Category: John Maisel’s Devotional

Trusting God

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By on May 17th, 2013

Sometimes I feel a real need to step back and take a look at my life and ask myself very penetrating questions. Questions like these:

  • What do I consider my greatest weakness?
  • What is God asking me to do that I keep putting off?
  • Why do I have such fear in certain situations?

As I look at these questions and identify the areas I really need to grow in, I find it usually comes back to one big question … Will I trust God and step out by faith in His truth that is clear in the Scriptures?

Trusting God—choosing His way over your way—is the biggest issue in all of life.

It’s hard for me to even consciously think of not trusting God, especially since I have experienced nothing but His “goodness and mercy all the days of my life.” But my flesh is always at work to keep me from living out that trust.

Each new day brings the intense battle of “faith vs. sight” to the forefront of my life, and when the trust of His love and truth wins the fight, there are no regrets.

When we trust the Lord and step into His truth, we will always find blessings. But often those blessings don’t come right away or sometimes they come as a result of pain or difficulty. In those moments, it’s hard to let faith win the battle.

But when we truly recognize the truth of God and believe His plan—even the painful parts—to be covered with love and His best intentions for us, we will come to desire His will more deeply than anything the world can offer.

Jesus once said this:

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. –John 4:34

That should also be our response. If we believe everything we long for is found in Jesus Christ, then we need to trust God in His plan and say, “My food is to do all that Jesus asks of me.”

One discerning Christian leader once said, “We have all of Jesus we want. Not all we need, but all we want.” 

We must call ourselves to a simple renewal of our desire for Jesus and our trust of the Father. We need to tell Him, “Yes, Lord. I trust you totally in this situation. Your will be done.”

God moves the world in harmony with His will for our lives. Today, at everything, may we say, “Thank You, Father, I trust You.”

John Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

What’s Your Priority?

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By on May 10th, 2013

Being willing to share Christ with people requires us to prioritize God’s kingdom values over our earthly values. There’s a tension there. But the decision all comes down to our spiritual values.

Just as with any investment, we won’t give up what we have right now unless we believe that we’re trading it for something even more valuable.

In order for us to share the Gospel boldly, we must value God’s glory more than we value our own. We must love people enough to take a risk so they can spend eternity in heaven instead of hell.

Everything that Jesus did was based upon His Father’s Kingdom values. The reason why He went to the cross—enduring pain, humiliation and rejection—is because He loves us more than we could ever imagine.

After all of that, this may come as a surprise to you. God’s #1 priority is not your personal happiness.

He is not after your promotion. He’s not after your fancier car or your bigger house. He is not after anything other than transforming you into the image of His Son … preparing you to rule with Christ for all eternity.

In order to fully understand our need to be bold witnesses, we must to truly grasp the brevity of this life. The Psalmist wrote:

Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. —Psalm 39:4-6

That sounds pretty grim. But in the very next verse, the Psalmist offers the reason for our hope:

But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. —Psalm 39:7

To have the right perspective, we must find where our hope should lie. Our hope found is in Christ, and Christ alone.

God says, “I love you. I made you. I designed you. I took residence within you. I created you in My image. I created to live the abundant life … but you’re not taking advantage of that abundance. You’re hopping like a rabbit instead of soaring like a bird.”

I don’t know what it means to lose my life, but I do know that the One who asked me to lose my life loves me with a perfect love.

I trust in that.

And I believe that when we trade in all our toys for the sake of His kingdom, God will say, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

John Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Owned by God, Part Four

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By on May 3rd, 2013

The Ultimate Trust

When we think about whether or not we truly trust God as the owners of our lives, we cannot overlook the story of Abraham in Genesis 22. God tested him in a powerful way to make sure that he really did trust the promises he received many years before.The chapter starts with “And God tested Abraham.” To me this test is the apex of Abraham’s walk with God and his trust in Him and his promises.

First, there is no confusion about what God has asked him to do. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his promised son. And Abraham committed to carrying it out.

What Abraham is about to do may seem like blind faith or unimaginable to us. But Abraham quickly examined the unusual request through his heart and mind.

Hebrews 11 tells us how Abraham reasoned with his belief—knowing who was asking him to do this—and he obeyed.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
—Hebrews 11:17-19

To me this had to be a supreme test of who Abraham was trusting. His heart loves his son. But he trusted the God who had given him Isaac more than he trusted his right to have Isaac.

Abraham would obey … not in blind faith but in great faith in the promise of the One who “owned” both daddy and son.As with Abraham, God will test our hearts as well. Why does God faithfully and constantly test our faith through the circumstances of life?

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. —1 Peter 1:6-7

As with Abraham, God knew what Abraham would do, but Abraham didn’t until he was tested. I may say I believe this or that, but I really don’t know what I would do until I am confronted with a chance to choose between God’s truth and my cultural reality.People like us won’t really have to battle with what is good versus what is evil. Our test and struggles are usually between good and God’s ultimate truth. And in this way, we will have to endure the testing of our faith regularly.

Is your Father asking you to give up something that you may think you cannot live without? Trust Him. It’s only because He wants to give you something better.

Whatever our choice is, go with God … even when we may not understand the bigger picture. He will never break His promises. And we will never experience them unless we “step out” in faith and obey Him who owns us.

John Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Owned by God, Part Three

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By on Apr 26th, 2013

We Belong and Serve

“Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’” —Acts 27:23-24

This statement was spoken by the Apostle Paul in Acts 27 when his life was threatened by a storm as he traveled to Rome on a ship. Everyone on the ship was terrified. Knowing you are going to die will have that effect on most people.

Paul, the prisoner, has a word for the sailor and the soldiers on this sinking ship. He wants to make it clear that the reason he is so different in a terrifying situation is because of the core belief that had captured him for most of his life: that he belonged to and served God.

Somewhere in life, I must answer that question, “To whom do I belong and serve?” How I answer will determine the choices I make in life. Everyone is created to give their life to something—to find ultimate worth and meaning in our existence. This is why understanding the truth of Paul’s heart—that he not only serves God but belongs to Him—nails the primary focus of life … especially the Christian life.

Let’s make this personal. Do you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God owns you, your family, and your business? And do you know that He determines your time on earth, your calling, and your everything else?

We can never fully serve God until the “ownership” crisis is settled. Paul writes something in 1 Corinthians 6 that touches on this ownership.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. —1 Corinthians 6:20

We belong to God because He has purchased us with the blood of His only Begotten. If the “to whom I belong” is settled, God will determine the way you will glorify Him.

Paul is our model. It didn’t make any difference if he was on a ship about to sink, in a Roman prison, raising the dead in Ephesus, or declaring the glory of Christ Jesus to the ruler of the Roman Empire. He belonged to God and would serve and glorify Him in every situation.

Let’s all take inventory as we determine to follow the true Lover of our souls. He alone is not only the King of the Universe but also the reigning King in each of our hearts and in all the events of life.

O Lord, let me live with this simple attitude each day: “Jesus, to whom I belong, I will serve and glorify.”

John Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Owned by God, Part Two

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By on Apr 19th, 2013

We Exist For Him

Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. —1 Corinthians 8:6

One translation states, “we exist for God.” As we continue to drill down on God’s ownership of us, and the implications of our beloved Father’s ownership, it should comfort us to know that “all God is” is available to us for our care.

If the price is the Cross of Christ and the love shown by Christ—when we were His enemies—now that we are sons and daughters, can we not trust Him for all things?

The ultimate meaning of my life comes from living for the sake of His name and the gospel. If I believe this and act upon it, will God not give me everything that I need to live an “abundant life”?

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” –John 10:10

Jesus’ whole purpose was to bring us fullness of life, joy in all things, and freedom to be who we were made to be. This can only be found by “living for the glory of God.”

Why does understanding God’s ownership of us and pursuing His glory provide us with all the meaning and purpose that we need? It’s simple. The Creator knows what the ultimate purpose of His creation is designed to be.

God Almighty, ignited by His love for us, designed us to find our ultimate meaning in abandonment to His purpose, plan, and glory. The “hole” in my life before Christ Jesus can never be filled by anything other than God Himself. But once filled with Christ’s living presence, the emptiness flees and the joy follows.

The very words that God spoke through Solomon tell us this: “Vanity of vanity—all is emptiness.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2b) Yes, everything is empty apart from becoming “new creatures in Christ Jesus.”

There is no temporary fix in modern day culture—no matter how great it might be—that can take away the supernatural joy of knowing I am God’s son or daughter.

We are made to maximize our existence by believing we have been bought by God at the price of Jesus’ suffering and rejection. And not only life everlasting but also life today is found in seeking the glory of the Living God.

All we long for is found in passionately seeking God’s honor and glory in each of the numerous choices we make on a daily basis. Self-glory is but a passing “vapor” when compared to pointing people to the glory of Jesus the Christ, our Savior and God.

This, my friend, is why we need each other in the Body of Christ. The fight of the heart—to trust God no matter what—is a daily struggle. But we need to make the “unspeakable joy” that awaits us if we fight well the bugle sound of encouragement that we give to one another each day.

Thank you for fighting well for the glory, honor, and praise of our soon coming King.

 

John Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Owned by God

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By on Apr 12th, 2013

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. —1 Corinthians 6:19-20

You are not your own. How many of us really know or think that we don’t belong to ourselves—that we truly belong to God?

We might have read it, heard it, seen illustrations of it … but do we really believe it? I believe we need to see this issue more clearly because understanding it gives us the peace and courage to be who we were called to be.

If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. —Romans 14:8

God makes it clear that He created us to be His. But to me, the greatest truth is found in the verse that tells us we were purchased into His family at “great price.”

The word “redeemed” has the picture of being a slave who was purchased out of slavery and given his freedom. You and I were slaves of sin, and now we have been bought by God and have become His personal lovechildren.

Hannah Smith shares her feelings from the moment that she came to understand God’s ownership of our lives. It demonstrates the joy that is to be ours when we come to see this and to believe it.

“I remember when the first understanding of this divine ownership dawned upon my soul. I was in the word away from man’s world, almost alone in God’s world of nature. I was reading the verse, ‘you are not your own, you are bought with a price . . .’ when suddenly the sea parted and I saw what it meant. No words could tell what that sight was! But I had to hold my Bible open and keep my finger on the printed verse to make myself sure that such blessing as had dawned upon me was really true. And from that moment, to belong to God has seemed to me are blessing of all blessings in my life!”

Some Christians want to shrink back from God’s “sovereign right” over them, but when they do I think it’s because they don’t realize the depth of His love for His own. John 10:11 tells us that he laid down His life for His own …

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.”

And in Psalm 23 David shows us that God “leads me into paths of righteousness, for his name’s sake.”

Why would we fear the true and living God who is love and who loves us with a “perfect love”? He can only seek our highest good and also has the power to carry it out to completion. If God owns us—and He does—why not comfort ourselves in all circumstances that His love demands that our good is intended?

If we are confident of His ownership and loving desire for those He loves, what, then, is our attitude? We are only responsible to do three things:

  • To yield
  • To trust
  • To obey

If we really believe we belong to the Lord, we must now abandon ourselves to his care and control. 

John Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Your True Identity

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By on Mar 8th, 2013

What defines you?

So many times we get our calling and our career mixed up. Our career is what we do to earn a living. But our calling is who we are and what we really live for.

I remember one time hearing Coach Tom Landry introduced as, “The coach of the Dallas Cowboys who is a Christian.” Immediately after Coach Landry got up to speak he said, “I am a Christian who happens to be coach of the Dallas Cowboys.”

He made his point obvious: my relationship with Jesus Christ is who I really am, and my profession is that of a coach. So who really are we? If you have said “yes” to Jesus as your Savior and Lord, your identity has changed … you are now a “new person” as the Scripture tells us.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. —2 Corinthians 5:17

The reason this is so important is that if I define myself by what I do in my career, I will try to find my meaning, purpose, worth, and significance based upon what I do and how I perform.

Here’s an example. If I am an NFL football player, then my importance is based on how I perform as a running back. My worth comes from my last game. Did I experience meaning by only gaining 14 yards for the game and fumbling the football three times? Probably not. But if I scored three touchdowns and gained 150 yards, I am feeling pretty good about myself because my performance—and therefore, my significance—is seen as great.

For the Christian—one in whom Jesus Christ indwells—my true identity is that I am a son or daughter of God Almighty. God loves and accepts His children based upon who they are and not how they performed that day. Knowing this should motivate us to pursue God’s agenda for our lives.

I know as a child of God that His agenda is for my highest good. Everything I long for—meaning, worth, significance—will be experienced in Him if my agenda lines up with His. Trying to find true meaning as a Christian apart from God’s love and plan for my life will cause me to not live fully and result in a colossal waste of my life.

One of the clearest statements in the Bible about who we are is in Galatians 4. Listen to these verses as your heavenly Father is speaking to you personally about your true identity.

Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. —Galatians 4:6-7

If we really believe and live in the truth that we have all the rights that come with being children of God, our perspective of all circumstances would change dramatically. Paul believed it. That is why he could say in Romans 8:37, “We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.”

Think of it: everything Jesus is, we are. We are “co-heirs” with Jesus Christ.

Wow! Believe it and go forth with joy.

John Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

I Am With You, Part 3

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By on Mar 1st, 2013

Whom Shall We Fear?

God tells us daily—and sometimes hourly—that “I AM with you.” Our Lord knows that our lives involve a variety of situations and circumstances. Just think of all the different phases of life that you have personally experienced in your lifetime.

• Success and failure
• Wealth and poverty
• Health and sickness
• Fame and anonymity
• Life and, eventually, death

Somehow, in all of this, our Lord wants us to trust that His presence, strength, control, authority, and love are all there for our taking. This trust happens only by faith. But whether or not we really experience this faith comes down to the answer of this question: Do I really believe Him?

When someone tells us something and has the authority to speak and the power to carry out what they say, why is it so hard for us to believe them? Unless we choose to obey or act upon what they say, we don’t really believe them.

If the doctor tells me to take this pill so I will feel better and my sickness will leave, I may tell others what a great doctor they are and list all their positive attributes; but if I don’t take the medicine, I don’t really trust the doctor.

When the Bible speaks, God speaks. The Lord asks me to give thanks in all types of circumstances because He has promised to take the good, bad, and ugly and use it for my good. But if I don’t thank Him for the hurt I have just gone through, I really don’t believe in His good purposes for me—whether it’s in my pains or my triumphs.

God desires praise regardless of circumstances not because He needs it or desires an “ego boost” but because He knows that is what is best for me. Believing God brings healing to all of us.

We see in Psalm 27 the truth that we don’t need to fear because the Lord is there.

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? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. —Psalm 27:1-3

In this verse David gives us an illustration that involves life or death or wounds. But even so, he is confident. Why? Because he believes the Lord is all he will need if war or battle happens. David’s Lord has promised him, “I AM with you.”

O Lord, help us to believe and actively trust you so that no matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in we may we be confident, because you have promised to be our Savior, Lord, and loving God in all things.

Whatever your situation is now, your Savior and Lord has promised that He is with you. So you can thank Him for His faithfulness to you.

John Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

I Am With You, Part 2

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By on Feb 22nd, 2013

The Faith of Paul

I think sometimes we tend to see the Apostle Paul as superhuman—a man that had no “flesh pattern” or struggles. We think that he was on automatic pilot when it came to obeying the Lord Jesus.

Certainly he knew the reality of Jesus Christ and God’s great love for him and as he described himself as “one born in due time.” But Paul makes it clear that he lived by “faith” and struggled with “fear issues” just like we do. He speaks of his boldness and the courage God gave him many times in Scriptures.

In Vietnam, I was in many situations where I was afraid—thinking of all the “what ifs” of the enemy. But that fear was overridden by the courage demonstrated by those around me. Courage, to me, is not the absence of fear. It’s choosing to do what needs to be done even though the “fear factor” is all around.

In Acts 18, Paul reached Corinth after being kicked out of several cities, and the Lord speaks to him about his fear.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” —Acts 18:9

Paul was afraid. 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 tells us just how afraid he was.

I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

Paul knew that even though he was afraid, he had a part he must play. But He knew that God would play His great part through His presence and power. That was what brought Paul the confidence to speak.

Paul says his message might not be made up of the most persuasive words, but he knew the Holy Spirit would deliver them with His power and authority.

Is God with us today? YES! Over and over again He tells us that “I am with you,” but He cannot or will not do His part until we choose to do our part.

When we step into our fears, God goes to work. Our Lord always tells us the following:

• I will not do your part
• You cannot do My part
• Trust Me and go public
• Because I am with you

Wow! Let’s go public with the love of Christ this week. Even though the “fear factor” may be blowing its horn—doing whatever it can to stop us from acting on our Lord’s promise—we must trust that the Lord is with us and will do His part.

John Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

I Am With You, Part 1

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By on Feb 15th, 2013

God’s Presence and Power

Psalm 118 is a classic passage of Scripture with many life-changing verses for us. You will remember several as you read this psalm, such as Verse 24:

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Or verse 22, when the psalmist spoke of Jesus:

The stone that the builders have rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

But today I want to focus on verse 6.

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? —Psalm 118:5-6

This verse deals with facing our fears in light of the our Lord’s promise that He is with us and the personal impact it will have if we truly believe it.

The psalmist sets it up in verse 5 as he calls out to God in his anguish and fear and was set free. And in verse 6, we are shown how the psalmist was set free: the Lord was with Him and now he is not afraid.

If believed, the verses make a bold statement for all of life that tells us how the writer got over his “fear of being afraid.”

The sovereign Lord Almighty was with him.

It’s easy to conclude that God himself told the psalmist this because he wrote about his struggle in the verse before. The writer tells us that he prayed about his fearful situation. Now we see that he has a new way of living. Listen to what he says …

The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. —Psalm 118:6-7

Wow! The writer of this psalm believed God when He said, “Don’t fear. I am with you. Trust Me.”

Our tension is with what we say we believe and what we really believe. Only what we do will tell us what we really believe.

If I say to myself, “I believe God the Holy Spirit is with me” but I don’t step into my fear—whatever it may be—then I don’t really believe that God Almighty is sufficient for the task I am asked to do.

Courage to act does not mean our feelings of fear will disappear. It’s likely that we will still be afraid even though we believe the promise that God is with us. Think of all the “what ifs” we usually have that confront us when we are afraid even though we have the promises of God’s power, provision, and plan in those situations.

Yes, the feelings of fear will be with us. But when we take the step into or through that fear, the great “I AM” goes to work.

Next week, we’ll look at what Paul did when he was afraid in Corinth.

John Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.