties than is enjoyable. and there are emails to send, travel plans to make, and birthday gifts to deliver.

i wish i knew the secret of rising above it all, but the truth is, it's easy for me to get so caught up in the frenzy of the day that i find myself spending little time receiving the one thing that life is all about—the gift of Jesus to each of us, from God Himself.

as i reflect on the frenzy that our culturally shaped life can bring on us, one Scripture passage comes to mind: psalm 46:10, which tells us, “be still, and know that i am God.” did you know that the latin imperative for "be still" is vacate?

wow! God is telling us to take a vacation—a holiday—just to take time to know that He is God!

how ironic that every time when i have a chance to vacate and reflect on God sending a Savior as a gift to me easily becomes a time of year when i run at a pace as if everything depends on me. the result: i totally miss it.

but not this year. this year, i’m truly taking a vacation. i am going to vacate and know that He is God. i may not be able to actually take a vacation because of my ministerial duties or the medical demands from this bum leg, but i can make a point to slow down and savor life. i can create a space where i can express my gratitude to my family and friends. i enjoy the sights and the sounds ... the smells and the music.

i hope you’ll join me in taking time this year for a real vacation—a time where you can honestly get to know He is God, and to reflect on His gift to us.

open your hands

do: choose a daily time when you can set aside a few moments to just "be" during this busy month. no expectations, no curriculum, just a time when you can breathe deeply and reflect on God’s gift to us—His Son, Jesus Christ.

sleep: take a nap or sleep in. give yourself permission one day this week to get caught up on your sleep. being physically rested sets the tone for living a restful life.

prayer:

dear God,
help me remember that the very mindset that compels me to live life without any quiet, is a result of never pausing to know that You are God. help me find rest, peace, and a sense of gratitude in times of quiet stillness.
amen.

further resources:

book: invitation to solitude and silence: experiencing God's transforming presence by ruth haley barton.