3 Things to Do Every Monday

What an awesome day yesterday! It really was #TheBestSundayEver! If you missed it you have to check out the message from Pastor Mark Johnston! It was an awesome day! Thank you to everyone who brought friends and family!

So here we are at the beginning of a new week! You may already be busy and excited about your Monday or you may be dreading this day. No matter how last week went, Monday is an opportunity for a fresh start! You were made for Monday! Practice these actions today to start your week off healthy!

Be Grateful

Monday is the perfect day to be grateful for the blessings that God has given you. Today is a great day to say thank you to someone in your life. It makes a difference in their week. Don’t just focus on the negatives in your life, be grateful for the blessings. Thank God for the opportunities he has give you.

Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Pray First

Monday is a great day to focus on putting God first in this work week! Before you walk into a meeting, pray first. Before you make that phone call, pray first. Before you walk into that class or start writing that paper, pray first. Put God first in what you are doing today. Don’t just rush off into Monday in your own power! Invite the Holy Spirit to be active in your life today!

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Live on Mission

Lastly, Monday is a great day to remind ourselves that God has created us with purpose! You don’t have to go around the world to be on a mission trip. Make today a mission trip to help the people in your world. You are not an accident. God made you on purpose for a purpose.

Whatever rooms you walk into today, you are called to lift the room through the way that you live! See opportunities today to share hope with people! Pray for opportunities to invite people to church and to pray for people that are in need. If someone says they are going through something, take a moment and pray for them. Reach out to them. Encourage them. You could have the very word of encouragement that they need to keep going another day. You are called to make a difference right where you are this week! In Jesus Name!

Matthew 10:6-8 Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. 7 Tell them that the kingdom is here. 8Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

Prayer Under Pressure

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You;
Psalm 63

We Seek You Lord

My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
Psalm 63

You Are The Answer

2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.
Psalm 63

I Remember What You Have Done In the Past

3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
Psalm 63

I Worship With My Whole Heart

5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.
Psalm 63

You Are My Provider

6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.
Psalm 63

You Are My Peace

7 Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.
Psalm 63

You Are My Help

9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth. 10 They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals.
Psalm 63

Thank You For Your Protection

11 But the king will rejoice in God. All who swear to tell the truth will praise him, while liars will be silenced.
Psalm 63

I Rejoice In You Lord

Make plans to be part of "21 Days of Prayer" beginning Sunday, August 1st. Daily Prayer services Monday-Friday 6:00-7:00am & Saturdays 9:00-10:00am (There will be a special prayer experience for kids as well on Saturday mornings.). For more information visit www.cityhills.com/21days

An Attitude Adjustment

“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Praise

Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Surrender

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Thankfulness

For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Trust

Make plans to be part of "21 Days of Prayer" beginning Sunday, August 1st.  Daily Prayer services Monday-Friday 6:00-7:00am & Saturdays 9:00-10:00am (There will be a special prayer experience for kids as well on Saturday mornings.). For more information visit www.cityhills.com/21days

How To Pray With Confidence

According to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Ephesians 3:11-13 (NIV)

God is a CARING Father

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
Isaiah 49:15

God is a CONSISTENT Father

There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.
James 1:17 MSG

God is a CLOSE Father

I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down or relax my hold on you. Assuredly not!
Hebrews 13:5 AMP

God is a COMPETENT Father

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Ephesians 3:20

Praying for Breakthrough

Psalm 5

1 Listen, Yahweh, to my passionate prayer! Can’t you hear my groaning? 2Don’t you hear how I’m crying out to you? My King and my God, consider my every word, for I am calling out to you.

Call out to God

3At each and every sunrise you will hear my voice as I prepare my sacrifice of prayer to you. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart.
Making It Right

Surrender your life to God

4 I know that you, God, are never pleased with lawlessness,
and evil ones will never be invited into your house. 5 Boasters collapse, unable to survive your scrutiny, for your hatred of evildoers is clear. 6 You will make an end of all those who lie. How you hate their hypocrisy and despise all who love violence! Multitude of Mercy

Surrender your battle to God

7 But I know that you will welcome me into your house, for I am covered by your covenant of mercy and love. So I come to your sanctuary with deepest awe to bow in worship and adore you.

Thank God for His mercy and love

8 Yahweh, lead me in the pathways of your pleasure just like you promised me you would, or else my enemies will conquer me.
Smooth out your road in front of me, straight and level, so that I will know where to walk.

Ask God to guide every step you take today

9Their words are unreliable. Destruction is in their hearts,
drawing people into their darkness with their speeches.
They are smooth-tongued deceivers, flattering with their words.
10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their own schemes be their downfall! Let the guilt of their sins collapse on top of them, for they rebel against you.

Give God the people who hurt you

11 But let them all be glad, those who turn aside to hide themselves in you. May they keep shouting for joy forever! Overshadow them in your presence as they sing and rejoice. Then every lover of your name will burst forth with endless joy. 12Lord, how wonderfully you bless the righteous. Your favor wraps around each one and covers them under your canopy of kindness and joy.

Thank God for His favor on your life

More Ways to Connect:
• Find a Small Group – www.cityhills.com/groups
• Attend Next Steps – www.cityhills.com/nextsteps
• Make a Difference at #ServeDay21 – www.cityhills.com/serve
• Join us at City Hills on Sundays – 8:30am / 10:00am / 11:30am

3 Weapons To Use In Spiritual Battles

Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. 22 They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars. 23 Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, 24 “What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you’re up to! You’re the Holy One of God, and you’ve come to destroy us!” 25 Jesus shut him up: “Quiet! Get out of him!” 26 The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out. 27 Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. “What’s going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!” 28 News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.
Mark 1:21-28 (MSG)

A few years ago my wife and I were on a date-night in Nashville and got in a traffic-jam. The usual roads were closed and police were directing traffic. We couldn’t turn around or get out of the line. We thought the line was due to a wreck. At one point we rolled down our window and asked someone what was happening. “You’re at a concert.” They said. We didn’t expect that. We were in Nashville though, it shouldn’t have surprised us. Instead of trying to turn around, we bought tickets and had a fun and unexpected date-night to a concert we didn’t know we were in line for.

Many times as believers we get surprised by the fact that we are in line for a spiritual battle.

‘The problem is that most people overestimate or either underestimate spiritual warfare. It’s funny how the devil likes it when we over believe or under believe instead of Bible believe.’
C.S. Lewis-

Right at the onset of the Gospel of Mark we see Jesus be interrupted by someone who was possessed with a demon. I love seeing the response of Jesus to the evil spirit. He used the authority that he had to tell the evil spirit to be quiet and leave the person.

Jesus Has Authority

We see in this passage who is in full control of this battle. The evil spirit had to obey Jesus. There was no great conflict. One word from Jesus was enough to cause the demon to start packing. Jesus has all authority. As you go throughout your day, think about the authority that Jesus has over everything in our world. He is in full control.

You Have Authority

As believers we have authority over anything that would come against us through Jesus. We are not powerless. Many times as believers it is easy for us to live from a defensive posture when it comes to the world. We are trying our best to just hold on and hopefully we will make it. This is not the posture that Jesus had. He understood His authority and pushed back the kingdom of darkness wherever he went. We are called to do the same and bring hope and life wherever we go today! Understand the authority that you have in Christ and use the weapons that God has given you against the enemy.

You have weapons against the enemy that are available to you today!

#1 The Name of Jesus

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
Luke 10:17–19 NIV

The Name of Jesus is the highest name on earth! That name is the highest authority. Like a law enforcement officer that has the authority to say “Stop, In the name of the law.” We are able to tell the enemy to “Stop, in the name of Jesus.” He has to obey the name of Jesus!

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Philippians 2:10 NIV

#2 The Word of God

When Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness by Satan in Matthew 4 and Luke 4, his weapon was to tell Satan, “It is written.” Jesus used the Word of God to win the battle. The Word of God is more than just something that we should use for devotions. The Word of God is a sword that can be used to defeat the enemy in battle.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17

#3 The Blood of Jesus

Another weapon that we have is to remind the enemy about the victory of Jesus on the cross! My grandmother used to say, “I plead the blood of Jesus.” When things were coming against our family. She was reminding the enemy about the victory that Jesus won on the cross! This is one of the ways that we triumph over the enemy according to the Book of Revelation.

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…
Revelation 12:11 NIV

So today, let’s not be surprised when experience a spiritual attack. Let’s understand that Jesus has all authority and that he has given us authority through, His Name, His Word, and His blood that we can use to fight the enemy. Let us not be passive, but let us be bold and take the fight to the enemy!

Jesus, thank you for the victory that we have in you!  Today we trust you!  Help us to recognize the attack of the enemy today and take the authority that you have given us.  We submit our lives completely to You Lord!  Have you way in our lives today.  Use us to advance Your Kingdom today.  In Jesus Name!

A Key To Overcoming Temptation

One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” 12 The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13 where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him. 14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. 15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
Mark 1:9-15 (NLT)

Yesterday, while standing in our kitchen, one of my sons walked up to me, pulled up his sleeve and said, “Feel my muscles Dad! I’m strong.” After affirming his new-found-strength, I had him feel my bicep then proceeded to have a moment like Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite about how much weight I could lift during my glory days. It must be a guy-thing. 🤣

I think when it comes to temptation we think of it being a test of brute strength and willpower. Like trying to reach a new max in weightlifting, if we can just psych ourselves up enough we can push the weight of temptation. Sadly, that’s just not how it works.

Jesus shows us how to conquer temptation.

I find it encouraging that even Jesus experienced the terror of temptation. He can identify with you in your moments of temptation. I thought being strong meant you never would experience temptation. This what my perception of Christians, mostly because I never heard any Christian leaders talk about their struggles. The only time it would be talked about was when an influential pastor had a moral failure, and the conversation would be centered around the shock of the fall. I was very young when I started serving in the ministry, working at a church at 18-years old. I would go to church and see God move in mighty ways and then come home to experience temptation alone. I thought something was wrong with me. I thought that if I really loved God, I will not experience temptation. Simply not true.

So how did Jesus deal with temptation? In Mark’s account we don’t see the details of his temptation like we see in the other Gospel accounts. What I saw in Mark’s account was the emphasis of what happened right before Jesus was tempted.

Jesus experienced temptation in the wilderness immediately after the moment the Father affirmed his relationship. Temptation is always about if we are going to believe who God says we are, or if we are going to believe what everything and everyone around us is saying. Are we going to believe what we feel, or are we going to believe God.

Temptation is not a test of willpower, it is test of relationship.

I oftentimes see temptation as a test of willpower alone. I think it is all about how strong I am and try to conquer it in my own power, most times to no avail. However, when I look at this account of the life of Jesus I see him walking into the wilderness with affirmation of his identity from the Father.

“You are my dearly loved son. You bring me great joy.” Do you know this is how God feels about you. He speaks this over your life as well. Notice, this pronouncement was before Jesus did many of his recorded miracles. He was simply affirming his identity. You are valuable to God not because of what you do, but simply because of who you are. You were created in the image of God. You were created on purpose for a purpose.

So what is one thing can we take away from Jesus’ victory over temptation:

Key: When you are tempted, strengthen your relationship.

When you are tempted alone in the wilderness of life, remember who you are and what God says about you. When you are tempted, strengthen your relationship with God. How do you strengthen your relationship? There are many ways to strengthen your relationship with God: Prayer, worship, listening to a sermon, attending a small group, worshiping with other believers, just to name a few. Put your focus on who God is and what he says about you.

There are two ways to try to stay faithful in my marriage. I can live everyday psyching myself up to “Stay strong.” Or I can just fall in love with my wife and no other options will be appealing to me. Satan’s one goal to destroy a marriage is to put gaps in the relationship so that couples will give in to temptation. When a marriage is full of healthy communication, romance, and honor each day, temptation has no power.

God is with you win the wilderness! He has already spoken over you who you are and what he thinks about you!

You Are Accepted:

I am God’s child. (John 1:12)
I am Christ’s friend. (John 15:15)
I have been justified. (Romans 5:1)
I have been bought with a price. I belong to God. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
I am a member of Christ’s body. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
I have been adopted as God’s child. (Ephesians 1:5)
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 2:18)
I have been forgiven of all my sins. (Colossians 1:14)
I am complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)

You Are Safe:

I am free forever from condemnation. (Romans 8:1-2)
I am assured that all things work together for good. (Romans 8:28)
I am free from any condemning charges against me. (Romans 8:31-34)
I cannot be separated from the love of God. (Romans 8:35-39)
I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be completed. (Philippians 1:6)
I am a citizen of Heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)
I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. (1 John 5:18)

You Are Important:

I am the salt and light of the earth. (Matthew 5:13-14)
I am a branch of the true Vine, a channel of His life. (John 15:1,5)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. (John 15:16)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am God’s temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16)
I am God’s workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Lord, when we walk through the wilderness and are tempted, help us to remember what You have said about us.  May we see You and all of Your glory when we face temptation.  Father, help us remember how loved we are by you!  Today we choose to pursue more of You in our lives.  Holy Spirit, fill us to overflowing with your presence today!  In Jesus Name!

How To Make Marriage Work

How to Make Marriage Work:

Stop trying to change people and allow God to change you. It makes all the difference in the world. It is futile when we spend our time, energy, and effort trying to change someone else. We don’t have control of what someone else does. However, we can allow God to change us!

We don’t have the power to control, but we always have the power to surrender.

The Fastest Way To Change A Bad Relationship

You have an enemy and it is not your spouse. You have an enemy and it is not your boss. You have an enemy and it is not your ex. You have an enemy and it is not your kids.

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

When we get “In the Dip” of a relationship, Satan wants us to focus on fighting each other instead of fighting him.

Paul shows us in Philippians 1:4 the quickest way to turn a relationship around…

Check it out…

Watch the full message “Don’t Quit in the Dip” at www.cityhills.com

How To Deal With Painful Memories

A few years ago I went back to the house where I lived as a small child. I was in the area for a family reunion and wanted to show my wife the house that I grew up in. It was a mansion in my mind. I remembered it to be so big. Much to my surprise it was not as big as I remembered it to be. The house was the same size. What was the difference? I had grown up. However, my memories had not. I was still seeing that house in my mind from a 4 year-old’s perspective.

Memories must be managed.

If we always let our mind run wild and live in the past we will miss the future that God has prepared for our lives.

One of the reasons the Children of Israel missed out on The Promised Land is because they did not manage their memories. Shortly after being delivered from Egypt and crossing the the Red Sea they said this:

The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (Exodus 16:3)

They remembred Egypt incorrectly. They remembered the food that they ate but conveniently forgot one very important detail about Egypt: They were slaves!

It is so easy for us to do this with people; especially those we are closest to. We build mansions in our mind of the past mistakes of others instead of choosing grattitude.

Paul said to the people of the Philippian Church, “Every time I THINK of you, I give thanks to my God.” (Philippians 1:3)

There were a lot of things he could have focused on. His assignment at Philipi was a very difficult one with a lot of pain. However he refused to focus on the memories of the pain and rather chose to be grateful for the people in his life.

He chose to remember the best and give God the rest.

Who do you need to say thank you to today?
What painful memories do you need to give to God today?