Devotions

Carrying around resentment against God is one of the most dangerous things a Christian can do. Yet I am shocked by the number of believers who are peeved at the Lord. They may not admit it, but deep inside, they hold some kind of grudge against him. Why? Because they believe he is not interested in their lives or problems. Because he has not answered a particular prayer or acted in a certain way on their behalf, they are convinced he does not care.

Jonah received a call from God to go to Ninevah and preach the message of judgment: the city would be destroyed in forty days. After faithfully delivering the message, Jonah waited for God to begin the destruction. But forty days passed and nothing happened. Why? Because Ninevah repented and God changed his mind about destroying them.

This angered Jonah and he cried out against God, “You’ve betrayed me! You’ve changed everything without telling me and I look like a false prophet!” Jonah was disappointed because things hadn’t gone as planned. God had changed course and Jonah’s pride was hurt.

God understands our cries of pain and confusion. But a peeved spirit can grow into rage and God will ask us, as he asked Jonah, “Is it right for you be angry?” (Jonah 4:9). 

Jonah actually defended his right to be annoyed with God. “I have every right to be angry, even to the day I die” (same verse).

Many Christians are like Jonah — they feel they have a right to be mad at God. “I pray and read my Bible; I obey God’s Word and live right. So why do I still have so many problems?” 

Beloved, I encourage you to allow God’s Spirit to heal you of all bitterness, rage, resentment — before it destroys you. You may see only ruin in your life but God sees restoration! He has good things in mind for you because “He is a rewarder of those who diligently see Him” (Hebrews 11:6). 

God the Father enthroned Christ as king over all nations and all nature, and as Lord over the Church. The apostle Paul writes that when Jesus comes again, “He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).

Paul is saying that it doesn’t matter what things look like on the outside, the truth is, God has put all things under Jesus’ feet and he is still king over everything. Everything may seem out of control and it may look like the devil has taken power, but it isn’t true. Yet all around us today, we see our society and government dethroning Christ — refusing to acknowledge his authority and kingship. We have been removing God from our schools and courts and ignoring him in the making of our laws. And now we are reaping a terrible harvest.

Sadly, my concern goes beyond America’s rejection of Jesus’ authority. I see the problem within the Church to be much more tragic. It’s understandable that ungodly people want to dethrone Christ; they have mocked and ridiculed his name since the day he was born. But how it must grieve God to see Christ dethroned by those who call themselves by his name.

Slowly but surely many Christians, churches and ministries are rejecting the Lord’s counsel. They no longer lean wholly on his lordship. Instead, they are turning to the wisdom of the world, to manmade practices. I have watched with alarm as the Church has gradually enthroned the wisdom of the world. Jesus is no longer the source and power behind God’s people.

Let me ask you personally: Have you removed Christ as king of your heart? I urge you to put Christ on the throne of your heart today — and live!

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).

Scripture makes it clear that the answer to everything in our lives is prayer mixed with faith. The apostle Paul writes, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Paul is telling us, “Seek the Lord about every area of your life and thank him ahead of time for hearing you.”

Paul’s emphasis is clear: Always pray first — not as a last resort. Jesus tells us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33).

Why is it so hard for Christians to seek God for their desperate needs? After all, the Bible stands as one long testimony that God hears the cries of his children and answers them with tender love.

• “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry” (Psalm 34:15).
• “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles” (verse 17).
• “The prayer of the upright is His delight” (Proverbs 15:8).

The Bible gives us many promises when it comes to prayer, but it also gives us warnings about the danger of neglecting prayer: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3). The Greek word for “neglect” here means “of little concern; to take lightly.”

How can God’s own people claim to love him and believe in his promises, yet never draw near to his heart?

The writer of Hebrews calls us to “draw near to God in full assurance” (see Hebrews 10:22). God’s door is always open to his children and, make no mistake, he is utterly faithful. Go to your secret closet regularly and seek him with all your heart. Your answers may not come overnight, yet God will do his work in his time and in his way — because you are his beloved child.

The apostle Paul founded a church in Corinth, and while on a trip to Ephesus, he wrote a letter back to the church.

The Corinthian church was falling into various compromises, struggling with sin. In spite of this, Paul was so gracious at the beginning of the letter, encouraging instead of rebuking them.

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God …to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“God is faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1Corinthians 1:1-9).

Paul tells the church that every day he thanks God for them (I Corinthians 1:4). But he mentions Jesus Christ so many times! In fact, he mentions him ten times in these verses above — he is absolutely obsessed with Jesus who was so alive in his heart.

Do you have more of a hunger for Jesus today than you did five years ago? Or even last week? Are you so obsessed with him, as Paul was, that he permeates your thoughts and actions? If not, ask the Holy Spirit to place a hunger within you to become more intimate with Jesus Christ.

I bring good news! Eternity is not the only thing we have to look forward to. I believe our hearts are going to be filled with deep joy even in the midst of difficult days (see John 16:33). There is going to be a fellowship in the Body of Jesus Christ such as you and I have never experienced in our lifetime.

There will be rejoicing when we come together — times when we simply do not want to leave the house of God. The Lord is truly going to be our strength and our song. And He will give us the privilege of glorifying Him by allowing others to see His strength in us in a time of suffering. Sinners are going to come to us and say, “Tell us the reason for the hope that you still have!” You see, we will have hope because we heard the warning of God and took the time to prepare.

No matter how difficult things may become, I certainly do not see the Church of Jesus Christ going out in a whimper. I see a victorious Church — a Church that is Christ-honoring, standing boldly in the power of the Holy Spirit, just as she began in the book of Acts.

In this time of preparation, my prayer has been, “Lord, take everything out of my life that will bring weakness into my heart. Let Your Spirit within me give me strength and cause my life to bring You honor.” I encourage you to ask the Lord for those things you have need of, as well. Ask Him for courage, endurance, and confidence (see Philippians 1:20-21). Ask Him for the grace not to give up in your present trial or in the ones to come.

I assure you, God will not fail you! And not only in a time of suffering but through all eternity, you will never regret having put your confidence in Him.

Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001.