As a pastor, I witness people accepting their circumstances with a “crippling” mindset rather than believing God for something better in life.

They are like the lame man in Acts 3 who sat by the gate, Beautiful, begging for money.  His only expectation was that a passerby will take pity on him and toss a coin his way.  He never expected anything better. He was crippled in his body and his mind.

That’s the mindset of those who don’t expect things can change in their lives.  We all face bad days, but we don’t have to let them turn into a bad life.

Do you know anyone like that?  Is that you?  Jesus’ disciples offered the lame man miraculous healing in both his body and his mind.  You too can move forward no matter what you face in life.

Scripture Reading: Acts 3:1-9; 16

Dr. Tony Evans

Life is filled with expectations.  Look at our everyday lives.  Some of us wake up expecting the best in our work day or with our family or in our health or in our finances.  Others dread the day, or at best, never expect anything to change for the better.

Childhood dreams and hopes might be crushed by comments that discourage rather than encourage.  Disillusionments or disappointments can stop any positive expectations.

What are you expecting in life?  Whatever your expectations, there’s a good chance you’re going to get it. In other words, you get whatever you expect out of life.

Please know that God is still ABLE to deliver you from low expectations.  Start believing for something better in your life.  The Word tells us that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Expect it!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 40:1-17

Dr. Tony Evans

When we read in our passage for today that Adam and Eve were naked before each other, I want us to realize that the word used here means more than physical nakedness. It means they were transparent. They were open to one another. They had become best friends.
Is your wife or your husband your best friend? Is he or she the person you share your total being with? That’s important, because the reason God created marriage was so that you and I could experience the Trinity.
What is the Trinity? Three coequal persons who are one. What is marriage? Three persons who become one – a man, a woman, and the Lord. That’s marriage. It’s a picture of a higher unity, a symbol on earth standing for the reality in heaven. The marriage relationship is the closest we’ll get in this life to the oneness and unity of the Trinity.
Will you join me in praying that God will enable us to make our marriages everything He meant them to be … and will you join me in committing yourself to this goal?

Scripture Readings: Genesis 2:25

If you were to come over to my house, I would welcome you inside but there would be a set of rules by which to abide. Just like I would need to abide by the rules for your house. For example, in my home, I don’t allow smoking. So if you smoke, you would need to put out your cigarette before you came in my home.

I am able to make these rules and enforce them because it is my house. Marriage is God’s house. He came up with the idea. And it can only run right when it is run by His rules.

What married couples often want to do, though, is to have God’s institution of marriage, yet run it by their own rules. They want to get married in the church so that God will bless their marriage, but then they want to leave God standing at the altar. They want to make up their own rules for how a marriage should be run.

But let me tell you a secret. It is a very powerful secret. Pay attention: You don’t get God’s results without operating by God’s rules. You don’t get God’s blessings in your marriage, and in your home, without following God’s instructions. You don’t enjoy God’s provision, protection, and peace in your relationships without abiding by God’s policies concerning the covenantal union of marriage.

[excerpt used w/permission: copyright: Marriage Matters, 2010, Anthony T. Evans, Moody Publishers]

Scripture Readings: Genesis 2: 19-24

Dr. Tony Evans

Marriage is a covenantal union designed to strengthen the capability of each partner to carry out the plan of God in their lives. Whether your marriage has drifted off course or was never on course at all, God can redeem your marriage to make it satisfying and whole.

One way of beginning this process is by understanding that marriage is a covenant. Many of us in our day today have lost touch with this word – covenant. But if we do not know what a covenant is, then we do not know what we are supposed to have, develop, or protect over time. It’s like trying to hit a bull’s eye without a target.

According to God as He lays it out for us in the Scripture, a covenant is a spiritually binding relationship between God and His people inclusive of certain agreements, conditions, benefits and effects.

Whenever God wanted to formalize His relationship with His people, He would establish a covenant. Simply stated, it is a formal arrangement made within a legal capacity between God and His people. In order to enjoy a satisfying marital relationship, we must first begin by aligning our thinking with God’s thinking on the matter. Without a divine frame of reference, we will stray from God’s formula for a healthy, productive home.

Scripture Readings: Genesis 2:18; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9

Dr. Tony Evans

As Christians our job description is to demonstrate the power of Christ in everyday situations – and there’s no place where the resurrection power of Jesus Christ needs to be seen more graphically today than in the area of marriage and family.
Too many Christian husbands and wives say they can’t work it out. Too many fathers are bailing on their families. Too many mothers are trying to carry unnatural loads laid on them by their culture and the expectations of others.
Marriages today are deteriorating at such a high rate not because we no longer get along, but because we have lost sight of the purpose and prosperity of the marriage covenant. Most people today view marriage as a means of looking for love, happiness and fulfillment. Make no mistake about it, those things are important. Those things are critical. They are just not the most critical.
So what is the most critical? That you understand God’s intention for marriage. Marriage is a covenantal union designed to strengthen the capability of each partner to carry out the plan of God in their lives.
Over the next several months, we’re going to be looking closely at marriage and family in our devotional time together because marriage matters!
Scripture Readings: Genesis 2:15-17

Dr. Tony Evans

Most of us know what it means to be locked in spiritual warfare. There are times when even the strongest believer will be tempted to give up in the battle. That’s why we need to pray for one another. Prayer defeats the enemy right where he stands. Prayer also encourages the hearts of those in the heat of battle.

Spiritual battle can either be a source of great joy for you or the cause of your deepest pain.  I implore you to choose to allow a spiritual battle to be the source of your greatest joy and determination. When the enemy attacks, stand firm in your faith by claiming God’s armor and protection.

In your battle, remember to run to Jesus, our Savior, for support and help.  He is our Defender. He is our Shield. Always recount Christ’s victory over the cross and death.  The only solution to any problem you may be facing, any spiritual battle, is Jesus Christ.  He has the power you need to overcome the enemy’s attacks and memories of past defeats.

Scripture Readings: Matthew 14:13; John 6:1-4

Dr. Tony Evans

When Paul established the church at Ephesus, he wanted the believers to understand they had the power to withstand the attacks of the enemy, Satan. He wanted them to know that they could stand firm in their faith and refuse to yield to sin and thoughts of defeat. They had been given spiritual weapons more powerful and effective than the enemy’s.

But first they needed to understand they were not strong enough on their own to resist Satan’s temptations and tactics.  God’s power and strength empowered them to rebuke the wiles of the devil.  Paul explained to the Ephesians that they needed use weapons of spiritual warfare on a daily basis. Yes, God protected them and protects us, but every believer must daily put on the full armor of God.

Paul further explained the importance of truly committing our lives to Jesus Christ.  One day, our hour of sinful behavior is a sure setup for discouragement and defeat at hands of the enemy. The power that is alive within you and me is OVERCOMING power.
Scripture Readings: Ephesians 6:10-18

Dr. Tony Evans

Spiritual collapse places us in the “Valley of Dry Bones,” a situation in which we experience hopelessness and helplessness. God, however, has provided a way out.

We must be willing to listen to the Word of God. When in a “dry place,” a place of no hope and no apparent answer to life’s dilemmas, we must accept God’s Word that begins the process of deliverance from disorder.

We must be willing to respond in obedience to the Word of God. It is our willingness to act on what is spoken by God that continues this deliverance from our “dry bones” state of existence.

We must be sensitive to the movement of God’s Spirit. God’s Word gives us order, but the Spirit gives life. The Holy Spirit provides the power to bring the truth of God’s Word to fruition.

When we hear of despairing situations in our nation, state, city and personal lives, are we listening to the prophetic Word of God, or do we have our own agendas?

Once we connect the Word of Truth with God’s Spirit, we can be delivered out of our hopeless situation and experience revival.

Scripture Readings: Ezekiel 37:1-10

When God’s people are disobedient, we suffer His wrath because we have rejected His way. God desires a restored relationship with His people, but we, as believers, still have a responsibility in our own revival. That responsibility, outlined in 2 Chronicles 7:14, calls for specific action:”If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray . . . ” With these words, God reveals that revival is primarily focused on His people.

When believers come to God on His terms with humble hearts, we give God permission to take action. When we open the door for revival through prayer, God works on our sins and addresses how they affect our lives.

“. . . and seek my face . . . ” Seeking His face means seeking His presence, submitting to His authority, and approaching God on His terms.

“. . . and turn from their wicked ways . . . ” With these words, God is calling for spiritual and physical action as prerequisites to His intervention.  We must rid ourselves of excuses and crutches, which are often disguised as addictions and issues.

Only when we seek God’s will with humility, prayer and obedience will true revival occur.

Scripture Readings: 2 Chronicles 6:34-42

Dr. Tony Evans