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The GT Weekend! ~ Run, Week 3

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The GT Weekend! ~ Run, Week 3

Katelyn Palmer

March 22, 2025

Brave,Called,Courage,Forgiven,Freedom

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

His Words Before Ours

1 Timothy 4:7-10

But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness. For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. For this reason, we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

Dear Yahweh, Who are we that You, the Creator of the universe, would love us so fully and so richly that You would sacrificed Your only Son to save the world so You might have a relationship with us?!

When we experience the saving power of Your love, we cannot help but cling to You and let Your Spirit take hold of us. You have sealed every true believer with Your Holy Spirit within as a sign of our adoption and as a promise of the future redemption You have promised to Your adopted children. (Ephesians 5:13-14) With Your grace, Lord, we find ourselves with the opportunity to commit ourselves to You, to trust in Your name, and reflect Your love to those around us. (Psalm 37:3-6) Let us not be agitated by the evildoers of this world who appear to flourish but in truth will wither quickly. (verses 1-9)

Strengthen and embolden our pursuit of godliness. (2 Peter 1:5-10, 1 Timothy 4:7-10) Teach us to abound in Your love and grow in understanding of Your will, Lord, allowing us to experience the fullness of relationship with You.

In Your Son’s name I pray, Amen.
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

When we prioritize a deep relationship with Christ, we avoid the pitfalls of legalism, which is a strict adherence to the letter of the law. Galatians 5:1-6 warn us against such beliefs, reminding us that while we wait for the full manifestation of a relationship with God in Heavenly Glory, we are called to live free, adhering to the Law of Love in Jesus.

In fact, verse 14 says we can fulfill the whole law by loving the Lord and loving our neighbor as ourselves. The important distinction between following the law and being led by the Spirit, is our connection with Christ. Our only path to righteousness is through Jesus, whereby nullifying any attempts at righteousness through our own power, be it by the law or another dead-end path. (Romans 3:21-29, 2 Peter 1:3-4)

Look instead to walk with the Spirit of God as He leads us when we abide in relationship with Christ by studying His Word, worshipping, and praying. As we seek this relationship, the Spirit blossoms His fruit in our lives! (Galatians 5:24-25, Psalm 37:3-6) Prioritize training in godliness since it holds promise for this life and the next! (1 Timothy 4:7-8)

When we choose to walk with the Holy Spirit, God transforms our hearts and minds, allowing His righteousness to shine through us like the dawn. (Psalm 37:6) As we run with the Spirit, we become an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:11-16), attracting others to the light of Christ within us!
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

On Wednesday, we heard from Farah regarding commands and disciplines that align us with the Lord and lead to a rich and fruitful life. She walked us through 1 Timothy 6:11-20, illustrating foundations of genuine living that would see us turn from the pursuit of money while still being good stewards of wealth when we attain it (verses 17-19). Instead, we are to pursue the riches of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. (verse 11)

Verses 20 and 21 also remind us to watch our speech, act in accordance with Jesus’ teaching, and guard against false teaching while holding tight to the truth and grace of the gospel of our Savior. Farah further guides us on our journey to a deeper relationship with Christ by focusing our attention on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

In these few verses, God’s will for us as believers is explicit. We are meant to practice gratitude in everything, including our suffering, rejoice always, as the hardships in this life hold lessons and bring us closer always to Jesus, and pray constantly. A healthy prayer life centers us on Jesus, align our hearts with His, and builds a strong dependence on Christ for every need!
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

Friday, we were blessed with two studies delving into the richness we find in relationship with Christ. Gloria noted two aspects essential for running toward Christ.

First, our divine purpose in life is centered on loving and serving God above all else, and through that love and servitude, we love others as He loves us. It’s crucial we remember to place Jesus at the center of our lives, because His love serves all. Second, Gloria reminded that true intimacy with Christ means accepting and celebrating both the power of His resurrection and sharing in His suffering.

How that last part makes my breath catch! Jesus suffered at the hands of this world, so why would the world celebrate His followers? While Jesus warned us many times of the suffering we would endure in this life, He did not leave us without the hope and peace we find in Him as the conqueror of this world. (John 16:33)

Lois urged us to follow His example, recognizing that sacrifice was the root of His mode of living. When we deny ourselves and follow Jesus to the cross, we experience the power of spiritual freedom through His resurrection and grow in communion with the Triune God.
2-for-1 Friday

This Week's Journeys

Remade Day 15
The Remade Life

January 20, 2017 No Comments

We’ve talked a lot during this Journey Theme about what it means to live this redeemed life that Jesus has so richly given us, but what does the “box top” look like? What does my everyday look like as I’m chasing after this God who longs to continuously remake me

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Remade Day 14
The Law of Love: Digging Deeper

January 19, 2017 No Comments

The pharisees asked a lot of questions, but they didn’t truly want to know Jesus’s heart. When we study the Bible or look for answers to our questions, let’s not go looking for evidence to support our pre-determined ideas, rather let’s seek to understand the original intent of the Scriptures,

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Remade Day 13
The Law of Love

January 18, 2017 No Comments

If we really are living out and doing exactly what Jesus tells us are the two most important commandments, then everything else He tells us to do will fall into place… because, by living out these commandments, we are allowing transformation.
When our minds are transformed, then our actions

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Remade Day 12
No Going Back: Digging Deeper

January 17, 2017 No Comments

Are you stuck in the past, attached and grasping for things leading to death, or are you clinging onto and sinking into the things of life? God is a good God, even on days when our past stops us in our tracks or a situation cements our feet. Be reminded

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Remade Day 11
No Going Back

January 16, 2017 No Comments

As fun as it is to “remember when”, there’s danger there too. Either we can romanticize the past and wish for it all over again, or we begin to drown in its sorrows and become perpetually stuck in its cycle. God wants neither for us!

God told Lot’s family

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The GT Weekend – Remade Week Two

January 14, 2017 No Comments

Lord, You have provided perfectly for us. You have given us a means for relationship with You through Jesus. You’ve given the Holy Spirit to keep us walking in step with You, yet I still think I can hide the real me from Your face. Father, forgive me for putting

Read More »

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Run Day 15 Run For The Treasure: Digging Deeper

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Run Day 15 Run For The Treasure: Digging Deeper

Lois Robbins

March 21, 2025

Brave,Called,Discipline,Fear,Gospel

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Run For The Treasure"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 3:7-12

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ —the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Paul had an absolute confidence in his relationship with Jesus Christ….WHY? (verses 7-8)

Paul used his past to emphasize the magnitude of God’s grace in his life, and he started by pointing to what, from a human standpoint, made him appear to be the best of the best. His snapshot of his past achievements pointed to his prestigious Jewish birth, his education, his training as a Pharisee of the strictest sect, and his zeal for God’s Law. (Acts 22:1-5)

Paul’s zeal as a Pharisee led him to relentlessly persecute the Jesus-movement known as “The Way”. His burning zeal for God consumed him, but when Paul met Christ, he wrote off all his attributes as nothing but bad debt. Radical!

The very things he believed to be his glory were totally useless in his new life of following Jesus. Paul, formerly Saul, went from breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples to belonging to this same Lord! His former way of living life was meaningless in comparison.

Saul was persecuting Jesus’ followers (and thereby Jesus Himself) because he believed he was right. He was firmly persuaded that Jesus could not be the Messiah sent to rescue God’s people. But for all his confidence and zeal, Saul was sincerely wrong.

Radically, when Paul understood the truth and his blinded eyes were open to Jesus’ identity as the True Son of God, he shirked everything he had once claimed so confidently as his righteousness. Now, Paul staked his entire eternity on Christ alone. (1 Corinthians 2:2)

The Lord chose Saul to be His instrument to proclaim this gospel truth to all people. Saul was moved from darkness to light, and when he found solid footing, he understood how meaningless his life was without Christ. In Jesus, Paul found joy, peace, purpose, and a new identity rooted in the merciful grace of God in Jesus Christ.

The Everyday Application

1) Paul had an absolute confidence in his relationship with Jesus Christ….WHY? (verses 7-8)

Shame and honor are central concepts in many cultures today, even leading families to kill or disown those who shame the family. No one likes to be shamed and lose face with others.

Paul was a faithful, zealous servant of the Lord Jesus, who used his zeal in a way that honored Christ and his new identity as a Christ-follower. We too can learn much about living to please Jesus by studying his example and the source of his confidence. While no one wants to bear shame, we do desire to be confident.

In spite of much suffering for sharing the gospel, Paul remained devoted to Jesus after his transformation. So radical was the shift, Paul’s new identity grew dramatically in confidence. So great was the love of God to rescue him, a rebellious sinner, that he was unashamed to preach boldly that Christ was the only true Savior.

Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed…”. (2 Timothy 1:12) Despite all he had learned from boyhood, and was so confidently defending before he met Jesus, Paul now knew Jesus Himself. Knowing Jesus changed everything about Paul. He had not been convinced he was previously wrong through a scholarly debate, rather, Paul had simply come to know Christ. This confidence is why he preached Christ with every chance he had, despite persecution.

 
If Paul was not ashamed to suffer for Jesus, neither should we be ashamed in our walk with Christ today. If we find ourselves wavering in confidence, it should signal to us that we need to better know our Savior through His word and in community with other believers.

Authentic faith is not revealed in intellect of biblical doctrine alone, but in a true love for God Himself as revealed through His Word!

The Original Intent

2) Are there spiritual benefits for all who live in an authentic relationship with Jesus? (verse 9)

Paul’s conversion to Christ brought him suffering, pain, and eventually death, still, Paul faithfully lived out the call of Jesus even though it cost him everything. Paul was obedient to the cause of Christ because he had come to understand that Christ was worth all.

It was impossible for Paul to consider turning back to the worthless way he had once lived and try again to win the prize for which he had once fought so relentlessly. In fact, he called all these things dung compared to Christ!

“I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)

To be convinced of discarding all he had worked a lifetime to acquire and live in a different direction, while being persecuted and threatened with death, the return on his investment must be immense! And so it is!

Once receiving Christ as our Savior by acknowledging our sinful nature and realizing we can do nothing without Him, the benefits the Lord gives are eternal. (Ephesians 1:3)

We are assured of eternal salvation, which is impossible to lose. (John 10:28-30)

We are free to enjoy Gods unconditional, eternal love for God chose us, loves us, and adopts us His children. (Ephesians 1:4-5) 

We have a new life as a new creation, which will be enjoyed forever. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We have the privilege of prayer, an all-access door to God. We can confidently and freely talk to our Father about anything. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Paul experienced all of these and so much more. Though trials of this earthly life abound, the Lord God is near, only a prayer away.

The Everyday Application

2) Are there spiritual benefits for all who live in an authentic relationship with Jesus? (verse 9)

Peter once asked Jesus, “See, we have left everything and followed You. So what will there be for us?”. (Matthew 19:27) Today, we may say, “We’ve given up a lot to be Christians, is it worth it?!”

Maybe we’ve given up, careers, relationships, jobs, status, pride, or “pet sins”. Surrender can feel heavy, and it’s reasonable to wonder, “Is there a reward? If so, is it worth this sacrifice?”.

When we run into doubts and discouragement, rather than allow the enemy feed us lies, we can run to truth in Scripture. (Psalm 25:4-5) God’s Word assures us our labors for the Lord are not in vain. Our efforts will be rewarded if our motive was right when sacrificing for Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Jesus responded to Peter that everyone who has sacrificed for Him will inherit more. (Matthew 19:29) When you choose to reject gossip, when you give generously, when you love with patience, when you set yourself aside as Jesus did, you are sacrificing for Christ and not one bit is lost on Jesus. He sees it all and He will reward it all with more.

Those rewards, along with innumerable more we can’t begin to imagine, are yet to come in Glory (1 Corinthians 2:9), but He also provides spiritual benefits in this life. Peace, forgiveness, and constant access to God through prayer are only a few.

In Philippians 4:19, Paul encourages, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” 

Having our needs met by God may not look as we’d imagine, but remember, God’s ways are higher than ours. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Step out boldly and share the gospel, following Jesus is worth everything!

Yes, the road is guaranteed to be difficult (John 16:33), but it can be faced with the all-surpassing peace of Christ! (Philippians 4:7) 

The Original Intent

3) What is the ultimate treasure, the driving desire, to run the “race” set before us? (verses 10-12)

It wasn’t Paul’s aim to know about Christ, but rather to personally know Him as Savior, Lord, King, and Friend. To know Christ is to know the power of His resurrection that brings eternal life. (John 17:3)

Exploring the resurrection of Christ profoundly impacts at least three vital aspects of how we view life, death, and eternity:

First, because Christ rose from the dead with a physical body, and He intends to raise up our physical bodies, we understand the importance of our physical bodies now as God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) where He sanctifies us, and that we will have perfected physical bodies in Glory. (1 Corinthians 15:35-40) 

Second, Christ’s resurrection is the “firstfruit proof” that we, who die in Jesus by trusting Him for spiritual life while we physically live, will be raised to eternal life just as Christ was.  (1 Corinthians 15:20, Romans 8:11) Because He lives, we shall live also. His victory is our victory. (1 Corinthians 15:51-55)

Third, Christ’s resurrection is the evidence of our living Hope. Our safety in life or death is that the Author of Life is our Sovereign Lord. (Romans 14:7-9) Christ is our only hope, but He is also our Living Hope, providing us with the everlasting, constant presence of the Risen Savior for those who place their trust in Christ Jesus. (1 Peter 1:3-4) All who trust Jesus are held safe and secure with incorruptible Hope because Christ proved His power and authority over the grave once and for all!

The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee that this life is worth the living, death is NOT the end of life, and there is a world beyond; nothing in life or in death can separate us from Him. (Romans 8:31-39)

The Everyday Application

3) What is the ultimate treasure, the driving desire, to run the “race” set before us? (verses 10-12)

Just as Paul’s love and passion for Jesus Christ would carry him through earthly trials, sufferings, pain, persecution and death, we must follow his example of truly knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Just as knowing Christ means knowing the power of His resurrection, Scripture also tells us that the gateway of knowing Christ is knowing the “fellowship of His sufferings”. (verse 10)

Paul declares that when a Christian suffers, he is sharing in the suffering of Christ. To suffer for Jesus is not a penalty, but rather a privilege! When we suffer, we are dying to ourselves and the old way of living. When we put to death our old patterns, we are waking up to resurrection life!

We share the way He walked when we love and follow Him. (John 14:15) We share the cross He bore when we daily commit to slaying the desires of the flesh and putting on Christ instead, even if that means suffering. (Colossians 3:5-10) We share the life He lives forevermore when, one day, our mortality will be exchanged for immortality and we will never die again! (1 Corinthians 15:53-54)

Jesus gave His life for us; Paul was willing to give his life for Jesus and others, so we, as those who wear Christ’s name, must do the same.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, if anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

When saying yes to Jesus, we partner with Him, sharing God’s word to reach the lost. It truly is WORTH IT ALL. So, RUN ON, Sister, towards the goal of Christ that we may win the prize which God has called us to in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

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Sometimes, what the world values as success actually hinders our spiritual growth.

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God’s Word reminds us that true fulfillment comes from aligning our desires with God's will.
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Sketched XII, Day 4 Widowed To Royalty: Digging Deeper

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Sketched XII, Day 4 Widowed To Royalty: Digging Deeper

Rebecca Adams

April 18, 2024

Anchored,Brave,Broken,Deliver,Desperate,Future,Hope

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Widowed To Royalty"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ruth 1:8-21

Naomi said to them, “Each of you go back to your mother’s home. May the Lord show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me. 9 May the Lord grant each of you rest in the house of a new husband.” She kissed them, and they wept loudly.

10 They said to her, “We insist on returning with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Am I able to have any more sons who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, 13 would you be willing to wait for them to grow up? Would you restrain yourselves from remarrying? No, my daughters, my life is much too bitter for you to share, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me.”

14 Again they wept loudly, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law.”

16 But Ruth replied:
Don’t plead with me to abandon you
or to return and not follow you.
For wherever you go, I will go,
and wherever you live, I will live;
your people will be my people,
and your God will be my God.
17 Where you die, I will die,
and there I will be buried.
May the Lord punish me,
and do so severely,
if anything but death separates you and me.

18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped talking to her.

19 The two of them traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival and the local women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” 20 “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,” she answered, “for the Almighty has made me very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has opposed me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What names of God does Naomi use and what does this tell us about her faith? (verses 8, 9, 13, 17, 20-21)

If you read Naomi’s story closely, two things become exceedingly clear, she is deeply grieved and she relies faithfully on the character of God. There is never a point where she rails against Him angrily, she simply understands as a base line foundation that Yahweh is God, she is not, and He holds all sovereign authority. The way she speaks of God helps us understand how she views Him.

First, we note that each time she speaks of the Lord, she uses either “Yahweh” (written as LORD in our Bibles) or “šadday” (written as Almighty in our Bibles).

Yahweh is His personal name that He chose for Himself when He appeared at the burning bush to Moses right before He would bring His people out of slavery. (Exodus 3:14-15) The Lord gave permission for His people, the Israelites, to use “Yahweh” (I AM; meaning “to be” as in “self-existent”) in relationship with Him as a marker of His sovereignty and His close fellowship with them. He is the self-existent one and, though He needs no one, He initiated a relationship with Israel.

“Sadday” (perhaps you’ve seen or heard it as “El Shaddai”) is used 48 times in Scripture and all of them refer to God as the ALL-mighty one. He holds all power, but, interestingly, Sadday is also used when there is an extreme obstacle from a human perspective and the Almighty intervenes with astounding, divine compassion. Sadday depicts God’s compassion (Genesis 28:3), power (Job 11:7), authority (Job 13:3), justice (Job 8:3), kindness (Job 6:14), and satisfaction (Job 22:25-26).

For Naomi to use these names of God speaks of how she viewed herself under His sovereign rule as well as how she believed she was held in relationship with Him. She carried “both and” of protection and judgment under His name. (Psalm 91:1)

The Everyday Application

1) What names of God does Naomi use and what does this tell us about her faith? (verses 8, 9, 13, 17, 20-21)

How we talk about someone reveals much about our view of them. When gossiping tongues start up conversation, our word choices put our true hearts on display. If we use our words to slander, belittle, mock, or sarcastically demean, our beliefs about that person are made plain for all to know.

Our words and actions paint the truth about what we actually believe in our hearts. If you’re up for a challenge, consider writing down some things you know are true about God. Take as long as you need and maybe even add to it throughout the day as you think about the Lord. When you’re ready, take your list to the Lord and ask Him to help you reflect on your real, everyday, wake up, do the things, go to bed, life.

Does your life reflect your self-stated beliefs about God? Do your words? What about the way you interact in relationship with your spouse, children, coworkers, friends, and extended family? For a deeper challenge, consider asking a couple of friends to make their own list of what they think you believe about God.

Compare the lists and take them to the Lord; be intent on saturating yourself in His Word and asking the Spirit to lead and convict you as you study His character and how that impacts your system of lived-out beliefs.

Perhaps there is an aspect of the Lord you want to learn more about! Our Journey Themes of Character, He, and Known are great resources to help you explore! Invite a friend to study these together and determine to know the Lord more fully!

The more your practice speaking of the Lord and the way He has shaped you, the easier it will become! When you consider the goal of letting the Lord’s goodness fill your mouth, take small, intentional steps forward and watch what the Lord will do in and through you!

The Original Intent

2) What was the impact of Naomi’s faith on those around her? (verses 8-9 and 16-17)

Naomi, her husband, and two sons, moved out of Judah to the neighboring territory of Moab when the famine hit. Moab was the closest reasonable location for relocation, but it was also a foreign land with foreign gods. Idol worship, divination, and practices that were detestable to the Lord God were common place. Every aspect of living in Moab would have been an immense culture shock for the Jewish couple and their two boys. Regularly practicing their faith would have kept them ostracized in their new land and culture.

Despite their long stay in Moab, it’s clear from Naomi’s word choices that she wasn’t pulled into worship of false gods; she remained faithful to the Living God, the self-existent One, Yahweh. When she instructs her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to return to Moab and release her to go to Judah alone, she mentions Yahweh twice and tells them of His character, “May the Lord show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me. May the Lord grant each of you rest in the house of a new husband.” (verses 8-9, emphasis mine)

She believes Yahweh to be provider, to be kind, and the giver of good things like satisfaction, delight, and rest. She understands all of these good things are well within Yahweh’s character and power to provide and she speaks a blessing over the young women while she tells of her God.

The fact that she spoke Yahweh’s name at all and incurred His blessing over them at this critical juncture reveals much about how she had surely lived her everyday life among them all these years. Naomi could have easily been tolerant of their idol worship practices and told them that their “god” would bless them if they returned home.

The Everyday Application

2) What was the impact of Naomi’s faith on those around her? (verses 8-9 and 16-17)

If we take time to reflect on our words in everyday life, I wonder what others might surmise about our beliefs about God. Does His name ever cross our lips? Do our tongues tell of His character and goodness? Are our voices lifted in audible praise only on Sunday mornings in church or when we are alone? Can others see, hear, and testify of our stalwart faith in the Living God?

Naomi could have thrown her beliefs aside and begun to worship the gods of her culture, having decided Yahweh wasn’t worth her time or her worship.

But she didn’t. Instead, I’m guessing based on the blessing she spoke over Orpah and Ruth, that speaking of the Lord God and His goodness and character of kindness was often found on her tongue during all those years in Moab. Based on Ruth’s full surrender of commitment to Yahweh for herself (verses 16-17), it seems incredibly likely that Ruth had grown to trust Naomi’s God because of Naomi’s regular display of faith in everyday life, which was reflected even in how she spoke of the Lord God.

Let’s be honest, talking about our faith and relationship with the Lord can feel awkward and out of place. Speaking of the Lord in everyday conversation requires prayer and practice. Is there someone in your life you can learn from who models this well?

For me, I learned to speak more easily of Jesus when I heard my dear friend speak to others of God’s goodness. She easily took ordinary opportunities to simply praise God aloud, even if the other person wasn’t a believer. Her authenticity and boldness challenged me and I began doing the same. Naomi’s example of a faith that speaks up in everyday life can encourage each of us to “[…] exalt His Name together!” (Psalm 34:1-3)

The Original Intent

3) Did Naomi blame God for her pain? (verses 20-21)

Naomi suffered significant loss in leaving her homeland, becoming impoverished during famine, leaving behind friends and family, and burying her husband only to lose both of her sons a decade later. (Ruth 1:1-5) She describes the agony inside her heart as “much too bitter to share”. (verse 13)

It would be easy for us to miss how her words reveal her view of God, instead, inserting ourselves with our mindset into her story and decide she also hated God and blamed Him for her suffering. But this wouldn’t be fair to Naomi, her faith, or her legacy.

Our first glimpse tells us the whole reason Naomi decided to leave her only two remaining family members was because she’d heard of Yahweh’s provision. (verse 6) She didn’t doubt His existence and neither did she doubt His care. Providing food for His people after a famine was perfectly aligned with what she knew to be true of Yahweh’s character.

Being in a foreign land that worshipped false gods of rain and crops, she could have caved to peer pressure and changed her belief about the Lord. She could have attributed the abundance that was now in Judah to a foreign deity, but she refused to give up what she knew to be true of Yahweh.

She acted on her belief, and chose to re-arrange her life, again, as an older woman, directly because of the Lord’s care as a giver. (verse 6)

While it’s true, Naomi stated, “The Lord’s hand turned against me” (verse 13) and “the Lord has brought me back empty” (verse 21), we must not overlook that it still required faith to believe He was the ALL-mighty Sadday. Naomi was honest about her grief and her loss, but she recognized the sovereignty of the Lord and returned to her homeland as an act of faith, choosing to entrust herself to His care.

The Everyday Application

3) Did Naomi blame God for her pain? (verses 20-21)

Naomi’s faith to return to the Lord in Judah despite her suffering, which she knew had come through the hands of the Lord, reminds me of King David.

The king had sinned against the Lord and David was permitted a choice for his punishment.
David could choose either three years of famine, live on the run from his enemies for three months, or suffer a plague in the land for three days. (2 Samuel 24:10-13) In anguish, David quickly responded, “Please, let us fall into the Lord’s hands because His mercies are great, but don’t let me fall into human hands.” (1 Samuel 24:14, emphasis mine)

David knew he was safer under the judgement of Yahweh than under the control of others, even if that meant suffering.

The prophet, Hosea, also expounds on the understanding Naomi had of the Lord and His sovereign, purposeful reign that was inextricably tied to His goodness, mercy, and love. Hosea implores rebellious Israel, “Come, let’s return to the Lord; for He has torn us, and He will heal us; He has wounded us, and He will bind up our wounds.” (Hosea 6:1, emphasis mine)

Hosea recognized the Lord’s good purposes behind suffering and called Israel to come back to the Lord in faith, trusting His character. David knew that hiding in the shelter of Sadday was better by far than running from Him. (Psalm 91:1)

Though Naomi had suffered immensely, and she knew with confidence that it was the Lord who had allowed her suffering, she still chose faith. She chose to return to Him. She chose the safety of Sadday and His goodness, even if she couldn’t feel it or understand how all the pieces fit together for her good.

This kind of faith doesn’t come overnight, neither is it easy, but when we experience the goodness of God for ourselves and are convinced of His authority and love, our faith grows strong enough to cultivate hope in the midst of suffering. (Romans 5:2-5)

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Sketched XII, Day 3
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I stood beside Naomi and watched as the distance between us and Orpah grew. Orpah looked back once, fear and hope warring in her eyes.

After she turned to look forward again, she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. I could sense the steely resolve which helped her survive the death of her husband.

With each passing moment, I battled the rising panic within. What am I doing? I wondered.
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Wordless Day 12

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Wordless Welcome Letter & Invitation

Wordless ~ Day Twelve

His Words

Lamentations 1:15
Lamentations 2:15
Lamentations 3:43-45
Lamentations 4:15
Psalm 119:113-120

Journal
Questions

1) How can I relate with this suffering?
Bring that to the Lord in prayer.

2) What truth do I need to hold onto today?
Write it on a sticky note and put it somewhere you’ll see it, or mark your skin with a note in ink!

3) Name one thing you will praise the Lord for today on repeat. Write it down and set alarms on your phone to remind you to praise Him!

Worship

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Worship XII Day 4 Silent Night; Holy Night: Digging Deeper

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Worship XII Day 4 Silent Night; Holy Night: Digging Deeper

Merry Ohler

November 23, 2023

Adoring,Brave,Covenant,Forgiven,Grace

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Silent Night; Holy Night"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 12:49-53

I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is finished! 51 Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

52 From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) If God is loving (John 3:16), and Jesus is God (Matthew 1:23), why did Christ say He wished the world were “set ablaze”? (verse 49)

Context matters tremendously when studying Scripture! Prior to Christ’s statement in Luke 12 that He wished the world were already ablaze, He exhorted His disciples to have no fear, to be bold in acknowledging Him before men, and to recognize the brevity of life.

He told them not to be anxious about anything in their lives, neither food, nor their bodies, or their clothing. He reminded them that God cared for the ravens and provided for them, then went on to tell the disciples they should be faithful, ready servants at all times. (Go read chapter 12 in full; #HisWordsBeforeOurs)

When Peter asked if what Christ said was just for the disciples, or for the crowds (verse 41), Jesus responded with a question to illustrate the measure of a faithful servant in God’s eyes. It was on the heels of all this that Jesus issued His shocking statement and claim that He wished the world were already ablaze, and that He came to bring division, not peace.

For greater understanding, we must see that throughout the Jewish people’s history, God frequently encountered His people through fire.

Fire was present when God made the covenant with Abraham and promised his offspring the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates. (Genesis 15:12-21) When God spoke to Moses, He did so through a burning bush. (Exodus 3:2-4) He led the Israelites through the wilderness with a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21) and descended on Mount Sinai in fire (Exodus 19:16-25)

The disciples, and Jewish crowds around them, would have been familiar with encountering God through fire. Their initial understanding would not have been that Jesus desired the fiery destruction of the world, but that His words conveyed a meeting with their holy God. 

The Everyday Application

1) If God is loving (John 3:16), and Jesus is God (Matthew 1:23), why did Christ say He wished the world were “set ablaze”? (verse 49)
When I read seemingly contradictory statements in Scripture, it can be tempting to turn to a different passage, or write something off as beyond my limited human understanding in order to bypass uncomfortable feelings. Sometimes, it is challenging to sit with a passage or verse for an extended period of time and wrestle through it in prayer with the Lord to  seek a fuller understanding.

As I was thinking about the gentle, lullaby-like lyrics to Silent Night, this passage of Scripture returned to mind over and over. Jesus’ words in Luke 12:49-53 were spoken with the authority of the Lord of all creation.

While His birth was the next step in the fulfillment of God’s plan, His arrival was anything but quiet.

Christ came to meet with God’s created people. Where we sinned (and sin still), Christ came to make the way of reconciliation. Just as Yahweh came to meet with Moses on the mountain in a blaze, just as He led the Israelites through the wilderness in a column of fire, so came the Lord to meet with His people through Jesus.

Time after time, the one true God came to meet with His created people and make a way. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, came as a defenseless baby. A God-man, born to live, then to die, and come back to life again, so that all who repent of their sin and put their trust in Him may have eternal life, and life abundant. Praise God, Christ the Savior is born!

The Original Intent

2) If Jesus Christ is the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6) and the source of all peace (Ephesians 2:14-22), how is this consistent with His declaration that He came to bring division? (verses 51-53)

When Christ walked the earth in human form, family life was vastly different from what many of us consider normal. Multiple generations frequently lived together, and the nuclear family was not a reality. Instead of a husband and wife and their children, a family unit extended from a father and mother to their children, their children’s spouses and their children’s children.

Tradition and religion went hand in hand. The tradition and religion of the parents were carried out by everyone in their household. When Jesus spoke about the division that would occur between those who would repent of their sin and put their trust in Him, and those who would reject Christ, the relational rift He described would have been shocking.

The specific language of those in deep, close family relationship landed exactly as He intended. The division He spoke of was not something He desired to force upon people, but would instead be fulfilled by humanity’s free will: the willing choice some would make to reject salvation in Jesus. Jesus Christ is the Prince of peace, as Isaiah 9:6 states. He is the source of all peace, just as Ephesians 2:14-22 indicates.

Jesus Christ knew that all mankind would not choose to accept the salvation of peace He came to give, and that there would be many who would reject Him and His offer of peace with God. He knew the present, past, and future, because Jesus is God.

He could confidently assert that He would bring division, because He knew what the future would hold as He held out forgiveness to the world (John 3:16), but only a few would choose the narrow pathway of Life (Matthew 7:14).

He knew that some people, even His own Jewish people, would choose to embrace sin and stay apart from Him, rather than repent and embrace Him and the salvation He offered as Prince of Peace. 

The Everyday Application

2) If Jesus Christ is the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6) and the source of all peace (Ephesians 2:14-22), how is this consistent with His declaration that He came to bring division? (verses 51-53)

Birthed into the chaos of a world in utter darkness, Jesus brought peace because He Himself IS divine peace. He did not come to keep peace, but to provide Himself to all those who would receive Him.

When I read the account of Christ’s birth and life, the accounts of His interactions with the disciples and His interactions with people He ministered to, His gentleness can sometimes soften the reality that Jesus Christ is Reigning Lord of all creation.

The reports of His life, death, and resurrection are powerful and real, but in my humanity, I often focus on just one part of Who He is and fail to consider and meditate on the fact that “Baby Jesus” was also Lord of all creation from His birth. (Colossians 1:15-17)

Further, I am convicted there are times when I still do not live as though He is my Lord. When challenging circumstances threaten my comfort, when shocking news is delivered to those I love, or when an outcome is not what I hope for, I’m forced to examine whether my trust is shaken, or whether I have truly determined that Jesus is my Lord in all situations.

Sometimes, by the grace of God, I am rock steady and securely surrendered to His absolute Lordship of my life and of all things. Sometimes, however, my frail flesh rears its ugly head, and I rail against the things He’s permitted to touch me and those I love.

Regardless of my faithfulness, Jesus Christ is faithful, and He is Lord of all. Strengthen my faith, Lord. Thank You, Jesus!

The Original Intent

3) In what way do Christ’s words in this passage point to the good news of the Gospel and the peace made available to us through Him?

Jesus Christ was and is the long-awaited Messiah. Israel’s promised Savior fulfilled prophecies and promises handed down to the Jewish people throughout the course of their history.

The very Son of God was physically present and speaking to those around Him, describing what He knew would come to pass as Jews and Gentiles alike repented and put their trust in Him alone. Those around Him may not have understood the full implications of what He was saying in the moment, but the truth of His statements remained. The salvation He came to bring was not political or economical, as the Jewish people expected their promised Savior would bring.

Instead of leading a revolution against the enemies of the Jews, Jesus came heralding a heavenly kingdom completely different from the physical world. (Luke 17:20-21) He called people to repentance, love-in-action, and humility, not rebellion and war. (Matthew 5:3-10)

Though there would be those who would reject Him, there would also be those who accepted Christ and His gospel. While Jesus desired all to repent of their sin and come to Him (1 Timothy 2:3-4), division between those who would accept His salvation and those who would reject it was inevitable.

The Everyday Application

3) In what way do Christ’s words in this passage point to the good news of the Gospel and the peace made available to us through Him?

The outward practices of the religious leaders at the time Jesus spoke these words were not so different from the things I sometimes find myself doing today.

There is no shortage of needs and opportunities to help others, but no matter how I serve, if my motivation is “doing for doing’s sake”, or only because it’s what I think I “should” do, or for the vain purpose of others noticing what I’ve done and then think well of me, I’ve fallen into the same sinful trap as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.

Christ didn’t come to offer us a salvation of works-righteousness or a checklist of indulgences to be paid or earned. The peace and wholeness He offers is complete in and of itself because of Who He is.

It is freely available to all who will repent of their sins and put their trust in the finished work He completed when He died the death we sinners deserve on the cross and was then raised to bodily life. Glory to God in the highest, Jesus Christ was born! 

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Worship XII, Day 3
Journey Study

Silent Night
Holy night . . .
It was a night like no other, a holy night. God, the Father, sent His Son to this earth as a baby, to bring peace and salvation to all humankind. The Messiah was swaddled and placed in a manger, housed in a stable. (Luke 2:4-7)

Let’s just stop right there. Don’t you wish all stories were this sweet?

Anyone for warm, fuzzy slippers or a soft, comfy blanket?
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Sketched XI Day 6 What Do You Have Against Me?

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Sketched XI Day 6 What Do You Have Against Me?

Marietta Taylor

June 26, 2023

Bold,Brave,Faith,Glory,God,Help,Hope

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 17:17-24
Psalm 119:74-77
Mark 9:14-24
Romans 10:14-17

Elijah
Yahweh revealed Himself to the widow every day as He kept the flour jar plentiful and the oil flowing, just as He’d told me to speak to her. (1 Kings 17:8-16) She did not worship Him before (1 Kings 17:12) so I had hoped that through me, she would believe and worship the One True God.

Since starting my journey, I have come to know the Lord more deeply and I long for her to know Him just as I do. I’ve seen the shape of His sovereign heart as He led me to prophesy against Ahab’s wickedness, I’ve seen Him be enough in the never ending supply of basic necessities, and omnipotent as the God who commands even unclean birds to feed me.
There is none like Yahweh.

But now this tragedy has happened with her son. What she thinks of my God, she is placing on me. How Lord do I show through a dead son that You are still the truth she seeks? I have nothing against her and I don’t believe Yahweh does either. Though the gods she worships might be shifting shadows, my God is not. (James 1:17)  

I should believe without a doubt, but I cannot understand why, after such a grand display of power and faithfulness, this loss would befall her. Help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24) Only the Lord can fix this. I am the messenger and God’s vessel. May I hear and obey how He plans to bring new life to the seed of faith that was planted in her. (Matthew 17:20-21)

Widow
This God of Elijah’s. How can I trust Him? Yes, He showed great favor by not allowing me and my son to die that day I met Elijah by the city gate. (1 Kings 17:10-12) I began to think maybe He is truer and more powerful than my gods. But now, my son lies dead. Just like the Baal gods, Elijah’s God also put his anger at my sins on my son and sent Elijah here to kill him. (1 Kings 17:18)

I cannot take back my sins, but watching my son die, I wish I could. All I can do is weep over my son and how my shortcomings have surely caused his death. I feel this is the suffering I’ve earned, but I struggle to reconcile my sin with the loss of my son. Is this the right punishment? (Psalm 119:75) How can the man of God help me? Do I believe he or his God can do anything? Is He even willing?

Elijah
I have taken the boy and will go to the Lord in private to not harm what little faith the widow might still have. (Matthew 13:20-21) I fear the Lord and so I put my hope in His word, praying the widow will see and rejoice. (Psalm 119:74) “Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son?” (1 Kings 17:20) The Lord is not like the gods of Baal, but how can she know the truth of who my God is when the outcomes can look the same? How can I be reassured of that truth? 

Dare I be bold like Abraham (Genesis 22:1-18) and believe for that which has never been done? (Mark 9:23) What if the Lord does not do it? But…what if He does? Stretching myself over the boy three times, I pray, “Lord my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again!” (1 Kings 17:21) The Lord’s “faithful love comfort(s) me” (Psalm 119:76) and the boy’s life returned to him and he lived again! (1 Kings 17:22) 

Widow
My son lives! Elijah has done this!
No; my heart pulls back at those words. It is his God, his Yahweh. Recognition and realization of truth washes over me as my heart and voice affirm what my eyes have seen, “Now I know you are a man of God and the Lord’s word from your mouth is true. (1 Kings 17:24) Were my sins overlooked? Discarded? I do not know. But I know Elijah’s God gave me “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair.” (Isaiah 61:3) Though my grief was great and my sins were before me, my joy overflows abundantly more. This God works so differently, so graciously. 

The gods I have followed all my life do not operate in truth and compassion. But this God, He had compassion on me and now my son lives. If I follow Yahweh’s instruction I will know the truth and I will LIVE. (Psalm 119:77) Blessed be Elijah whose beautiful feet brought the good news of The One True God. (Romans 10:15) Now I will tell of this God to my son, who lives because of Him! May my son also follow Him. 

Elijah
I wept as I saw the seed of faith grow in the widow; my own faith grew alongside hers. As she embraced Truth for the first time, I thrilled all the more in the veracity of Yahweh’s Name and character. Because I have delighted in God’s instruction, His compassion came to me by granting of my bold prayer (Psalm 119:77), solidifying my faith and growing hers. I think forward to our promised Messiah. He will be the Living Truth. (John 14:16) He will rescue us from all our sins and He will fulfill all the Lord has told us about Him. When He comes, we will worry about nothing for He will be God with us. But while we wait for the Promise, I will testify to all people of the unchanging truth of Yahweh, who continues to shape my heart as He has done for this widow and her son. 

A Note About Sketched

In Sketched themes, we imaginatively step into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally.

We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters viewed God, themselves, and the world around them.

Perhaps we will find parts of our story reflected in theirs!

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Sketched XI, Day 7
Digging Deeper

I know, Lord, that your judgments are just and that you have afflicted me fairly.

May your faithful love comfort me as you promised your servant.

May your compassion come to me so that I may live, for your instruction is my delight.
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June 19 - July 7, 2023 - Journey Theme #120

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The GT Weekend ~ Shielded Week 1

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The GT Weekend ~ Shielded Week 1

Rebecca Adams

February 1, 2020

Believe,Brave,Clothed,Courage,Deliver,God,GT Weekend,Holy Spirit

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

His Words Before Ours

Psalm 27:5-6

For He will conceal me in His shelter
in the day of adversity;
He will hide me under the cover of His tent;
He will set me high on a rock
Then my head will be high
above my enemies around me;
I will offer sacrifices in His tent with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

On the day of trouble and adversity, Lord, I often finish this verse with brave words of how I will rescue myself or rely on my own strength or ability to just “get it done!”. Perseverance and self-motivation leave me pretty empty, Lord, and don’t carry my heart very tenderly in the midst of hardship. There’s no room to handle my fears or unpack my frustrations. I forget You are present. I forget You have given me Your own armor, fitting it securely across my heart to protect me from the enemy of my soul.

Teach me to rest in Your protection, to lay aside my anxious thoughts or angry words of retaliation, and let me rest in the peace You readily provide. Thank You for loving me so well, Abba!
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

How would you define victorious living? How many of those answers require something beyond your ability to control to be a specific way? Amy noted in her Journey Study on Monday that she could trace the source of her lack of satisfaction, happiness, and peace back to a lack of relying on God and wearing the armor He provides. Too busy for a quiet time with God. Too much brokenness and hurt going on to be transparent with others.

The need to rely on self over the Savior. Shame. The enemy is against us as daughters of the One True God, to be sure, but he does not have jurisdiction to win! Take back ground from the enemy this weekend by holding tightly to truth over lies!
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

Who have you fought with recently. Let those faces come to mind. Who has angered or frustrated you? Who do you struggle to even breath the same air with? Hold onto the mental image of their face, and begin praying for them. Right now. It’s okay, I know it’s hard to breathe right now. Hard to let your heart unclench while you look in their eyes. Maybe you even pull back. It’s okay.

The reasons and justification for your anger or you pain are brimming at the surface, but call all the voices to halt. Pray for this person. Don’t stop until you feel your tension relax and you really do see their face as not that of your enemy. Don’t allow the true enemy of your heart to deceive you into believing this person is your nemesis. Keep praying for them this weekend, let God fight the battles of your heart for you.
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

One too many stacks of unwashed dishes. One too many tantrums from your toddler or door slams and eye rolls from your teenager. One more attack from your coworker. One more way your spouse added to the mountain of hurt in your heart. What holds you up in the midst?

Rebekah Hargraves points us to the belt of truth, which is the whole of Scripture and every promise it holds. She notes how it isn’t a cute band of color around our waist, but as an anchor from which everything hinges for support and balance. Do you view Scripture like this? If so, stand strong in it, Sister!

Continue to read His word for the sustaining life you already know the Father gives us through it and encourage others to do the same. If not, consider beginning to allow it to be that anchor for your heart. Start by reading 1 psalm a day and jotting down a few thoughts or questions as you read. The Lord Himself will guide and teach you!
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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship VI Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Where have you “felt the brokenness of the world with your own two hands”? Do you feel yourself shy away inside as your mind brings those unbidden thoughts and feelings to the surface? Are you skimming forward past these words, quickly hiding the painful scenarios or cutting words back in the corner from where they came? Brokenness. Shame. Gaping wounds. Grief so deep. Loneliness. Loss. Weariness. Fear. This brokenness is everywhere, isn’t it? But Oh praise God we have a Redeeming Rescuer! One who heals, One who brings life, One who binds up, One who brings justice, One who brings to light what was done in secret, One who l o v e s. Will you do something brave this weekend with me? Will you bring up one, just one, of those aching broken places and hold it in your hands while you talk with the Savior about its painful edges? I will pray for you as you do; pray for me!

2)  What have been some of your “seasons of wilderness”? What has been the prevailing factor in that desert time that has most discouraged you or caused you pain? Maybe it’s loneliness, loss, fear, or even anger. In looking back at other dry, weary seasons, what good have you seen coming from that time of stretching? What impact would a shift in your perspective have? What if we began viewing our seasons as opportunities for God to draw us close and make us more like Himself instead of begging Him to release us from the suffering? It is wisdom and maturity in Christ to choose surrendered submission in our wilderness prayers!

3)  What was the reason you last decided to intentionally praise God? Whether it was vocally or in your heart, think back to the last time you remember praising Him for something in particular. Now, think back to the last time you praised Him for the good work He was doing in the midst of your life’s storm. If you’re in a storm right now, take time to physically hold out your hands as you pray, choosing praise for His character in the face of your circumstances. Ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you, showing you His glory. If you aren’t in a season of struggle right now, intentionally take this time to walk closer with the Lord. Be consistent in your quiet time Bible study, journal your prayers and study notes, connect with an accountability partner to grow together, take a vow of silence to listen more intently to the Father, and choose praise. Practicing praise in easy times, will prepare us for worship in trial.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Exodus 33:18 back to the Lord and let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, let me see Your glory!”

Prayer Journal
Please, Lord God, remove from my heart the incessant desire to keep focusing on the temporary, the fleeting circumstances around me that frustrate me, or the people who make me forget I’m human too. Lord, I want to be ensconced by Your presence. Permeate my heart with Your glory; just let me sit here and dwell with you, drinking in Your beauty, that I may be forever transformed as a result. May my heart bring You true worship that honors and delights You. May my eyes be for You and Your magnificence so that nothing else matters because Your mighty love will flow through me to a hurting world. Hear my heart worship, Lord!

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Esther Day 10 Wisdom: The Best Adornment

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Esther Day 10 Wisdom: The Best Adornment

Sara Cissell

November 15, 2019

Brave,Esther,God,Guidance,Holy Spirit,Promises,Seeking,Significance,Wisdom

Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 4:12-5:14
Proverbs 3:1-12
Proverbs 1:1-9


 

“Oh Lord, please give me wisdom and discernment!
I know Your plans for me are far greater than any I could imagine.
I recognize how I need to know Your thoughts in this scenario.
Are You leading me to this?
What does it look like to walk this out?

Lord, I sense the outcome of this present possibility has the potential to impact the rest of my life, so the need to hear from You weighs heavy on my mind today.
Guide my feet, steady my heart, tune my ears to hear Your voice.”

The sound of my pen moving across my journal pages filled the air around me as I wrote these words and poured out my heart before the Lord. While an element of me felt somewhat overdramatic at my thoughts, another part resonated so fiercely with the significance of this season I knew not to take my journaling lightly.

When I no longer sensed any more words to pour out before Him, I set my journal aside and opened my laptop to begin working on this Journey Study. Have you ever had one of those moments in which the Lord heard and answered you before you even prayed?
This particular assignment has been in my hands for several months and it is today I opened my Bible to truly soak in the verses.

There, nestled in the middle of the Old Testament, I found another brave soul navigating the journey placed before her, a journey where literal life and death hung in the balance. Had Esther kept a journal, our words may have paralleled one another in unique ways.

In the three short chapters leading up to where we find ourselves in chapter four, Esther has lost the only family she’s known, won the longest version of the Bachelor ever, become queen of a nation and wife to a very powerful man ruled by the law of the land, and successfully kept her true heritage a secret from all in the palace. While that is enough fodder for multiple full-length movies, the plot thickens. Haman, an Agagite, who has a serious vendetta against the Jewish population in Susa and has been aggravated by one specific Jew (Mordecai) who refuses to cower before him, has gained the ear of the King. Enjoying his position, and fueled by his hatred for Jews, manages to convince King Ahaseurus to send out an edict stating all Jews to be attacked on a specific day. In essence, a mass genocide has just been approved and declared to the entire country. Esther, who is a Jew, and all of her kinsmen suddenly have targets strapped to them as the day draws closer.

This is where we find ourselves as the curtain opens on Esther 4:12. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, sends her a message that sums up her past while prophesying her future without an altered course of action. “If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for a such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

Esther responded by fasting and praying for three days before going to the king. She knew the law stated that anyone who approached the king without being summoned, would likely be killed.  Rather than dismiss Mordecai’s pleading message, her immediate response to his message spoke of a beauty that went more than skin deep.
Esther understood the value of wisdom and sought it earnestly.

It was her first beauty treatment in preparation to go before the king.
When was the last time that we thought of seeking wisdom
as an element of beauty?

In Proverbs, listening to father’s instruction and a mother’s teaching is referred to as “a garland of favor on your head and pendants around your neck.”  (Proverbs 1:9)
Seeking wisdom and instruction brings beauty and leads to beautiful outcomes
when applied to a life.

In Esther’s story, she followed Mordecai’s instruction and sought the wisdom of the Lord. Through that process, the Lord poured out a courage and discernment that granted her favor with the king. Her interactions with the king and Haman resulted in an edict giving Jews permission to defend themselves on the day of their would-be-massacre.

Esther’s beauty was a key piece of the puzzle in finding herself living in the palace and married to the king. However, it was not her outward beauty that enabled her to advocate for her people; it was the beauty of her wisdom. Her time spent in the presence of the Lord, seeking His guidance, made all the difference.

The Lord’s wisdom comes through reading His Word, spending time talking with Him, and seeking the direction of mature Christians to name a few key resources. Proverbs 3 tells us to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways and He will make our paths straight.
Isn’t that a beautiful promise and thought?

Do you find yourself in a similar season of needing the wisdom of the Lord?
Seek His wisdom and submit yourself to His direction.
Be astounded at the beauty He brings forth and wear His wisdom well!

Tags :
Adornment,Beautiful,Discernment,Earnestly,instruction,my heart,season,steady,value
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