Feeling No Pain Hurts Us | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Wouldn’t it be great to feel no pain? Think again. Pain is an important signal. To avoid it is impossible. To ignore it is unwise. To face it as a catalyst to becoming a better person is the only way to gain from pain.

Gameplan:

“For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” ~Hebrews 12:10-11, NLT

Time Out:

If you could avoid pain, you would miss out on many improvements in your character and direction in life. Pain keeps us from more seriously injuring others or ourselves. It signals that something needs to be treated, fixed or changed. Pain can humble us, prevent pride, show our faults, reveal our misplaced expectations, declare our weakness, turn us to God, build our empathy, train our character, grow our creativity, increase our perseverance, and allow us to experience what Jesus did and comfort others as He did. Oswald Chambers wrote that, “Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.”

Go Deep:

Decide to view pain and sorrow differently. See them as a catalyst to change, to learning, to becoming closer to a God who felt infinite pain in suffering for our sake. Look for the lessons in pain. Ask questions: What should I learn? How can I grow? Who can I better help because I have felt this pain?

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The Dungys Face the Ultimate Blitz | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Sometimes the pain in this life is so great that only an eternal perspective can heal. Today’s zeitgeist is “have it all…here and now”. But, in reality, we are not just bodies; we are souls with bodies. We will live forever with God, or live forever without Him.

Gameplan:

But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said. So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” ~Genesis 50:15-20, NLT

Time Out:

In the life of Joseph, his brothers meant evil by selling him as a slave, but Joseph transcended their evil intent to bring goodness and life to them and many others. In our lives, God’s enemy means evil, but God overcomes evil and even death. Never forget to account for eternity and God’s costly gift of eternal life.

Go Deep:

Are you chasing hard after the finances and rewards of career? Is your focus on getting your life to be comfortable and thrilling? Be aware, God designed you to never be satisfied with less than knowing Him forever. Are you facing the most painful of losses, perhaps the loss of a child or spouse? My heart goes out to you. Ask God to help you and others vibrantly see the eternal life Jesus achieved for us.

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The Power of a Praying Son | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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What happens on the night you get fired? Does everyone go quiet? Does someone pray at dinner? Is it desperate? Or, does a child talk to God in innocent faith?

Gameplan:

I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God [with faith and humility] like a child will not enter it at all.   Luke 18:17, AMP

Time Out:

Has life complicated and compromised your faith in God? Have you shrunk God down to a smaller size of your own making? Has science and philosophy made it harder for you to accept that God is sovereign over all things, even over our human rebellion-damaged world? Perhaps innocent children have the simplicity and limitlessness of faith correct?

Go Deep:

If you’re a dad, pray with your children as often as you can. Make talking to God normal at your breakfast, lunch and dinner table…and certainly at bedtime.

If your view of God has shrunk… and your faith in His goodness and power is limited, do something different. Ask God to open your eyes, erase your doubts and increase your faith.

Oh, and if you lose your job, ask your six year old to pray

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A Son’s Birth…Steve Largent’s Blitz | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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The NFL Network recently ran “A FOOTBALL LIFE” on Steve Largent. Besides his dad leaving his family when he was six, the deepest blitz he ever faced was the early days of his son Kramer’s birth defect. It deeply shaped Steve for good. Let’s see how we can grow.

Gameplan:

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do [handle] all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:12-13 (ESV)

Time Out:

We can’t control the circumstances of our lives, as much as society coaches us to try. But the Apostle Paul says something radical to us. No matter the situation, he could, and we can, handle it through our surrender to and trust in Jesus Christ. His Spirit fills us to handle anything. Don’t doubt this. The key is to abide in Jesus (think about, talk to, listen to, rejoice in, trust, serve, obey, and love) constantly and trust Him in every situation.

Go Deep:

Determine that the next time you face trouble, loss, and trial you’ll turn to God and take His approach: ask for help. Call out to God and be ready to accept the help of key friends or mentors. And, look for someone else to encourage. Then, in time, your challenge will give you empathy and experience to help support others in their trial.

Stay Connected:

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In Tough Times—Share the Burden | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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What are the most trying things you’ve been through? Did you mostly go through it alone, or with help? What will happen next time you go through a big blitz, or a friend does?

Gameplan:

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Galatians 6:2-3 (ESV)

Comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4 ESV

Time Out:

Life’s toughest blitzes don’t turn around quickly. The fear, pain and grief are often intense. But God offers a bigger perspective and a cause greater than us. He has two approaches for us: ask for help and, offer help. God wants you to allow others to help bear your burdens and he wants to use you to help bear the burdens that others face. View your blitzes and trials as the bridge to helping others. The sooner you see this, the sooner your spirits will be buoyed.

Go Deep:

Determine that the next time you face trouble, loss, and trial you’ll turn to God and take His approach: ask for help. Call out to God and be ready to accept the help of key friends or mentors. And, look for someone else to encourage. Then, in time, your challenge will give you empathy and experience to help support others in their trial.

Stay Connected:

To get this video and devotional guide delivered to your inbox each Monday, SUBSCRIBE TODAY.

To get your copy of Facing the Blitz CLICK HERE

And, Like us on FACEBOOK and follow Jeff on Twitter

Download FACING YOUR BLITZ Discussion Guide

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