Encourage

The GT Weekend! ~ Slain, Week 3

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The GT Weekend! ~ Slain, Week 3

Katelyn Palmer

May 3, 2025

Alive,Comfort,Encourage,Faith,Glory,Joy,Kingdom,Obedience

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

His Words Before Ours

John 16:20-22

Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you.
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

Dear Yahweh,
I begin this prayer with gratitude. Thank You for the encouragement brought forth by the stories of others’ deep faith in You. Thank You for the reminder of the larger difficulties of this world allowing me to realign my perspective of my personal hardship and blessings. Your gentle rebuke also points me to the truth of John 16:33, which says Jesus has already overcome the world!

I thank You, Lord, for the community of sisters in GTC that support souls all over the world facing various levels of persecution and hardship, as well as celebrate and fortify the growing faith of those very same souls.

As we walk into a new week, God, I ask You to fill each of us with love, hope, and mercy. As You fill our cups to overflowing, place people in our path who need You; give us the opportunity to encourage them with the joy You have given us!

Help us realign our perspectives to those of gratitude and increase our desire to wash ourselves clean in Your Word. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-27, Colossians 3:12-17) Let us walk without fear for we know You are watching, guiding, and protecting those who trust You. (Psalm 121) It is in Your Son Jesus’ name I pray this, Lord. Amen!
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

Following Jesus faithfully is simply stated in “full surrender”, but incredibly difficult to live out. In fact, we can only do it through the power of the Holy Spirit living inside believers!

We are offered the free gift of salvation by the mercy of the God who allowed His only Son to bear our sins on the cross, reconciling us to Him as His children and heirs to the throne. All that is required of us is to believe His promise and accept His gift. (Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 10:8-13) Simple.

Jesus’ commandments to His followers is to love God and love one another as Jesus loved us. (Matthew 22:34-40) Simple.

Loving our enemies. (Matthew 5:44-48) Difficult.
Controlling our tongue. (Proverbs 13:3, James 3:8) Difficult.
Daily dying to our flesh. (Galatians 5:24) Incredibly difficult.

This same sentiment permeates Monday and Tuesday’s studies as Rhonda and Rachel encourage us with John 16:31-33. They remind us that trials and persecutions in this life should be in some way accepted joyfully as they will not overcome the promise of eternity with Christ. Additionally, they play a crucial role in deepening our relationship with God. (James 1:2-4 and 12-18)

Simple truths, difficult to walk out as we live in full life surrender. Sisters, armed with the knowledge that we will face hardship as we follow Jesus, let each martyr’s story encourage you to seek and serve the Lord all the more! Stand firm in your faith when threatened by temptation and persecution, choosing faith over fear.
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

Death leaves a mark on all of our lives, but as we study the stories of martyrs, death can be particularly tender. Each author in our Slain Journey Theme has reminded us most people will not be called to die for Jesus, but all are called to live sacrificially for Him.

If you knew you only had 24 hours left to live, how would you choose to be intentional in love and in mission? Would you spend your fading hours in effort to win the lost? We must mourn the loss of lives like Rocio Pino, but then we must stand in their legacy and mimic their faith and fervor for our shared King!

We must become so intentional that our loved ones recall of us as they did of Rocio, “All who came to her heard about Christ.”

We must focus on the truth that a life favored by this world means we are not living in God’s light, for this world first hated Christ and will therefore hate us as His children. (John 15:18-27)

Sisters, I ask you, are you living a life that would beg others to ask of you for a reason for the hope you anchor in? (1 Peter 3:14-15)
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

“I love Jesus more than anything” was the common refrain found on Abdiwelli’s lips, but the real proof was evidenced by his regular, ordinary life of constant, willing surrender. No one comes to faith in Jesus and hopes to be martyred; death for Christ wasn’t Abdiwelli’s aim in life, but willing surrender to the God who died to save him? Yes, certainly!

I recently was enthralled by a novel that emphasized regular surrender. The novel was a biography of sorts of a woman who made a significant impact in the lives of those around her, and she happened to live in my city. I had never heard her name, and likely, the vast majority who live in my city wouldn’t recognize her name either, but her life carried weighty impact for many immigrants to the US. Each day, Mrs. Kip surrendered her full self to the service of Christ, whatever it was for the day, and in so doing, she died to herself a little more every day. (The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip)

You likely hadn’t heard Abdiwelli’s story until this week, and you’ve probably never heard Mrs. Kip’s either. But, to the Lord Jesus Christ who appointed each of them as His faithful stewards of the gospel He entrusted to them, every breath in their story infinitely matters.

And so it is with us.

We are called to die to self, everyday. This won’t make land us in the book of martyrs, but it will further the Kingdom of Heaven. It will make us more like Jesus. It will honor our King. It will bring more souls to Him. Not because we are somehow faithful or especially wonderful, but because the Lord God promises to fulfill His purposes in us.

So run faithfully, Sister. Die to self today and live full and free for Christ, the One who holds eternity!
(Written by Rebecca Adams)
2-for-1 Friday

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courage,Easter,eternity,hope,joy,life,martyr,persecution
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Slain Day 11 Jean Paul Sankagui

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Slain Day 11 Jean Paul Sankagui

Rhonda Darville

April 28, 2025

Alive,Encourage,Kingdom,persecution,Purpose

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 1:21-30
John 16:25-33
Joshua 24:14-18
Revelation 2:8-11

Civil unrest in the country of Central African Republic (CAR) became real to me when my sister-friend, Julie, shared news of her sister’s kidnapping by rival, non-Christian factions in CAR. There we were, sitting in her living room in Virginia, discussing atrocities my mind could not fathom but Julie knew all too well. My sister-friend was born and raised in the CAR and personally knew the struggle and violence happening there.

Pastor Jean Paul Sankagui experienced these same struggles when he was martyred in CAR in 2017. As I learned his story, I was reminded of Jesus’s words in John 16:33:

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” 

Shortly before His sacrificial death, Jesus foretold the suffering He would endure, and told His disciples to expect the same. Yet as His disciples, we can take heart, knowing He is ultimately victorious. Our trials and tribulations will not hamper our eternity with Him. The trials of this present life are nothing compared to what we gain by faithfully following Jesus, even in suffering and death.

Pastor Jean Paul embodied this promise. He desired to be a voice for the Gospel in the Central African Republic. His church was situated in an extremely hostile environment and he did not shrink away from proclaiming the Good News to those around. 

During times of conflict, he refused to flee to safety. Pastor Jean Paul had a wife, seven children, and eleven grandchildren; when his family chose to remain in ministry despite the danger, they depicted Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD.” They faced strong resistance from local Muslims, who, though a demographic minority, wielded power derived from financial success. Their weapons consisted of the sword and money.

Pastor Jean Paul joined other pastors and believers who took up their cross and followed Jesus. (Matthew 16:24-28) Like Jesus, they too have become conquerors (Romans 8:37-39) and will not experience the “second death” (Revelation 2:11), or eternal separation from God. In Philippians 1:21, early Church preacher and apostle, Paul, explains, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” 

Pastor Jean Paul and his fellow believers who suffered death for their faith were a witness of the great call of Christ. Their lives are a spiritual heritage to those who knew them and to those of us, who hear of their faith in the face of death. Their testimony lives on. Their faith encourages us to press on! 

As I consider Pastor Jean Paul and others who suffered death for their belief, as well as the faithful followers of Jesus listed in Hebrews 11, and our beloved Saviour Jesus Christ Himself, I realise I personally must understand the value of the call to follow Jesus Christ. 

I have found immense value in His call, knowing the love Jesus demonstrated for me by laying down His life for me while I was still a sinner (Romans 5:8) transcends what anyone else has done or will do for me. In my finite mind, I cannot fully comprehend the depth of His love for me, but I am compelled to respond in kind. 

I realise that, like Pastor Jean Paul and those who have gone before, I am just a sojourner in this world. My life is temporary, so I must be a good steward of the gift given to me. I, too, must join the ranks and take up my cross and follow Jesus. My voice must echo the love and knowledge of Christ’s sacrifice so others may gain freedom.

You and I may not be martyred for our faith, but our own personal desires must be crucified and Christ’s life and sacrifice must be magnified. We, as disciples of Christ, must die to sin daily and renew our minds with the knowledge of Scripture. (Romans 12:2) As disciples, our purpose is to proclaim the Good News and share our testimony of His great love to us. 

In closing, I’d like to leave you with the words of the hymn I Have Decided:
“I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back
Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me I still will follow,
Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus,
My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.”

May these words encourage us as we follow Jesus, 
choosing courage and faithfulness in the face of suffering, 
believing He has conquered sin and death!

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courage,eternal life,hope,martyr,persecution
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Slain, Day 12
Digging Deeper

Charles Ellicott asserts that the Holy Spirit would bring “all things which He had said to the mind, and quickened their minds so that they could grasp its meaning.”

Jesus made a way for His words to continue teaching the disciples even after His Resurrection and Ascension.
Dig Deeper!

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April 14 - May 2, 2025 - Journey Theme #139

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Run Day 9 Fitted With Truth: Digging Deeper

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Run Day 9 Fitted With Truth: Digging Deeper

Marietta Taylor

March 13, 2025

Anchored,Encourage,Equipped,Hope,Ignite,Power,Purpose

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 "Fitted With Truth"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Timothy 2:5-7

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.

7 For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Is there more than one way to be saved and redeemed from sin? (verse 5)

In verse 1, Paul says it pleases God when we pray and offer thanksgiving for “all”, including kings. Then he connects “all” to something else that pleases God, for “everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (verses 3-4) What is this truth?

Verse 5 says, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus”. One God. One mediator. One way to redemption. One man bridging the gap between sinful man and Holy God. This truth would have been difficult for the Romans to accept.

Romans worshiped many gods, so the idea of one God was foreign, and seemed a little “less than”. In their culture, people chose to worship a god based on what they needed or wanted; whatever fit their whim of the moment, that’s the god they worshipped.

In fact, “After his assassination in 27 BCE, Julius Caesar was soon proclaimed divine and accepted among the gods of the state, officially allowing for the initiation of his worship. Later in the first century CE, this type of Emperor Cult gradually developed in the whole Roman Empire.” (workingpreacher.com) Romans also worshiped their emperor as divinity, but Paul and Timothy both knew the one God, the Triune God, Elohim. He is the only God.

The Romans also believed there were many mediators, but Paul confirmed there was only one mediator, the man Jesus. He is uniquely qualified for this role because He is fully man and fully God. (One God)

Colossians 1:19-20 says, “For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.” In Jesus’ own words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

The Everyday Application

1) Is there more than one way to be saved and redeemed from sin? (verse 5)

Recently, I attended a women’s conference where the keynote speakers unpacked the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus:
“The Bread of Life” (John 6:35),
“The Light of the World” (John 8:12),
“The Door of the Sheep” (John 10:7, 9),
“The Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25),
“The Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14),
“The True Vine” (John 15:1, 5)
These are statements 1-5 and 7. Statement 6 is our focus in this passage.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Three separate statements intimately intertwined.

“I Am The Way” identifies Jesus as the only way to God, and only pathway for our redemption from sin. There is no detour or alternate route. Only Jesus.

“I Am The Truth” is summed up by Psalm 119:160. “The entirety of Your word is truth, each of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” (emphasis mine)

“I Am The Life” neatly ties everything together as evidenced in John 1.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) (emphasis mine)

I love the way Blake Long sums this up, “The only salvation you’ll get outside of Christ is a phony salvation. It’s made up. It doesn’t exist. Salvation only is through Jesus, for “there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Only the Son of God can save you. (Theology & Life) There is one path, one way to heaven, salvation and eternity with God. Nothing fancy or complicated. Just Jesus.

The Original Intent

2) How is Jesus the testimony of salvation? (verse 6)

“Biblical salvation refers to our deliverance from the consequence of sin and therefore involves the removal of sin. We are saved from both the power and penalty of sin.” (GotQuestions.org) Jesus gave His life to save us all from the consequences of sin so we could be redeemed and reconciled with God.

In the Old Testament, blood from an animal sacrifice was designated by God as part of the Mosaic Covenant. Thinking on Scripture says, “The animal sacrificial system under the Mosaic Law taught that God is holy, man is sinful, and that God was willing to judge an innocent creature as a substitute in place of the sinner. The animal that shed its blood gave up its life in place of the one who had offended God, and it was only through the shed blood that atonement was made. A life for a life.” All Jewish people were familiar with this, but what about Romans?

“To persuade the gods to favor the requests, a worshipper might make offerings of food or wine, or would carry out a ritual sacrifice of an animal before eating it.” (PBS) No atonement for sin or restoration of relationship.

When Jesus gave His blood sacrifice, His life on the cross, it was for one time, not continual like under Mosaic Law. “But this Man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:12-14)

By this one sacrifice, Jesus testified of God’s promise, “I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds, and I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts.” (Hebrews 10:16-17)

God intends for all to be saved if they are willing to believe in Jesus and His blood sacrifice offered in their place.

The Everyday Application

2) How is Jesus the testimony of salvation? (verse 6)

In court cases, witnesses provide their knowledge and testify about events that occurred. They are vetted to ensure they are reliable and truthful. Verse 6 says Jesus is “a testimony at the proper time”. God had promised a Savior.

The prophet Isaiah spoke hundreds of years before Jesus, “But He was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6) In 739-631 BC, God promised us Jesus, the ransom for all.

In God’s due time, about seven hundred years or so, God made good on His promise. Jesus went to the cross, bore our sins, lay in the tomb for three days and then resurrected Himself to conquer sin and death on our behalf.

Barclay’s Study Bible tells this story:
“There was a man who lost a son in the war. He had lived a most careless and even a godless life; but his son’s death brought him face to face with God as never before. He became a changed man. One day he was standing before the local war memorial, looking at his son’s name upon it. And very gently he said: “I guess he had to go down to lift me up.” That is what Jesus did; it cost his life and death to tell men of the love of God and to bring men home to him.”

God did not need to vet any witnesses, though many could testify to the death and the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus Himself was and is all the testimony we need. Jesus is the embodiment of God’s promise. He is the salvation.

The Original Intent

3) Why was Paul preaching salvation to Gentiles? (verse 7)

When Paul embarked on his missionary journeys, he always entered a city and began teaching in the synagogues with his Jewish brethren. Many opposed him however, while Gentiles readily received and believed his teaching about Christ and salvation. (Acts 13:48-52) Jews often incited violence against Paul. (Acts 14:19-20, Acts 17:1-9)

After many incidents such as in Acts 18:5-8, “because of continued rejection by Jews, Paul began to emphasize his ministry to the Gentiles.” (Enduring Word) Peter had been given a special commission to preach the gospel to the Jews, but God gave Paul a special call to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. (Romans 11:13)

According to ccel.org, Paul “preaches the gospel to the Gentiles, not only with pure affection, but also with an upright and fearless conscience; because he does nothing but by the command of God.”

Jesus’ command to His disciples at the end of His earthly ministry was “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Though Paul was not present when Jesus gave this command, he still adhered to it because it is God’s plan for His people, the Jews and His adopted children, the Gentiles. (Galatians 4:4-6)

Paul was doing what pleased God. He was making sure the Gentiles had an opportunity to be saved. He was making disciples, just as God had instructed him.

The Everyday Application

3) Why was Paul preaching salvation to Gentiles? (verse 7)

Theologian Albert Barnes informs, “The Jews had supposed that salvation was designed exclusively for their nation, and denied that it could be extended to others, unless they became Jews. According to them, salvation was not provided for, or offered to pagans as such, but only on condition that they became Jews.” (studylight.org) Thereby, when Paul was teaching salvation through Jesus alone, they rejected it, because it was not the way they had imagined.

How many times have we rejected a direction or answer from God because it was so far from what we had pictured or decided it should be? In the case of Paul preaching salvation to the Gentiles, I am very glad the Jews were wrong about salvation being exclusive to them! Otherwise all Gentiles, including me and probably you if you aren’t a Jew, would be lost.

The Jews of Jesus’ day missed something though. God always had “all people” in mind.

“I am the Lord. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house.” (Isaiah 42:6-8)

Praise the Lord that Paul chose obedience to God over his own understanding and popular teachings as a Pharisee. Through his preaching, the gospel was spread to Gentiles. One life, fitted with truth, changed millions.

If you’ve been fitted for truth by taking on Christ’s forgiving atonement for your sin, you too are commissioned to share Jesus. Run with boldness, Sister!

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Run, Day 8
Journey Study

We no longer run in vain…
attempting to prove our own moral goodness and thereby justifying our participation in the race.

Rather, we can let the burden of striving slip from our shoulders, freed by the gospel truth of God’s mercy and forgiveness through Jesus.
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March 3 - March 21, 2025 - Journey Theme #137

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The GT Weekend! ~ Run, Week 1

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The GT Weekend! ~ Run, Week 1

Katelyn Palmer

March 8, 2025

Encourage,Fruitfulness,Hope,Mercy,Relentless

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

His Words Before Ours

2 Corinthians 3:2-5

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God – not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Such is the confidence we have through Christ before God. It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

Yahweh,
May all the praise be to You. For it is by Your hand, Lord, that we are here and that we have the hope of eternal life with You.

I am grateful for Your divine love, God, for without it I would be lost. As Lauren Daigle says in her song Thank God I do, “I’d probably fall off the edge.”

You are the only place my heart wants to go when worldly love or human love threatens to break my heart. You are the center of my world and my favorite place to hideaway; You are my shelter on high. (Psalm 91)

This week, we have begun talking about the race set before us in this life. I pray with every word of these studies, that you open each reader’s eyes to our need for Jesus (John 14:6), Your love for us (Romans 5:8), and gently remind us of the example of other faithful Christ-follower who have gone before us. (Hebrews 12:1-2) Yahweh, I ask for Your provision on their behalf in local communities. This race is not for the faint of heart and we need each other!

How wonderfully exciting it is to envision the broken chains before us (Psalm 107:14-16, Isaiah 9:4-7), and the freedom found in Your love! In Your Son’s name, I pray this, Amen!
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

Before a child can run, she must first roll, then crawl, then walk. This is also true for believers in Christ. The Lord broke our chains so that we may run free, but before we can dare to run, we must first acknowledge our need for the Lord in every moment.

We must recognize our sinful nature (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12, 18), our desperate need for divine intervention (Isaiah 45:22), and the complete, saving work of Christ on the cross (John 19:30). Then, once we accept the gift of salvation, we can begin to walk with the Lord.

Finally, we can recognize our divine appointment and purpose. (Ephesians 2:10) This process is ongoing for the length of our lives and will challenge us in many ways. The enemy’s biggest lie, from Adam and Eve to the end of this life, is that we can do everything on our own. (Genesis 3:1-6) In truth, we cannot even muster faith on our own.

God knew us all at the beginning of Creation. (Ephesians 1:4-6). He has provided for our rescue. (John 10:25-30, Romans 9:18). He is the source of wisdom (Proverbs 2:5-6, Proverbs 9:10), and He is the source of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

When we truly gain the perspective of Paul in 1 Timothy 1:12-15, understanding that we are all “the worst”, then we understand the true gift of God’s mercy and the freedom found only in Christ. We are left with inspiration to fulfill our divine purpose and a heart that ceaselessly praises Yahweh for His love for us.
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

The beautiful thing about testimonies is their ability to multiply the gift of the Lord’s grace through salvation extended to others. Paul’s testimony in 1 Timothy 1:12-17 is a wonderful example of the proper heart response to Jesus’ saving work on the cross.

Paul’s faith-fueled works throughout his ministry also illustrate the power of the Spirit bestowed upon us when we accept Christ as our Savior. (James 2:17-20) He explains to us that we are new in Christ and have a responsibility to live out the gospel in every aspect of our lives. (Romans 6)

Without the gospel, our lens in life looks bitter, painful and self-focused, even in the mundane. That barista who gave you your coffee this morning was curt and rude, which means she doesn’t like you and thinks you are a bad person, so you should be rude back. How dare she disrespect your character?

With the gospel, we are anchored in love and hope: That barista must be having a hard morning. I will give her a smile and a thank you, so she knows what it is to experience kindness today. This might seem small in the moment, but it could not only change that woman’s entire day, but it can also help prepare you to take on any larger scale difficulties that come your way. The mundane is far larger a portion of our lives, so when we use a gospel lens in every aspect of our lives, even the smallest moments, we are better prepared for greater challenges.
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

We ended this week’s studies with action-packed words. We all, as believers in Christ, have been commissioned by God to be stewards of His grace in our lives. (1 Peter 2:15-17)

Stewardship involves action. We were given salvation and blessed with specific spiritual gifts in order that we may partner with God to display God’s heart. (1 Peter 4:10-11, 2 Corinthians 3:2-5) To partner and to display both require us to do.

We were each created to work as one body, one spirit (Philippians 1:27-28), to bring glory to God and point others to Him, that they may also be stewards of His grace. What a privilege to be His ambassador! (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

I like to think of our role as an older sibling. It can seem unfair, the burden of going first and being held to a higher standard than your younger siblings. Your life is held under a microscope while theirs appears to be held under a mere magnifying glass, or perhaps the wrong end of a telescope! But indeed, what a privilege it is to lead, to influence, to be entrusted!

We are called to live to a higher standard because the Creator of everything has entrusted us to represent Him. He has blessed us with unique gifts that allow us to play an instrumental role in building His everlasting kingdom. We can honor Him by exercising discipline, respecting and honoring all people, enduring hardship as Jesus did, and leaning into the Word of God daily.
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

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Run Day 4 For This Reason: Digging Deeper

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Run Day 4 For This Reason: Digging Deeper

Rebecca Adams

March 6, 2025

Confession,Courage,Encourage,Gospel,Preach

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 "For This Reason"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Timothy 1:16-17

16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What is mercy? How is it different from grace? (verse 16)

Skim your eyes upward from verse 16 to verse 2 and you’ll find the common greeting Paul used to opened every letter. One of the best questions we can ask as good students of the Bible is the same one we used as toddlers exploring the world for the first time, “Why?”.

Why did Paul choose “grace and peace” to open his letters? More so, why did he single out mercy in describing what God had done for him and the reason for Paul’s rescue? To answer these, we need a better understanding of the two words and where we find them in Scripture.

The Greek word “charis” and its Hebrew counterpart “חֵן”, prounced “hen” with a long E, is our English word for “grace”. It carries a sense of that which brings loveliness, elegance, kind beneficiary, and the recipient of which is precious seen as precious by the Bestower of Grace. The extraordinary foundation of grace is that is undeserved. Nothing was done by the Recipient for the Bestower to gift loveliness, elegance, and kind-heartedness.

Grace is the extreme opposite of the phrase “I owe you a favor”. Grace is an undeserved kindness. When we wake in the morning, that’s grace. When the sun shines and nourishing rains fall, and when you spot a patch of bright yellow daffodils along an unexpected path, that’s grace. When your friend brings you a coffee or you take a meal to a new mom, that’s grace. Grace is an active outpouring overflow of the fountainhead of Jesus-Love. Grace wouldn’t exist without love, and because God IS love, grace in our lives naturally shows up. (1 John 4:8) God’s grace gives the one who trusts Him open access to all riches in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1) Talk about radical grace!

The Everyday Application

1) What is mercy? How is it different from grace? (verse 16)

Just as Jesus Love fuels grace, so does it overflow the banks of the river called “Mercy”. To gain a better idea of mercy’s definition, Dallas Willard uses the word “pity”. While “mercy” feels like a warm blanket on a cold day by the fire, “pity” toward us feels a bit icky. Aren’t we better than that? I’m not impoverished, after all. I can take care of myself. I don’t need your pity. Oh Pride, you are ugly indeed!

Pity is exactly what God’s grand mercy is precisely because we truly are impoverished and incapable. Destined for death because of our sinful rebellion again the Holy God, we deserve nothing but condemnation and punishment for all eternity. Pity, “mercy”, takes away the punishment we rightly deserve, holding us blameless instead.

Jesus’ parable of one poor man’s extreme debt being forgiven in full embodies eleos. It’s a great little story, go read it in Matthew 18:23-27. In that parable, you’ll note the word “compassion”, which is tied with mercy. Compassion is the heart-felt love motivating us to act with mercy. This compassion, dear sisters, is seen cover to cover in every single book of the Bible. Of all characteristics God uses to describe Himself in Scripture, compassion is number one. What an incredible God to love so perfectly and extravagantly that it overflows onto us, His precious creation, with radical grace and compassionate mercy!

Paul chose the Greek “eleos” in describing what God had done for him, because Paul the Sinner was a man to be highly pitied. Wrapped in arrogant pride and his own way of accomplishing his definition of “righteousness”, Paul was condemned to Hell. Like all of us.

All of us, sis, all of us. We are all pitiable. We all need the reaches of profound “eleos” to take the punishment for sin we rightly deserve.

The Original Intent

2) What is the purpose of mercy applied to sinners? (verse 16)

“For This Reason” is the shining emphasis of this portion of Paul’s testimony as he writes to Timothy. Paul had left Timothy to shepherd the church in Ephesus (verse 3), which would eventually become an epicenter for building up disciples and sharing the gospel. The church in Ephesus would later receive a letter straight from Jesus in Revelation. (Revelation 2:1-7) Side Note: GT will be studying these letters from Jesus later this year! Make sure you’re registered to study with us! gracefullytruthful.com/joinus)

Paul loves to tell the story of how Jesus changed his life. As he impressed his story again on Timothy, who had likely heard it countless times, Paul highlighted the purpose of Christ’s mercy applied to his sin-wrecked self.

Of course, our salvation is meant to rescue our own souls from the eternal condemnation of Hell and eternal suffering because of our own choice to sin. God set His love upon us, chose us, and desired our rescue because we are precious in His sight. (Ephesians 1:4-6, Isaiah 43:4) But, with Jesus, there is always more purpose and plan to unfold.

Paul celebrated that he was saved, yes, but he placed the emphasis on another reason for mercy extended to himself: the rescue of others! “I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” (verse 16, emphasis mine)

I can imagine Timothy receiving the precious scrolls with tears quickly filling his eyes as he called to mind his friend and mentor. I’m certain the sound of Paul’s voice, his laugh, and the look in his eyes came vividly to mind as Timothy read and immediately was encouraged by Paul’s reminder of their shared purpose in Christ.

The Everyday Application

2) What is the purpose of mercy applied to sinners? (verse 16)

Like a strong, fatherly arm around his shoulders, Paul’s familiar testimony tied to “For this reason” and concluded with their end goal of Jesus’ rescue used as an “example […] to those who would believe” surely urged Timothy forward with much needed fuel and encouragement for ministry.

Timothy’s ministry was hard, yes, and discouragement constantly threatened like it does for all of us, but Paul’s letter reminded Timothy that following Jesus was worth it. If Jesus would use Paul, “the worst sinner”, He would use every person who surrendered to Him. Paul’s testimony mattered and so did Timothy’s. All without Jesus were dead in their sins just as Timothy and Paul both had once been, and now their lives were recommissioned as a brilliantly shining example to others of the magnificent love of Jesus! (Ephesians 2:1-3)

That motivation should set a fire in every believer’s heart to tell their story of Jesus’ rescue of their own souls! You and I, all who follow Jesus, have a “for this reason” mission and story. Our rescue doesn’t stop with us, because Christ’s mercy goes far beyond us to the ones we love, the ones we can’t stand to be around, and the strangers we don’t yet know. Remember, all are dead without Jesus’ life!

Paul traveled the known world. Timothy was planted in a major city. Wherever you are, fellow sister in Jesus, your redemption story also has a “for this reason” purpose. Go ahead, be encouraged! Live it out and share your story!

An easy place to start is by writing your story and bravely sharing it with us on GT’s Faces of Grace platform. Join other women around the world who are using their “for this reason” to encourage others to trust Jesus! Visit Faces of Grace! gracefullytruthful.com/faces-of-grace

The Original Intent

3) What is the effect of mercy in our lives? (verse 17)

Paul shared his testimony, acknowledging that he was indeed a sinner of the worst kind (as we all are), and then cites the blessed elos (mercy) of God for His rescue from condemnation. He highlights the incredible plan of God to use Paul’s merciful rescue as an opportunity to display the patience of Christ that others might come to know God for themselves.

Then, like mountain streams of water piling atop each other, Paul’s retelling of God’s mercy, grace, patience, and kindness culminate in worship that exudes from his pen. Of course, Timothy already knew of the great goodness of the King Jesus, and his heart also stirred to worship the Lord, but there’s something incredible about overhearing the undulating praise of God from another brother or sister in Christ. It incites our own worship!

God’s mercy is meant to be followed by glad shouts of praise! Following the miraculous parting of the Red Sea (a charis), all of Israel shouted for joy, danced, and made music collectively to their Rescuer. (Exodus 14:30-15:21)

It’s one thing to work diligently hard on a task or craft, finally finish, step back with satisfaction and well-earned workmanship pride. But when the work was utterly beyond your ability at any level, yet it was mercifully or graciously given to you, the praise should be deafening! This is how it is with our salvation for we are completely powerless to rescue ourselves. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:4-5 how we were dead in sin but Christ made us alive.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!”


No dead person can make themselves un-dead, except the God-Man Jesus, and He brought us from death to life through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9) When we grasp the depths of our inability, then glance upon the grace and mercy of the bleeding Savior, our response should be glad shouts of joy. Paul simply couldn’t stop himself from praising the Lord.

The Everyday Application

3) What is the effect of mercy in our lives? (verse 17)

As you think about the storyline of your life, where have you been tempted to take credit for that which you didn’t do? Or maybe you chalked up the gracious mercies of the Lord to “chance” or “karma”, stealing the glory rightly deserving of the Lord. I know I’ve been guilty of this! Or maybe, like me, you’ve been prideful enough to edge away from calling yourself a sinner, let alone the “worst sinner” as Paul had. (verse 15)

Consider the most well-known hymn, Amazing Grace, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…”. Paul donned the title “worst sinner” and included it when retelling his story of rescue from death because he knew it was true. The more he realized the depths of his sin, the more radiant the grace and mercy of God became, and that amazing gift was worth all the spotlight of praise Paul could muster.

What we say when we praise the Lord reveals much about our hearts. The worship in verse 17 flowed effortlessly from Paul and it’s clear from his words that he praised a God he intimately knew.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

These weren’t rote liturgical phrases, they were the heartbeat of Paul’s humble gratitude that understood he was destitute without Christ. Paul praised God for His eternal qualities and the fact there was none worthy of worship except God alone. To this God, the God Paul knew as His personal rescuer, received every drop of praise.

Do we know the God we worship? What words do we choose when we praise? Are they rote or real? Have we glimpsed the darkness of our sin-sick-self enough to rejoice boundlessly for Who the Lord is to us?

Choose today to celebrate this great God who frees us!

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I could have given up multiple times on my race of faith. Not seriously given up on life itself, but given up on hope, given up on following Christ.

No matter how hard we try, we cannot journey through life without some hits, scars, betrayals, losses, and hurts. This world has been a fallen and broken place since Genesis 3.

Yet, as Christ-followers, we sometimes expect our lives will be different and we will enjoy pain-free living.
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Run Day 1 Mercifully Appointed

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Run Day 1 Mercifully Appointed

Katelyn Palmer

March 3, 2025

Design,Encourage,Faith,Follow,Fruitfulness

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Timothy 1:12-15
Hebrews 12:1-2
Deuteronomy 7:6-13
1 Peter 2:9-10

Let’s start with mercy.

In 1 Timothy 1:12-15, apostle and early Church founder Paul calls himself a blasphemer, the worst of sinners. Strong words, yet they describe each of us. We are the sinners, blasphemers, and ultimately, we stand before the Lord, defiled and dirty. 

That is, until mercy.

Mercy was Jesus living a righteous life free of sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Mercy was Jesus sacrificing Himself for us on the cross. (Mark 10:45)
Mercy was Jesus rising from the dead after three days. (Mark 16:1-7)
Mercy is broken chains and new life in Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:4-11)

In order to receive God’s mercy and gift of grace through salvation in Jesus Christ, we must first recognize and accept our desperate need for God’s intervention. Understanding and adopting Paul’s humble perspective happens when we recognize the fundamental truth that apart from Christ, we are each equally defiled in God’s eyes. None of us is better than the other, as we all fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) He is the standard, and none of us meets it.

In fact, we are so insufficient in the context of God’s glory, we cannot even muster faith on our own! 

As God created the world in which we live (Genesis 1:1-2:3), He made us in His image; any faith we possess is a reflection of the faith we see in Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:14) Scripture affirms Jesus is “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

He is also the giver of wisdom (Proverbs 2:6) and the One who brings understanding to His people (Luke 24:13-35); He knows our hearts and nurtures our faith accordingly. (Isaiah 43:21, 1 Samuel 16:7, Luke 17:5-6)

I can testify to God’s merciful intervention in my own faith life. He opened my eyes to His love at 24 years old. The path I’d chosen was a dangerous dead end, forged by a desperate longing for love and acceptance. He has since poured into me, filling in the cracks where the world’s façade of love was insufficient. 

I assure you this process is not easy or quick; there are still many days in which I doubt the fullness of His love. Yet even on my hardest days I wouldn’t trade it for the world, as Yahweh is breaking me free of the enemy’s lies, generational trauma and toxicity, and death in sin. He is a merciful God indeed!

He doesn’t stop there.

God didn’t just show us mercy through Jesus’ death on the cross. He gave us new life through Jesus’ resurrection! He adopted us as His chosen children (Deuteronomy 7:6-13, 1 Peter 2:9), and appointed us His divine heirs and ambassadors. (Romans 8:16-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20) 

Scripture compares our earthly lives of faith to a marathon. (Hebrews 12:1-2) We are here for a purpose (1 Peter 2:9-10), called to utilize our unique, God-given gifts to further build the Kingdom of Heaven. (Romans 12:4-8) 

Each of us can use our gifts to fulfill our appointments as Christ’s ambassadors. Paul says he was called to ministry (1 Timothy 1:12-13, 1 Timothy 2:7); perhaps you are called to the ministry, as well. Maybe you are a missionary, awakening souls with the gospel of peace. Maybe you feel called to writing, as I do (in which case we’d love to connect with you!). 

Maybe none of those resonate with you, and that’s ok! While some may feel led to serve in a specific way, all Christ-followers are called to love God and others (Matthew 22:36-40), and are commissioned to share the Gospel with those who have yet to encounter it. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Regardless of where you are on your journey, we all share one thing: why we are running this faith race. 

Jesus!

Jesus is our why. (Philippians 3:7-11)
He is our hope. (Titus 2:11-15)
He is the source of life and in Him we will have eternal life with God. (1 John 5:20) 

So how can we use our why to fuel our race in practical ways?

We form our lives to reflect His. 
We take time for prayer and praise, both with others and in solitude. (Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:15-19)
We offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. (Romans 12:1)
We study Scripture, not as a source of pride like the Pharisees, but as a spiritual weapon against the enemy (Matthew 4:1-11, Ephesians 6:14-18), and for wisdom leading to understanding and discernment. (Proverbs 2:1-15)
We move with gentle hands and kind tongues, sharing God’s love. (Matthew 11:28-30, Ephesians 4:29-32). 

With this kind of intentionality, we will reflect Paul’s humble example in 1 Timothy 1:12-15 and demonstrate our understanding of God’s merciful appointment as we run our races of faith.

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Run, Day 2
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When God physically and audibly intervened in Paul’s life (Acts 22:11), Jesus’ unmerited grace overcame Paul, drastically altering his life forever.

Paul was amazed to find out how wrong he had been, but even more astounded that Jesus loved him anyway!
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March 3 - March 21, 2025 - Journey Theme #137

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Come Day 2 Come To See: Digging Deeper

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Come Day 2 Come To See: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

February 11, 2025

Community,Encourage,Enemies,Faith,Fullness,Future,He,Hero

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 "Come To See"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Habakkuk 3:16-19

16 I heard, and I trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come against the people invading us.

17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls,

18 yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! 19 The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What was Habakkuk’s response to encountering God’s presence? (verse 16)

In the original Hebrew language, the book of Habakkuk begins, “The burdensome oracle [Heb massa] which Habakkuk the prophet saw [Heb chāzāh].” (Habakkuk 1:1) Hazah refers to a divine revelation, usually during a deep sleep like what Abraham experienced in Genesis 15:1.

The prophet Habakkuk saw and heard what God communicated to him. Interestingly, he is the only ‘minor prophet’ who did not address the people directly. (Got Questions) In more journal-like form, Habakkuk records his questions for God followed by God’s responses to his questions.

For us to grasp the weight of Habakkuk’s prayer response in chapter 3 (Habakkuk 3:1), we need to zoom out just a bit. Strong protests to the Lord from Habakkuk dominate chapter 1; God answers in verses 5-11, prompting a rebuttal from Habakkuk. The final thoughts of God in the following chapter provide a striking contrast between lifeless gods and THE living God.

Because Yahweh ever reigns from His throne, silence before Him is the only right response. (Zephaniah 1:7) So, Habakkuk is humbled, “I trembled within … trembled where I stood.” He may have been terrified of what was to come, but he came to realize it was the right judgment of God at the right time.

Habakkuk can only stand in reverence of the One he has come to see and know.

The prophet’s prayer-song begins with consideration of the past as he waits for the Lord to do His work in the present. Though he had not been able to comprehend God using the evil Babylonians to bring judgment (Habakkuk 1), being reminded of the infinite power of the Lord brought holy silence.

Does that remind us of anyone else? There was another who was humbled and silenced by God’s declaration of Himself. (Job 42:1-6) Yes, God will handle Babylon in His time. The prophet was to wait and see.

The Everyday Application

1) What was Habakkuk’s response to encountering God’s presence? (verse 16)

Habakkuk’s fear affected him “within.” The prophet had heard and accepted the Lord’s word, but he trembled at the news of the impending doom. His lips quivered and his bones shook as he considered the Lord’s pronouncement.

Although it seems the prophet’s fear cut to the very core of his being, Habakkuk was not without hope. Can you feel it with him, Sister? In choosing this perspective, Habakkuk leads us all to cast aside our anxiety and sing of the Lord’s sovereign goodness. We trust that because He sits on His throne, He is good.

The value of trusting God in every circumstance is the peace He brings even in the midst of fear. (Hebrews 13:20-21) We know His future redemption is as certain as looming judgment (Luke 21:26-28), and we can rest in knowing He is orchestrating all events for our good as believers, even in times of great trial or sorrow. (Romans 8:28-31)

Friend, let us turn our eyes toward God through prayer and the Word. As we wait on Him to work, we stand in awe of the Lord’s goodness and greatness.
“I love Your voice. You have led me through the fire.
In darkest night You are close like no other.
I’ve known You as a Father, I’ve known You as a Friend,
and I have lived in the goodness of God.
All my life You have been faithful.
All my life You have been so, so good.
With every breath that I am able,
I will sing of the goodness of God.”
(Goodness of God)

The Original Intent

2) What do we learn about Habakkuk’s heart posture toward God through his prayerful song in verses 17-18?

“Yet I will celebrate in the Lord!” (verse 18) What a shift for Habakkuk! Although the future days were certain to grow more distressing, he determined to praise the Lord and find joy in the God He trusted would save him.

It had been a challenging and discouraging period in the life of Israel. The wealthy in Judah were oppressing the poor, and the rulers had continually led the people into idolatry. (Micah 3:1-12) As many turned away from God, it seemed like God had, in turn, abandoned them.

Habakkuk communicated to God his agony over the situation much like the psalmist (David) had done years before. (Habakkuk 1:2-4, Psalm 13:1-4) Habakkuk describes the worst of circumstances by using a variety of agricultural metaphors (verse 17) which would have been familiar to those in his day. Figs, fruit (grapes), and olives represent the entire agricultural system of Israel, as well as the Promise of prosperity and provision by the Lord.  

Olive trees are abundant in Israel, and the trees’ oil was consumed at most meals. By putting these vivid word pictures together, the prophet was summarizing the terrifying and terrible events that could be devastating for those desperately relying on crops and livestock to survive.

Using these worst-case scenarios, Habakkuk desired to demonstrate his loyalty to the Lord no matter what was ahead. God alone was his salvation.

There wasn’t anyone or anything on which the people should depend for survival except Him. It had been God who had sustained them; it would be God who would save them. Much like the young Hebrew men we find in Daniel 3:16-18, Habakkuk had come to see and know the power of God. EVEN IF the worst happened, he would only worship the Lord. What genuine faith!

The Everyday Application

2) What do we learn about Habakkuk’s heart posture toward God through his prayerful song in verses 17-18?

Habakkuk envisions the Babylonians invading the land, ruining their crops, destroying the flocks and herds, trampling vineyards and olive groves, and running savagely over their Promised Land. That’s what he sees.

But he doesn’t focus on physical sight, instead he chooses spiritual vision by focusing on God’s steady character. He chooses to rejoice in the Lord’s plan. I don’t know about you, Friend, but I need to rehearse this same truth.

I want to remember His promises and recognize His presence. Even though there are certainly difficult days ahead, and the enemy tempts me to despair, my deepest longing is to declare to my soul: Lord God, I may not understand all You are doing, but I trust Your goodness as You do whatever it takes to bring us into Your glory.

Sister, instead of constantly asking God questions like, ‘How can I get out of this?’, will you join me in pursuing a life that includes more prayers drawing us to rejoice in God’s nearness? (This is God’s will for us! 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Lord, help me to really see You. Because of Your finished work through Christ on the cross on our behalf, all we need to do is believe and accept Your invitation to confess our sin and receive everlasting life. (John 19:28-30) There are days I can’t make sense of what You’re doing, but it is in that anguish, You remind me of Your sustaining grace. Even in these difficult days, “yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!” (Habakkuk 3:18)

F.F. Bruce writes, “It is right and proper to voice appreciation of God’s goodness when He bestows all that is necessary for life, health and prosperity. But when these things are lacking, to rejoice in God for His own sake is evidence of pure faith.”

The Original Intent

3) What does Habakkuk’s faith declare about God and His relationship to us? (verse 19)

“The Lord is … He makes … He enables.” This verse captures the essence of God: The Lord IS. Habakkuk declares, “The LORD, my Lord, is my strength.”

The Bible often connects the Lord’s name with His strength and His power to save. (Exodus 15:2-3, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 27, Psalm 118:4, Proverbs 18:10, Isaiah 41:10) The original Hebrew contains two different words for God: Yahweh (LORD) and Adonai (Lord). Here, the prophet addresses God by His Self-proclaimed name that was first revealed in Exodus 3:14-15. By the way, when God self-proclaims something, it is not the same as humans doing so! This was also the title the Jews often used in place of Yahweh.

The Jews considered the name too sacred to be uttered by sinful human beings. The revelation of the name announced to Moses in Exodus 3:14-15 denotes an astonishing nearness. Yahweh is … present, accessible, and near to those who call out to Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13-20), forgiveness (Psalm 25:8-11), and guidance (Psalm 31:1-3).

After Habakkuk humbly sees and acknowledges the LORD, he is then able to remember what He has provided and will provide. The prophet sees the future doom in the light of the present and able LORD.

Though there is the certainty of judgment (Habakkuk 2:3), the prophet believed God would supply exactly what he needs when the time comes. Habakkuk recognizes his future is in the hands of a good and sovereign God. He can walk in places where others stumble.

Although the prophet’s legs initially shook (verse 16), God enabled his messenger to walk through the valley he faced as sure-footedly as a deer navigates the steep places on the mountainside. He could declare as another prophet had spoken, “The Lord will renew my strength!” (Isaiah 40:31)

The Everyday Application

3) What does Habakkuk’s faith declare about God and His relationship to us? (verse 19)

In using the “I AM” phrase to identify Himself, the LORD declares Himself as the self-existent One—the eternal, unique, uncreated God. (Exodus 3:14) What an unfathomable thought: God just IS. (Psalm 145) Even more remarkable to a stunned crowd who stood nearby Him hundreds of years later is Jesus using the name “I AM” in reference to Himself. (John 8:58)

Sister, don’t miss this glorious reality! We who are in Christ through faith (Ephesians 1:7-14) have living within us the great “I AM.” That means there is nothing we need that is not ours through Him who IS!

One of the characteristics of a mountain deer is the surefootedness that allows her to climb high rocky terrain without stumbling. Just as she carefully places her back feet exactly where her front feet were to secure her steps, God protects and strengthens His children to keep them from falling in the fearful seasons of life. (Psalm 18:31-33)

Just as the prophet needed to remind himself, so do we. Sister, we can walk on the frightening high places without fear of falling! Although the meaning of the word “shigyonot” found at the beginning of chapter 3 is uncertain, I love how Habakkuk encouraged the reader at the end of the chapter. He clearly communicated this prayer was to be sung in public worship, led by the music leader and accompanied by an instrument!

So, let’s praise the LORD together now:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Praise God the Father who’s the source; praise God the Son who is the course;
Praise God the Spirit who’s the flow; praise God, our portion here below!
(The Doxology)

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character,come,invitation,Jesus,worship
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Come, Day 1
Journey Study

It’s hard to stand on God’s promises when it feels like we’re sinking!

His promises are firm and His Word is true, but when life’s circumstances shake, we feel the ground beneath us shift.

Recently, my own “quicksand” circumstances have felt far from firm.
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Feb 10 - Feb 28, 2025 - Journey Theme #136

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Table Day 10 Trust Tasting

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Table Day 10 Trust Tasting

Sara Cissell

April 5, 2024

Captivating,Encourage,Faith,Grace,Trust

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 17:1-16
Leviticus 11:13-19
Luke 12:22-26
Matthew 6:25-34

How many of you are campers? Like, real “camper campers,” not the gourmet glamping camper-type. I’m talking about sleeping on the ground where bugs and cold can actually interact with you.

For those of you adamantly identifying yourself as “camper campers,” would you still claim this title if you could only take the clothes you are currently wearing?

No extra food, no tent or sleeping bag, and no matches to light a fire.

Still in?
I didn’t think so!

True survivalists, unlike most of us, could successfully live in the wilderness, and one such example in Scripture is a prophet of the Lord, Elijah.

In 1 Kings, the Lord led Elijah into the wilderness to live by a brook where the ravens would feed him. After informing Israel’s wicked king, Ahab, that the Lord would withhold rain as a consequence of Israel’s idolatry, Elijah feared for his life. If I were Elijah, the object of Ahab’s rage, I would definitely be seeking the Lord for next steps. Even so, it took great faith for Elijah to obey.

  • Faith to go to the brook Cherish.
  • Faith to believe the Lord would provide food.
  • Faith to receive the food from the ravens.
  • Faith in the consistency of the Lord.

I wonder at the thoughts and emotions Elijah may have had while journeying to the brook. I’m curious what it was like to sit down at the brook for the first time. Did every flap of a bird’s wing catch his attention? Did he sense the Lord’s presence as he ate the bread and meat from the raven’s beak?

As I researched and prayed over this passage, the Holy Spirit opened my heart to comprehend much more to this story than my head initially understood.

In Leviticus 11:13-19, the law classifies ravens as detestable and abhorrent, not to be eaten. Perhaps this was Elijah’s first thought when the Lord said He would send ravens to feed him. He could have let the bread and meat sit on a rock, refusing to trust the Lord. Yet this miraculous provision delivered by a detestable animal demonstrated the loving care of the Lord. (Matthew 6:25-34)

The Lord built foundations of trust in Elijah during this time by the brook. From there, He built monuments to His glory through Elijah’s interactions with others, specifically the widow (1 Kings 17:8-24), calling fire down from heaven (1 Kings 18:20-40), and praying for rain after a multi-year drought. (1 Kings 18:41-46) Elijah’s meals with the Lord via the ravens impacted him for the rest of his life. 

A similar dinner memory of mine comes from a few Christmases ago. Every Christmas Eve, my family shares what we call our Bethlehem Supper, eating foods Mary and Joseph may have eaten years ago at the birth of Jesus. As we eat this meal, we reflect on the previous year, how the Lord has shown His faithfulness through it, and share prayer requests as we look to the next year.

This particular year was our last year as our family of five. My brother had been dating a lovely woman and shared how he hoped to propose early in the coming year. Through that dinner and our conversations, I sensed deep peace as the Lord highlighted her being the answer to countless prayers for the Lord to bring my brother a spouse. In the following months and years as our family grew to include another, the Lord brought that peace back to my heart and mind as a reminder to trust Him.

I am not a survivalist camper, but I am envious of this meal Elijah shared with the Lord. It would be worth the discomfort of a wilderness call to dine with the Lord, tasting the goodness of His heart for me, and experiencing the safety of His guidance in the midst of trials.

For every Christ-follower, the good news is that we are offered the abundance of communion with the Almighty each day if we come and meet with Him in prayer and feasting on His Word!

So if you hear Him call you to the table to dine with Him, even if it means stepping into the wilderness or saying no to something that seems urgently pressing, answer the call. Delight in the table He prepares before you. Savor the time. Trust Him to provide again and again and again. 

Tags :
Easter,hope,invitation,trust,welcome
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Table, Day 10
Digging Deeper

Then the word of the Lord came to him:
 
“Leave here, turn eastward, and hide at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. You are to drink from the wadi. I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”


So he proceeded to do what the Lord commanded. 



Elijah left and lived at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. The ravens kept bringing him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening,and he would drink from the wadi.
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March 25 - April 12, 2024 - Journey Theme #130

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Pause VII Day 3 Legacy Redeemed

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Pause VII Day 3 Legacy Redeemed

Rebecca Adams

January 24, 2024

Comfort,Encourage,Glory,God,Gospel,Grace

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
3 though its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil.
Selah
Read More Of His Words

One of the goals in our Pause Journey Themes is to slow down long enough to notice, through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, what we haven’t seen before in God’s Word. Be curious as you read Psalm 46 today! What depths does the Spirit have in store for you as you linger over #HisWordsBeforeOurs?

Today, we’re exploring the backstory of Psalm 46 through the legacy of a man named Korah. At the top of a Psalm, most Bibles will list the author if known. Under Psalm 46, it notes, “For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth”.

So what?

Well, Korah was a man who lacked humility and lived with a strong sense of entitlement. Mention Korah’s name to anyone in the Jewish community, even generations after his life, and dramatic images came to mind along with a healthy fear of God for He alone is Just and Worthy.

I don’t have enough space to tell all of Korah’s story, but it’s important (and interesting!), so take some extra time today to read it in Numbers 16. Wouldn’t you enjoy knowing that someone generations removed from you, wanted to look up your story and know more about you? Go read about Korah, because God preserved his story on purpose, just as much as He has given you your story on purpose.

In brief, Korah pressed hard against Moses and Aaron as God’s ordained leaders. He didn’t like his assigned task in life and the Jewish community. He was caught up in comparison, which soon led to jealousy, which, like any stronghold (see yesterday’s Pause), bound him even tighter to sin that led to blatant, public rebellion against Moses, Aaron, and ultimately, God.

His sinful arrogance earned him a public, dramatic death.
The Lord sent an earthquake so violent it actually swallowed Korah and 250 others whom Korah had also led to rebel against God.

Korah.
A man who would be known for the rest of time itself as the man who dared speak against God and loathe his distinct call and purpose in life from the Almighty.

So how in the world could the Lord, the God of all justice, allow His very Words to be sung on the lips of those associated by bloodlines to the man who, in essence, spit in God’s face?
With tears, friends, one word, “GRACE”.

I give you, God’s Word:
“When they contended against the Lord and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning. But the sons of Korah did not die.” (Numbers 26:9-11, emphasis mine)

Grace given through undeserved, merciful preservation, not only of life, but of legacy.

Here in the bloodline of the man who made a name for himself against God, that same God who was mocked, gracefully gave the opportunity for a different kind of legacy.
One that worshipped Him instead of reviled Him.

Take a deep breath, Sister; can you see your story here?
I don’t know your backstory. Maybe you came from a rich spiritual heritage and you walk in their ways, having made Jesus your own personal Savior. Maybe your history is profuse with wreckage as those who came before you lived rebelliously against God.

Either way, the truth? (and we are all about truth and grace here :-))
Each and every one of us is a “Korah” at heart, for we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23) We each deserve death as a result of our love affair with sin and self, which includes the same pride, arrogance, and entitlement that marked Korah’s life. (Romans 6:23)

But God.
The same One who preserved a wicked man’s sons and drew them close to Him despite their past, offers the same to us every single day.

So, come close to this God, Sisters.
Pause, and sit in His Presence, choosing Him as your Strong Refuge and Great Redeemer!

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Read Psalm 46 all the way through! Soak in #HisWordsBeforeOurs

2) Be a scribe and copy the words of Scripture down. Make space in your journal to write down every word from Psalm 46:1-3. As you copy, look up a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at biblia.com)  As you write, think of your own legacy and offer up your broken places to the God who redeems!

3) Choose one of these options and go deeper into biblical community! 
            a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote.
            b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT community and share how God has been working in you.
            c) Leave a comment HERE about today’s Pause.
            d) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.
            e) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.

4) Meditate on and practice your memorization of Psalm 46:1-3 while reflecting on the strong refuge of the Almighty and His heart of love toward YOU!

5) Over the next 11 days, explore the redeemed legacy of Korah by reading the 11 psalms attributed to his offspring and surrendering your legacy to Jesus!
Psalm 42
Psalm 44
Psalm 45
Psalm 46
Psalm 47
Psalm 48
Psalm 49
Psalm 84
Psalm 85
Psalm 87
Psalm 88

Tags :
faith,gospel,grace,hope,legacy,redemption,Sin
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Pause VII, Day 2

In the middle of our pain, every single pain, for Scripture says God is “always” found in trouble, the Lord God and all of the attributes of His good heart, are ready to be discovered as if new.

He will prove His character to be trustworthy. He will prove His heart to be secure. Every Time!

What an incredible gift in the midst of suffering of all kinds! (2 Corinthians 1:3)
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Jan22 - Feb 9, 2023 - Journey Theme #128

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