Mindful Bible Study.org

Author: Servants of God

  • DAY. 157. Don’t Forget Your First Love

    DAY. 157. Don’t Forget Your First Love

    Don’t Forget Your First Love

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    Don’t Forget Your First Love

    God always knows exactly what you need to hear. Why? Remember, He knows what you’re going through and wants to be with you.
    Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God entering people’s lives in unique and powerful ways. He appeared to Moses in a burning bush, to Daniel in His dreams, and to the Apostle Paul in a blinding light.

    In Revelation chapter 2, the closing pages of the Bible, God did it again. He wrote seven letters to seven different churches who needed to hear a message specific to where they found themselves. Some early Christians were being persecuted, some had veered off course, and other were discouraged. Into each of these situations, God spoke.

    The first letter was written to the church in Ephesus, a group of Christians who had lost direction. God says that they had “forgotten their first love” and had been persuaded to listen to voices that were not His. I don’t know about you, but I would be pretty embarrassed if the God of the universe said that about me.

    It’s what they needed to hear.

    Have you ever been there? Are you in that exact same spot right now? For years, your faith was strong. You were plugged into a church, had Christian friends who helped you grow. But, now you’re lost and can’t remember the last time you cracked open your Bible. There probably wasn’t one cataclysmic event that made you lose your faith. It just happened slowly over time.

    If that’s you, or if you find yourself slipping away from your “first love,” God wants you to know that He loves you, forgives you, and wants you to come back. He said the same thing to the Christians at Ephesus when He wrote these words:

    Revelation 2:4-5
    “You have forgotten the love you had at first… do the things you did at first.”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.

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  • DAY. 156. Jesus Will Get To You

    DAY. 156. Jesus Will Get To You

    Jesus Will Get To You

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    Jesus Will Get To You

    Did you wake up this morning, think about your day, and wonder how in the world you’re going to get through it?
    Did you wake up and wonder if there’s anybody else who understands what your life is like?

    Maybe it’s not your day that worries you, but your personal struggles with addiction, loneliness, insecurity, doubt, or stress. They weigh so heavy on your shoulders that you wish somebody would relieve some of the pressure.

    Whatever it is you’re going through, there is one person who knows exactly what it’s like to be you.

    Jesus.

    He knows the number of hairs on your head, the things that frustrate and motivate you. And He’s literally gone to the grave and come back to life. Needless to say, there is nothing about your experience that surprises Him.

    What’s even more incredible than His ability to understand us is that Jesus, the Son of God, who helped create the entire universe, finds you, loves you, and sticks with you through the good and the bad. To me, the fact that someone not only understands you and I but wants to spend time with us in spite of our imperfections is a miracle in itself.

    There is one overarching truth that you need to hear: No matter where you find yourself, Jesus can and will get to you.

    Over the next few days, we’re going to explore together a short part of Revelation chapter 2 and see some ways that He reveals Himself to different groups of people based on their specific needs. As you read, keep in mind what we talked about today: Jesus knows you. Jesus wants to be with you. And He wants you to stick together.

    Today, just to prepare your mind and heart for this short journey, ask God to meet you where you are. Ask Him to reveal truth to you that will make an impact in your life.

    I believe He will.

    John 14:26
    But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.

  • DAY-155- Look To Serve Not For Fame

    DAY-155- Look To Serve Not For Fame

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    Look To Serve Not For Fame

    I have a confession.

    For me, in the past few years of doing ministry and following God, I’ve sought recognition.
    I wanted people to say, “Hey, Good job Andrew! You done such an amazing job, and you’re really changing the world.”

    But the more I spend time with God and grow, the more I realize it’s not about notoriety and recognition. It’s not even about the pats on the back.

    It’s about serving with a peaceful heart.

    Let me tell you about Shanti. He’s a guy from India, a member of the lowest caste in his country. He’s also one of the best tabla players, EVER. He’s so talented at playing this Indian drum that Bollywood tried to hire him to play music for all of their films.

    Now think about this. This opportunity would allow Shanti to experience a new life full of wealth and recognition. Bollywood would fly him to Dubai and London; he would become a worldwide sensation. He’d also make tens of thousands of dollars a month.

    Shanti felt uneasy about the offer, wondering what good, honestly, would this work do?

    You see, Shanti had recently given his life to Christ. The Bollywood offer made him feel uneasy. He said, “I’m sorry, but I will only use my talent for playing the drums to worship God. It doesn’t make sense to go to Bollywood, make tons of money, but waste my life.”

    Shanti realized losing his soul wasn’t worth fame and fortune.

    There’s no place he’d rather be than with the poorest of the poor in India. There’s nothing he’d rather be doing than using his gift to glorify God.

    You might not know that Shanti started Peace Music Ministries. He has created something beautiful with his talents for leadership and music. He holds monthly meetings. Sometimes he raises enough money to do the events and sometimes he doesn’t. It doesn’t matter. God always provides for Shanti.

    Shanti’s job isn’t to be famous or even rich. It’s to serve.

    Shanti is my role model and inspiration. I want to be more like Shanti every day, but the world is loud and noisy, clamoring for my attention. It wants your attention, too.

    God promotes the servant’s heart, but the world promotes pride. God lifts up the humble in spirit; the world does the opposite. The world validates the rich, but God blesses the poor in spirit.

    Serve God and do things the right way.

    Turn away from the world.

    Turn to God.

    Don’t look for fame, money, and recognition. These are the things with which the world wants to congratulate you. They will not last.

    Seek the things of God first, and He will make sure you have everything you need.

    You will not be alone if you turn to this new path. Others, like Shanti, have turned away from the ways of the world. You will find him and others like him, on your journey to God and peace.

    Maybe you’ve noticed that the new money, the new success, is peace.

    One of the hottest trends on Instagram is having a quiet, joyful, and happy heart. People realize that wealth and recognition do not create peace. Peace comes from being willing to serve others.

    In Mark 9:35,
    Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” How can you put yourself second to serve someone else and put God’s kingdom first?

    What road are you on?
    Are you on God’s path or the wide path everybody is going down?

    I hope to see you on God’s path. It’s narrow and less traveled, but there’s room for us all.

    Mark 8:35
    “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.

  • DAY-154- God’s Capacity To Love

    DAY-154- God’s Capacity To Love

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    God’s Capacity To Love

    One of the things I love most about God, as I was sitting here reflecting, is His capacity to love.
    It seems like, as a human and a person, I’m set up for failure.

    I literally fail over and over. Whether it’s been an addiction that I’ve gone through, I’ve lost my temper, or I’ve been unfaithful in my commitments, I’ve always been able to go back to God, to that place of grace.

    During this quiet time, I ask, “What is it, God, that you love so much about me? How is it that you’re able to love me at all?”

    It’s so simple.

    Every time I go back to God, I have a safe place to land. No matter what I’ve done, He is constant.

    His love is constant.

    He’s like, “I love you because I love you because I love you.”

    God is love. That’s the only thing He’s about. His arms are your safe place.

    I want to tell you today that no matter what you’ve been through – maybe you’ve done something that you can’t forgive yourself for or someone has done something really horrible to you – you can harness the power of God’s love today.

    Whether you need to receive God’s love for things you have done wrong or you need to give love for the wrongs committed against you, you can harness His love like this:

    Disconnect.

    Unplug from the world.

    Get into a quiet place that refreshes you.

    Right now, I’m sitting on a mountaintop. Every week or two, I drive 90 minutes to this destination to unplug from the world and listen to God.

    For just a little while, unplug from your responsibilities. Shrug off the weights you might have taken on yourself.

    Receive God’s love.

    The best place to receive His love is in quiet. It’s a place with no agenda, where you can ask God questions, listen, and ponder. Sit in awe of His creation.

    I like to watch huge trees and listen to the wind rush through their branches and boughs like a rushing river. As I sit under the massive trees in awe of God, I listen to the birds, and I look at how big the world around me is. It reminds me of how small I am. It makes me remember that everything going on in me is nothing, really.

    Place your focus on God.

    Take time today to harness His love, whether for you or somebody else. I guarantee you’ll tap into His capacity.

    If you fail at the day-to-day parts of your life, if you’re addicted to something if you keep making the same mistakes, remember that God is there. He’s waiting to receive you with open arms.

    He loves you unconditionally.

    Zephaniah 3:17
    “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.