“3-Fers” – Three Short Gospel Prayers – Saturday

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "3-Fers" – Three Short Gospel Prayers – Saturday SCOTTY SMITH We've been given an identity better than we could ever earn or hope. "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9 Father, by your grace, you have freed us from giving you bit parts in our story, and have written us into your big Story of every-nation redemption and cosmic renewal. We're chosen, not choice; married to the King, not royal by nature In ourselves, we're comprehensively broken; but in Christ, we're perfectly righteous. We're no longer our own (hallelujah!), but your beloved people. For the rest of our lives—and throughout eternity, we have the privilege of declaring the excellences of your grace and the wonders of your love. We have zero desire to default back to a life that neither needs nor glories in you.   We have Jesus' perpetual presence, care, and kindness. "Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:8 Dear Jesus, thank you for the promise of your perpetual presence. When I'm afraid to be alone, you won't let me be. When I want to be alone, you won't let me be. When I need you to come through for me, you will. When it feels like you're not coming through for me, you are. When I'm discouraged, you don't chide, deride, or revile me. You always enter, engage, and encourage me. When I'm afraid you don't say, "Buck up, be strong," you say, "I understand, I'm here." Thank you Jesus, so very much.   Better than being a new creature, we're a part of the New Creation order. "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Dear Jesus, hallelujah… our now and forever address is "in Christ." In you we have more than we realize, and beyond all we could dream or imagine. Our "newness" isn't just personal, it's cosmic. We belong to your now and coming Kingdom. You are the "Yes" to every promise God has made—every hope of the Messianic age. You are the Lamb of God who took away our sin… the Lord of Lords, who is making all things new…  and the Lamp of the New City, whose glory will radiate the new heaven and new earth. Hallelujah, what a Savior you are. Hallelujah, what a salvation we have in you. So Very Amen Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

Make the Most of Your Productivity

A Guide to Honoring God with Your Time

6 Powerful, God-Honoring Principles to Increase Productivity Many people today idolize achievement, driven by validation, status, or financial gain. Others lack self-discipline and motivation altogether. How can Christians pursue healthy, biblical goal-setting that avoids extremes?   In this user-friendly guide, Ana Ávila teaches six principles to help you honor God with all you have and reflect his character through your creativity. Along with a gospel-centered perspective on life, you'll learn skills to increase efficiency, such as forming healthy habits, using productivity tools, creating tasks and projects, and more. Whether you are achievement-oriented or struggle with discipline, Ávila will show you how to reorient your time, boundaries, decisions, focus, habits, and tools around God's main design for productivity: serving him and helping others. Read Chapter 1 Ana Ávila works as a senior writer for Coalición por el Evangelio and is the creator and host of Piensa Podcast. She has an undergraduate degree in clinical biochemistry and a diploma in biblical studies. Ávila lives in Guatemala with her husband and their two sons. KEY FEATURES . . .  A Great Introduction to Productivity: Explains how to effectively steward time, resources, and wisdom from a biblical perspective Interactive: Each chapter ends with questions for reflection and action steps Practical Life Skills: Includes sample schedules, tips for forming healthy habits, and more Previously Published in Spanish WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING . . .  "Ávila applies godly wisdom to living out our ordinary days on purpose so that we can avoid not only wasting our time but also wasting our lives." —Nancy Guthrie, author; Bible teacher "Ana Ávila's enthusiasm for productivity for Jesus's sake is contagious. She takes into account both our eternally focused goals and our earthbound, creaturely limitations. This book is a refreshing and friendly coach for readers who want to make the most of the time they've been given." —Gloria Furman, author, Labor with Hope and Missional Motherhood "I love how Ávila weaves the gospel into every page—she makes it clear to us that productivity isn't about achieving but loving. I finished this book confident that God accepts me because of Christ's perfect performance and that as I grow in awe of this truth, I will pour out my love to him and it will be seen in how I use my time." —Aixa de López, author, Forever: What Adoption Teaches Us about the Father's Heart Order Your Copy The Gospel Coalition P.O. Box 170346, Austin, TX Unsubscribe

A Week of “3-Fers” – Three Short Gospel Prayers – Friday

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Week of "3-Fers" – Three Short Gospel Prayers – Friday SCOTTY SMITH Our future is off-the-charts glorious and secure. "I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 Dear Jesus, this well-known verse isn't a private verse for me to claim, (hallelujah) it's your mega-promise that claims me. Because of your finished work, I'm a part of your story of every-nation redemption and cosmic restoration. You are making all things new, not simply making life bearable. Our future is crammed full and bursting at the seams with hope. No eye has seen, ear heard, or mind imagined what you have prepared for those you love; and we love you because you first loved us, Jesus. To vex is human, but to rejoice and rest in your faithfulness is "gospelicious."   We are co-heirs with Christ of the new heaven and new earth. "Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."  Romans 8:17 Heavenly Father, just being your beloved child is enough, but according to your Word, you have also given us an inheritance beyond anything we could hope or imagine. By the Gospel, you made us co-heirs with Jesus of the new heaven and new earth. Everything that's coming to Jesus is coming to us. Astonishing, humbling, and liberating… Father, this overloads the "circuit board" of my heart. Your kindness and generosity are beyond measure and our ability to grasp. Forgive me for whining about what I don't have, reaching for what I don't need, and under-believing what is already mine.   There's no chance we'll be "un-born-again" of "dis-adopted" by Abba. "I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6 Father, my salvation is a work I didn't begin—a grace you alone can finish. I could never perform my way out of my sin or earn my way into your love. From beginning to end, our salvation is all by your grace. We contribute nothing but our sin, and you gave us everything in your Son. And wonder of wonders…  one Day, we will be as lovely as and as loving as Jesus, for you WILL complete this good work of grace in each of your children—including me. For so great a salvation we worship you. For so perfect a Savior as Jesus, we adore you. For so certain a hope, we bless you.   So Very Amen     Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

A Week of “3-Fers” – Wednesday – Short Gospel-Prayers

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Week of "3-Fers" – Wednesday – Short Gospel-Prayers SCOTTY SMITH Three Short Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts We've been sealed and are permanently indwelt by God's Spirit   "In Jesus you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Eph. 1:13-14 Gracious Father, thank you for enabling me to hear and believe the Gospel. My salvation is all of grace. You have sealed me with the promised Holy Spirit—who is an inviolate sign that I belong to you, now and forever. You began my salvation, and you will bring it to conclusion. By the Holy Spirit, you assure me that I belong to you and guarantee my final inheritance. Nothing can separate me from your love, or move you to disinherit me. "Signed, sealed, and delivered" … I'm yours.   We've been adopted by God, and given all the legal rights and personal delights of his firstborn Son. "You haven't received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 Abba, Father… how I love to call you by that name. When you drew me to Christ, you forgave all my sins; declared me to be righteous in Christ; and then you adopted me as your very own and beloved child. Amazing, astonishing… I still have a hard time taking in all this goodness, Father. That's why you have given me your Holy Spirit. He's the only one who can powerfully combat the spirit of fear that is ever lurking—seeking to draw me back into the dungeon of guilt and shame. But, hallelujah, I'm no longer a slave. Jesus is my righteousness, the Spirit is my guarantee, and you are my Father. You cannot love me more, and you'll never love me less.   We live confident in God's full, robust acceptance and unwavering love. "Since we have such a hope, we are very bold." 2 Corinthians 3:12 Father, it feels so good to be set free from the old "He loves me; he loves me not" spirituality. Because the Gospel is true, I can be bold, assured, and at home in your presence. Hallelujah, there's no more need to pose or pretend with you, Lord. I've traded in my "fig leaves" for the righteousness of Jesus. By your grace, I discovered my condition was far worse than I ever imagined; but I've also discovered you love me far more than I could have hoped or dreamed. I'm no longer afraid to die and face judgment; and I'm learning to be less fearful to face the challenges of life and opinions of men. Keep the freedom coming. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

A Week of “3-Fers” – Tuesday – Three Short Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Week of "3-Fers" – Tuesday – Three Short Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts SCOTTY SMITH We are God's beloved children—loved by Abba just as much as he loves Jesus.   "I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me (Jesus) and that you (Father) love them as much as you love me." John 17:23 Lord Jesus, this one verse exposes how little I "get" the Gospel, and what a neophyte I am in grasping the wonders and riches of grace. Let me get this right: you are telling me that God the Father loves me as much as he loves you? How can this be? You are the only answer to that question. Stunning, astonishing, overwhelming… Jesus, write this truth indelibly on my mind, take it deep into my heart, then make it real through me, as I seek to love as I am loved. "Arise my soul, arise, and shake off your guilt, shame, and unbelief"—the Gospel is true, good, and beautiful.   We are delighted in and enjoyed by God, and there's nothing we can do about it.   "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17 Abba, this portion of your Word contradicts my oldest thoughts of you and invites my heart to go to places your Spirit alone can take me. Because of Jesus' finished work—right now (not just when I'm in heaven) you greatly delight in me. You are committed to quiet my restless, wandering, fearful heart with your love. You "exult" (what a powerful word) over me—not just with singing, but with loud singing. Free me from thinking this is true for others, not me.   God's love for us never grows nor decreases. It is the greatest constant in our lives.   "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself." Jeremiah 31:3 Father, supersize the chambers of my heart to take in more of this . You have drawn me to yourself with an unfailing, irresistible, powerful love—not because of anything in me, but because of everything in you. And now, because of what you have done for me in Jesus—you love me with an unwavering, everlasting love. I cannot add to your love for me, and I cannot take away from it; because it's not about me, it's all about Jesus. I'm undone with peace and gratitude.  So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.