With Unveiled Face: Daily Encounters with “Abba” Father

Contents

What’s Inside

A Note from the Sidekick

With special thanks from Keith and Jessica

How to use this book

January 1: Draw Near to God

January 2: Following God Means Walking in Faith

January 3: How Shall We Pray?

January 4: Under Whose Banner Are We Marching?

January 5: God Never Promised a Life of Ease!

January 6: Church Shopping—The Sunday Buffet Brunch

January 7: Oneness Made Simple

January 8: Angels are Ministering Spirits

January 9: Dear Father, Why Am I Suffering?

January 10: Life in the Pits

January 11: Loving the World is Enmity with God

January 12: Got Jesus?

January 13: Godly Boasting

January 14: BE God’s plan!

January 15: I’m Not a Better Person Just a Forgiven One

January 16: Throw That Dog a Bone!

January 17: Trinitarian Joy is a Square Dance with Us

January 18: Loving and Obeying Jesus Equals Loving Others

January 19: Reboot to Prevent a Blue Screen Crash

January 20: Don’t be Fooled by the World

January 21: Jesus is Mine—Forever!

January 22: Sometimes It’s Better to Just Run Away!

January 23: Jesus Always Starts by Cleaning out Our Temple

January 24: The 3 R’s Of Eternal Life

January 25: When Others Fail Our Expectation

January 26: Sheep Have no Masterplan. They Just Follow the Shepherd

January 27: When We Encounter the Risen Lord Jesus

January 28: The Ant That Roared

January 29: Jesus: Hero or Hoax

January 30: A Storm You Can’t Weather

January 31: Doing Good Won’t Get You to Heaven

February 1: When We Control Anything God Controls Nothing

February 2: You Don’t Have to Agree With Me but Do You Agree With God?

February 3: The Responsibility of Knowledge

February 4: It’s Not About Sinning, But Being a Sinner

February 5: Having Heard the Truth…

February 6: God’s Word Is a Flashlight Not a Floodlight

February 7: Born Twice Die Once

February 8: Grace Is in Forgiveness

February 9: Only Jesus Can Wash us up for Supper with God

February 10: God Is More Interested in My Character Than My Circumstances

February 11: Childlike Faith

February 12: Love Deals with It

February 13: Saved by Faith, NOT Works!

February 14: God Is Agape

February 15: Your Friendly Neighborhood Bible Man!

February 16: Saving People is God’s Work, not Mine

February 2:17: Can Others Smell My Faith in Christ?

February 18: A Matter of Grace

February 19: Is Your Pastor for Real?

February 20: Give Me Lord My Daily Task

February 21: It’s Only Love If You’re Willing to Lose It

February 22: So, Am I crucified with Christ?

February 23: God Has to Break the Soil for His Seed to Be Planted

February 24: Plug Yourself In to Real Power

February 25: Bad Things Do Happen

February 26: It’s so Simple… Even a Child Can Get It!

February 27: Glowing in the Dark for Christ

February 28: His Life a Ransom for Many

March 1: Where the Holy Spirit Lives

March 2: With Unveiled Face

March 3: How Can I Continue in Sin?

March 4: Yoke of Sin or Yoke of Christ?

March 5: Want Peace?

March 6: The Holy Spirit Illuminates Scripture

March 7: Following Jesus Means Getting Real about Sin

March 8: Only Jesus Can Free Us

March 9: How Can We Become Unborn Again?

March 10: Father, Please Bless When I Am Doing

March 11: Making Melody in Your Heart

March 12: We Are a W. I. P.

March 13: Today’s High Places

March 14: So Simple Even a Child Can Do It

March 15: There Is No Such Thing As the Scales of Justice

March 16: Sin No More

March 17: God Is Not Fair and We Should Thank Him

That He Isn’t

March 18: Not What Would Jesus Do but What Is Jesus Doing

March 19: Naturally No One Gets It, It Makes no Natural Sense

March 20: Buried in Baptism

March 21: The Three Chord Bond of Fellowship

March 22: We Each Have a Thorn in the Flesh

March 23: When Jesus Is the Vine My Fruit Brings Him Glory

March 24: The Problem with Salvation by Grace

March 25: God’s Bucket List

March 26: More on God’s Wisdom

March 27: Wandering Away from God

March 28: I Pray, But Nothing Happens!

March 29: Living to Work or Working to Live?

March 30: Giving an Account of Ourselves to Christ

March 31: Landfill Fodder

April 1: Teach Me Oh Lord

April 2: What’s Your Gift?

April 3: So That None May Boast

April 4: Seminary Doesn’t Make a Pastor—God Does

April 5: Living in the Light!

April 6: Living Eternally Without God

April 7: Loving God with 1 Foot in the World

April 8: There Are Two Standards of Truth:

God’s And Everyone Else’s

April 9: Want to Please God?

April 10: The World Did Not End… AGAIN!

April 11: What to Do When the Plate is Passed to You?

April 12: Being Adopted Means I Am God’s Kid by His Choice

April 13: Once Saved Always Saved

April 14: A Solid Building must have a Solid Foundation

April 15: Is Your Home A Christian Embassy?

April 16: Practice Makes Perfect

April 17: Fortunately, Salvation Is the Simple Question!

April 18: Loving Jesus Is Not a Formula or List

April 19: How Do You Spell Love?

April 20: The Fruit of Faith Is in His Works

April 21: God Knows, We Do Not, So Tell Everyone

April 22: God’s Plan Began Long Before His Call Came

April 23: A Heart That Trusts in Itself Will End up in Divorce Court!

April 24: How Ugly Is My Pride?

April 25: Brand-New Bouncing Baby Christians

April 26: Being Holy Means Being Separate

April 27: I Am a King’s Kid

April 28: Learn from Others who have Gone Before

April 29: How Can God Condemn Himself?

April 30: Even Jesus Submitted to God

May 1: The Spirit Bears Witness

May 2: Forgiveness and Trust Are Not the Same Thing

May 3: Jesus: Christ or Con Man?

May 4: What Kind of Church Building Do You Have?

May 5: Abba Father

May 6: Politically Correct Is Rarely Biblically Correct!

May 7: Like It or Not You Are a Missionary

May 8: Today’s Self-Inflicted Suffering

May 9: Head ’Em Up! Move ’Em Out!

May 10: Doing Things Right or Doing the Right Thing

May 11: Faith like Potato Chips

May 12: Jesus Is the Great High Priest

May 13: Judging and Forgiving

May 14: Have You Been Thrown out with the Garbage?

May 15: God Is Good All the Time

May 16: God Strengthens Us to Do What He Wants

May 17: Once We Are Made Alive in Christ,

the Flesh Is Just Rotten Meat

May 18: Once Kept I Am Kept

May 19: You Are Being Watched

May 20: Being a Rock of Offense

May 21: What Is Repentance?

May 22: Ungodly Government

May 23: Be Pushy About Prayer

May 24: Excuse Me Sir but I Believe Your Jesus Is Inside Out.

May 25: If You Give Me a Bucket, I’ll Carry the Tune

May 26: For the Father Our Belief in Jesus Christ is a

deal breaker.

May 27: Christian Life Is Being Free In Trouble Not Trouble-Free

May 28: Jesus Made the Ultimate Sacrifice

May 29: All the Good People

May 30: Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’

May 31: It’s All or Nothing with God

June 1: The Difference Between Legalism and Liberalism

June 2: Doing Right Does Not Make Me Righteous

June 3: God’s Law Had to Come First

June 4: For with the Mouth One Professes

June 5: What’s My GPA?

June 6: Buckle up and Let’s Go!

June 7: Our First Declaration of Jesus Christ

June 8: This is Where I Draw the Line!

June 9: Unity Yes, But Not Compromise

June 10: The Wrong of Doing Right

June 11: True, It Was Not the Appian Way…

June 12: The Only Book with a Promise Of Blessing

June 13: Speak the Truth in Love

June 14: Jesus Christ Frees Us from Fear

June 15: I Cannot Buy My Way To Heaven

June 16: Leavin’ in the Leaven

June 17: Don’t Lose Heart!

June 18: Boldly We Cross the River

June 19: Little Words… Big Difference

June 20: How to Make a Christian Apology

June 21: Heard Any Good Prophecy Lately?

June 22: What is Leaven Anyway?

June 23: Jesus Said He Would Return, so He Will

June 24: The Fundamental Question

June 25: My Cup Runneth over

June 26: Christian Baptism Is an Act of the Will

That Gives Glory to God

June 27: Jesus Saves Sinners!

June 28: The Same Old 80-20 Rule

June 29: Faith Is the Big Why!

June 30: There’s More to Life Than Being There

July 1: God Hates Divorce!

July 2: What About Israel?

July 3: Heading Home

July 4: One Nation Under God

July 5: Our Body is a Temple

July 7: In God’s Economy

July 7: Jesus Has Been, is, and Will Always be Plan A

July 8: The Only Thing That We Can Take With Us to Heaven Are Other People

July 9: Welcome to Eternity

July 10: A Note About Worshiping in Spirit and Truth.

July 11: Christian Life Is in the Haves

July 12: Spiritual Selective Hearing

July 13: God Gives Everything

July 14: God, Who Can Know Him?

July 15: Remember, This Is the Word of God Were Talking about

July 16: How to Be Shrewd As Serpents and

Innocent As Doves

July 17: How to Be Shrewd As Serpents and

Innocent As Doves

July 18: Cheap Grace? Well, Cost Jesus a lot!

July 19: The World Changed When I wasn’t Looking!

July 20: Feeling Down? Let Jesus Be Your Joy!

July 21: The Oneness of Jesus’ Church

July 22: Oneness with the Father

July 23: Be Quiet and Listen!

July 24: Achieving Our Spiritual Potential

July 25: Godly Marriage is a love Triangle

July 26: Speed boating on the Lake of Dissipation

July 27: The Happiness Trap

July 28: Father God Wants to Talk with You

July 29: In Christ, Everyone Has a Value

July 30: Others Serve God Too!

July 31: The Choice to Simple: Life in Christ or Death and Self

August 1: Suffering for Christ

August 2: When Christ Is Elevated We All Are in Submission

August 3: Is Truth for You a Who or What?

August 4: Idolatry is Alive and Well in Today’s Word

August 5: Performing Kingdom Work That Lasts

August 6: For Wherever Two or More…

August 7: Exhorting One Another

August 8: Living Life in the Fairway

August 9: Fight, Flank, or Flee?

August 10: Helping Others Does Not Mean Helping Them Sin

August 11: I am Entitled to Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness?

August 12: Give it All to Jesus!

August 13: Withstanding the Fiery Darts of a Loved One

August 14: Accepting the Theory of Evolution Is a Decision of Faith Not Science

August 15: Judge Others from the Defendant Seat not the Judge’s Bench

August 16: Spiritual Maturity Takes Time

August 17: If Something is Wrong, It’s not the Bible

August 18: The Four up’s of Life in the Church

August 19: What’s Changed… ? Me!

August 20: Is Money the Root of All Evil?

August 21: Discipline Is Not Punishment!

August 22: Are You Christian or Churchian?

August 23: Jesus Is about Relationship

August 24: Love Fulfills Every Righteous Commandment

August 25: Loving Others Begins with not Harming Them

August 26: There’s Only One Spirit Baptism!

August 27: Why Are We Here? Because God Is Good

August 28: That Which Every Pastor Needs

August 29: Churches Are Bases of Operations,

Not Fixed Fortifications

August 30: It’s Not About Sinning. It’s About Being a Sinner

August 31: It’s Race Day!

September 1: Be Still

September 2: Be All God Wants You to Be

September 3: Rusting Trophies of Past Accomplishments!

September 4: The Imperishable Crown

September 5: When My Doing for Christ Is Also Being in Christ

September 6: Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

September 7: Get in the Fight!

September 8: Life’s a Breeze!

September 9: Never Get over Being Saved

September 10: A Simple Christology for my Simple Mind

September 11: What’s In It For Me?

September 12: Christian Lifestyle Versus Christian Lie-Style.

September 13: It’s Tempting, but… Oh Good, Here’s the Exit

September 14: True Hero Worship!

September 15: Stop Judging and Start Loving

September 16: Am I Playing at a Game With God?

September 17: A Sacrifice of Praise

September 18: The Lord Is Magnified When We See Him

September 19: No One Gets Left behind

September 20: We All Learn By Example So, Be An Example

September 21: Why Are We so Easily Deceived?

September 22: Preaching May Get ’em in but Teaching is

How They Grow

September 23: My Past May Have Shaped Me But It Does Not Define Me!

September 24: Is My Life in Christ Just a House of Cards?

September 25: Breaking Bread

September 26: The Broken Road

September 27: What is the New Covenant?

September 28: Jesus Is Our Eternal Joy

September 29: If Christian Living Were Easy Anybody

Could Do It

September 30: Worthiness to Take of the Lord’s Table

October 1: Life Can Be Boring Too

October 2: A New Look at an Old Testament

October 3: Give Yourself a Little Quiz

October 4: Obeying the Law for the Right Reason

October 5: Christian Life Is Joyful Not Happy

October 6: Temptations Are Real, But Beatable

October 7: Making Room for God in My Life

October 8: Christian Baby Steps

October 9: Everybody Loves Babies

October 10: The Holy Spirit in Me Will Testify of Jesus

October 11: Why Worry?

October 12: Forgiveness Does Not Equal Trust

October 13: The Holy Spirit’s ‘Toolbox’

October 14: How to Make the Truth Stop Hurting

October 15: As the Creator of Time, God Transcends It

October 16: Gifts Are Not Ours To Choose But His To Use

October 17: Know Your Enemy!

October 18: The Little Acorn Tree

October 19: Is the Bible Just Another Book?

October 20: We Are One in the Spirit

October 21: Dying Is Easy. Living Is Hard!

October 22: Religious Formula or Relational Freedom?

October 23: A More Excellent Way (Part One)

October 24: A More Excellent Way (Part Two)

October 25: A Bad Case of Self-importitis

October 26: Does Jesus Know Me?

October 27: Jesus Prayed That We’d Be One

October 28: Love Is the Greatest Thing

October 29: When Will We Ever Have Enough?

October 30: We Are Joint Heirs

October 31: Becoming a Child Again

November 1: Jesus Aced the Test and I Get His Grade

November 2: The Holy Spirit Is Our Anti-Malware

November 3: Living the Quiet Life

November 4: The Beginning of Sorrows?

November 5: Beware the Roaring Lion of False Doctrine

November 6: Government by, of, and for the People

November 7: Gathered Together in His Name

November 8: Suffer the Little Children…

November 9: Being on Jesus’ Right, You Won’t Be on His Left

November 10: Abiding In Christ Is Being Not Doing

November 11: Jesus+ Salvation

November 12: Truth Is Truth

November 13: Committing Murder With Your Tongue

November 14: Failure Is Not Falling!

November 15: What Does a Dead Church Look like?

November 16: Life in the Spirit: Battery Required

November 17: Christian Growth Is More Than Not Sinning

November 18: No One Else Ever Came Back from the Grave

November 19: Trampling Your Sin in the Mud

November 20: Diplomatic Immunity

November 21: Who Goes To War With No Weapon?

November 22: Promises, Promises!

November 23: The Door Will Be Opened

November 24: I Am Your Parent not Your Best Friend

November 25: How to Have a Joyful, Satisfying,

and Everlasting Life

November 26: Punishment and Discipline Are

Not the Same Thing

November 27: What Am I Thankful for?

November 28: The Joy of Christmas

November 29: There Is Only One Road to God Not Many

November 30: It Will All Be over in the Twinkling of an Eye

December 1: Satan: Roaring Lion or Personal Patsy?

December 2: Give Yourself a Pop Quiz?

December 3: The Best Christmas Gift Ever!

December 4: Time to Crank Up The Volume!

December 5: Taking Care of the Poor Is Not the Government’s Job

December 6: God is Always Working

December 7: God’s Plan for Families

December 8: Glorify Christ in Your Workplace (Part One)

December 9: Glorify Christ Your Workplace Part Two

December 10: Welcome to Eternity… Smoking or Non-Smoking

December 11: Christendom Idol?

December 12: Joining the God Squad

December 13: Excuses, Excuses! We Can Rationalize Anything

December 14: True Beauty Is Inside Out

December 15: Simply Stand

December 16: You Have Got to Stand for Something

December 17: That Perfect Christmas Gift

December 18: It’s All in the Fundamentals

December 19: World Hunger Is Not a Food Problem.

It Is a Greed Problem!

December 20: God Wants Us to Join Him in His Work

December 21: God Has Entrusted Us With The Gospel

December 22: Sanctification Is Always Right on Time

December 23: Being Refreshed!

December 24: Love Is About Self-Sacrifice

December 25: God Makes the Ordinary—Extraordinary

December 26: Got Life?

December 27: Jesus IS God!

December 28: God’s My Way Is the Highway

December 29: God’s Perfect Timing

December 30: The Gift of the Holy Spirit Is the Greatest Miracle

December 31: Have a Happy Joyful New Year!

Works Cited

Endnotes

What’s Inside

Hello. My name is Keith Burt. I am no one special; just a follower of Jesus Christ. I am not a pastor. In fact, I suspect that I am probably a lot like you. In this life I have had a few victories, a few defeats, and lots of I don’t know.

Without question, modern life is filled with uncertainty. It has been my experience that most people cope with uncertainty in two main ways: anxious debilitating worry or cavalier denial. I confess that I tend toward the worry camp. I have never been one to bury my head in the sand. However, I find that I constantly am in the position of trying to sort out or simply figure out just what in the world is happening around me.

Every story must begin somewhere on the timeline. My walk with Christ began in 1997 when my world forever changed. It was a year of cataclysmic revealing that the world’s way just simply did not work for me. As I look back upon that tumultuous year I realize that God, my Heavenly Father, had placed me in timeout. Father God had simply had enough of my shenanigans, and He embarked upon some course corrections for me. In the autumn of that year, three life altering events occurred. First, I began a systematic daily study of God’s word. Second, I was roped into serving as an Awana Cubbies leader. And third, I attended Promise Keepers Stand in the Gap on Washington Mall.

Father God used Awana Cubbies to show me what a slug I was. Listening to three and four-year-olds quote Scripture reference and verse can be utterly humiliating to an adult afflicted with intellectual pride. Father God, through Promise Keepers, showed me that the true Christian life is a life of brokenness. I am broken, but fortunately for me, God is in the broken Christian repair business. Father God, through daily reading, study of His word, and prayer continues the repair work he began upon me that year.

Early on, I found it useful to write down what God was teaching me that day through His word. Ever since, I have been scrawling notes, thoughts, and prayers. I found that the act of writing helped me to focus my attention on God’s teaching. I also found that writing down my confessed sins made them real and put them out there for God to deal with me over. I found it incredibly difficult to deny a sin once I wrote it down.

On a side note, I have tried unsuccessfully to use a number of different pre-published daily devotionals. I won’t list them by name but I’m sure you would recognize most of them. My highest marks for appropriateness to my walk with God go to Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest. I found that I particularly enjoyed Oswald’s deep probing, questioning style. Oswald made my Christian faith uncomfortable. Like most people, I do not like uncomfortable. My personality style will not allow me to coexist with uncomfortable either. Uncomfortable makes me change.

Beginning about mid-2009, I began to post daily Scripture verses with accompanying application notes on Facebook™. At the same time, I maintained an archive of these writings. What follows is a compilation of some 365 daily write-downs cataloging my experiences with almighty Father God. Every one of these devotionals has appeared on my Facebook™ wall, and more than a few have sparked comments, questions, and discussions amongst my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who have befriended me on Facebook™.

If you enjoy the kind of walk with Christ that is an itch you can’t quite scratch, then you’ll probably find value in this compilation. My prayer is that God will reach out and maybe smack you between the eyes from time to time. He certainly has for me. At any rate, I hope you enjoy and find many blessings in these pages.

Maranatha!

Keith Burt, June, 2013

A Note from the Sidekick

Hi. I am so glad you found this book! It is not by chance that this book made its way into your life. For months we prayed that God will place this book into the hands of those who need it and want it.

My name is Jessica. I am a mother of two energetic kids, wife to an amazing husband, teacher to a class full of fifth graders, and servant of God.

For the past few years I have carved out a sliver of my mornings to devote to reading my Bible and praying. I have used several different daily devotionals. I have even published a few of my own in yearly devotional books. I haven’t, however, quite found the right fit for me. I wanted a book that asked me to dig deeper into myself. I didn’t want to just read the stories of others; I wanted to write my own story during my daily study time. When Keith approached me about turning his daily thoughts into a devotional book, I jumped on board.

As a busy, working mom, I need a special time in my day when I can connect with God. I need to setup my days so that God remains my focus. When I put Him first, my days are smoother, my thinking remains calm, and I am much more productive. We are always looking for tricks to make our busy lives simpler, faster, and more efficient. The best parenting tool I have is the advice I get from my heavenly Father. The best magical power I have is the power of prayer.

My favorite part of this book is the set of daily questions. We named these questions, Lifting the Veil. To me, lifting the veil has multiple meanings. First of all, the questions require us to lift the veil of our minds. We have to engage with the book. These devotionals require a response. Use this opportunity to be honest about your feelings, and write down your thoughts.

Secondly, we have to lift the veil separating us from God. When Jesus was crucified, the curtain in the temple tore. This allowed regular folks like you and me access to God. Unfortunately, many of us build walls to separate us from God. Tear down your walls. Open yourself up to Him. Allow Him to speak to you, change you, and love you!

I encourage you to use this book throughout the entire next year of your life. This book is your prayer journal, your spiritual guidance, your place to jot down ideas, and your platform to grow your relationship with God. If you miss a day, don’t get frustrated and give up! Pick up where you left off or skip a couple of pages to get back on track. Trust me! If you are willing, God will meet you where you are!

Blessings!

Jessica

With special thanks from Keith and Jessica

The publication of this work would not have been possible without our Abba Father who imminently worked through The Holy Spirit in the Body at ClearView Church. We can testify of a miraculous moving of the Holy Spirit to provide the publication funding which was witnessed by the whole church. We saw and experienced the Spirit-filled joyful contributions made by Lindabelle Cash, Danny Fisher, and Dianne Truslow who reviewed both the theological content and grammar and syntax of the drafts. Cathy Callison, our cover model, and Suzanne Charette, cover designer (a new friend we made who attends another church) collaborated on the cover photography. Pastor John Hamric and the Leadership Team who, through exampled submitted leadership (cf. Acts 13:1-4), continually empower ministry at ClearView Church. Thanks everyone!

How to use this book

We believe this book can help you deepen your love relationship with God but spiritual growth only comes to those who participate with the Holy Spirit in His transformational discipleship of followers of Christ. James 4:8 lays this out. As we approach God, He will approach us.

There are several ways to read this book. Regardless of the method you choose, you should pause once a week and ask yourself three questions.

1. What am I unveiling before God?

2. What is God doing in and around me?

3. What is God telling me to pray?

These three questions will help guide your progress and allow God to work in your life.

Ways to read through the book (See Appendix 1&2 for detailed reading plans):

* Day by day: using the calendar dates: In a traditional manner, your daily encounters will match the seasons or will be randomly placed so the Books of the Bible and themes are mixed.

* Themes: Each encounter speaks to a theme. These themes are noted beneath the title of each page. You may choose a theme of interest and work through the book by continuing to the page number referenced in Appendix 1. You, of course, will ignore the calendar dates.

* Books of the Bible: Each encounter is categorized by scripture verse. You may move through this book by reading through in a Biblical order. After each daily scripture verse, you can find the page number to take you to the next verse from that book by referencing Appendix 2. Again, you would ignore the calendar dates.

Why do we end every day’s devotional message

with the word, Maranatha?

Maranatha is an Aramaic word (the native tongue of Jesus). It appears in the original Greek manuscripts (i.e. Revelation 22:12) and is generally translated in our English bibles as, the Lord is coming or come, O Lord. It was used in the early church as a blessing among believers. We might say something similar today like, Jesus is coming soon or Jesus is coming back! It is also a prayerful expectation lifted to God to come quickly! We should daily live in constant awareness that Messiah Jesus will return at any moment.

January 1: Draw Near to God

Theme: Adjusting to God

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18, NASB).

New Year’s resolutions involve some sort of change we pledge to make to ourselves. In my case, I want to drop some weight. In pursuing my goal of having less of me going around, I basically have two choices: the path of denial or the path of alternative. The first option, denial, involves forsaking the foods that I enjoy by removing them as dietary choices. Knowing myself as I do, I would probably be able to maintain such an approach for a couple of weeks. The second option, alternative, is the true change because I will positively substitute healthier foods and develop new dietary habits.

In a sense, a change in our spiritual life is basically a matter of the same two choices. As a Christian, I can pledge that I just will not commit sin anymore. And I will work hard NOT to sin. Sadly, while this approach sounds great, it simply will not work. What will work is implementing an alternative. Rather than avoiding what I don’t want to do, I substitute a healthier spiritual activity. For example, turn off the TV and open the Bible one hour per day more. I fundamentally believe that God is more interested in my choosing Him for He says, Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you (James 4:8). By choosing more God and less anything else, I can have confidence that He will help me. Thus, it’s not so much my New Year’s resolution as it is agreeing to the resolution that God has already made for me. That’s a winner! Maranatha!

Lifting the Veil: What are your goals for this new year? What prayers do you have for your personal spiritual growth?1

January 2: Following God Means Walking in Faith

Theme: Relationship with God

Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory (1 Corinthians 2:6-7, NASB).

My journey through the Bible began in 1997 with a vow to read one chapter a day, study its application to my life, and pray. With bible, pen and paper at hand, I journaled my daily quiet time with my Father. I cannot overstate the importance of daily bible study and prayer as a tool God uses to mold His children into the likeness of His Son. The living word has power, not just to save us, but to sanctify us!

A few years ago, God placed in my heart a desire to know Him more. I prayed about this for a while, even looked into applying to seminary (which I eventually did). Then God led me to a series of books, The New American Commentaries on Bible Study and Theology. I began a course of self-study in lieu of seminary. God has also provided several men who are further along than me in their theological study to disciple me. They have kept me rooted in sound doctrine while helping me stretch my limits. My desire is to know Him more, and He has opened the floodgates.

I realize now that this is one of the ways God uses each of us to spread His word. It’s a continuum of passed on knowledge and wisdom that will end on the day we are perfected in Christ. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me (Philippians 3:12). This past year, I answered God’s call to seminary. God is so good. Do I know what’s next? Nope, but God does! Maranatha!

Lifting the Veil: How is God working on you?2

January 3: How Shall We Pray?

Theme: Spiritual Growth

". . . always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, . . . And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:3-11, NKJV).

We tend toward prayers of health and everyone’s travel. Nice, safe, dip your toe in the water prayers. Paul’s model for prayer is worth camping on for a while.

We so often forget that God is always at work in us and around us. Praying to God to remove the consequences of sin is usually unsuccessful. Why? Because some people have to lose everything in order to see Jesus’s love is the only thing they need. That is