Waterfront Church

DAY 6

I choose Joy.

God’s joy is not based on circumstances. It’s not based on what we have, or don’t have. Joy is not based on how we feel, or what is happening in our lives. Joy comes from trusting. Romans 15:13 says, "may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

If you aren’t trusting God, you will grow discouraged and weary, but by trusting Him, we too can find the strength to live life with joy. Joy isn’t an emotion that is constantly gushing out of our lives without us having to think about it. That isn’t to say that joy can’t become an ever-present fruit that is always available and growing in our lives—because it can be! Just like a physical garden needs to be tended to produce abundant fruit, there are certain things we need to do to cultivate this fruit of the Spirit in our own lives. As we choose to consider Christ and what He did for us, as we turn our hearts thankfully to Him, and as we look to Him in trust, we are also making the choice to “grow” in joy.

We all know there are other choices before us when hard times come. We can get angry with God for His role in allowing the trial. We can get discouraged because we were expecting an easier life with Christ. We can even develop a persistent bad attitude in a trial that doesn’t allow others to see our hope in Him in the middle of what God is doing. Joy is a much better choice!

Pray

I am chosen by God and I choose joy. I can’t endure in my own strength, but by trusting in Your strength I can endure with joy! I know that with You all things are possible and so I will choose to rejoice at all times.

DAY 7

I choose Forgiveness.

Jesus says, "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12)." What you may not realize is that Jesus’ invitation to pray forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors is an invitation to walk away from pride and the prison that it is. This prayer should become a fixed value in all of our lives.

If a couple came to me and said just give us one piece of advice to save our marriage it would be to make forgiveness a fixed value in your relationship. If a business person said give me just one piece of advice to save my company it would be make forgiveness a fixed value in your organization. Why? Because this prayer will unravel pride in your life and pride is the thing that has messed up your life.

Pride has ruined more relationships, destroyed more families, and divided more organizations than any other culprit out there. It’s dangerously effective because it is painfully obvious in others but almost impossible to see in ourselves. Maybe you’ve never thought about how destructive pride is in your life, but it is the root of every other sin in our lives. It deceptively masquerades as freedom but it is a prison that shuts us in and shuts God and others out.

Grace on the other hand unlocks the prison and opens the door to receive God’s blessing so that we can be a blessing to others.

Pray

I am chosen by God and I choose forgiveness. I know that today I need to be forgiven of my debts and I need to forgive others. That means I will experience grace only to the extent that I am willing to employ grace. I will overcome my pride by offering forgiveness to those who have wronged me.

DAY 8

I choose Persistence.

Jesus told his disciples, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Luke 11:9-10)."

When it comes to your asking, seeking and knocking, don't hold back. Don't be tentative or afraid but know your position in the family, you are a child of God. Jesus reminds us that with prayer persistence is the key. The enemy's most effective strategy is discouragement but the hallmark of every successful Christ-follower is ‘never giving up'.

Jesus is aware of the challenges we face in praying to someone we can’t see. He understands that our minds wander, that we lose focus, that we get discouraged, that we get distracted. But remember, prayer isn't a task. It's an invitation to a relationship with the one who created us and has invited us to bring all of our requests to Him.

Today, determine to put a stake in the ground, that no matter how scared, tired, offended, hurt, or beat down you get, you will never give up asking, seeking or knocking.

Pray

I am chosen by God and I choose persistence. Holy Spirit empower me to persist in prayer, to fervently knock at heaven's door. Let me be bold and never back away. And even when I don't understand, I know that you are always with me and that you want nothing but the best for me. I trust in you and in your timing, your nature, and your goodness. I will keep on asking, seeking, and knocking because I trust that you will always answer.

DAY 9

I choose to Fight.

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12)."

No doubt there would have been many times when Timothy, a young protege of the apostle Paul, became battle-weary and tempted to retreat. I can identify with that struggle, and perhaps some of you can too. We may want to see God’s Kingdom advanced here on earth, but that doesn't happen without struggle, and God-empowered determination on our part.

If you think that our enemy is going to willingly retreat, you’re greatly mistaken. Paul invites Timothy to fight the good fight, because he knows how difficult this journey can be. He has fought plenty of battles himself. In 2 Cor. 11:23-28 Paul reluctantly recounts his resume of suffering, which included imprisonments, countless beatings, and near-death experiences. And Paul was willing to endure such incredible hardship so long as it meant more grace leading to more gratitude leading to more glory for God.

The lesson here is for us not to give in or give up. We need to continue to push forward, not in our own strength and ability, of course, but in God’s strength. Cling to your faith and follow the teaching of His Word. God has directed us to fight–not each other but to fight in the faith. The Lord is our constant companion throughout the difficult journeys of life, and He sends people our way to help us as well. As tempting as it is to throw in the towel and give up, it’s important that we push ourselves forward in the faith.

Pray

I am chosen by God and I choose to fight. Open my spiritual eyes so that I can see that there are many more for me, than against me. I want to fight the good fight of faith. I need Your Spirit to empower me with hope, strength, and courage to move forward every day.

DAY 10

I choose Hope.

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:19-20)."

In a world facing uncertain times, God’s people need hope now more than ever. Today's scripture reminds us of the certainty we have in God’s promises. The God who fulfilled his promise to Abraham, is the same God in whom we trust. Abraham waited patiently and the promise to him and Sarah was fulfilled. Their story reminds us that those who wait in faith and patience ‘will inherit what has been promised.’

When life becomes difficult it is easy to become fixated on the problems and forget the promises. But our hope is in Jesus Christ who brings us close to the throne of heaven, where we can cast all our burdens before God. As a result of God's promise to Abraham and the fulfillment of His promise in Jesus Christ, we have been invited to this place that was never accessible before.

The hope that we have in Jesus gives us a reliable anchor for our souls – an anchor that is anchored heavenwards, that is moving us forward, and that will remain firm and secure no matter how stormy our lives get. The author says, “We have this hope”; it is in the present tense, meaning we have it now, continuously. Despite what we see and feel there is still the assurance of what God has promised - Hope in Jesus Christ.

Pray

I am chosen by God and I choose hope. Thank You for infusing my hurting heart with the rock-solid assurances of Your truth, mercy, and control over every event that touches me. Help me place my hope where Your Word tells me to place it—in You and Your promise of an abundant future with You forever.