Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:24-26 ESV

Between the Last Supper and his arrest in the Garden at Gethsemane, Christ took time to fellowship with his Father, our adoptive Father; “Let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39). 

And then this. His last words before His betrayal and arrest. Let those whom you have given me, these Apostles and all who come to belief through them, be with Me in Heaven.  To feast on your majesty and the glory you have given Me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make Your great love known to them through the Holy Spirit unto the fullness of sanctification.

Jesus knew full well the cup he was about to drink.  And his last thoughts were for you and me. That we would be in Heaven with him and in joyful relationship with him and the Father.  That is the love that led Him on, even unto death on the cross.

Father, we give you praise, honor, and glory for your plan of salvation, and for sending Jesus to save us from ourselves. This can only be understood in your faithful lovingkindness to us, undeserving sinners all.  To You be all the honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.

Written By: Ken Philip

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”   John 17:1-5 ESV

Why do we pray for things God wills? Why pray at all if everything has been decided? Jesus shows us in John 17 how to pray. 

Jesus knew before He came to earth for what He was being sent. There was no need to decipher God’s will for His life. Jesus came to be a savior in order to bring God glory. To make a way for His people to be in communion with the Almighty. His days on earth were numbered, just like yours and mine. The difference is Jesus knew exactly when He was to be crucified. He knew the burden He would bear. Knowing all that, He went to God in prayer. Jesus didn’t go to God with a laundry list of requests. He prayed that God would be glorified. That Jesus would be glorified in order to glorify the Father. He also prayed for those given to Him that He may give them eternal life. Jesus knows who will have eternal life, and still prays to the Father about it. Pause on that thought for a moment. Verse 2 states that God has designated our salvation through Jesus as those given to Jesus to save, meaning God gave our name to Jesus to take to the cross and bear our sins. How great should our desire be to glorify God? 

Jesus shows us that as we pray in accordance to God’s will, there He is moving. 

Heavenly Father, to you be the glory. To you be the honor. To you be the praise. We live to bring you glory. Thank you Jesus for showing us how to bring God glory and to bring you glory which brings the father glory. You are so worthy of our praise. Help us pray in accordance with your will. Your will be done, Father. Thank you for choosing to save us. We pray that would spur us on evermore to bring glory to your name.  Amen. 

Written By: David & Allyson Wennlund 

This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.   1 John 5:14-15 CSB

I love this verse! It excites my heart to read these words.  Sadly so many have taken this passage out of context and distorted the words to push a prosperity agenda.  Let’s take a moment and gain a proper understanding of this incredible promise!

The verse begins with proclaiming the confident, reliable hope that we have that God (The Creator of the Universe) hears us when we pray.  Take a moment and let that sink in!  Imagine – who are we, mere mortals that God would be mindful of us? Read Psalm 8.  But this is TRUE – God loves us and hears us when we pray.  John wants you and me to have this confident hope!  Incredible!

Then John saves the best for last!  Not only does God hear us when we pray and bring our petitions to Him; but He is faithful to answer our prayers too!  He explains that God knows our needs and faithfully supplies all of our needs according to his riches in glory. (Philippians 4:19).   A mature believer knows these truths full well.

However, to the casual reader, one can read this passage and interpret God as more of a genie in a bottle rather than sovereign and powerful.  This is simply not the case; it’s bad theology and a dangerous misunderstanding.  The key to understanding and correctly interpreting this passage is found in the words “according to His will”.   When we pray according to (or in agreement with) His will, not only does He hear us, but you can have the confidence that God will answer your prayers.  The key is to align our heart’s and desires with the will of God and His Kingdom purposes.  Jesus explains this best in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”  When our hearts and minds are aligned with God and His Kingdom – our prayers naturally change – and align with His Will.  Our plans, our goals, our objectives become Kingdom Plans – and you can be assured that WHENEVER you need to accomplish a Kingdom Purpose – God will provide a way and the resources!

Question: does your heart have Kingdom focus?  What are you praying for right now that is Kingdom Focused and aligned with God’s will found in scripture? Whatever it is, you can have the confidence that God will answer! 

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving and caring so deeply for me.  Thank you for the confident assurance that when I pray – You hear me!  Forgive me Father for my selfishness and self-centered prayers in the past.  I repent and confess that I will no longer look to you as a “genie” in which to have my immediate wants and desires fulfilled.  Renew my thoughts, mind and heart to have a Kingdom mindset – to see the world as you see it – and to adjust my steps to serve Your Kingdom and not my own!  Amen.

Written By: Pastor Steve Wells

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.  Pray for us too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about His mysterious plan concerning Christ.  That is why I am here in chains.  Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.”  Colossians 4:2-4 NLT

Why is it so much easier to make a prayer list than have a prayer life?  And what does an effective prayer life even look like?  Paul’s letter to the Colossians describes this after he first teaches us about the supremacy of Jesus Christ above all gods and philosophies.  Prayer is a practical outflow of who He is: devote yourselves, be alert, have a thankful heart, and be specific in your requests.  

Devotion addresses our need to prioritize prayer with synonyms like “wholeheartedly, steadfastly.”  Paul’s saying that prayer requires our attention and unwavering perseverance; it’s not for the “faint-hearted”! 

But Paul’s “thankful heart” addresses something deeper:  our “attitude of gratitude” or addressing our Provider with worship.  Psalm 100:4 says “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise…” because it’s all about His character (Psalm 100:5), His goodness, eternal love, and faithfulness.  His kingdom, not our agenda!

Finally, how do we make a request to God?  How often have I prayed: “Lord, I pray for Mary.”  But I stop there!  Paul asked specifically for his readers to pray for “many opportunities to speak” about Jesus and his clear communication of the message.  He aligned himself with Jesus’ mission and kingdom and God faithfully answered.

May I illustrate?  You and I have the task of a grocery run for cold cuts and cheese.  The trip is smooth, the store is open, no hitch so far.  We approach the deli and a friendly face.  We wait patiently for him to start slicing our meats, but he’s just smiling and nodding.  “What’s the hold up?” we ask.  He looks a little perplexed.  “What was it you wanted from the counter today?”   Oh, now we get it; we have forgotten to give him our request!  “Meat and cheese, please.”   But he’s slowly shaking his head.  “I’m so sorry, I still can’t serve you.  You see, we have many excellent meats and cheeses, but I don’t know which to slice for you.  Can you please be more specific?”

North Pointe Church Family, are we approaching the throne of the Almighty God appropriately, with devotion and worship?  If so, are we diligently waiting but not seeing prayers answered?  Our Lord is not a heavenly ‘order taker’ but has infinite blessings and answers to prayer.  His arms are open, delighted that we are seeking Him. But maybe He’s waiting for our specific kingdom-minded requests so that we can know that He’s heard and answered – and then give Him praise and glory for the answers.

Heavenly Father, You are high and lifted up above all gods and earthly things.  We’re grateful that Your throne is always approachable, that the blood of Jesus made a way.  We thank You for the Word that helps us to know You and to know how to live daily.  Help us to develop a daily prayer life, not just a prayer list. Teach us how to align with Your will and to pray specifically with faith and thanksgiving.  We love You, LORD!  In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

Written By: Nina Ellis

Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from belly of the fish:

I called to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me.
I cried out for help from deep inside Sheol;
you heard my voice.
When you threw me into the depths,
into the heart of the seas,
the current overcame me.
All your breakers and your billows swept over me.
And I said, “I have been banished
from your sight,
yet I will look once more
toward your holy temple.”

As my life was fading away,
I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
to your holy temple.

Those who cherish worthless idols
abandon their faithful love,
but as for me, I will sacrifice to you
with a voice of thanksgiving.
I will fulfill what I have vowed.
Salvation belongs to the Lord.

Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.  Jonah 2:1-4, 7-10 CSB

Who would have thought that the belly of a fish would be a safe place to be?  In considering this prayer it struck me that God put Jonah there to protect him from distractions, to provide time for self-reflection, and to allow him to repent.  And those three days brought Jonah to repentance.

Jonah was still in a dark, nasty, stinky place.  He had to cope with the consequences of his disobedience to God’s assignment that he go to Nineveh and preach against the evil in that city.  But ultimately Jonah turned to God in prayer.  In distress he cried out to God for help.  He recognized God’s hand in his plight.  Jonah expressed heartfelt gratitude for God’s mercy.  And finally, Jonah pledged to complete the mission for which he’d been called.

Like Jonah, we may flee from God’s plan and purpose for us.  The result of our disobedience may be that we’re put in an unpleasant place (though not likely the belly of a fish).  However, God is still God, and by His grace we are given the opportunity to come to repentance.

Heavenly Father, I come to You this morning with a heart of gratitude.  Like Jonah, I don’t always do what You desire of me.  I am grateful for Your unfailing mercy and grace.  I know that You are still with me in times of darkness.  And like Jonah, “I will sacrifice to You with a voice of thanksgiving.”   Amen.

Written By: Bev Carbert

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4:6-7 ESV  

As a person who realizes the power, gravity, impact, and weight of words used well, there are few things in life that give me greater angst than a blank piece of paper.  So the irony that I would be “assigned” the above verses as the topic of my devotional for the upcoming Bible reading is not lost on me.  I must confess that I have actually written this devotional three times before (no, the third time was not a charm), but I never had peace that it was ever quite finished.  The first time I wrote the devotional was immediately upon returning from the Holy Lands where I walked in the footsteps of Jesus and felt God’s overwhelming love for me like never before.  The second was as I sat on a twin bed with tear-stained cheeks at Camp Gilead for the NP Women’s Retreat, Make Room, after finally surrendering to God the hidden part of my heart that believed Satan’s lie that I wasn’t worthy to be loved.  The third time was from the waiting room at Advent Hospital in the wee hours of the morning while joyously anticipating the delivery of my first, long-awaited, and much prayed for grandchild.  

It wasn’t my perfectionism that kept me from submitting the other drafts, but it was more a sense that God wanted me to not just hide these verses in my heart, but to keep them at the forefront of my mind.  As much as my soon-to-be 60 year old self wants to resist change, I do know that God is trying to do a new thing in me.  Admittedly I am a “Martha,” but am finding more and more these days that God is putting me in situations (just like the hospital waiting room) where there is no action I can physically take or task I can complete that will influence the outcome.  Prayer is the ONLY thing I can do, the ONLY action I can take.   

These verses were penned by Paul as he sat in a prison cell in Rome.  He was no stranger to uncertainty, living his life on edge while faithfully proclaiming the gospel and life-saving power of Christ amidst great opposition and persecution.  He had every reason honestly to be paralyzed by fear, but he wasn’t because his anxiety through prayer had been replaced by the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.    

Heavenly Father, in a world full of uncertainty and chaos, help me to be more like Paul and less like me.  I am so thankful for 24/7 access to You through prayer.  Help me to see anxiety for what it is (my body’s response to overwhelming things that I am not  meant to carry alone) so that it has no power over me and may it always prompt me to turn to You in prayer.  Transform my mind, fears, and concerns and bring them into alignment with Your perfect will for my life.  Amen.

Written By: Pam Bos

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.  Luke 6:12 ESV

One of the questions I get most as a pastor is “why should we pray?.” I wish it were as easy as saying, “because the Bible says so.” But that is not really a very loving answer, is it? The person asking KNOWS the Bible says so. They just aren’t sure why the Bible says so.

If they have been in a church that is serious about teaching Scripture, they know that God doesn’t change his mind. What would it mean for a perfect being to change? It would mean that said being was not perfect to begin with. What would it mean for a sovereign God to not have an eternal plan? It would mean he isn’t all that sovereign after all. Give it enough time, and every serious Christian will wrestle with this question: Just how does prayer fit into the sovereignty of a perfect God?

I find the greatest comfort in this question by considering the God-man. The Lord Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, not only instructed his followers to pray, he prayed. That alone should be peculiar to us. What does it mean when God prays to God? What it means is that prayer is a truly transcendent activity. If the God-man saw it fit to pray all day and all night, then we should take notice.

I like to point to this truth and allow the Holy Spirit to do the rest of the instruction. If I follow this Jesus, then I want to not only do as he said, but I want to emulate his practice. If God found it fitting to pray when he took on human flesh, then I, currently inhabiting flesh myself, would do well to do the same.

Once they go to prayer, God’s people realize that no matter what their starting point was in regard to God’s sovereignty, and how it fits with prayer, it seems to just make sense when we in fact practice prayer. Christ in you, the hope of glory!

Heavenly Father, we so value knowing about you and understanding more deeply your attributes. We take great comfort in knowing that you are a perfect God who is unchanging in your perfection. Teach us to pray knowing that you accomplish your work in the world, according to your eternal plan, by both primary and secondary means. We are often those secondary means, and our prayers are often the method you use to accomplish your perfect will. Let us be at peace in the practice that our Lord Jesus prioritized. Let us be a people of prayer. Amen.

Written By: Pastor Corey Green

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you don’t know.”  Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

I have spent so many hours of my life worrying about what is to come. Will it all work out? Will I get hurt? Will I fail? Will I make it there safe? All these questions become tools for the evil one to make us feel like we have to grasp for control. But worry isn’t control. In Matthew 6:27, Jesus asks, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” The answer is no, worrying only ruins the moment we are living in. The enemy has used the unknown to taunt us and worry us since the beginning of time. So how do we combat these lies? 

We may not know what lies ahead, but God does. In Jeremiah 33:3 the Lord says to Jeremiah, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Throughout the rest of the chapter, the Lord explains to Jeremiah all the beautiful things He has in store for him and the people of Israel. God reminds him that He is a God who fulfills His promises. Through prayer, Jeremiah’s hope, joy, strength, and faith were renewed in the Lord. 

God is constantly watching over us as we sit in worry. Anxious about if everything is going to work out okay. Think about how badly God wants to share with you all that He is doing! He is waiting for us to look at Him so He can tell us all the great and unsearchable things He has planned for us. Things we don’t even know of! The unseen things, the beautiful things that He has in store. So how do we get from being anxious at every turn to seeing all the things God is preparing? Well, it tells us how in the verse. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3. That’s right, prayer. Call on God and He will answer you just like He answered Jeremiah. In the valley, in the worry, in the waiting, we need to be praying. Not only for His help with the worry, but we need to be praying for His eyes. 

Heavenly Father, let me see. Give me Your eyes so I can see all the beautiful things You are doing right now.  Help me let go of control and hand my life back to you. I want to trust you and let go of my worries. You know the path ahead and I will find my comfort in You. May all those great and unsearchable things You have for me renew my strength, hope, and joy so I can keep walking the path You have set me on.   Amen. 

Written By: Jada Wells

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
    let me not be put to shame;
    let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long.

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

    for they have been from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

    according to your steadfast love remember me,

    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!   Psalm 25:1-7 ESV

We all face trials and tribulations of varying degrees. At times, they can overwhelm us and bear down on our soul. The cause may be the consequences of our own choices or unwarranted treachery, but our struggle remains the same. The author of Psalm 25 gives us a framework to endure through these difficult times. 

In a moment of intense trials, the first act is to take your focus off the circumstances you are in and look to God. It is a “full on, 100% giving yourself over” kind of trust in the Lord. Before following the cultural norms, or entertaining suggestions from family, friends, coworkers, or searching social media for answers, we should turn to the Lord first. 

Three times the author references not being put to shame. Even while confessing his trust in the Lord, he is simultaneously asking to not let his trust be in vain. Our trials can overwhelm us so much that we cannot comprehend how God can rescue us in our situation. Yet still, in the midst of all the uncertainty and fear swirling around, the author has chosen to fully trust in the Lord and follow His Word. The depth of the author’s trust is shown in his desire to know and obediently follow the way of the Lord in the midst of dire circumstances. The Lord loves the heart that will obediently follow, even when all worldly hope seems lost. 

The author’s trust is not based on worldly things that are here today and gone tomorrow, but rooted in God’s steadfast love and abundant grace. In the midst of trials and tribulations, look to the Lord, entrust yourself to following His ways and rely on His steadfast love and abundant grace to see you though. 

Heavenly Father, life in this world is a struggle. We look forward to the day when we can be with you free from this body and world of sin. Until then, we daily fix our eyes on you. You are our God and we are your people. Do not let your name and our testimony of your love and grace towards us be put to shame. Lead us by your Spirit in your Word today. Give us the wisdom to walk in a manner that honors and represents you. Deliver us from evil and grant us your peace. Amen. 

Written By: Cameron & Kristy Greenhaw

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

What is God’s will?
Have you, like me, spent more time than you care to admit with this question on repeat, as if it is life’s most complicated riddle? I have gone through seasons when the uncertainties are big and my ability to figure it out feels so small. It was as if my future was dependent upon completing a hundred puzzles, and I was not even sure I had all the pieces. But as time passed and I have grown closer to the heart of the Father, this truth has become absolutely clear: God’s will is not a problem to be solved. 

In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, he was encouraging new believers who were in he midst of persecution, but standing firm in their faith. In his instruction, he gives them a plan so simple, it might make us feel a little let down: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.”

Rejoice. Pray. Give Thanks.
That sounds bumper sticker worthy. You can probably find it on a cute piece of wall art in Hobby Lobby or on the cover of your new 2024 journal.  Seems easy enough, right?

But oh, let us not skip words. 

ALWAYS. CONTINUALLY. IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.  Now it gets real. 

Don’t you wish he would have just said rejoice when you can, try to pray, give thanks often? That would have been doable. That would have been something we could handle…on our own.

Paul is not telling us we should just slap on a fake smile and be happy all the time. God wants us to be authentic, and real life will bring grief, sadness, challenges, and dark seasons. Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks are our responses not because we are exempt from life’s hurts and hardships, but because we are in Christ. If we are not walking in an intimate and growing relationship with Jesus, these directions are impossible. If we’re putting our confidence in our own abilities, thinking we can figure it out on our own, if our faith is just an intellectual understanding instead of a vital relationship in our life, we can try and try until we’re exhausted, but can’t live this out. It takes trust and surrender that is only possible when anchored in deep confidence of God’s love, power, and the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. When our faith moves from a superficial Hobby Lobby sign to fully believing and abiding in Christ, everything changes. I promise you, friend, it is worth whatever it takes to get you to that place. 

So –
How do we rejoice when the world around us is crumbling?
In Christ, we PRAY…and keep praying.
How do we continue to pray when it feels empty?
In Christ, we GIVE THANKS…and keep giving thanks.
How do we give thanks when circumstances are hard? 
In Christ, we REJOICE…and keep rejoicing.

These aren’t cliche-churchy-religious answers, they are life-changing commands. If you want to know God’s will, start here. Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks are always God’s will for you because He is always good, He is always faithful, and He can always be trusted.

Heavenly Father, thank you that your faithfulness doesn’t depend on my wisdom, your grace does not depend on my performance, and your goodness and sovereignty do not depend on whatever is going on around me. In this new year, when circumstances are hard, teach me to pray. Help me to trust so I can rejoice. Give me a heart of gratitude in the midst of it all. Thank you that your will is not a mystery I have to figure out. I trust You.  Amen. 

Written By: Kylie McCracken