Letting Jesus Meet Me in My Need (Luke 5)

Letting Jesus Meet Me in My Need (Luke 5)

Evening Scripture Luke, Chapter 5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Read the rest of the chapter on BibleStudyTools.com. [https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/5.html] Evening Reflection  Sometimes a desperate need comes upon our lives. These times of overwhelming lack make us feel stuck; we don’t have the resources or ability to overcome such need. In these moments, we often feel far from God. The idea of a good God gets challenged while we encounter such hardship and pain. This proves tragic because God has said and proven time and again how his heart is with the poor and needy. God, by his nature, sees emptiness and tries to fill it with goodness. Looking upon our broken world and the lives within it, God didn’t stay distant. Despite our sin, he entered the story through Jesus, also called Immanuel, God with us. He became a man to reach us where we were.  Here in Luke 5 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/5.html] we see how Jesus’s closeness transformed lives, performed miracles. With the man dropped through the roof, Christ forgave his sin and healed his body, meeting both spiritual and physical. Pointedly, he dealt with the spiritual first, the physical coming after. We also have to let him meet us, invite us into the story. First, we must realize he’s already near us, and then we must cry out to him, pleading with him to do what he wants to do—love us and join us in our lack to fill it with his light and life, redeeming and transforming us and our story with his own.  Evening Prayer  Heavenly Father, I come to you in my need, not hiding my lack or pretending abilities I don’t have. You see my emptiness, and you draw near with love and power. You’re not distant; you’re Immanuel, God with me. Forgive my sin, restore my heart, and speak life into every broken place. I willingly and desperately invite you into my story, into my weakness, fear, doubts, and all. Fill and revive what I can’t. Heal what I can’t. You alone can bring change, and you are more than enough to transform my life and situation. Teach me to trust your goodness and love today. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Trusting God’s Spirit to Do What I Cannot (Zechariah 4)

Trusting God’s Spirit to Do What I Cannot Evening Scripture Zechariah 4 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/zechariah/4.html] Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” He answered, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I replied. So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said. So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.” Evening Reflection Life presents us with so many impossible tasks. On our own, we lack the power to do good; our sin nature makes it impossible for us to please God. By God’s amazing grace, the impossible is made possible. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and through the death of Jesus, we can overcome our sin nature and, through the confession of faith, become a child of God. Death no longer has the last word, and our lives can be filled with beauty, grace, and meaning.  God’s Spirit also shows us how to live. It reveals to us parts of the mystery of who God is. Zachariah encounters an angel who gives him a prophetic vision. He doesn’t understand what he is seeing. The angel responds to Zachariah's confusion by saying that the things being revealed to him will not come to pass by man’s might but through the power of God’s Spirit. For things that feel confusing, impossible, or countercultural by human standards, we have to trust God’s Spirit to do what we cannot.  God is an everlasting God. He sees our beginning and our end. He alone holds all Creation together. It is God alone who has the power to change, guide, and save us. He anoints us to do His work. We must trust God’s Spirit to empower us.   Evening Prayer Father, I thank you that it is not by my might but by your Spirit that I can overcome my sin and have access to salvation. Through your Spirit, reveal to me how to live. Anoint me to do your good work. Show me how to navigate life’s challenges. Remind me that the best is yet to come. Grant me your wisdom so I can understand the signs of the times and point others to you. Help me to be a person who lives with peace and confidence, knowing you can do abundantly above and beyond all I could think, ask, or imagine. Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Restored by Mercy I Didn't Earn (Psalm 85)

Restored by Mercy I Didn’t Earn                                                                                                                                      Evening Scripture Psalm 85 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/85.html] You, Lord, showed favor to your land;      you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people      and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath      and turned from your fierce anger. Restore us again, God our Savior,      and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever?      Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again,      that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord,      and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the Lord says;      he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—      but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,      that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together;      righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,      and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good,      and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him      and prepares the way for his steps. Evening Reflection Psalm 85 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/85.html] reminds us of God’s forgiveness and favor. Where he could have destroyed us with a breath of his “hot anger” because of our sin, he gave us life; he revived us. But as we wait for the Lord to return, and life continues to be difficult, it can seem as though God is still angry. “Will you be angry forever?” We feel spent, tired of fighting our sin and the sins of others, even to the point of death. We have no right to experience the mercy of his life-saving breath - and yet the Holy Spirit revives us. The Psalmist describes God as righteous, steadfast, and loving. It pleases him to offer peace instead of chaos to the aching hearts of sinners. We might find it difficult to replicate in our day-to-day response to people who hurt us, but we are called to follow the Lord’s example. His righteousness is the path we pursue. Since we are worthy of God’s wrath but have received salvation instead, we can bring Christ’s peace to those who have hurt us. Transformed, revived hearts actively work towards forgiveness in the humility of knowing that we received the Lord’s mercy when we should have been wiped out by his wrath. There are people drowning in shame over the wrongs they have committed: God’s peace offers a way out. We can bring them the restorative love of the Savior. Whether his love is accepted or not, God IS glorified when we follow his direction and copy his mercy. Rest in that truth. Evening Prayer Lord, With your reviving mercy comes responsibility to move towards others in love and to forgive as we have been forgiven. You restored us - this means we were dead! Let us never forget that being far from you is no trifling inconvenience but death. And you, glorious and loving God, have given us life instead. You are wondrous, and your mercy is so grand a thing that we cannot fathom it, but help us to reflect it as ambassadors to a world that is dying. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Drawing Near to God and Being Changed (James 4)

Evening Scripture James 4 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/james/4.html] What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud      but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. Evening Reflection As we settle in for the evening and review our day, it is easy to recognize how busy our schedule was – but not so easy to identify where our focus was. In this crazy world of busyness, we often get wrapped up in our earthly desires rather than our heavenly calling. We work toward what we covet – a promotion, a raise, more pay, recognition. Our desires include additional possessions and pleasures - a bigger home, a newer car, or more.  Then, we let our prayers reflect those desires – only to be disappointed when things don’t go the way we asked. We make plans for our future, asking God to bless them – and yet, we don’t know what our future will bring. Our lives can change in a heartbeat, changing what lies ahead. If that were to occur, wouldn’t you want to already be close to God so he can see you through those life-changing moments? We are taught that when we give our lives to Jesus, we become a new creation, and it is the absolute truth. The Holy Spirit comes and dwells within us – but sometimes we are so busy chasing our “dreams” we can’t feel his presence or even know he’s there.  James tells us to submit ourselves to God and to humble ourselves before the Lord, and he will lift us up! A promise made – and God never breaks his promises. But, submitting ourselves and humbling ourselves before the Lord isn’t something that we can snap our fingers and make happen. It is a commitment that requires daily attention and sacrifice. We must open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit and give in to his leading – through daily prayer, God’s Word, and a community of believers. Let the Lord’s spirit work in us and through us – giving in to the change within us. We may not feel change immediately - it may take a bit of time - but one morning you will wake up and feel it. You are drawing near to God – feeling like a new creation in him. Evening Prayer Father, With my whole heart, I desire to come to know you. I want to draw closer and closer. I desire all of you, and I surrender to your will in everything I desire or do. You are my God, and earnestly I seek you. My soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you in this dry and weary land where there is no water. Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Finding Strength and Stability in God (Isaiah 33)

Finding Strength and Stability in God Evening Scripture Isaiah 33 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/33.html] Woe to you, destroyer,     you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, betrayer,     you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying,     you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying,     you will be betrayed. Lord, be gracious to us;     we long for you. Be our strength every morning,     our salvation in time of distress. At the uproar of your army, the peoples flee;     when you rise up, the nations scatter. Your plunder, O nations, is harvested as by young locusts;     like a swarm of locusts people pounce on it. The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;     he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times,     a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;     the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. Look, their brave men cry aloud in the streets;     the envoys of peace weep bitterly. The highways are deserted,     no travelers are on the roads. The treaty is broken,     its witnesses are despised,     no one is respected. The land dries up and wastes away,     Lebanon is ashamed and withers; Sharon is like the Arabah,     and Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves. “Now will I arise,” says the Lord.     “Now will I be exalted;     now will I be lifted up. You conceive chaff,     you give birth to straw;     your breath is a fire that consumes you. The peoples will be burned to ashes;     like cut thornbushes they will be set ablaze.” You who are far away, hear what I have done;     you who are near, acknowledge my power! The sinners in Zion are terrified;     trembling grips the godless: “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire?     Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?” Those who walk righteously     and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion     and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder     and shut their eyes against contemplating evil— they are the ones who will dwell on the heights,     whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied,     and water will not fail them. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty     and view a land that stretches afar. In your thoughts you will ponder the former terror:     “Where is that chief officer? Where is the one who took the revenue?     Where is the officer in charge of the towers?” You will see those arrogant people no more,     people whose speech is obscure,     whose language is strange and incomprehensible. Look on Zion, the city of our festivals;     your eyes will see Jerusalem,     a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up,     nor any of its ropes broken. There the Lord will be our Mighty One.     It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams. No galley with oars will ride them,     no mighty ship will sail them. For the Lord is our judge,     the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king;     it is he who will save us. Your rigging hangs loose:     The mast is not held secure,     the sail is not spread. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided     and even the lame will carry off plunder. No one living in Zion will say, “I am ill”;     and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven. Evening Reflection Sometimes, along with our physical legs feeling shaky and off-balance, so can our faith legs feel wobbly and unsteady, leaving us needing someone to hold onto, or even help prop us up. Yet in life, there may be times when no one is around, or no one is willing or strong enough to help us. So what do we do when we need strength and stability beyond what we can muster or find in our own strength? When feeling like our faith is about to collapse or crumble over all life is dealing us, we can call out to God, asking Him to be our strength and stability, assured and confident, that at times when we need it the most, God is gracious to hear us and respond, to hold us up, and to be our salvation in our lowest and darkest of times, especially when it seems like the world and everyone is too busy or unavailable to help us. He is our sure foundation, the place where we find strength and stability in our most vulnerable moments. God is where our faith can be renewed, where we find peace and even joy, resting safely and securely in His steady and stable arms. Evening Prayer God, I come to you tonight, feeling shaky, unstable in my faith, ready to collapse under the weight of everyday life. Yet, you promise to be my strong foundation. So I look to You to hold me up, to renew my faith, and to be my daily strength and stability each day of my life, when I feel unbalanced and even when I feel like I’m strong enough in myself. I know You, O Lord, are my Mighty One, the one I turn to when life tries to shake my faith and my legs feel unsure and ready to give out underneath me. Thank you, God, for being my strength every morning and my salvation in distress, and for being a rich source of wisdom and knowledge. Help me to walk daily in the fear of the Lord, which is the key to Your treasure. Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].