Comfort

Follow Day 5 Where We See A Mess

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 3:1-14
Exodus 4:1-20
Acts 4:7-13
 1 Corinthians 1:26-30

Follow, Day 5

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.’ This is the Lord’s declaration. ‘For as heaven is higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Who but God would invite an ex- murderer to lead an entire nation? Humans use the past to judge the present, but God sees beyond the past. Regardless of our history, He longs to make us radically new and use us to build His kingdom.

Consider Moses, who grew up in the palace of the Egyptian pharaoh knowing he was a Hebrew. One day, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, and, after carefully ensuring no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian. Still, Pharaoh learned of Moses’ crime and sought to kill him, so Moses fled to Midian. Welcomed into the family of Jethro, a Midian priest, Moses planned to live out his days in the wilderness as an isolated shepherd caring for mangy sheep.

Like Moses, there was a time in my college life when I felt like running away. My boyfriend spent the night with another student in his home, and someone told the school authority I was the student. I was innocent, but unable to convince school leadership. My punishment was a warning; a repeat would earn my dismissal.

I was devastated. In time, bolstered by God’s merciful strength, I ended the relationship. God gave me a new beginning altogether: since then, I have been following Him, and am now in His service.

Similarly, Moses was in desperate need of a new beginning. Moses was content with a shepherd’s life in the bush; one day God appeared to him in a literal bush bursting with fire. God called Moses to Egypt to bring His people out from slavery and into a land of freedom and plenty, a land of promise.

Dismayed, Moses gave God a slew of excuses:

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” (Exodus 3:11)
What if they ask Your name? ( Exodus 3:13-15)
“What if they don’t believe me?” (Exodus 4:1)
I am not eloquent (Exodus 4:10); send someone else (Exodus 4:13).

Looking through the lens of his past, Moses saw himself as unfit for the work God was calling him to do. But despite his resistance, God was not deterred. He promised to be with Moses, and commissioned Moses’ brother, Aaron, as his spokesman. God also understood the physical fear hiding behind Moses’ excuses, and assured him those who sought to kill him were dead.

We cannot mess up God’s plan for us, even if we push against Him!
He refuses to give up on us because He looks not at our mess, but our potential in Him.

As Moses’ heart turned toward trusting obedience to God, he encountered God in a personal and powerful way. He received instruction and clear direction from God for his next steps. When he met resistance in Pharaoh, he sought God who faithfully met and guided him. Soon, the naïve and fearful man became a threat to Pharaoh and all of Egypt, until Pharaoh released the Israelites.

Sometimes, our past failures threaten to hold us back from following God. The past upsets us, and we lose confidence. Like Moses, we easily conclude we cannot be useful to God. Moses didn’t have an organized plan, talent, or the confidence of a leader, but God still invited him to follow. It was not about Moses, but about God. He chooses the foolish, the weak, and the despised to shame the wise and the mighty, so we boast in Him alone. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

Regardless of our past, God forgives completely, and equips us by His power for His service as we choose to follow His way. We see this truth in the lives of the apostles. Some were mere fishermen; one was even a tax collector, considered by the Jews as the most sinful; yet Jesus called each of them to follow Him. When the Pharisees grumbled about Jesus dining with sinners, Jesus replied His call was precisely for sinners such as them. (Mark 2:15-17)

Consider the Apostle Paul, a persecutor of the Church; yet God called him out of slavery and empowered him with the Holy Spirit to follow Him in freedom. As a result, Paul became a great preacher of the gospel. His Spirit-inspired writings continue to guide our lives today, comprising a large part of the New Testament.

Hear Paul’s own testimony, “This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–and I am the worst of them.’”
(1 Timothy 1:15)

Moses’ story, the first 12 apostles, Paul, and even my own life, join together to declare in wondrous chorus . . .
Where we see a mess,
God sees an opportunity for transformation.

God simply requires hearts willing to accept His invitation to follow Him, one step after the other.

Sisters, let us turn our eyes from our pasts to the One who holds our tomorrows and whisper, “Yes.”

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Reveal 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) 2020. The year that will be forever marked with loss for many, and confusion and chaos for nearly all of us. In what ways has the Covid-19 pandemic gripped you with loss? Even the loss of normalcy significantly impacts each of us in different ways around the globe. Together, we share in this experience of loss. Maybe for you, just seeing the word loss makes your eyes swim with tears. Perhaps you’ve dreaded this Christmas season because the weight of absence feels impossibly heavy. We often move into the tendency to manage how we feel about loss rather than deal with it, allowing it to become part of who we are. What would it look like for you to acknowledge your loss this December? What if, instead of trying to stomp out the embers of ache and emptiness, we allowed them to swirl around us unhindered. What might the Lord Jesus reveal about our hearts, and our always constant need for Him, in the light of those flickers of brilliant loss? Make space this weekend to journal about your emptiness and aching places as you walk into December. Weep and be held by the Lord of Life and let Him comfort you.

2) Heartache isn’t a word we love to talk or write about with languishing love. The very word signifies we have traveled a long path, a weary one, a wounding one.  While most of us can easily describe some of our past experiences as bringing burdening ache to our hearts, we don’t often consider the heartache of God. Jesus came as a squalling babe in a rough manger, experiencing our heartache from the moment His holy lungs breathed their first earthly breath. Then, hanging on a cruel cross, knowing your sin and mine was being paid for in His righteous flesh, His heart continued breaking for us to come near and know His peace. As we walk through suffering, often made raw again at Christmas, be reminded the Savior knows you deeply. Pen the words of Psalm 90:14 on a card and make it a visible reminder to ask the Lord to satisfy you with His love this Christmas!

3) Ancient King Solomon wisely summarized, “Hope delayed makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) What have you waited for? I mean, really waited for? A baby? A husband? A healthy marriage? A new position at work? Peace in relationships? Joy to return? Israel waited for the One promised by God to come and free them, but their expectations were so far off they missed the Savior entirely, even crucifying Him. I know I’ve done the same thing with my longings. For nearly two decades, I longed for my husband to act a certain way within our marriage. As Solomon wrote, I was indeed “heart sick”, but God graciously revealed how many good qualities I had missed completely because I wanted my “hoped for” to look as I expected. As I shifted my gaze to the Giver of all things, He opened my eyes to so much more! What if we each decided to surrender our hopes and dreams to the God who perfectly fulfills every heart that trusts in Him?!

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 Luke 1:78-79 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Prayer Journal
Ah Lord God, my view of myself and my circumstance is often so magnified compared to how I view You. I forget You are sovereign. I forget You are loving, good, and always for me. Oh Lord, I do believe You, help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24) Sometimes, I think of those shepherds on that first Christmas, or of Mary and Joseph, all of whom saw angels with their own eyes, and heard glorious tidings of good news! How easy it must have been to believe them! I forget, Lord, how long they had waited as an entire people for Your coming. How many times had they doubted? Even in the middle of Your very presence in their lives, how often did the “ordinary” feel too mundane to be holy? Seep my heart in Your presence so deeply, Holy Spirit, that I begin to see my regular life from Your vantage point. I wait for much, yet You are never delayed nor out of touch. I grieve, yet I know You hold every tear in Your safekeeping. I’ve lost much, but I know redemption is Your good work. Though I cry out, “how long, Lord?” and beg You to “turn and have compassion on Your servant”, “let Your work be seen by your servants and Your splendor by their children.” You alone are holy, sovereign, and always love, and I praise You!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Reveal Day 1 Until He Appears

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Habakkuk 1:1-4
Habakkuk 3:16-19
1 Peter 1:3-9
Romans 8:18-38

Reveal, Day 1

“How long, Lord, must I call for help
and you do not listen
or cry out to you about violence
and you do not save?
Why do you force me to look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Oppression and violence are right in front of me.
Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.
This is why the law is ineffective
and justice never emerges.
For the wicked restrict the righteous;
therefore, justice comes out perverted.”
(Habakkuk 1:2-4)

If ever there was a prayer for 2020, this passage from Habakkuk pretty much covers it.
Pain, strife, injustice, violence, conflict, loss . . . all wrapped up in a God who has never felt further away.

Christmastime often taps us on our shoulder to remind us what we’ve lost throughout the year, or to bring attention to what we don’t have. Loved ones with whom we once celebrated who will not be sitting at the dinner table this year. Gifts we wish were under the tree, but for which the budget couldn’t make room. A special someone to share life with or children and a family of our own.

But 2020, and all its tumult, have truly humbled our hearts. What we thought was known has toppled into an overwhelming heap, perplexing us when we attempt to piece it back together.
Loss of jobs, businesses, and lives.
Sudden, rapid loss of our “normal.”
The loss of comfort in, and blindness to, the systematic racial inequities still existing in the world, despite the long and hard-fought battles already waged.

It seems impossible that God is here. That He is working. We want to cry out, like Habakkuk, “How long, God!?”
“Where are You now?”
“What are You doing?”
“Why don’t You save us?”

The book of Habakkuk shows us a raw and real conversation between God and Habakkuk on behalf of the nation of Israel. For hundreds of years, since the exodus from Egypt, Israel suffered from the plight of its own sin. Time after time, they turned away from God and deliberately disobeyed Him by worshiping other gods and idols, despite the Father’s constant grace and effort to bring them back to Him.

And so Israel fell, and suffered, at the hand of corrupt nations like Babylon. God delivered them, and they remained faithful . . . for a time. Until they abandoned their Deliverer, and the endless cycle began again, and again, and again.

We see both Habakkuk and God hurting for the world and the sin wreaking havoc at every turn. God shows Habakkuk that He, too, sees the hurt, the pain, the suffering, and the loss. His heart breaks, too. Even though it seemed inconceivable, God was working a plan far greater than their present troubles. In the midst of the consequences of our own sin and the ripple of others’, God’s glorious plan to save His people was being revealed.  

I’m amazed at Habbakuk’s praise at the end of the book. Despite the absence of God’s immediate rescue, Habakkuk rests in God’s constant promises to deliver His people. Habakkuk didn’t have the Christmas story of Immanuel, God with us, or even the knowledge of the Easter story of the resurrection of Jesus, and yet he chose to trust in the midst of loss.

My favorite Christmas hymn lyrics, from the first verse of “O Holy Night,” simply and beautifully remind us of the “now” of our suffering and the “not yet” of the promise to come:

 “Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” 

How long have you felt the weight of sin and error and pined for relief, crying out to God, “How much longer, Lord?”

Friend, when Christmastime taps us on the shoulder and we look back at 2020 and remember what was lost and painful, may the picture of an innocent baby named Jesus, born in the midst of chaos and filth, prompt our weary hearts to turn toward hope and the bright, new, glorious morning our Father has given us.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Reveal Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Reveal!

Pause IV Day 7 Unchanging Almighty

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Have you ever wished God would just drop a message down from the sky to tell you what to do next? Or maybe send a care package of “patience”, “healing”, and “strength” along with a checkbox list of what to do or where to go next?

I know I have!
I’ve often thought people in the Old Testament surely had it easier because God just spoke from the sky to them. Or set a bush on fire. Even better are the disciples who lived during Jesus’ time who could just ask Jesus a question face-to-face and get an immediate response.

But my perspective reveals a flawed perception of the Almighty God.

God wants to be known by us, and speak to us, that is abundantly clear in Scripture. My tendency, however, is to elevate the “answer” over the “relationship”.

I want the “next” instead of delighting in the walking with Him on the journey.
I’m looking to check off my boxes and make sure I’ve done all the right things.

But God is looking for my heart, to shepherd it, to teach me to trust, to develop my faith in Him as He leads me deeper into our relationship.

How much sweeter His ways are than mine!

In Habakkuk 2:2-3, the Lord assures Habakkuk the vision God had given to him would indeed come to pass. God reminds the prophet the timing is God’s alone for its coming.

Habakkuk would have the choice to trust God at His word or lean into his doubt instead.

God gave very clear directions to Habakkuk to write out the words of the vision detailing the coming judgement so everyone would be able to read and understand them.

The Lord’s Words would indeed be fulfilled.
Judgement would come.

In the same way Habakkuk and ancient Israel had access to God’s words through the prophet, so do we have direct access to God and His will for our lives by reading Scripture. As God assured Israel His words were unchanging and would be fulfilled, so can we have the same confidence when it comes to God. His word never changes, His character remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is trustworthy like nothing else in all of creation!

Listen to His word, heed His message of hope and salvation offered through Jesus, and trust Him with all you have! Grow your relationship with Him by studying His word and practicing listening to the Holy Spirit!

Today's Invitation

1) Pull out your Bible and read Habakkuk 2:2-3 fully through 3 times. Read it slowly, emphasizing different words each time. Let the words of Scripture hang over you as the Spirit speaks to your heart.

2) Each time you read, write down everything that pops out at you, makes you curious, or wonder “why?”. When you’re finished, go back through and you’ll be amazed at the new things the Spirit is leading you into knowing about Him!

3) Write out a prayer of thanks to God for being a God of clarity and wisdom instead of a God of secrets and deception. Ask Him for clear understanding where you need it most, and praise Him for how He will provide as you wait for Him.

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Habakkuk 2:2-3

The Lord answered me:

Write down this vision;
clearly inscribe it on tablets
so one may easily read it.
3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it,
since it will certainly come and not be late.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause IV Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme? Here’s a link to all past studies
in Pause!

Ten Day 11 The Deceit Of Not Enough

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 6:25-34
Psalm 27:1-5
1 Peter 5:5-7
Genesis 3:1-6
Exodus 20:15

Ten, Day 11

“What’s in your hand?”, my mom asked as we walked out of the convenience store. I slowly unwrapped my seven-year-old fingers from the small pack of Now and Later candy I had stolen. The pit in my stomach told me I was in trouble and it was only going to get worse.

“You have to take it back and apologize.” My mom held my hand and led me back into the store. We walked up to the counter and I stared at the pickled pig’s feet in the jar on the counter.

“My daughter has something she would like to tell you,” Mom explained to the clerk. I stretched my hand out and dropped the candy on the counter.

“I’m sorry I took these without paying for them.”
I couldn’t make eye contact, I was so embarrassed. Immediately, I headed for the door.

Once we left, my mom explained I had broken one of the Ten Commandments. Stealing was on the same list as murder. I learned a valuable lesson and cemented an aversion both to pickled pig’s feet and stealing that has stuck with me to this day.

I have since realized my desire to take what isn’t mine goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. When the serpent convinced Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they were stealing from God.

One of Satan’s most deceptive strategies involves providing a short-term solution giving us something we want or need, but ultimately keeping us from God’s best. 

Though Eve lacked for nothing, Satan enticed her with the forbidden fruit. Just like Adam and Eve, we can be easily convinced God is holding out and we need to meet our own wants or needs.

For many people, our choice to cut corners and take what isn’t ours comes from
a fear God won’t give us what we want,
a sense of entitlement (we deserve what we are taking),
or just plain impatience.

Each of these motivations are based on pride.

Pride means elevating our needs and desires over God and other people.

When we act out of fear, we are choosing to listen to pride’s whispered lie we know more than God and can do a better job providing than He can.

A sense of entitlement elevates our needs and desires over the owner’s rights. Pride tells us our desires are THE MOST important. As Proverbs 16:19 reminds us, “Better to be of lowly spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud.”

Impatience is often rooted in pride and fear, as well. Our pride falsely elevates our ability to know the future, and imposes a man-made deadline on the Creator of the Universe’s capacity to meet our needs. Rather than focusing on God’s unlimited resources and ability, we become focused on our scarce resources and opportunities.

Fear is a weapon Satan often uses to lead us away from God’s best. The best way to fight back is by studying and memorizing Bible verses. God’s Word is a double-edged sword we can use to defeat Satan’s attacks. Dwelling on Scripture builds our faith; faith provides a shield against the fiery arrows Satan uses against us.

At an early age, my mom helped me learn to use this verse to combat fear.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
(2 Timothy 1:7)

This promise breaks through the fear of unmet needs.

“And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

When the future looms ahead, murky in uncertainty, let’s remember:

“Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
whom should I dread?” (Psalm 27:1)

When pride begins to puff our chests and cloud our vision,
let’s pursue humility with His Word:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

“When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)

Whether we’re tempted to pocket a stolen piece of candy, or steal our future from the hands of our loving Father, we’ve seen how God’s command to refrain from stealing addresses the true condition of our hearts.

And when we struggle with fear of scarcity, impatience, or pride, we can counteract Satan’s assaults with Scripture. When fear strikes, we can ask God to lead us to His truth from Scripture to counteract the lies. Let’s turn our focus to our Heavenly Father as we trust in His deep love, His unbounded resources, and His faithful provision.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Ten Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Ten!

Blessed Day 4 Blessed Are Those Who Mourn: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Blessed Are Those Who Mourn!

The Questions

1) What events caused King David to mourn so deeply before the Lord?

2) Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn…” What blessing was David praying for?

3) How did God comfort David?

Psalm 51:6-13

Surely you desire integrity in the inner self,
and you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Turn your face away from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.

10 God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me,
and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach the rebellious your ways,
and sinners will return to you.

Original Intent

1) What events caused King David to mourn so deeply before the Lord?
The prophet Nathan came to David one day telling him a story of two men: One poor, the other rich. The rich man had many sheep, but the poor man had only one lamb. The lamb was dear to the family and loved like a pet. One day, the rich man had a visitor and he needed to serve him dinner. But rather than slaughtering one of his own sheep, he took the poor man’s sheep and served it to his guest. When King David heard this story, he was furious. Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!’” (2 Samuel 12:7-9) The whole sordid story can be found in 2 Samuel 11-12. When Nathan confronted David with his sin, David was immediately mournful and confessed his sin before God. David wasn’t repentant because he had been caught in his sin, but he realized he had sinned against God. His fellowship with God had been severed; this is what caused his great mourning.

2) Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn…” What blessing was David praying for?
David’s sin was crushing his soul during this time. He must have been relieved to be found out and his sin exposed because this is when healing of our hearts can begin. In the many months between the time when David committed these sins and his confession, he had not escaped the sense of sin, it was always before him. (verse 3) He could not escape his sinfulness. He was miserable in his sin, as a child of God should be. (Guzik) When Nathan confronted him, he became very aware of the heaviness of heart that had been there all along. He knew his body ached to have that fellowship once again with the Father. In Psalm 32:3-4, David writes, “When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat.” David desired to be cleansed from his sin and his sin blotted out. He wanted to be able to rejoice in the Lord once again. (Psalm 51:7-9). Again, we see in Psalm 32, he wrote of how good it is to be forgiven. “How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven; whose sin is covered! How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!”

3) How did God comfort David?
God comforted David foremost by returning His Spirit to David. His spirit was made right with God giving him the fellowship he desired once again. Though his son would die, God did not take Bathsheba away from him; indeed, their second son, Solomon, became the next king of Israel and God allowed Solomon the privilege of building the temple. God kept his promise to keep David’s family in the throne of Israel. David had a third son with Bathsheba, Nathan, who is the son in which the line of David (through Mary) would bring Jesus into the World. (Luke 3:23-38) What a comfort to have a new spirit, David was once again willing to serve God as He prescribed. David was again able to teach others about the joy of salvation and to sing of His righteousness and declare God’s praise. And ultimately, draw others to God.

Everyday Application

1) What events caused King David to mourn so deeply before the Lord?
The prophet Nathan came to David and confronted him about his sin. And David mourned. While we may have leaders or friends we are accountable to, more deeply, we have the Holy Spirit living within every believer, guiding our actions and convicting us of sin. If we are in tune with the Spirit, we mourn when we realize we have allowed sin to creep into our lives. The Apostle Paul mourned at his inability to please God. He wrote how we all know what is right, but we don’t do it. (Romans 7:14-25) Just as David cried out in Psalm 51, so did Paul cry out his mournful repentance. We also struggle with our carnal nature in keeping God’s law. C.S. Lewis said, “No man knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good.” (Enduring Word, Romans 7) But Praise God! “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3) After we are saved, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, guides us, and convicts us of sin. We could not follow Jesus without His power. However, we cannot experience His power without totally yielding to Him. From the moment of spiritual birth, the Holy Spirit indwells, or resides in, every Christian. But to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, we must, as an act of our wills, completely surrender our lives in obedience to Christ. (Vonette Bright, CRU, Campus Crusade for Christ)

2) Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn…” What blessing was David praying for?
The Apostle Paul shares with us in Romans 5:1-5 some of the blessings of our salvation.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God… But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21 There is no greater blessing than the joy found in forgiveness. Bill Gaither wrote, “Oh the joy that floods my soul!” A new song bubbles up with joy in our heart when we are forgiven and cleansed forever. And the Victory! He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood! (Bartlett). What a treasure we have in this wonderful peace… For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day, And His glory is flooding my soul!” (Cornel) What a blessing to be found in Christ. Have you found the joy of salvation? Have you mourned over your sin and repented to God?

3) God comforted David. How does God comfort us?
The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. When we sin against God and hurt others, it is as if we can’t breathe. I remember times when I have hurt others, I was afraid to go to them and confess. I feared their rejection and possible retaliation. But once I confessed and received that forgiveness, I could breathe again. My fear disappeared; my heart was comforted in the restoration of fellowship and a wonderful peace overtook my spirit. While believers never need to fear that the Holy Spirit will be removed from us, He is our permanent seal, our fellowship with God through the Spirit can be estranged and broken by our sin.
Yesterday, in her Journey Study, Lori said, “on the other side of mourning are abundant blessings.” Revelation 21:4 reminds us, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more.”  Our vision is clouded by the sin we allow to persist by not fully addressing it or trying to excuse it. But if we are faithful to humble ourselves (I mean true, honest to goodness, on-our-knees-humbling ourselves) before God, then He is faithful to wipe away our tears and forgive our sin (1 John 1:9).  What a comfort to be completely forgiven and filled with His Spirit. And what an even greater comfort on the day when He wipes away every tear from our eyes forever!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Blessed Are Those Who Mourn!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Blessed Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Blessed Day 3 Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalms 51:6-13
Psalms 139:23-24
Matthew 5:4
2 Corinthians 7:9-11 
Revelation 21:3-5

Blessed, Day 3

All of us have experienced mourning.
We know grief and sorrow as we suffer loss of family members, friends, jobs, hopes, or dreams.

There have been times in my life when the mourning was so deep all I could do was cry until there were no more tears. Weeping, by no means removes our grief, but at least for me, it allows a necessary purging of bottled up emotion so I can move on and function. While I HATE to cry, I have learned to allow the tears instead of holding back.

As Christ followers, there is another type of grief with which we must grapple. This grief is born of the realization and understanding of the depth of our sin and depravity.

In Matthew 5:4, Jesus declares, “Blessed are those who mourn.”

The Greek word used for mourn is “pentheo,” which means to “wail or passionately lament, a grief so all-encompassing it cannot be hidden.” The same word is used in Mark 16:10 to describe the emotions of Jesus’ followers after His crucifixion, a soul-deep sorrow.

2 Corinthians 7:10 tells us “godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation.” Thus, it is a necessary mourning, required for us to reach a place of complete repentance before God. 

Have you invited God to search your heart for hidden sin, and then experienced “godly grief” over what He’s brought to light?

A few days prior to receiving this assignment, God grabbed hold of my heart and took me through a time of deep mourning over my sin. Little did I know He would use that experience so quickly! Isn’t it amazing how God works?!

I wasn’t expecting this deep mourning when I sat down with my Bible and journal that day. However, given the extra time we all had in April due to Covid-19, I was making unhurried quiet times a priority. So on this day, I had finally come to a place of quietness and stillness that enabled a humbling before our Father. I asked Him openly and honestly to expose my sin to His light.

It began with this quote from Paul David Tripp: “Whatever commands the love of your heart also shapes the direction of your life.” These words triggered something deep within, and God faithfully answered my prayer to expose my sin

He clearly revealed how many other things and people were commanding the “love of my heart” in His place. My priorities and focus were all wrong. Jesus wants and needs to be first in our hearts, our first love. 

The more I journaled and confessed, the more He exposed, until I sat there, completely open, all those hidden sins and desires laid bare before my King. And I cried . . . A LOT!

But as I sat there completely broken, something amazing happened.
I began to hear and see God much more clearly.
I began, once again, to feel the closeness we’d been missing.
I began to experience His forgiveness and love washing my entire soul.
God hates sin, and once it is removed, He can and will fully invade our entire being.

We desperately want to avoid pain. It’s natural. However, as Jesus-followers, we are called to live differently and do things the world doesn’t understand, like asking God to expose ALL our sin. When we begin to see our sin as Jesus does and realize the pain we have caused Him, it does hurt.

But the pain is followed by the blessing of His comfort, one so deep and unexplainable we know it comes from God alone.

The Greek word for blessed in Matthew 5:4 is “makarios,” which means: “supremely blest, fortunate, well off. The highest good.”  The same word is used in Revelation 19:9, which proclaims, “Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb.”

Do you see the connection? The blessing accompanying mourning is the same type of blessing we will experience in eternity with Jesus!

Next, He promises comfort in our mourning. The Greek word for comfort is “parakaleo,” meaning “call to one’s side.” Consider how special the comfort of a true friend is in times of sorrow. They know us well, and therefore discern exactly what to say and do. The comfort in this passage is better, deeper, and sweeter, because Jesus is the One calling us to His side!

And finally, on the other side of mourning are abundant blessings. Revelation 21:4 reminds us, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more.”

Our vision is clouded by the sin we allow to persist by not fully addressing it, or trying to excuse it. But if we are faithful to humble ourselves (I mean true, honest to goodness, on-our-knees-humbling ourselves) before God, then He is faithful to wipe away our tears and forgive our sin (1 John 1:9).

He will bless and comfort us
by filling us with more of Himself.

He will set our feet back on the path of righteousness,
giving us open eyes and hearts
to pursue new and fresh insight, understanding, and growth.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Blessed Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Blessed

The GT Weekend! ~ Redeemed Week 3

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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) On Monday, Stacy asked, “What do we do in our uncertainty? How will we handle the waiting?”. Naomi experienced seasons of loss and emptiness, of heartache and even anger, all the while, she was waiting. In the midst of the waiting, she truly didn’t know if she would ever see redemption with her eyes in this world. I know I’ve been there too. This is the stuff deep faith is made of, my friends. As the Lord strips us of familiarity and comfort, He allows us to see our need for Him, in whom exists unending delight and satisfaction. It is here in the waiting for Him, in the dearth of sweet, happy feelings, we learn the rhythm of His faithful heartbeat of love. Not feeling close to the Lord is completely expected during seasons of waiting, but take heart! He is growing your faith!

2) Boaz had seemingly nothing to gain in marrying Ruth. He incurred Naomi’s debt and the responsibility of caring for two women. Yet, he still chose to take on the role of kinsman-redeemer. Have you ever experienced a similar set of circumstances as Ruth and Naomi? Perhaps you felt as you had nothing to offer. Maybe you struggle with being “not enough”, or even “too much”. Maybe you feel as if you’re abilities aren’t valuable, or that your contribution and investment isn’t seen or noticed because it’s too small. Tightly embrace this truth, “The Lord Loves Your Weakness”, for in your weakness, His strength brilliantly shines as YOUR redeemer! In the face of our nothing, He brings His everything to lavishly love and make new whatever we surrender in fullness to Him.

3) Often, a phrase my husband will repeat when we are in conflict, is, “I just don’t understand you.” My heart response is a quick, “You’re right! You don’t understand me!”. Similarly, on a broader scope, I look around at where I’ve landed in life, what I’ve accomplished (and what I haven’t), I see my losses, I wish for what I feel should have been, and I call out, “God, I just don’t understand!” You could have fixed this, or healed her, or rescued him, or given this, but You didn’t, Lord! It’s times like this, where the Spirit reminds me that, “You’re right! You don’t understand!”, but that’s okay. I am not called to understand, only to obey, and as I obey, the Lord God of the Universe will strengthen my eyes of faith and give courage to my heart to trust Him, and Him alone instead of me! The next time you feel yourself crying out your exasperation to the heavens, remember it’s okay that you don’t get it, or see all the pieces woven together. Choose trust.

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 John 16:33 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Prayer Journal
Father, thank You for teaching me recently of the constant presence of peace You faithfully provide. Like Peter walking on the water as long as he kept his eyes on you, so can I experience peace in the middle of the swirling, loud tumbling of life. Your presence did not leave Peter as he sank into the water, but he had chosen fear over faith. Lift my eyes again and again to Yours, my Father. Remind me on repeat that Your peace is always available. Teach my heart to worship, keep me humble, and increase my faith!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Redeemed Day 9 From Empty To Full: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out From Empty To Full!

The Questions

1) Why are two better than one in this passage?

2) Why does this passage say, “two are better than one”, but then talk about a cord of three strands?

3) What is meant by the statement “a cord of three stands is not easily broken”?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

Original Intent

1) Why are two better than one in this passage?
From the time the first man, Adam, walked the earth, God emphasized the importance of relationships for humans.  Author R.C. Sproul describes God in the book of Genesis when he writes, “Having made Adam, our Creator steps back and says that something about the first man and his situation is not good: ‘It is not good that the man should be alone’. (Genesis 2:18) God created Eve, and human relationships began outside of a relationship with God alone. God wanted His people to live in community so they could help and support one another.  Author David Guzik says Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 teaches us how “living and working together is a great advantage to living and working alone, and adds these four things to life:
· Productivity (they have a good reward for their labor)
· Help in need (if they fall, one will lift up his companion)
· Comfort in life (they will keep warm)
· Safety and security (two can withstand.}”
Two people can do what one cannot do alone. God demonstrates this truth throughout Scripture. He tells us that one person sharpens another just as iron sharpens iron. (Proverbs 27:17) When Jesus sent the disciples to minister, he sent them out in pairs. (Mark 6:7) When Paul describes the body of Christ to the Corinthian believers, he emphasizes how each person has a different part to play for the body to function. (1 Corinthians 12:18-22) Jesus even says if at least two believers gather in His name, His presence is there. (Matthew 18:20) God does not mean for us to do life on our own in isolation. His plan is for us to live in community with one another and experience the benefits of helping others and receiving their support.

2) Why does this passage say, “two are better than one”, but then talk about a cord of three strands?
In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, King Solomon argues that being alone is not as good as having someone to share your burdens with. He mentions that two people can get more done, two can help lift each other up, two can keep each other warm, and two can protect each other from harm. He extols all the virtues of having one companion, then finishes with “a cord of three strands is not easily broken.” (verse 12) So what is the third strand he references?  Some people say the cord of three strands represents having two or more friends to help you.  According to author John Gill, “as two are better than one, so three or more united together, it is the better still.” Author Kenneth Ian Macquarrie suggests other meanings for the three-stranded cord. He asserts, “this is a very well-known Biblical saying. In Israeli culture, three is the number of completeness and stability. Commentators have also referenced this verse as representing the Holy Trinity; Faith, Hope and Charity of the Christian life; as well as the marriage bond between Jesus, husband and wife. The three-strand cord was the strongest and most often used during the time of Christ.”  According to author David Guzik, “It is commonly understood that the third cord is God Himself, and that a relationship intertwined with God is a threefold cord that is not quickly broken.” God’s Word tells us that having a friend to help us makes us strong, but inviting the Holy Spirit into that relationship makes that bond stronger still. The Lord encourages us to find Christian companions to serve alongside, enjoying the benefits of strength in numbers and strength in His presence.

3) What is meant by the statement “a cord of three stands is not easily broken”?
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “a cord of three strands is not easily broken.” The Oxford Bible Church notes this claim is “scientifically accurate (3 intertwined strands, no more, no less, is the strongest kind of rope). Two strands alone are limited, and not stable for they can easily unravel under pressure, and slide over each other with friction, but the 3rd stand fixes the other two into place and adds its strength to them.” According to author William Barrick, “references to a three-strand or three-ply rope (cord) occur in ancient Sumerian and Akkadian texts” that are contemporary to the Bible. F.B. Meyer points out how the idea that a cord of three strands is not easily broken was a “proverbial way of saying ‘there is strength in numbers.’” The assertion that this phrasing was common, like a proverb, suggests that King Solomon was using familiar material to drive home the point that having God in our relationships makes them stronger.  It is a metaphor that readers of the time would appreciate, and it is one current readers can also relate with.  It is still widely agreed upon that there is strength in numbers, so adding the almighty God to the equation amplifies the strength.

Everyday Application

1) Why are two better than one in this passage?
When I was a pre-teen, there was a TV program called the ABC Afterschool Special. On various weekday afternoons, the program would air dramatic episodes on various topics interesting to children. I watched one about a group of high school kids who developed strong friendships during the ups and downs of teen life, and it made me very sad because it amplified the fact that I didn’t have those close relationships.  I had some good friends, but no one who was a “kindred spirit.”  I had always been kind of a loner, someone who enjoyed solitude and kept people at a safe distance, but I found I was missing what King Solomon describes in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 when he writes that “two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.  Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm?  And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.”  Having a good friend by your side means you get more done, and you have help when you fall down.  A friend will comfort you and has your back when trouble comes. I have gained several close friends since viewing that ABC Afterschool Special. Two are definitely better than one, especially when those two are united by their faith and love of God!

2) Why does this passage say, “two are better than one” but then talk about a cord of three strands?
If you are like me, you have friends from all different segments of your life. I always had the Homeschool Moms, the Book Club Gals, the Church Ladies, Neighbors, and the Couples Group.  I even had some friends who made appearances in more than one group. It is great to have a variety of friends because it gives you a glimpse into different worlds and helps you see from varied perspectives. But the one common denominator in most of my closest friends, no matter how different they are from one another in personality and interests, is their faith in God.  I count them closest, because they will pray for me at a moment’s notice.  They will seek God on my behalf, lift me up when I fall to my knees in despair, and encourage me with God’s Word when I struggle in daily life.  My Christian friends love me with God’s love and comfort me with compassion from the Holy Spirit.  They strengthen me on a daily basis, and they invite me into their lives to do the same for them. As author Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth explains, “healthy relationships are God’s prescription for (. . .) the pain of injustice and the problem of isolation. God’s prescription is the power of intimacy.”  When I gather together with my Christian friends, seeking God and agreeing in His name, He meets us there. That is a bond not easily broken!

3) What is meant by the statement “a cord of three stands is not easily broken”?
I love all thing wedding related. . . dresses, flowers, music, food, cake!  I enjoy shows about choosing wedding dresses, planning weddings, surprise weddings, weddings on a budget, and weddings around the world.  One thing I have discovered is how many different wedding ceremony traditions exist. Couples light unity candles signifying the new family created from two different families. Some brides and grooms refuse to see one another before the ceremony to ward off bad luck. Some brides toss their bouquet to expectant guests, hoping it signals they are next to marry. Every culture has its own interesting and beautiful traditions. There is one wedding ceremony element based on Ecclesiastes 4:12. It is the cord of three stands, also called the unity braid or God’s knot.  It symbolizes that the newly formed union will be strong because it intertwines the man, the woman, and God.  One wedding website, godsknot.com, describes it this way, “The Bible teaches us that God performs a miracle in our marriage, uniting us together in a covenant relationship with Him as one. The cord of three strands is a symbol of that sacred union created on your wedding day.”  While this is not a tradition my husband and I observed during our wedding ceremony, it is definitely a truth we have come to rely on.  We support each other daily, but it is the love and strength of God that holds us together in unity.  Together we are strong, but God’s strength fortifies us and enables us to hold together when everything around us seems to fly apart.  Sometimes we sag and bend under the weight of life’s pressures, but the strength of God keeps us from breaking.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with From Empty To Full!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Redeemed Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.