Verse of the Day
Romans 8:35,37 (New King James Version)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

How to Lose Your Joy - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am" (Phil. 4:11).
Discontent and ingratitude will steal your joy.

True joy is God's gift to every believer, yet many Christians seem to lack it. How can that be? Did God fail them? No. As with peace, assurance, and other benefits of salvation, joy can be forfeited for many reasons: willful sin, prayerlessness, fear, self-centeredness, focusing on circumstances, and lack of forgiveness are the main culprits.

Two of the most common joy-thieves are dissatisfaction and ingratitude. Both are by-products of the health, wealth, and prosperity mentality of our day. It has produced a generation of Christians who are more dissatisfied than ever because their demands and expectations are higher than ever. They've lost their perspective on God's sovereignty and have therefore lost the ability to give thanks in all things.

In marked contrast, when Jesus taught about contentm

From Emptiness to Fulfillment - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Jesus can satisfy the yearnings of your heart.

John 4:3-29

As we saw yesterday, many people experience feelings of emptiness. How can we prevent this from happening? The account of the Samaritan woman in John 4 is a wonderful place to start. Through the story, we learn that ...

Filling our emptiness is important to the Lord. In the first century, Jewish people bypassed Samaria because of their hatred for its inhabitants. Yet Jesus chose to travel there because He knew a hurting woman was ready to hear about the Father’s love.

Our attempts at happiness often fall short. The woman at the well had been wed five times, but her marriages hadn’t provided what she truly needed.

God knows our pain. When the woman said she didn’t have a husband, Jesus revealed that He already knew. By demonstrating His awareness of both her hurt and her longing, He helped the woman recognize her greater need: a Savior.

J

The Joy of Pleasing God - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"The blameless in their walk are [God's] delight" (Prov. 11:20).
Your love for God brings Him joy.

Our focus so far this month has been on the joy we experience in knowing and serving Christ. Before we turn our attention to the theme of godliness, I want you to consider two additional aspects of joy: the joy of pleasing God, and how to lose your joy. Pleasing God is our topic for today.

Perhaps you haven't given much thought to how you can bring joy to God, but Scripture mentions several ways. Luke 15:7, for example, says, "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." Verse 10 adds, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Repentance brings joy to God.

Faith is another source of joy for God. Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." That's the negative side of a positive

How to Have an Abundant Life - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

True fulfillment comes when we seek God above everything else.

Psalm 16:11

In public, most people seem happy. But beneath the surface, some likely feel empty. In fact, it’s possible to be in a large crowd and yet feel alone.

There’s a reason why this can occur: Man was created with a yearning that only God is able to satisfy. Individuals cannot be fulfilled until they experience His transforming and unconditional love. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). In other words, the Lord wants us to feel complete, which can happen only through a relationship with Him.

However, even a person who is saved can feel empty. At times this results from disobedience: A detour in one’s walk with the Lord can become a way of life, depriving a believer of deep satisfaction. It’s also possible for Christians to live according to God’s Word without fully surrendering to the Fa

Verse of the Day
1 John 4:10 (New King James Version)

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The Joy of Affection - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"It is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:7-8).
Often the strongest and deepest relationships are forged in the crucible of Christian ministry.

Undoubtedly there are people who occupy a special place in your heart. Perhaps you seldom see them or talk to them, but they are on your mind and in your prayers often.

That's how Paul regarded the Philippian believers, and it was right for him to do so because they were such an integral part of his life and ministry. They stood by him in every situation—even during his judicial proceedings and imprisonment in Rome.

The gratitude and joy Paul felt was more than an emotion. It was a moral obligation to praise God for what He h

How We Respond to a Storm -In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Our view of God impacts our reactions to adversity.

2 Chronicles 20:12

Picture a backyard party where all the guests are having fun, but then the wind picks up. The sky darkens, and the scent of rain is in the air. Everyone scrambles indoors. Just as the last person rushes in, the skies let go. Inside, people gather into clusters. One group stands at the window, oohing and aahing at the thunder and lightning outside. Others hug each other or cover their ears; a few jump and shudder with every boom. Another group, chatting away, seems completely oblivious to the weather. Isn’t this a picture of how people react differently to the storms of life?

When it comes to the upheavals we face, our varied responses can have a significant impact down the road. Some people respond in a healthy way and emerge stronger, while others are overwhelmed by the challenge.

What accounts for the difference in our response is ou

Verse of the Day
John 13:34-35 (New King James Version)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The Joy of Glorification - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

God will perfect His work in you "until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6).
Someday God will glorify and reward every believer.

For Christians there's an element of truth to the bumper sticker that reads, "Please be patient, God isn't finished with me yet." We aren't what we used to be, but there's much to be done to make us all He wants us to be. Yet God's work within us is so sure and so powerful, Scripture guarantees its completion.

Pondering that guarantee led Bible expositor F.B. Meyer to write, "We go into the artist's studio and find there unfinished pictures covering large canvas, and suggesting great designs, but which have been left, either because the genius was not competent to complete the work, or because paralysis laid the hand low in death; but as we go into God's great workshop we find nothing that bears the mark of haste or insufficiency of power to finish, and we are sure that the work which His g

Showing Agape Love - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Divine love enables us to forgive, serve generously, and restore those who have fallen.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Yesterday, we saw that agape, or unconditional love, empowers us to respond calmly to difficulties, show patience while waiting, and sacrifice without complaint. We demonstrate agape when we ...

Forgive. Once the prodigal son returned, love made it possible for his father to let go of past hurts and forgive the young man (1 Peter 4:8). We can do the same for people who hurt us, though that doesn’t mean we should allow the harm to continue.

Act generously. The son came home with few expectations. His father greeted him and dressed him in the finest garments. Godly love, which keeps no record of wrongs, made it possible to show such generosity.

Serve joyfully. Upon receiving back what “was lost and has been found” (Luke 15:32), the father hosted a celebration. He expressed his love by letting joy over

Verse of the Day
John 3:16 (New King James Version)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The Joy of Anticipation - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it" (Phil. 1:6).
God always finishes what He starts.

All who love Christ desire to be like Him in spiritual perfection and absolute holiness. We want to please Him in every respect. However, that noble pursuit is often met with frustration and discouragement as human frailties and sin block our pathway.

Paul's cry in Romans 7 is ours as well: "That which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. . . . I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good. . . . Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (vv. 15, 21, 24). His answer resonates with confidence and relief: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (v. 25).

Paul was convinced that God always completes the good work of salvat

The Power of Love - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Because the Holy Spirit empowers us, we can respond to others calmly, patiently, and without complaint.

Luke 15:11-32

There are four Greek words for love: eros (romantic love), philia (friendship love), storge (familial love), and agape (unconditional, selfless love). Our Father’s care for us is agape—love so strong that He chose to bring us into a right relationship with Himself through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (1 John 4:10).

The Parable of the Prodigal Son gives us a good example of this type of love. Agape is evident in our life when we ...

Respond reasonably to difficulty. The son prematurely asked for his share of the inheritance, revealing an attitude that must have pained his father. But the older man didn’t allow hurt feelings to break the relationship or prevent a measured response.

Sacrifice without complaint. Though he knew his son was committed to a ruinous course, the father quietly fulfilled

Verse of the Day
1 Corinthians 13: 6-7 (New King James Version)

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

The Joy of Participation -Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"In view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now" (Phil. 1:5).
You share in a sacred partnership with Christ and your fellow-Christians for the advancement of the gospel.

In recent years the Greek word koinōnia has become familiar to many Christians as the New Testament word for fellowship. However, it is also translated "partnership" and "participation." In Philippians 1:5, Paul uses it to emphasize the participation of the Philippians in common ministry goals.

Romans 12:13 gives one aspect of that partnership and participation: monetary contributions. That's one aspect of fellowship that the Philippian church eagerly shared with Paul. As he says in Philippians 4:15-16, "At the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs." They w

Doing God’s Work God’s Way - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Every part of the believer’s life should be characterized by steady reliance upon the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 4:1-7

It’s easy to think that life should be divided into two separate parts: the secular, which seems separate from the Lord, and the spiritual. But we are God’s children, so every aspect of life is to be an expression of that divine relationship.

Our culture wants us to believe that we can accomplish much without God. People will point out our human strengths, like education or skills and assure us that we have all that is necessary for success. The implication is that we don’t need God. And Satan relies on this tactic because he always wants to turn us away from reliance upon the Lord.

The Bible tells us something different. To do God’s work God’s way means we must rely on His Spirit instead of depending on ourselves. When we’re leaning on the Spirit’s strength and wisdom, we will ...

Be ful

Verse of the Day
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (New King James Version)

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

The Joy of Intercession - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"Always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all" (Phil. 1:4).
Intercessory prayer is a powerful tool in the hands of a righteous person.

There's the story of a special nurse who knew the importance of intercessory prayer. Each day she used her hands as instruments of God's love and mercy toward those in her care, so she found it natural to use her hand as a scheme of prayer. Each finger represented someone she wanted to pray for. Her thumb was nearest to her and reminded her to pray for those who were closest and dearest. The index finger was used for pointing, so it stood for her instructors. The third finger was the tallest and stood for those in leadership. The fourth finger was the weakest, representing those in distress and pain. The little finger, which was the smallest and least important, reminded the nurse to pray for her own needs.

Undoubtedly that nurse knew the joy of praying for others. Pau

Our Treasure
All that we have belongs to God; we are simply His managers. - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Matthew 6:19-21

The way we regard our treasure reveals who we are and what we truly value. The question is, What do we treasure most?

No matter how we acquire our belongings—by working, investing, saving, or receiving gifts—the correct perspective on money and property is that the Lord owns it all. We are simply the managers.

Here’s another way to think about your resources: See them as a way to meet people’s needs and a means of serving God’s kingdom (Ephesians 4:28; Malachi 3:10). When we give to others or to kingdom work, we are immediately transferring our treasure from earth to heaven.

The Lord’s blessings can certainly be used to help us reach any goals He gives us. When we’re walking in God’s will and bringing our requests to Him, our preferences become aligned with the desires He has for us. Then we can know He approves of investing our resources i

Verse of the Day
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (New King James Version)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

The Joy of Recollection - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you" (Phil. 1:3).
A key to Christian joy is to recall the goodness of others.

Though Paul was under house arrest in Rome when he wrote to the Philippians, his mind wasn't bound. Often he reflected on his experiences with the Philippian Christians. As he did, his thoughts turned to prayers of praise and thanksgiving for all that the Lord had done through them.

I'm sure Paul remembered when he preached in Philippi and God opened Lydia's heart to believe the gospel (Acts 16:13-14). Subsequently everyone in her household was saved (v. 15). Surely her kindness and hospitality were bright spots in an otherwise stormy stay at Philippi.

He must also have remembered the demon-possessed girl whom the Lord delivered from spiritual bondage (v. 18), and the Philippian jailer, who threw Paul and Silas into prison after they had been beaten severely (vv. 23-24). Perhaps the girl became part

The Cost of Running From God - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Even when God’s will seems unclear to us, we can choose to trust in His goodness and respond with faith.

Jonah 4:9-11

You would think a life-threatening storm and a few days in a fish’s belly would shake some sense into a person. Yet that wasn’t the case with Jonah. The final paragraphs of his story reveal a prophet who technically obeyed God but allowed his heart to remain on the run.

Jonah paid a high price for running from the Lord—he endured many physical, social, and emotional consequences for trying to ignore God’s instructions. But when those events were long past, Jonah still grappled with the spiritual cost of his flight. He lived with anger and a bitterness so strong that he begged God for the relief that death would bring.

As believers, we cannot disobey the Lord without paying a price. Perhaps you have a habit, a desire, or a current course of action that you know is against God’s will. Hav

Verse of the Day
2 Thessalonians 1:3 (New King James Version)

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

The Joy of God's Peace - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:2).
Nothing you face today is beyond the purview of God’s grace and peace.

Paul's wonderful benediction for grace and peace was ever on his heart. He offered it in each of his epistles and expounded on it throughout his writings.

Grace is the outpouring of God's goodness and mercy on undeserving mankind. Every benefit and provision you receive is by God's grace. That's why Peter called it "the manifold grace of God" (1 Pet. 1:10). Just as your trials are manifold or multifaceted, so God's multifaceted and all-sufficient grace is correspondingly available to sustain you.

Peace, as used in Philippians 1:2, speaks of the calmness and absence of strife characteristic of one in whom God's grace is at work. The New Testament also links it to mercy, hope, joy, and love. To experience those graces is to experience true peace.

It is said that w

God’s Plans Will Prevail - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Rebellion against God produces heartache.

Jonah 1:1-17

Jonah fled toward Tarshish to escape God’s plan. Perhaps the prophet thought that ignoring a divine command would cause the Lord to withdraw or change it. Instead, God dramatically intervened in Jonah’s life until he submitted.

Jonah believed he had good reason to be reluctant. The Ninevites were a brutal civilization determined to conquer Israel. So walking across the city while crying, “Nineveh will be overthrown” was a frightening thought. And, as the prophet later revealed, he worried that God would spare the city if the people repented (Jonah 4:2). Jonah wanted them destroyed for what they had done to his people. His reasons for fleeing seemed right in his own eyes. But God was not deterred.

There’s no justification for rebellion. God desires our obedience. He has reasons for asking us to take a specific action, and His purposes are always good.

Verse of the Day
Matthew 5:43-45 (New King James Version)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

The Joy of Spiritual Unity - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"To the saints . . . including the overseers and deacons" (Phil. 1:1).
Faithful spiritual leaders are worthy of your appreciation and esteem.

Paul's salutation includes the "overseers and deacons" at Philippi. That probably is not a reference to elders and deacons as we know them, but a general reference to all the Philippian saints, which included spiritual leaders (overseers) and those who followed (servants).

That implies unity and submission within the church, which brings joy to leaders and followers alike. Hebrews 13:17 emphasizes that point: "Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you."

Spiritual leadership is a sacred responsibility. Leaders are to lead, feed, and guard the flock of God, which Christ purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28). They are acc

How to Rekindle the Fire - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Our spiritual condition matters—for us and everyone in our circle of influence.

Luke 10:26-28

The Lord created us to live passionately for Him—not only for the joys we will experience in a relationship with the Creator but also for the benefit to those around us. Just as the warmth and beauty of flames draw people toward a hearth, God uses our passion to draw others to Himself (Matthew 5:16).

So we must be careful not to let our fervor fade. Thankfully, the indwelling Holy Spirit nudges believers who start to head in the wrong direction. If you sense this happening, you can take several steps to realign yourself with Him.

First, evaluate where you are spiritually—ask God whether your fire has dwindled to embers. Second, acknowledge any distance you’ve allowed to separate you from your heavenly Father, and repent. Third, refocus your attention on Jesus, and meditate on how He teaches His followers to live.

Verse of the Day
Psalm 97:10 (New King James Version)

You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.