Music Devotion Day 10: Grace Wins//Matthew West

Grace Wins//Matthew West

There are times as Christians when we fail miserably, we find ourselves face down on the floor praying no one watched us stumble. We look up and it never fails there are judging eyes standing watch. Taking on the name of Christian can often be a lonely place, many perceive Christian to mean perfection. When it truly means the opposite; a sinner covered by Grace.

Grace is the power that saves us. It says we can be broken and imperfect and still are loved. We can mess up royally and still return home into the loving arms of our Father (Luke 15:11-32) who sacrificed his most perfect lamb for us (John 1:29).

Grace gives us the freedom to learn how to be in relationship with Christ. Freedom doesn’t mean permission. We aren’t supposed to run around doing what our hearts desire (1 Corinthians 10:23) because Grace will cover our sins, but we are called to run the race (1 Corinthians 9:23-24) diligently focusing on the cross. Grace picks us up when we fall, it dusts us off, reminds us who we belong to, and tells us to keep going.

But, in the shadow of that shame

Beat down by all the blame

I hear you call my name sayin’ it’s not over

And my heart starts to beat

So loud, drowning out the doubt

I’m down but I’m not out.

We were given freedom on the cross, freedom from the weight and death from our sins. Our problem is often that we don’t allow ourselves to feel the Grace that flows from Calvary but instead we let guilt and shame weigh down our hearts and live in fear. Grace is stronger than fear but only if we let it be. Let Grace win today and don’t let your guilt have control.

There’s a war between guilt and grace,

And they’re fighting for a sacred space

But I’m living proof

Grace wins every time.

There are numerous stories in the Bible where Grace wins. The greatest of which is on the cross. Let these stories be what you need to help you let go of your shame and guilt and be free from your sins!

For the prodigal son, grace wins

For the woman at the well, grace wins

For the blind man and the beggar, grace wins

For always and forever, grace wins

For the lost out on the street, grace wins

For the worst part of you and me, grace wins

For the thief on the cross, grace wins

For a world that it lost

Luke 15: 11-32 “Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!  I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.”

1 Corinthians 9:23-24 ”I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.”

Music Devotion Day 6: Whom Shall I Fear//Chris Tomlin

This is one of Jake Wingfield's Devotions

Whom Shall I Fear//Chris Tomlin

“The lord is my light and my salvation- Whom shall I fear? The lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27

War. Violence. Fighting. Everybody fights for something. Everybody has that one thing they would lay down their life for. Everybody has something in their life, whether it is a core belief, a religion, or a person. A plot of land or someone's rights as an individual, I tell you right now, everybody has that one thing that they believe in their very core. We would raise up armies, fight to the death, risk our lives and rise to our fullest to make sure that our belief is upheld in the world. For God, it's us. It's the earth and everything in it.

My strength is in Your name
For You alone can save
You will deliver me
Yours is the victory

For me, it's the people in my life. Whether they positively or negatively affect me, I believe that everyone has the right to the amazing life god has planned for this earth and after life just as I do.

“One thing I ask of the lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the lord...” Psalm 27:4

I know Who goes before me
I know Who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side
The One who reigns forever
He is a Friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

Everyone who asks, as long as they have placed their trust in Jesus, will be rewarded with their place in heaven to gaze upon the beauty of the lord. These are the people to fight for. These are the people to fight with. Fight with these people to encourage a revolution. Rise up with others for the cause of Jesus Christ.

And nothing formed against me shall stand
You hold the whole world in your hands
I'm holding onto Your promises
You are faithful
You are faithful

You are faithful

Music Devotion Day 5: King of the World//Natalie Grant

King of the World//Natalie Grant

I tried to fit you in the walls inside my mind

I try to keep you safely in between the lines

I try to put you in the box that I've designed

I try to pull you down so we are eye to eye

I feel like these words were written straight from my heart. I so often try to fit God into the box in my mind. There is a time when this was a message God really wanted me to hear.

In college I was doing a book study at a local church with other college students. We were reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I worked at Camp Horizon at the time, and I had spent the whole day at camp working on the monthly newsletter. I had about an hour before our group met and I decided I should probably do the homework. So I went out to Inspiration Point to read chapter one of this book. The first chapter talked a lot about how big God is, and used nature to describe it. Chan wrote about how God created not only every tree, but every single leaf, and each one is unique. I looked up and was in awe because I was surrounded by nature and God’s beautiful works of art. At that point I noticed a small rain storm was rolling in on the horizon, and got back to reading trying to finish the chapter before the rain hit.

The next part talked about when we try to fit God into our own expectations and desires it is like trying to fit the ocean into a soda can. Not only is it impossible, but it’s incredibly silly. At this point I looked up again and realized it was raining…..everywhere but on me. The entire deck I was sitting on was soaked but the part that my body occupied. I could barely believe it in that moment, and it took awhile for it to sink in. But in my mind I can now hear God saying, “you still don’t get it, I’m bigger than you can even imagine, I can even control the rain, see! Stop making me small.”

When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world?

I try to take life back right out of the hands of the king of the world

How could I make you so small

When you're the one who holds it all

When did I forget that you've always been the king of the world?

God showed me in a way only He could, that He is the King of the World, and yet I still find myself trying to make Him small. He can’t do this or take care of that, and I make myself greater than Him in my mind and try to control the situations that  life throws my way. This is completely foolish and I know it, and yet my controlling mind wants to hold on with a tight grip, and the whole time God is standing there just waiting for me to let go and give it to Him. Nothing is too great for God (Jeremiah 32:27).

We serve the King of the World. He is great enough to handle the Universe and create all that is within it, He can handle whatever it is we are dealing with right now. It is time to stop trying to put God into the box that makes sense in our minds and let Him have our hearts fully and be the powerful force He really.

Ohhhh, you set it all in motion

Every single moment

You brought it all to me

And you're holding on to me

We are nothing in comparison to God, and yet He has chosen us to love. It is time that we let Him!

Jeremiah 32:27 “See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me?”

Music Devotion Day 4: Come Alive (Dry Bones)//Lauren Daigle

Come Alive (Dry Bones)//Lauren Daigle

Our world seems to be in a time of chaos. Every time we turn on the news there is another story of tragedy. Even our small, quiet town has had it’s fair share of darkness. It is easy in times like these, when we see horrifying pictures of children no longer crying because their country is so filled with destruction to ask, “Where is God?” Or even, “What is the point of believing in God?”

Through the eyes of men it seems

There's so much we have lost

As we look down the road

Where all the prodigals have walked

One by one

The enemy has whispered lies

And led them off as slaves

Satan (2 Corinthians 11:14) sits at the door to our hearts whispering all the horrible things that are happening in our world. And if we focus on his voice then we can’t see hope, or God, or love, or any form of peace.

But we know that you are God

Yours is the victory

We know there is more to come

That we may not yet see

So with the faith you've given us

We'll step into the valley unafraid, yeah

We do serve a God of love. The all powerful, all knowing creator of the world has not given up the battle. He fights in ways that we have never seen and could never understand. He has called us to be His hands and feet and given us the power of His Spirit. We have the same Spirit that Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:1-10) had when he called out to the Valley of Dry Bones to come alive. And they did, not only did they come alive, but their bodies were recreated and they became an army to fight the battle.

As we call out to dry bones

Come alive, come alive

We call out to dead hearts

Come alive, come alive

Up out of the ashes

Let us see an army rise

We call out to dry bones, come alive

We have been called into the valley to fight a battle of spiritual proportions (Ephesians 6:12). We are called to love the dry bones of this world. We are called to breathe the life of the Spirit into those ashes that seem like lost causes. God hasn’t given up the fight, so why should we? (Joel 3:9)

God of endless mercy

God of unrelenting love

Rescue every daughter

Bring us back the wayward son

And By your spirit breathe upon them

Show the world that you alone can save

You alone can save

Don’t let the whispers of Satan have a foothold in your heart. But rest in the Lord for His plan is mighty and perfect. He can see the whole picture that we cannot. Don’t lose heart (Psalm 31:24), He is with us wherever we may go (Joshua 1:9).

So breathe, oh breath of God

Now breathe, oh breath of God

Breathe, oh breath of God

Now breathe

2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

Ezekiel 37:1-10 “The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry.He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.”

Ephesians 6:12 “ For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Joel 3:9 “Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare war,    stir up the warriors. Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up.”

Psalm 31:24 “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”

Joshua 1:9 “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Music Devotion Day 3 - Thy Will//Hillary Scott

Thy Will//Hillary Scott

There are times in our lives when we fall on our knees in broken-hearted despair. When this happens, it is so easy to be angry and frustrated with God, after all He is almighty, He could have prevented this to begin with. This is true, but God has chosen for us not to be puppets on a string for which he determines each and every movement. With free will in a world of sin comes heartache and pain. There is no way to get around it, but there are lots of ways to get through it.

When these moments hit, it is hard to not let them take over our lives. We can stay in bed and bury ourselves in the grief and pain or we can let God into the situation and let Him hold us through it.

It took a season of being angry with God and not admitting it to myself to realize that God created emotions, therefore he can handle all of mine. The Bible says to be angry but not to let your anger cause you to sin (Ephesians 4:26-27). It's ok to feel whatever you need to feel to get through the situation that you are going through, the problem is when you let those emotions control how you behave. If your emotions are pulling you away from God, then you're not using them properly. All of your emotions were created to draw you nearer to God not pull you away.

The song Thy Will was written in the midst of a miscarriage. In the midst of her greatest grief Hillary Scott was able to cry out to God:

I know You see me

I know You hear me, Lord

Your plans are for me

Goodness You have in store

I know You hear me

I know You see me, Lord

Your plans are for me

Goodness You have in store

So

Thy will be done

Thy will be done

Thy will be done

Like a child on my knees all that comes to me is

Thy will be done

Thy will be done

Thy will be done

This song makes me think of David, he often cried out to God a lot like this song. God wants to hear from us whether we are grief stricken or elated with Joy. When we turn away from God because of the way we are feeling we are allowing Satan to use our emotions against us. Don’t allow Satan to use something God created to separate you from God. Give all of your emotions back to God and let Him help you through them. God’s will is greater than ours and He is can carry us through every Earthly trial we might face we just have to let Him.

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.”

Music Devotion Day 2: No Longer Slaves//Bethel Music

Day 2 is also by Jake Wingfield

No Longer Slaves//Bethel Music

To understand being a slave to sin, you first have to understand what it was like before sin. “So God created humankind in his image…” (Genesis 1:27) We lived in perfect harmony with God, but then “sin” came along and we disobeyed God. Eyes were opened to the good of the world, but also the evil.. This allowed humankind to understand the wants and desires of everything including those that went against the Will of God.  At this point, humans were faced with temptations of worldly desire.

“I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God”

To be completely honest, we never become totally “free”. You are free from sin, not free from Him, you are NOT free from the judgment of God. Paul says in his letter to the Romans, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under Grace? By no means! … You are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness” (Romans 6:15-17)

“I am surrounded

By the arms of the father

I am surrounded

By songs of deliverance

We've been liberated

From our bondage

We're the sons and the daughters

Let us sing our freedom”

We are slaves in a sense, that one day we will gain freedom.  Freedom from our dead, physical bodies.  The more we do in this life with our physical bodies to glorify Him, the more we are rewarded after we are free from our body. “Each will be repaid in accordance to what they have done” (Romans 2:6)

“I'm no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God”

I was listening to someone a lot smarter than me explain what Christianity is like. Imagine you’re walking in a mall with two floors connected by an escalator.  This escalator is representative of your faith life. One thing though… there’s only one escalator… and it goes down… you’re on the bottom floor. In order to fully mature in your faith, you have to make it to the top. You take that first step and in one instant you realize that if you stop at any point in your journey to the top, you’ll fall backwards. The biggest thing to deal with is, you seem to fall faster than you climb. You always have to be moving forward in your faith. Always moving toward Jesus. Always striving to reach the top… or the “pinnacle” of your faith.

But here’s another cool thing to think about. Jesus told a parable (Matthew 20:1-16) about workers in a vineyard.  Some worked all day, and some worked for an hour. All of them got paid the same. Jesus is telling us that it does not matter how high or how low you are on the escalator. As long as you are on it, and not watching from the bottom floor, He will see you from the top floor and accept your efforts and you will be paid equally with a place in heaven.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Romans 6:15-17 “What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted,”

Romans 2:6 “For he will repay according to each one’s deeds:”

Matthew 20:1-16 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”