thoughts by Jon Walker Archives - Daily Devotionals by Thoughts about God

Does God Know What You’re Going Through?

Published February 23, 2023

Does God Know What You’re Going Through?

“Now that the worst is over, we’re pleased we can report that we’ve come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world—and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. But it wasn’t by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised.” 2 Corinthians 1:12 (MSG)

In order to get through what you’re going through, focus on who God is — his unchanging nature. Regardless of circumstances and how you feel, hang on to God’s unchanging character.

Your circumstances cannot change the character of God. God’s grace is still in full force; he is still for you, even when you don’t feel it.

Remind yourself what you know to be eternally true about God: He is good, he loves you, he is with you, he knows what you’re going through, he cares, and he has a good plan for your life.

Raymond Edman once said, “Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.”

Thoughts:

•    What has God told you in the light that you now doubt in the dark?
•    Why do you doubt God now?
•    Talk about this truth: Your circumstances cannot change the character of God.

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

Look at Jesus, Not the Waves

“… Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus.

But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” Matthew 14:29-31 (MSG)

The call of discipleship is to follow after Jesus, even onto the water. In a sense, Jesus beckons,

“Come closer to me. Be my disciple and learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I am the only way, so I require you to focus exclusively on me in your obedience.“

Then, to underscore the need for this single-minded obedience, the Bible tells us that Peter became distracted. As he sees the wind whipping across the waves, Peter takes his focus off Jesus and he begins to sink into the water. His obedience is now double-minded – and he provides a profound object lesson in what happens when we try to serve two masters.

Here is the way of little faith: We want to walk on water; yet, we insist on being able to focus on whatever we want — sometimes Jesus, sometimes the wind and waves; sometimes Jesus, sometimes our careers and casual pursuits; sometimes Jesus; sometimes “the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).

When we choose to focus on our cares and worries, we elevate our anxieties to the same status as the promises of Jesus. But, which is more important, which should demand our greater attention – the ability of Jesus to care for us or the concerns we have about our circumstances?

And so, rather than obeying the commands of Jesus, we demand he tolerate our distractions and double-mindedness. We live within a mythology that says we can somehow follow after Jesus, yet pick and choose what commandments we will obey — and when we’ll obey.

But, if we want to walk on the water with Jesus, we must hear his directing us, ‘Don’t look at the waves; look at Me.’

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

You Bring Joy to God

“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

Say the following as a prayer.

In faith, I know this to be true:

God is in love with me, and when he thinks of me, it brings him joy.

It was his good pleasure to create me, and he created me so he could love me and his glory could shine through me. He chose me “in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” Ephesians 1:4 (NIV).

In his love, he determined to adopt me into his family, and, even then, he planned for my redemption through Jesus’ blood, bringing “the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on [me] with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:7–8).

His love for me is continuous, so that I can say with confidence and joy, “When I awake, I am still with you” (Psalm 139:18b).

By his Spirit, I can live a life worthy of the Lord, and I am able to “please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).

Jesus teaches me this confidence in God’s love, so that the same joy that is in him will be in me and so my joy will be complete, centered wholly in God (John 15:11).

What would it feel like to be “lavished” with God’s grace?

How does it feel to know God is pleased to have you in his family?

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

Jesus Requires Total Abandonment

“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:4 (NIV)

We’ve taught people it’s OK to let Jesus have a significant place in their lives, a moderate place in their lives, or a compartmentalized place in their lives. We know discipleship involves growth, so people need to grow into “Jesus defines my life.”

But the growth isn’t happening among so many followers of Christ. Why, instead of the abundant life, do so many of us end up living lives of quiet desperation?

We go to church, we read the Bible, we pray, we try to be good people and serve other people. Yet, for many of us, Jesus isn’t central to our increasingly complex lives, where we’re over-stretched and now seem to be facing a tsunami of uncertainty in many areas that for so long have seemed relatively secure, such as our finances, our jobs, our homes — even our fundamental safety.

God never intended for Jesus to be an important part of our lives; he is our life. Colossians 3:4 says, “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (NIV). If you try to find your life apart from Jesus, you will lose it; but if you lose your life in Jesus, then you will live an extraordinary life energized by the life of Christ within you.

Jesus will not tolerate wishy-washy disciples.

Clearly, what we call radical obedience here on Earth is the obedience expected in the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, our lukewarm discipleship is actually radical disobedience.

Jesus has his eye on the endgame, and so he intends to break through every program, every ideal, and every form of legalism that keeps us from following him in total abandonment.

Thoughts

In what ways have you allowed your life to be over-filled with things that keep you from growing in discipleship?
What radical steps do you need to take so that you can follow Christ in obedience?

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

If I Love God, Why These Problems?

“My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (MSG)

Our lives in Christ are meant to be extraordinary, incredible, meaningful and purposeful but never trouble-free. God keeps you in the pressure-cooker of life so others can see how a life connected to Jesus confronts problems in a very different way than a life that is disconnected from Jesus.

We are empowered by the Holy Spirit and that gives us the ability to respond to hardship like people from the kingdom of heaven — not like people seemingly abandoned by God or in rebellion to God or unaware of God or unrepentant before God.

When we think God is not involved in our circumstances, we respond with problems with defensiveness, blame, shame, anger, hatred, pride, fear and self-centeredness. Anybody can do that. Anybody not connected to Jesus.

Jesus will have none of that and so he pushes us to a choice:

Do you trust that I am involved in your circumstances or not?

When we respond from our human nature, instead of submitting to the divine nature working within us, we expose a deep, inner distrust of Jesus. Our actions show we believe him incapable of understanding the stress and danger of life (a bold belief considering Jesus died hanging on the cross).

On the other hand, when we respond from the truth that we are connected to Jesus, we prove that we believe he that is within us is greater than he who is in the world.
(1 John 4:4)

Jesus’ goal is not to condemn us for our distrust; rather, it is to expose our faulty beliefs so we will abandon them and move deeper into our relationship with him.

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

God Supports Your Every Need as You Follow Jesus

“May the God of peace . . . equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20–21 (NIV)

God gives you everything you need to succeed in your life with Jesus.

The writer of Hebrews refers to this as equipping, and it’s similar to providing a sports team with the necessary training and equipment to succeed. They are given the equip-ment to win.

A common phrase among pastors is, “God doesn’t call the equipped; he equips the people he calls.”

And God is calling you.

The Bible says God will richly and lavishly support your every need as you begin your Jesus-journey. It’s not just your material needs that he’ll provide; he’ll also be a constant presence, going before you on your journey and sweeping in behind as you move forward.

God will be your strength, your wisdom, and your guidance. He’ll open doors of support and close doors that will take you in the wrong direction. He created you to succeed, and he’s been using people and circumstances throughout your life to equip you for your journey.

God equips you through others. One way God equips is through your family, friends, and co-workers. They may support you through material needs, but more importantly they can model a Jesus-life for you and help you bring your fears, concerns, and struggles into the light, so God can move you from fear to faith.

God equips others through you. Just as God uses others to equip you, he will also use you to equip others. Jesus-in-you can help others see God as an encourager and a supporter, and Jesus as a loving “friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV).

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

A River that Flows From the Throne of God

“Such a one is like a tree planted near streams; it bears fruit in season and its leaves never wither, and every project succeeds.” Psalms 1:3 (NJB)

There is a river that flows from the throne of God, down the celestial main street and into the hearts of those who believe in the lamb (Revelation 22). And then the river flows like streams of living water from within those who are one with Jesus (John 7).

We hear the river whispering, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” (John 7:37, NIV) We feel its moisture hanging cool in the air, and we stretch and then we stretch again to reach the river’s edge.

It woos us to dwell within it, to dig deep with determined roots, gnarled fingers inching, bit by bit, toward the source of life. Our thirst brings us to the river and in the river we abide. We hear its song, “Abide in Me, and I in you.” (John 15:4, NKJV)

In the river we abide and living water flows inside – of us — and in this God-nurtured state, we no longer need the sun-splotched leaves of cynicism or the lifeless branches of sin that drain away the Jesus joy within us.

In the river, our counsel now comes from deep unto deep. Rooted in the river, we stand firm in spite the storms and we sip sweetly in times of drought. Otherwise, we would simply blow away or burn up when faced with the dry and dusty, nasty, now-and-now of life. Otherwise, we would have no root, no direction, no purpose.

Yet, as for us; we hear the river’s song: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself …” (John 15:4, NKJV)

And, nourished by the river of life, the fruit we produce is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a, NIV)

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

Embrace Your Identity in Christ

“He has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts.” 2 Corinthians 1:22a (NLT)

Your faith will grow stronger as you focus on your identity in Christ (Galatians 2).

What this means is that you abandon any image of yourself that is not from God. You stop accepting what others have said about you, how others have labeled you, and how others have defined you.

You start believing what God says about you, that he is pleased with how he created you, and that God defines you.

You’re not defined by your feelings. You’re not defined by the opinions of others or by your circumstances. You’re not defined by your successes or failures. You’re not defined by the car you drive, the money you make, or the house you say you own when the bank really does.

You are defined by God and God alone. He identifies you as his own (2 Corinthians 1:22).

The thing is, if you don’t know who you are, then you’re vulnerable to other people telling you who you are. But the concrete, solid, gospel truth is that you are who God says you are, and no one else has a vote in the matter.

This “identity issue” is an important part of living the abundant life. Jesus was able to face the incredible demands of his mission because he knew exactly who he was. He knew that he mattered to God, and that gave him confidence to move purposefully in faith.

You are now identified with Christ and have the power of the Holy Spirit within you. You are God’s precious child, and he created you in a way that pleases him.

by Jon Walker
Used by Permission

Desperate for God

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

Jesus says, “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3 (NLT) He means we must come to the end of ourselves. We have to leave behind any self-sufficiency or self-righteousness and come to the place where we realize our only hope is in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We must be desperate for God: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” Matthew 5:3 (MSG)

The original disciples did not have religious wealth, in the sense that they did not have ‘churchy’ prestige or position. And, as they followed Jesus, they were inexperienced in this new way. All they could do was follow Jesus for each next step; they couldn’t rely on well-worn traditions that are so easily leaned upon in place of a relationship with Jesus.

They had nowhere else to turn but to Jesus—and it should be that way for us, as well. If you really believed there was nowhere else to turn but Jesus, how would your life change?

by Jon Walker
Used by Permission

You can learn how to start a new life with Jesus. Read this explanation at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws

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The Opposite of Fear is Faith

Published July 1, 2022

The Opposite of Fear is Faith

“We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” Numbers 13:30b

When the Israelites first approached the borders of Canaan, Moses sent scouts into the Promised Land to assess the situation. Ten of the scouts came back with reports that focused on the giants in the land, men so big and powerful the scouts feared they could not be defeated.

However, two of the scouts focused on the promise from God that he would hand the land over to the Israelites. One of those scouts, Caleb, silenced the others when he said,

“We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” Numbers 13:30

Caleb trusted God instead of trusting his own fear. The opposite of fear is faith, the belief that Jesus is capable of handling anything we may face in life. But operating out of faith means we must rely on Jesus, remaining dependent on him to see us through any issue.

He brings us to a choice: Will we trust God or will we trust our own fears?

The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10a). In other words, we hold God in reverence, recognizing his sovereignty, authority, and omnipotence—his ability to protect us in any situation.

And we reach that level of trust by knowing the Father and understanding his character: “[K]nowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10b). We know and understand the Father by following Jesus.

“To see me is to see the Father,” says Jesus. “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren’t mere words. I don’t just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act” (John 14:9b–10 Msg).

Your fear simply reveals a place where you aren’t yet trusting in Jesus. Don’t stay stuck in your fear, and don’t receive condemnation for your lack of faith. Jesus wants to move you past that into a place where your fears are replaced by faith. Follow him and learn to trust.

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

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God is at Work No Matter How You Feel

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)

Read this as a prayer today –

In faith, I know this to be true:

• Jesus, you are full of truth and grace, and you fill me with your truth and grace (John 1:14).

• You are working within me to clear a channel so that your love flows through me into the lives of everyone I meet. When I find it difficult to love someone, I can be confident that you will love that person through me (Galatians 2:20-21).

• I may not be where you need to be yet, but I am “confident of this, that he who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 NIV).

• And I know “God is able to make all grace abound [in me], so that in all things at all times, having all that [I] need, [I] will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV).

• Thank you, Jesus – You have filled me with your grace and truth, brought me deep and permanently into the love of God, and given me the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. I am, at all times, filled with grace, mercy, and peace (2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV).

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

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Be Content, Whatever the Circumstances

Contentment comes as we listen to the Holy Spirit

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11 (NIV)

The Bible teaches we can have contentment “whatever the circumstances”, when we stay close to Jesus (Philippians 4:11 NIV).

The contentment we find in Jesus is greater than anything the world has to offer. Contentment with Jesus is a treasure beyond imagination. We need not be troubled or afraid when we look for our contentment in Jesus (John 14:27; 1 Timothy 6:6).

Contentment comes as we listen to the Holy Spirit, learning that

“the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17 NIV).

We know these things to be true because Jesus told us. He wanted us to know so that we would be content in his peace (John 16:33).

by Jon Walker
Used by Permission

Patience Comes with Cost

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

Developing patience comes through the learned skill of seeing other people the way God sees them. Practicing patience teaches us to keep looking toward the things above, where we witness God working in the most difficult of circumstances or within the most difficult of people.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently” (Romans 14:1 MSG).

Patience comes with practice. Most people can muster patience when it’s convenient; the real test comes with the stress of time slipping away, or when someone keeps making the same mistakes over and over again.

Patience comes with cost. Patience requires that you trust God’s timetable, setting aside your own quick-fix agenda, your rights and demands, not in a sense of co-dependent weakness, but with the sacrificial strength of the Jesus-life within you, where you sync with the deep, mysterious, ancient love of the Creator.

Patience comes through God’s love. Patience may cost you all the love you have, but that’s okay! God has more love in his love-bank than our minds could ever conceive
(1 Corinthians 6:9–10), so give all the love you have, God will give you more and more and more as you keep giving every ounce of love away. Can’t do it? Of course, you can’t.

“I can’t; God can.”

Allow his love and his patience to flow through you.

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

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Jesus Prays for You

Published April 14, 2022

Jesus Prays for You

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” John 17:20 (NIV)

During the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for himself and then he prayed for the disciples. And then, with the hour of his death approaching, he took time to pray for you. He prayed for all those who would believe through the ministry of the disciples, and that means you.

This is what he told God:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world” John 17:23 (NIV).

Jesus prays for you still. “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them”
Hebrews 7:25 (NIV).

Jesus wants you with him. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory . . .” John 17:24 (NIV).

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

We Are Desperate for You

A prayer, beseeching our Heavenly Father.

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.” Psalm 4:1 (NASB)

Lord, we’re desperate for you. We’re bunched up in confusion, moving by impulse and fear, flitting here and there like a frenzied flock caught in the wilderness of the far country.

We are here! We are here! And we know you hear. You’ve heard us before; you’ve swept in and saved us from our hopeless paralysis.

Do it again, O, Holy One; how long must we wait?

And we hear you say, “Yes, how long? How long must I wait while you wear my grace and peace like a cheap cloak from a secondhand store?”

Oh God, I hear your heart. You set me apart; yet, I joined the crowd – like birds of a feather.

From now on, Abba, when the swirl and twirl shoves at me, instead of taking to panicked wings; I’ll let you quiet my soul.

“I am ready now; I am willing now to be swept under the safety of your wings, as a hen gathers her chicks.” Matthew 23:37 (NKJV)

Question: Does this prayer sound like one you’ve prayed recently? What about sometime in the past?

By Jon Walker
Used by Permission

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Further Reading

“… Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus.

Further Reading

Say the following as a prayer.

Further Reading

Jesus will not tolerate wishy-washy disciples.

Further Reading

Do you trust that I am involved in your circumstances or not?

Further Reading

God gives you everything you need to succeed in your life with Jesus.

Further Reading

Further Reading

Your faith will grow stronger as you focus on your identity in Christ (Galatians 2).

Further Reading

Further Reading

Read this as a prayer today –

Further Reading

Contentment comes as we listen to the Holy Spirit

Further Reading

Reading this by email? Please comment by Clicking on the Title at the top

Please Tell a Friend

Would you take just a moment to prayerfully consider sending this to two friends who might be blessed by what we’ve shared today? If you received this issue from a friend, you can join our list at www.thoughts-about-god.com/blog/

Brought to you by www.thoughts-about-god.com

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” John 17:20 (NIV)

Further Reading

A prayer, beseeching our Heavenly Father.

Further Reading

Would you take just a moment to prayerfully consider sending this to two friends who might be blessed by what we’ve shared today?
If you received this issue from a friend, you can join our list at www.thoughts-about-god.com/blog/