Rejoicing in Jesus, Again

August 22, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Rejoicing in Jesus, Again SCOTTY SMITH Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. Ps. 85:6–7 Lord Jesus, we begin our Saturday saying, yea, verily, and Amen to King David’s cry for joy-renewal. The apostle Paul ask believers in Galatia, “What has happened to all your joy?” (Gal. 4:15). The possibilities are numerous. The believers in Galatia were slipping back (or jumping back) into legalism—a true joy killer. Under-believing the Gospel certainly sabotages joy. Resentment is a joy bomb; unforgiveness, a joy thief; fear, a joy saboteur—show us Lord. Since your joy is our strength (Neh. 8:10), cause our heart muscle to beat afresh with your gladness—the joy which fills the courts of heaven. Since joy is a fruit of your Spirit, may he weed, prune, and fertilize ours heart for a fresh crop—a bumper crop. We know better than to hitch our joy-wagon to a COVID vaccine, an election outcome, spousal affection, our kids’ adulation—or anything else but you. Fill us afresh with the “inexpressible and glorious joy” that comes from belonging to you, Jesus, and knowing you love, cherish, and rejoice in us (1 Pet. 1:8–9). Thank you for ceaselessly praying your joy into our hearts (John 17:13). So very Amen we pray, in your trustworthy and triumphant name.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Jesus’ Commitment to Save Us Completely

August 21, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus' Commitment to Save Us Completely SCOTTY SMITH Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our needs… Heb. 7:24-26 Lord Jesus, nothing compares with the joy, peace, and gratitude born from your commitment to save us completely. From beginning to end, you are the author and finisher of our redemption. You truly meet our needs—every one of them.      Because of your finished work, your banner over us is love and your desire for us is constant. We are as forgiven, justified, and loved as we will ever be—astonishing as it is. Heaven’s inhabitants are certainly happier and more whole than us, but not more secure. Who can measure such a spectacular standing in grace, rootedness in love, and Gospel-enrichment? Because of your constant intercession, we have perpetual advocacy before the Father. Our prayers are weak, shortsighted, and few. Your prayers for us are perfect, and not one will be left UN-answered. Your active, passionate, effectual intercession is one of the greatest encouragements in our lives. Because of your certain (and please make soon) return, we live with anticipation and hope. Everything broken, crazy, sinful, and ugly has an expiration date. Hallelujah! May this über-good news free us to live and love, serve and sacrifice to your glory. So very Amen we pray, in your making-all-things-new name. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Flooded with Hope

August 20, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Flooded with Hope SCOTTY SMITH I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. Eph. 1:18 (NLT) Heavenly Father, we begin today offering a rousing “Amen!” to this prayer Paul prayed for his friends in Ephesus. Throw open the curtains. Flood our eyes with the light of your beauty, love, and generosity. We don’t want a mere peek, or a 3 candle-light or 25-watt’s worth of gaze. Bowl us over with grandeur of your grace. Yes, Father, flood our hearts with insight into the hope secured for us by Jesus—a living hope, a hope of glory, an anchor of certainty in a sea-world of chaos. Help us palpably connect with our glorious future—so much so, it transcends and transforms everything we don’t like about life in this world today. By the power of the Holy Spirit, make hope more real to us than our fears, anger, and uncertainty. And help us to understand and savor what it means to be your inheritance. That’s hard to wrap our hearts around. You love and cherish us that much; and look forward to spending eternity with us, more than we do with you. Father we believe it because you declare it. But we are doxological-dullards, grace-neophytes, Gospel-amnesiacs. Free us from our unbelief. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ merciful and mighty name.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Having a Mercy-Mouth

August 19, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Having a Mercy-Mouth SCOTTY SMITH The mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Col. 4:6 Heavenly Father, nothing is more daily, delightful, and potentially deadly, than our words—the things we say to ourselves, and to one another. Since whatever fills our hearts shapes our words, please flood our hearts with the beauty of Jesus, the riches of the Gospel, and your Fatherly kindness. Before we speak, we’ll be listeners. What do you want us to hear, and remember today? That it was with everlasting love and tenderness you drew us to yourself. We are forgiven and righteous, desired and enjoyed, known and secure. You don’t just speak grace to us, you sing it over us. Make this so real it will be nearly impossible to hurt people with our words today. Give us a mercy-mouth, Father. Nothing we can do can separate us from your love, cause you to regret saving us, or put you in a bad mood towards us. Your love is the most dependable and unwavering thing in our lives. Nothing can alter your sovereign, grace-full plan for our lives. From the overflow of such awesomeness, we’ll purpose to speak today, and repent quickly when we don’t. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ great and gracious name.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

When We Know We’re Weary, and When We Don’t

August 18, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When We Know We're Weary, and When We Don't SCOTTY SMITH Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Isa. 43:2 Lord Jesus, you sit on the throne of grace with much joy, great gentleness, and burden-bearing love. “Hallelujah.” When we feel our weakest—when we feel like “flickering candles” you don’t critique us, or simply fix our wick. You shower us with welcome, mercy, and compassion, You promise a rest you alone can give. Again, “Hallelujah.” Many of us are near exhaustion, and we don’t know it. We keep pushing through this strange season calling it “the new normal.” It’s not. If we keep pushing without Sabbath-rest, Gospel-peace, and heart/body/mind-refreshment it’s not going to get pretty. Others of us are truly weary, and we do know it. We bring you the weight of having longer “must-do” lists than hours in the day. We bring you the wait of wanting, hoping, needing things to change. We bring you ourselves. Jesus, help us accept the reality of our emotional depletion, mental tiredness, and physical limits. By whatever means, through whomever you choose, help us. Grant us grace, friends, and strength for the next stretch in front of us. And intensify our compassion for fellow travelers. Everyone benefits from kindness. So very Amen we pray, in your kind and trust-worthy name.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Who Gets to Rule Our Hearts This Week?

August 17, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Who Gets to Rule Our Hearts This Week? SCOTTY SMITH Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… Col. 3:15 Lord Jesus, this week, like every week, our hearts will be ruled. There will be a resident monarch, ruling impetus, or controlling preoccupation. It might be overbearing people, or under-believing the Gospel; our “need” to get more attention, or greed to have more cash. It could be COVID-fears, crazy-politics, or a crummy attitude. But by faith, in obedience to one third of one verse in your Word, we choose your peace as the ruler of our hearts this week—our “heart-boss,” inner-chief, affection-director. No one knows peace better than you, Jesus, for you are the Prince of Peace. You don’t just give us peace; you are our peace (Eph. 2:14). By your finished work, you secured God’s peace with us, and our peace with God. Peace with God is now our legal right—a done deal and settled issue. Peace from God is our daily calling, free gift, and constant need. By the power of the Spirit, may your peace tame our fears and calm anxieties; help us accept things we cannot change, and outcomes that remain uncertain. Jesus, because you are at peace with us, we will seek to live at peace with others. Because you have forgiven us, we choose to forgive others. Grant us the grace we need. So very Amen we pray, in your holy and persistent name.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe