Learning How to Repeat Cast

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Learning How to Repeat Cast SCOTTY SMITH We are not orphans. We have a Father who greatly loves us. He wants us to live "casting all our anxieties and cares on him, because he cares for us" (1Pet.5:7). "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations bring me joy" (Ps. 94:19).   Heavenly Father, I don't mind "repeat casting." It's what all of us who love fishing do—fly fishers, bait casters, spin fishers. Casting multiple times is often necessary to catch an elusive, easily spooked, gorgeous trout. Getting better at casting is what we work on all the time. And the same is true for us as your beloved children. But we don't learn repeat casting to get, but to give—not to fill our ice chest with fish, but to empty our hearts of things that weigh us down, even paralyze us. It's impossible to live life before Jesus' second coming and not have anxieties, worries, and cares. What we do with those things is a Gospel issue—an Abba issue, because you greatly care for us. Hallelujah and thank you. Some of us are weighed down with health anxieties, others with financial worries, others with relational cares—there are as many cares as there is brokenness in the world. So, Abba, with all the grace you will give us, with our grips relaxed and arms cocked for casting, we cast on you the things over which we have zero control—old stuff, new stuff, future stuff. We may need to do so an hour from now, and several more times today, and in the coming days. We may even need some friends to help us cast some of our heavier cares; but of this we can be certain, "when the cares and anxieties of our hearts multiply, your consolations bring us joy (Ps. 94:19). That you care for us and love us is our greatest consolation imaginable, Abba. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

Don’t Settle for the Atrophy of Your Gratitude Muscles

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Don't Settle for the Atrophy of Your Gratitude Muscles SCOTTY SMITH "Praise the Lord, my soul, and don't forget a single one of his benefits to you." Ps. 103:2   Heavenly Father, age and a lack of exercise don't just atrophy muscle-mass, but also "gratitude-mass." Indeed, thankfulness is a discipline of remembering before it's a feeling of delight. Since I'd far rather finish this life "ripped" with thankfulness muscles than sporting "6-pack-abs," here's a few of the "benefits" I remember today. (Before you read or pray this next paragraph, know that all of this is true of you simply because you belong to Jesus). Abba, thank you for an over-the-top glorious salvation in Jesus. You revealed the depth of my need, then lavished on me the riches of your grace. I'm hidden in Christ, standing in grace, and rooted in your love. I now live as an object of your affection and co-heir of your kingdom. Jesus prays for me, you delight in me, and the Spirit lives in me. Why would I (or any of us) ever whine, whimper, or worry? With Jesus as my righteousness and death as great gain (Phil.1:21), you've given me the privilege of serving in your Story all the way Home. I love my family, and you love each of them more than I do. You've given me dear friends with whom to pray, play, and ponder the beauty of Jesus and the mystery of your ways. Fishing, repenting, encouraging, laughing, cooking, feasting, music and tears are all woven into the tapestry of your love for me (and us). The things that hurt the most won't always hurt this much. The things that weigh my heart down won't always be this heavy. Abba, you began a work in me (and all creation) you will finish. Hallelujah… Thank you… And So Very Amen.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

Run to Jesus, Or At Least Collapse on Him

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Run to Jesus, Or At Least Collapse on Him SCOTTY SMITH "The best-equipped army can't save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory… Rely on God's unfailing love" Ps.33:16–18. "We know and we rely on the love God has for us" (1Jn.4:16).   Dear Lord Jesus, we hate it, but it's actually good to come to the end of ourselves, and have our mojo and magic run out. To stand before seas only you can part, armies only you can defeat, crises only you can resolve, people we cannot change or rescue. For that's when we abandon ourselves to you—and not just treat you like a consulting partner, kind helper, or really good teacher. If you aren't God and if you don't love us as much as you say you do, we have no hope. But… Hallelujah… you are, and we do. By your finished work, we now live in God's permanent favor and unwavering delight—the only love that is better than life. No other supply is sufficient to meet our need. No other resource can give the strength to scale the mountain in front of us. No other balm can touch the pain or heal the hurt. No other oasis can bring rest to our exhaustion. There is no other reliance that is unquestionably reliable than you, Jesus, and the great love you have for us. So here we come running, or at least, collapsing on you. We bring our bewildered hearts and weaknesses to you. We bring our lurking temptations and unhealthy habits. We bring our fragile health and feelings of vulnerability. We bring you our drifting children and distant spouses. We bring you our anger, sadness, and numbness. We bring it all to you, Jesus. Only you are worthy. Only you are trustworthy. Thank you, and So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

10,000 Times Better Than Your Most Carefully Chosen Metaphor

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH 10,000 Times Better Than Your Most Carefully Chosen Metaphor SCOTTY SMITH   When God raised Jesus from the dead, "he also raised us up and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:6-7   Heavenly Father, these verses remind me of the day I toured the Cailler Chocolate factory in Broc, Switzerland. It was sensory overload—too much to take in on a cool September morning. I thought it was all a dream until we got to spend 5 minutes in the sampling room of everything they make at Cailler. Oh my!!! But if I use that day and fine Swiss dark chocolate as a metaphor for the Gospel, what staggers my imagination is Paul's affirmation in Eph.2:6-7 of these three things: We are already spiritually raised from the dead, and are seated with Jesus in heavenly places. That's not just something that awaits us in the future, but it's our current reality as well. You raised us for an eternity of "show and tell"—with you showing us and telling us more and more about the riches of your grace lavished on us in the Gospel. We don't just get 5 minutes in the sample room, but the entire "coming ages" for seeing and savoring everything that is ours in Jesus. Your disposition towards us today, and forever, is kindness—not lame, tame, aw-shucks-niceness, but constant welcome, engagement, unwavering affection, and unfettered delight. Abba, thank you. No, we really mean it, thank you! Though it almost sounds cliché… "we believe, help our unbelief." It's not a dream, it's true. The Gospel is more true, good, and beautiful than anything else. Hallelujah, and So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.