The Journey - Venturing in the abundant life of Christ

::Devotional:: ‘Bitterness Is In The Eye Of The Beholder’

tonyquist — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:20:05 +0000

Satan’s crafty. There’s no two ways about that. He’s always trying to convince me that I’m “owed” something; that I deserve something. Many times he points out what I’m owed that others haven’t given. Does he do that to anyone else?

Bitterness is in the eye of the beholder because they are the only one keeping a tally on who’s offended them or who’s failed to meet their expectations. It’s certainly not in the eye of the person the bitterness is targeted towards is it?

Recently I’ve been dealing with some bitterness towards someone who didn’t meet my expectations and didn’t treat me the way I felt I was owed. Satan has been convincing me that I have a right to be upset with them, to be cold with them, to be distant with them just because I felt I deserved something more from them. I’m ashamed to say I traveled a ways down that road too. That is until this morning.

See, the problem with bitterness is that it’s an emotion and Satan is a master of manipulation when it comes to emotions. I’m learning more and more as a believer that my emotions should not be the motivation for my actions. More often than not we are called to act in accordance with God’s word against the emotions we may be feeling. As I worked through this issue in my prayer journal this morning the Lord reminded me that since bitterness is in the eye of the beholder, my eye, I have the opportunity to get rid of it. How? Through forgiveness.

I was reminded that God’s word says we are to do everything we can to maintain unity in the body of Christ and fend off things like bitterness and strife that can cause division.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3

There was only one person keeping tally of this person’s actions and adding to the bitterness I had towards them, me. Therefore, I went before the Lord and forgave this person and confessed my sin of harboring bitterness against them because in the long run I desire fellowship with the Lord and with this person more than anything else.

Does my experience hit close to home with you? Is there someone you are making an effort to be bitter against? Are you keeping a tally of how many times they don’t treat you the way you feel you are owed? If so, realize that Satan is attacking you and drawing you further and further away from the Lord and further away from that person. You have the opportunity to make a choice this morning; continue under the bondage of bitterness or be liberated by the power of forgiveness. Make the right move.

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-

::Devotional:: ‘Created In His Image’

tonyquist — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:12:23 +0000

In the past week, my entire world has changed as my wife Leigh Ann and I welcomed our son Maverick into this world on January 2nd at exactly 8:00 am. I’ve spent the past few days in constant awe of everything he does, even down to his sneezes and dirty diapers. Just to think that God enabled my wife and I to contribute to the creation of such a beautiful little boy is enough to keep me pondering for years and years. Every intricate detail of my son’s development over the past nine months was completely controlled by God himself. He literally created Maverick and the Bible says He did so in his own image.

The Bible says that God created man from the dirt and breathed life into him. From then on, man has been created in the womb of the woman, but the breath of life has still been given by God. Consider the words of David in Psalm 139.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14

Maverick Adam Quist - Jan. 2, 2011

As I celebrate my 31st birthday today, I am truly thankful for the love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness the Lord has revealed and lavished upon me. Most recently, of course, He has displayed this with the blessing of a firstborn son. I stand in awe of the creator and the author of life this morning, reminding myself that God is sovereign over all.

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-

::Devotional:: ‘Happy 2011′

tonyquist — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:40:36 +0000

I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to everyone who stops by and visits here at The Journey. My purpose in blogging has never been to wow or impress anyone, but simply to share my journey as a believer with others. My prayer is that my struggles and victories are relatable to others and that in some way they can be used by the Holy Spirit to stir others in their walk with the Lord.

It is my prayer for 2011, as written by the author of Hebrews, that we consider how we may spur one another toward love and good deeds; as written by Paul in the book of Galatians, that we carry each other’s burdens; as spoken by the Lord Jesus, that we would go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Take some time out of your day to sit down and meditate on God’s word. Put everything else aside and guard your time with our Lord and Savior. Be the tree by the water that bears the fruit of the father and let it be done today.

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-

::Devotional:: ‘Prayer According To The Word’

tonyquist — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:38:58 +0000

I’ve always struggled with consistency in prayer. Have you? I’m not talking about the type of prayer that is lifted up in dire times or desperate circumstances or even the type of prayer that is lifted up in a prayer service with other believers. I’ve been able to manage those just fine. It’s been the daily prayers that I’ve struggled with.

December, a year ago, I decided to start doing a prayer journal five days a week. I’m thankful and excited to be able to celebrate my first year of doing that and sticking with it. I missed a few days here and there but I kept chugging along.

As this year wraps up and and a new one begins in just a few short days, I am planning to extend my journaling to 7 days a week and include a new section of each entry devoted to praying for my wife and my son according to God’s word.

Just before Christmas I came across a great resource, what I would call prayer guides, from FamilyLife publishing on Christianbooks.com. I threw them on my Christmas list and low and behold my wife ended up picking them up for me! They are three laminated cards titled “Lifting my husband through prayer”, “Lifting my wife through prayer”, and “Lifting my children through prayer.” I love them!

The best part of these prayer guides is that they help me to pray for my wife and my son according to God’s word. Here are a few examples:

Lifting My Wife Through Prayer

“Lord, thank you for my wife. I ask your will for her in these things according to your word. Fill my wife with love for you, that she would love you ‘with all her heart and with all her soul and with all her mind.’ (Matthew 22:37-40)”

Lifting My Children Through Prayer

“Lord thank you for my children. I ask your will for them in these things according to your word. Give my children love for your Word. Allow them to know and understand it, and to follow it wholeheartedly. (Psalm 1:1-3)”

The reason I think these prayer guides are so good is because I believe that prayer according to the Word of God is the most powerful prayer anyone can say. Why? Well consider these verses.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. John 14:13

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.15And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

We’re not talking “name dropping” here to get our prayers answered by God. We’re talking praying in accordance with God’s will which is profoundly laid out in His word. Therefore, we can have confidence in approaching God when asking for anything in accordance with His will, as taught to us through his Word by the Holy Spirit, that will bring glory to the Father through the Son.

Does this mean that all my prayers for my wife and my son and their prayers for me will be answered as long as they pray according to the Word? Unfortunately, the answer is no. See, we all have a free will to decide to be obedient to God and his word or not. However, I have confidence that my prayers will be answered when my wife and my son are choosing to be obedient to God and His word. That is powerful prayer!

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-

::Devotional:: ‘Salvation Has Come For All To See’

tonyquist — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:51:46 +0000

I guess two things have really hit me about Christmas music on the radio this year. For one thing, they started the day after Halloween on some stations which is way too early in my opinion. Ha! Secondly, I realized that many stations who would avoid mentioning the name Jesus are broadcasting song after song about him 24 hours a day. Under the guise of Christmas carols, many people are unaware of the depth of the messages within the lyrics they sing. What’s really interesting to me is that many of these carols are sung worldwide in various nations and various tongues. God has placed the message of salvation through Jesus Christ before the whole world for people to see.

Consider the words of Simeon in Luke 2.

Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you no dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Luke 2:29-32

A salvation prepared in the sight of all people. A light for revelation to the Gentiles. A light for the glory of God’s people Israel.

Think of all the people worldwide who, in some form or fashion, will celebrate Christmas this Saturday. The message of the Gospel, the reconciliation of a sinful man to a holy God has been placed in the open for all to see. Some will sing, “Joy to the word, the Lord has come.” Others will turn up their iPods and hear “Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king.”

So many people will sing and celebrate a truth they have yet to see. Let us pray that many eyes will be opened this Christmas to see the salvation that God has so boldly proclaimed and placed before them.

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-

::Devotional:: ‘A Man of Conviction’

tonyquist — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:54:22 +0000

It’s interesting over the past 9 months how my thought process about many things has included a new component because I’m a father. I’ve begun to make decisions and process thoughts based on how I would want to lead and teach my son Maverick. All the parenting magazines talk about changes in “mommy” of the course of 9 months but this “daddy” has experienced a great deal of mental change during that time.

Recently I found myself in a situation where the Holy Spirit was urging me to stand on my convictions and to call out the righteousness within the circumstances. Let me tell you, it was not easy. It would have been so much easier to keep to myself and say nothing. Although I’d have to say I believe my heart would have beat through my chest had I not opened my mouth. Much of my thought process over the duration of that situation involved two components: a) what do you believe the word of God says, and b) what do you want to demonstrate to your son. Overwhelmingly, those two questions consumed my thoughts and prayers as I contemplated my actions. In the end, I believe I spoke in accordance with God’s word and set forth a good example for my son.

I believe that the Bible teaches us that a man must develop convictions based on the word of God and then be prepared to stand on them during the course of his life. I base this belief on two passages of scripture.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” James 1:22-24

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

It is my prayer that the Lord would help me to continue to develop as a man of conviction and that in doing so I would provide an example for my son Maverick to follow.

Seek the counsel of God’s word this morning because you’ll be called to act justly according to it throughout this day.

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-

::Devotional:: ‘The Role of Disciplinarian’

tonyquist — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:32:13 +0000

As I prepare for fatherhood, one of the things that I’m looking forward to the least is having to discipline my son. Training myself through God’s word this morning, the responsibilities I have as the disciplinarian in the home have been brought to my attention. Interestingly enough, disciplining my son is not a separate role from teaching or training my son in the ways and words of the Lord. Everything is tied in together.

I have no desire to see my son in any form of discomfort at any point in his life; yet the Bible reminds me that as a father, that same desire for the well-being of my son will require me to discipline him.

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Proverbs 13:20

I have seen many children and teenagers who lack discipline from their parents, and in particular their fathers. More often than not, those children are traveling a dangerous road in life. The Bible warns us about that situation as well.

The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. Proverbs 29:15

My prayer this morning is that the Lord would give me wisdom and discernment when it comes to disciplining my son. I pray that my son would respect me for my efforts in training him as it says in Hebrews 12:9. We are all called to be imitators of God (Eph. 5), and as a father, that includes the role of disciplinarian. I have no hope in disciplining my son in the ways and words of the Lord without discipline.

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-

::Devotional:: ‘When The Devil Beats You Down’

tonyquist — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:44:26 +0000

Have you ever felt like some days Satan jumps on your back and just won’t let up? Temptations seem to be more prevalent, memories of past sins are vibrant in your mind, and you begin to just feel whipped. I recently had a day like that and reminded myself that when the devil beats you down you have to look to Jesus to get back up.

Satan’s crafty. There’s no doubt about that. His ways may be varied, but his methods are always the same, and his aim is constant. He wants to pull or push, whichever works best, us away from God. Usually in my life that happens when I fall into temptation (sometimes it’s even more of walk than a fall) or I am reminded of past sins and temptations and I begin to bare the load of shame.

With the load of shame on my shoulders Satan suggests that God wants nothing to do with me. But Satan is a liar.

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

Mark this down in your memory – Satan is a liar. Always. Just like the passage says, “there is NO TRUTH in him.” Not even an ounce. I’ve learned that as shameful as I may feel, and as boldly as Satan suggests that I steer clear of God, I need to run to God.

When the devil beats me down, I’ve learned to run to Jesus. Yes, I’m often guilty and ashamed when I get to Him. I know he already knows everything I’ve done for nothing is hidden from Him. Even in my sin and shame, I’m loved. Even in the discipline and consequences of my sin, I’m loved.

“Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:10-11

No matter what Satan uses to try and convince me that my sin, past or present, should keep me from my heavenly Father there’s one verse I always run to.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Just a few verses later John writes:

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

When the devil beats you down, look to Jesus to get back up.

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-

::Devotional:: ‘You Only Have One Chance To Raise A Child’

tonyquist — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:41:35 +0000

“You only have one chance to raise a child.” I read that several months ago in our local paper and it has stuck in my mind ever since. It has been the source of discussion at our school about the importance of Christian education and it has given me much to think about as a father. In fact, the more I ponder that statement the more I realize how much I need God to help me be a father as he’s called me to be according to his word.

There are simply no guarantees that my child will be a godly child or even come to know Jesus as his savior. There’s no right formula, there’s no magic words, and there’s no wonder method. Why? Because everyone has their own free will and ultimately that is what stands between them and God; making the decision of their own free will to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Having said that, I can’t just throw my hands up in the air and be done with it all.

While there are no guarantees, a child raised in a godly home where both parents have a real and vibrant love of the Lord and his word is more likely to become a Christian than if they were raised in a different setting. I consider it my role as the father to make sure the environment is sound, according to the word of God, for my children to grow up in.

I take this scripture literally:

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

If indeed you only have one chance to raise a child, it stands to reason that as parents we need to do everything we can and then some to live out a life that is devoted to Christ, obedient to God’s word, and open before our children.

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-

::Devotional:: ‘Sowing The Seed In My Son’

tonyquist — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:40:16 +0000

Yesterday marked 1 month until Maverick’s due date. Can you believe that? One month away? It seems like just a few weeks ago that my wife and I were announcing we were expecting. Where has the time gone? I have a feeling I’m going to be saying that a lot as a father now aren’t I? Feeling especially unqualified in the fatherhood department this morning, I returned to a familiar passage of scripture on being a godly father, Ephesians 6:4.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

I don’t know if this is completely true or not, but it sure seems to me that whatever the father likes and loves the son tends to like and love. My dad was big into computers. I remember he had a Tandy 1000 from Radio Shack long before most people every thought about having a home computer. Well, it’s no surprise that I got into computers as well. I even make a living now working with computers. My dad loved taking me to the movies. I can still remember him taking me to see Back To The Future 2 in one of the AMC theaters in Northern VA, complete with a stop at Pizza Hut beforehand. They were running a promotion on a certain pizza deal that included Back To the Future 2 sunglasses (I got the black ones). Movies were magical. In fact, they still are to me. I love going to the movies.

Some dads love sports, some dads love books, some dads love nature, and some dads love computers. None of those things are bad, but personally I want to pass on something more than that to my son Maverick. I want to pass on a love for the Lord and his precious word.

You see, the call on fathers from God’s word is to bring up a child “in the training and instruction of the Lord.” How in the world am I supposed to do that? Well, thankfully God is a master planner and he hasn’t left me in the dark. In fact, God designed a special tool just for training and instructing, His word.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

When it comes to parenting, you only get one shot to raise your child. I believe making the right steps early is crucial. Sow the seed of God’s word into your children because a tree can’t grow where a seed was never planted.

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-