New Life Ministries International Nantucket

02/28/2022

Today's Devotion

God Made You for a Mission

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing."
Ephesians 2:10 (NCV)

You weren’t put on Earth to live for yourself.
You were made for a greater purpose than simply to make money, retire, and die. You were made for a mission, and that mission gives your life meaning.

The Bible says, “God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing” (Ephesians 2:10 NCV)

In other words, you’re unique. No one else in the whole world—past, present, or future—is like you. God has made you so unique that there are certain things only you can contribute to the world. Those things make up your life mission.

Until you know your life mission, you’re just existing. Life may seem good, but you won’t experience the fulfillment you would if you were living out God’s intentions for you.

Jesus says in Mark 8:35, “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (TLB).

God is giving you the opportunity to build your life around his mission for you. The only way to do that is by starting with a firm foundation: Jesus Christ. “And no one can ever lay any other real foundation than that one we already have—Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11 TLB).

You can choose to build your life on Jesus, the only foundation that will last. Or you can choose to spend your life chasing things that ultimately will fail you.

What’s certain is that one day you will stand before God and he’ll ask you: “Did you fulfill the mission that I gave you on this Earth?” On that day, it will be clear whether you spent your life fulfilling God’s mission for you—or you chose to chase lesser things.

It’s never too late to start living the life God has planned for you. Start building your foundation on Jesus and pursuing God’s mission for your life today.

RW

02/06/2022

07/09/2021

05/12/2021

Today's Devotion
Brokenhearted? The Lord Is Close

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
We’ve all had our hearts broken in some way, maybe by disappointment, fear, shame, rejection, or ridicule. I say to you, as your friend, I’m sorry. I really am. I care about the hurt you have gone through, and God cares about it too. He hurts with you.
What was God doing when you were weeping? He was weeping too. In fact, it is in your pain that God is closest to you, whether or not you realize it.
The Bible says in Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (NIV). How does he do that? He saves you by giving you a heart transplant. It’s his specialty, in fact.
It’s as if God says, “For the heart that’s guilty, I’ll give you a heart that’s forgiven. For the heart that’s resentful, I’ll give you a heart that’s full of peace. For the heart that’s anxious, I’ll give you a heart that’s confident. For the heart that’s lonely, I’ll give you a heart full of love. The heart that has been bitter and angry? I’ll give you a heart that is forgiving, loving, and generous instead. Let me do a heart transplant in you. I will set you free.”
Why do you need freedom? Because, without Christ, you’re enslaved. You’re a slave to the expectations of other people. You’re a slave to past memories. You’re a slave to future fears. You’re a slave to current pressure. You’re a slave to the opinions of society, and on and on and on.
But all you have to do is open your heart to Jesus Christ and give him all of it. Like David in Psalm 119:32, you can say to God, “I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding” (NIV).
Your heart may have been broken, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Decide today to stop limiting God! He wants to do so much with your life—more than you can even imagine. Open your heart to God, and let him transplant your heart for his own.

RW

05/11/2021

Today's Devotion

Let God Focus Your Passions

“Look, I’m standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I’ll come in and we’ll eat together.”
Revelation 3:20 (GW)

God gave you a heart, and he has placed in you passions, desires, and dreams. But unless they are under his control, they will be misused and abused—or lie dormant and wasted—in your life.

All around the world, millions of passionate people are misusing and abusing their interests and ambitions. And it breaks God’s heart. That’s why, in spite of their talent and passion, those people are unhappy. When your passions are misused, it makes you miserable.

You might be thinking, “I’m not really passionate about anything right now.” You know what that means, don’t you? It means you are disconnected from God. You cannot be connected to God and dispassionate. When you are plugged in to God, it’s like plugging in to a power supply. You get passionate!

God is a passionate God. The only reason you have emotions is because you’re made in his image. God is emotional. God gets jealous when he sees you ignoring him for something else. God loves you with an everlasting love. And no matter what you do, he will always love you. That’s passion!

When you spend time with God on a daily basis and get plugged in to his passion, you can’t help but be passionate yourself. You start to develop God’s heart for the world. You start to feel the way he does. Who you hang out with really does make a difference. When you spend time with God, you become more like him.

Would you like to have more energy and enthusiasm? The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek words en theos, meaning “in God.” When you get en theos, you’re going to be enthusiastic. The closer you get to God, the more energy, vitality, and passion you will have in life. The further away you get, the more bored and apathetic you become with life.

To get closer to God, you’ve got to open your heart to him.

“Look, I’m standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I’ll come in and we’ll eat together” (Revelation 3:20 GW).

Jesus Christ has been standing and knocking at the door of your life for a long time. He wants to come in and help you use your passion in positive ways. But he’s a gentleman. He’s not going to bust the door down.

You’ve got to open it up.

RW

05/10/2021

Today's Devotion

We Need You and Your Spiritual Gifts

“We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
The reason you have value is because of what God says about you, not because of what other people say about you.
We talked about how to use your spiritual gifts for God’s glory. But you can’t do that until you understand your value and believe God loves you just how he made you.
Many people lack self-esteem. They don’t feel good about themselves because they’re always trying to pump themselves up by the kind of clothes they wear or car they drive and the things they say. They’re constantly striving to feel better about themselves because they really don’t accept themselves—which is rebellion against God.
If God wanted you to be somebody else, you wouldn’t exist. But God wanted you! He made you to be you. We know as believers that real self-esteem comes from three facts:

God created you.

Jesus died for you.

God’s Spirit lives in you.

The Bible says, “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).
The New Testament was written originally in Greek. The Greek word for “masterpiece” is “poema.” It’s the word we get “poem” from. God says, “You’re my poem. You’re my masterpiece. I don’t want you copying somebody else. I’ve put gifts in you, and I want you to use them.” You have worth because of what God says about you and what he has done for you.
There are no little people in the family of God. Every part is necessary. Do you know what the most important light in my house is? It’s not the big chandelier in the dining room. It’s the little nightlight I turn on so that I don’t stub my toe when I get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Every role is important. You are important. You have value because God says so and because he paid such a large ransom for your life when he sent his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for you.
Now, knowing what God has done for you and how he shaped you, how will you start to use your gifts for his glory?

RW

05/08/2021

Today's Devotion
Worship God by Using Your Gifts

My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit.”
John 15:8 (AMP)
When you use the gifts God has given you, it’s an act of worship.
What makes God smile? Some people think God only smiles when you’re praying, singing praises, or going to church. The truth is, God smiles when you use the gifts he’s given you.
When you’re doing what you were wired and shaped to do, it’s like God says, “That’s so cool! I created them to do that!”
When Eric Liddell, a devout Christian, represented Great Britain in track events during the 1924 Olympics, he said, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
God shaped some people to run. He shaped others to race bikes or surf. They’re just good at it. I think when God looks at them, he says, “That is so cool! I made the wave. I made the surfer. This is cool.”
You don’t have to always be doing something “spiritual” to bring God glory. Any time you’re using God’s gifts for his glory, it’s worship.
But God has given specific spiritual gifts too. He’s gifted some people for teaching the Bible, while others make a big difference serving behind the scenes. Some people are great evangelists while others help fellow Christians hear God’s voice more clearly.
The Bible says, “My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit” (John 15:8 AMP). When you use your gifts correctly, God gets the glory. And you certainly can’t please God with gifts you don’t have. God doesn’t expect you to be talented or gifted at everything. He just wants you to worship him by using what he’s given you.
In the Bible, the words “joy” and “gift” actually come from the same Greek word. When you use your spiritual gifts, it brings joy to God, and it brings joy to you.
It’s like God says, “You’re doing what I created you to do.” And you say, “This feels good!”
The best feeling comes from using your gifts for God’s purpose, knowing you’re worshiping God by doing what he made you to do. It is the greatest thrill in the world!

RW

05/07/2021

Today's Devotion

Four Ways to Use Your Spiritual Gifts

“Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.”
Romans 6:13 (NLT)
The moment you become a follower of Jesus, God gives you spiritual gifts. But how do you start using the spiritual gifts God has put inside of you? Here are four ways to get started:
1. Discover your gifts.
Before you can use your gifts, you need to know what they are. Many Christians have dormant spiritual gifts inside of them. They neglect their gifts, not using them and not even knowing what they are. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:14, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you” (GNT).
How do you discover your spiritual gifts? There are three steps: examine, evaluate, and experiment. First, you examine by studying each spiritual gift. Then, evaluate what you’re good at. You can start by asking friends what gifts they see in you. Finally, experiment by trying different things. Volunteering for different ministries at your church will help you discover your gifts. For instance, you may be better at organizing than at teaching.
2. Dedicate your gifts to God.
The Bible says in Romans 6:13, “Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God” (NLT).
Maybe you already know your spiritual gifts, but you’re just not using them for the Lord. You’re using them for yourself. You need to humble yourself and dedicate to the Lord every gift you have. Push all of your excuses out of the way, and say, “God, I dedicate back to you the gifts that you gave to me.”
3. Develop your gifts.
Gifts are like muscles: The more you use them, the bigger they get. You can and should strengthen, develop, and grow any gift God has given you. You get better at using a gift by practice, studying, and learning from other people who have the same gift.
The Bible says, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).
When God gives you something, he will give you even more of it if you use it well—more talent, money, influence, relationships, or responsibility. He says, “I can trust that person. I’m going to give that person more and more and more.”
4. Deploy your spiritual gifts.
“Deploy” means to put into service. You get out on the field and start doing something. Romans 12:6 says this: “We are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God’s message, we should do it according to the faith that we have” (GNT).
What’s the best place to discover, dedicate, develop, and deploy your spiritual gifts? In a small group of other Christians; it’s like a testing ground. That could be a small group at your church, a Sunday school class, or any small gathering of believers that meet together regularly. If you are not in a small group, I encourage you to get connected to one this week so that you can test and develop your spiritual gifts in the safe and supportive environment of friends who will encourage you.

RW

05/06/2021

Today's Devotion
Are You Using Your Spiritual Gifts to Bless Others?

“There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (GW)

When you know what you’re shaped to be, then you know what you ought to be, and you can start focusing on that and make better use of your life.

The moment you step across the line spiritually and begin following Jesus, you say, “I’m going to go God’s way, not my own way. I’m going to let him direct my life. I want to follow God’s purpose, not my purpose. I’m going to do what I was wired and made to do.”

After you take that step, God does four things for you: He forgives you, he gives you eternal life, he gives you the Holy Spirit, and he gives you special abilities.

In the Bible, these special abilities are called spiritual gifts, which makes them different from material or physical gifts. They are the abilities you need to get the job done that God wants you to do. Most people who are believers don’t even know they’ve got spiritual gifts, much less what they are. But you have them!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person” (GW).

God has a purpose for your life, and your spiritual gifts are the equipment he gives you to do what he asks you to do. God will never ask you to do something he doesn’t give you the ability to do. It’s given to you the moment you accept Christ. You don’t get to choose your gift. You don’t earn your gift.

It’s also not for your benefit. Your spiritual gifts are given to you to help other people. And other people in the church family are given their gifts to help you.

When you use your spiritual gift, the people in your church get blessed. When we develop and use our spiritual gifts, we all get blessed.

To get that blessing and make the most of your life, you need to figure out how God shaped you and what spiritual gifts he gave you.

RW

05/05/2021

Today's Devotion

Even Your Weaknesses Bring Glory to God

“My friend, I ask, ‘Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did?’”
Romans 9:20 (CEV)

Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences—these are the five things that make you, you. I call them your SHAPE.

Accepting your SHAPE—the unique way God made you to bring glory to him—means to believe God knows best. It all comes down to a matter of trust. Do you believe God made a mistake when he made you? Or do you trust him, knowing he has a plan for your life?

Many of us make these kinds of statements to God: There are things I don’t like about myself. I wish I had a different hair color. I wish I were taller, shorter, skinnier. I wish I had more talent. I wish I could do ‘that.’ I wish I looked like him. I wish I had her smarts. And on and on our lists go.

This kind of thinking is basically telling God, “You blew it! Everybody else is okay. But you goofed up when you made me.”

When you reject yourself, you are in essence rejecting God, because he’s your Creator. When you don’t accept yourself, it’s rebellion against God. You’re saying, “God, I know better than you. You should have made me differently, with a different set of strengths and a different set of weaknesses.”

But God says, “No, I created you exactly the way you are because I want you to be you—with your strengths and your weaknesses. All of it can give me glory—if you’ll just start doing what I made you to do instead of trying to be like everybody else.”

It’s actually quite arrogant to reject yourself. The Bible says in Romans 9:20, “My friend, I ask, ‘Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did?’” (CEV).

Whenever you doubt God’s love and wisdom, you get into trouble. The root behind many of life’s problems is that you don’t trust God. You don’t believe God really loves you. You don’t believe he really has your best interest at heart. You wish he had made you something different. As a result, you have a spirit of bitterness that produces frustration and keeps you from being the person God wants you to be.

But you don’t have to live that way—there is hope! Job 10:10 says, “You guided my conception and formed me in the womb” (NLT). God wanted you, and he loves you. He shaped you just the way you are for his glory. Believe it, and then trust it!

RW

05/03/2021

Today's Devotion

What’s the Big Deal About Your SHAPE?

“Bring to me all the people who are mine, whom I made for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah 43:7 (NCV)

Many years ago I started using an acrostic called SHAPE to talk about the five things that make you, you. SHAPE is the way God wired you for your life. Every area of your life is influenced by the way you’re shaped.

Your SHAPE is made up of your Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. These are the five things that make you who you are.

No one else has your particular combination of gifts, talents, and passions. Why do you think you have your particular makeup? Because God gave it to you for his glory. If all Christians liked to do the same things and were good at the same things, we would accomplish a lot less for the Gospel in the world.

So God made you unique, and there’s nobody else like you. Your SHAPE is yours alone. Why does this matter?

Your SHAPE reveals God’s purpose for you.
You find out what God wants you to do with your life by discovering how he shaped you. But here’s the thing: God won’t force you to do his plan. You can waste your life. You can use it on all kinds of personal, self-centered things and end up totally miss God’s purpose for you. In fact, most people do. That’s a tragedy. And it’s also why so many people are so frustrated! They’re trying to be something somebody else wants them to be rather than what God wants them to be.

Your SHAPE equips you to serve God.
God has a life mission for you that nobody else on this planet can do. Maybe you’ve missed that mission. Maybe you’ve missed serving God. But you can start today and make the rest of your life the best of your life. God will never ask you to do anything in life that he hasn’t already given you the ability to do.

Your SHAPE prepares you for a life in heaven.
If you’re a follower of Jesus, this life is preparation for the next life in heaven. God says, “This is a test. I’m testing you to see what you will do with what you’ve been given on Earth. Based on that, I will determine what I give you to do in heaven for eternity.”

Your SHAPE shows God’s glory.
When you use your SHAPE and do what God made you to do, it not only feels good, but it also makes God smile. We are only fully alive when we live connected to God and according to the way he created us. You know what makes God smile? When he looks down and sees you and me using the talents that he gave us for his glory.

Isaiah 43:7 says, “Bring to me all the people who are mine, whom I made for my glory, whom I formed and made” (NCV). God made you to enjoy you!

Next time you’re wondering why you are the way you are, remember that God gave you your particular SHAPE. Take time to discover and live in your SHAPE. Your SHAPE will help you understand God’s purpose for you, serve God effectively, prepare for life in heaven, and show God’s glory!

RW