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Fervent

The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XII, Week 2

December 2, 2023 by Katelyn Palmer 1 Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XII, Week 2

Katelyn Palmer

December 2, 2023

Adoration,Believe,Comfort,Fervent,Gift,Worship

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

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Luke 1:46-50, 54-55

My Soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy to Abraham and his descendants forever…
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, thank You for the beautiful lessons of true worship we have studied this week, and the reminder to pursue dwelling with You in quiet moments alone. You know that a heart focused on worship is a heart You are healing from sin. When I sing Your praises, God, my heart and mind are renewed as is my ability to pour into others.

Oh, Lord, You are so much more than any word or stroke of a pen could capture, but I am excited at the opportunities You graciously offer me to proclaim You. I long to be in Your presence, to fill my lungs with Your air, to feel Your light on my skin as You make Yourself known through Your Word and by Your Spirit. Flood my soul with Your love and peace that You always make available to me if I will simply sit and be still. Make me aware of opportunities to create these quiet moments so I can soak on truth and allow Your Word to feed my soul.

I will use my voice to sing for Joy to You, Lord, for You are my strength; I will shout in triumph to the God of Jacob who rescued me from the depths of hell and broke my chains of sin. (Psalm 81:1-2)

I praise You, my forgiving Lord, the One who abounds in faithful love.
(Psalm 86:5)

I will praise You now and forever, for my heart is Yours and I will honor Your name forever.
You are a faithful God whose love for me is unsearchable. (Psalm 86:12-13)

 With a full heart, and in Your Son’s name, I offer these words of prayer to You. Amen!

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” is a beautiful story of our past, present, and future. Writer, Edmund Sears, begins by bringing us back to that first Christmas, referencing Luke 2:8-20 as he paints the story of the angels telling the shepherds of Jesus’ birth.  

Their praise-filled message of peace on earth speaks of peace with God through the faith of Christ that reaches all nations. (Luke 1:79, Romans 5:1)

The lyrics, “Heaven’s all-gracious King” offer praise to the Lord, which recognize the wondrous glory He possesses forever. The angels declared the birth for which they, and all creation, had long awaited, for it signaled the soon-coming grand rescue of humanity from Satan’s power.

Soon, however, the skies grew dark again as the angel chorus sang only in the ears of the shepherds. The angels’ time to sing and declare on earth ceased, but, for the shepherds, as the first ambassadors of this good news, their declaration was just beginning.

The shepherds took to the streets following their in-person encounter with the Newborn King, telling everyone they met of the One who had come with goodwill to all people. (Luke 2:17-18) Like the shepherds, it’s the mission of all who have made Christ their personal Lord to keep singing the message of hope first sung by angels. Into the dark world around us, we are meant to sing the song of the Savior, until Christ returns and we see Him face to face!

JOURNAL TWO

Have you ever witnessed something so beautiful, perhaps a painting at a museum or the world below from a mountaintop, and all you could do was stop and stare? You had no words for none could do the vision justice; you could only offer breathless awe.

That’s how I picture encountering God one day in full. The idea of His glory is a vision so breathtaking that all I can do is sit silently in His presence, soaking in every second, letting love and praise fall from my lips to God’s ears.

God is not greedy; He does not vainly seek our praise to stroke His ego, nor does He need our love to be whole for He is love.

Just as one cannot have faith without good works (James 1:14-26), for true faith grows righteous living, you cannot experience the love of God in life without responding in adoring worship. He is so perfect there is nothing to offer Him except worship.

This message rings within the lyrics of “O Come All Ye Faithful”. The lyrics call us to do nothing but seek Christ and worship Him. It commands us to adore him alongside the angels with a joyful and triumphant countenance. The simplicity of these lyrics remind us God is worthy of our praise simply for who He is; this should be our motivation for worship that realigns our hearts when we face the struggles of this world.

For if our source of praise is God Himself, then we shall never run out of reasons to worship. Because God is good, worship benefits us. When we humble our hearts to the position of adoration, we open the door for Christ’s peace to surpass our understanding.
(Philippians 4:4-7)

Worship leads to heart change and a new perspective, both of which allow us to better reflect God’s love to others.

JOURNAL THREE

Isaac Watts was a minister in the late 17th and early 18th century. As a young man, he would complain about the unhappy Christmas songs and poems in circulation. His father challenged him to compose something better. Eventually, he based his lyrics on Psalm 98 and it was set to tunes of common hymns at the time. Decades later, another man, who studied the works of Handel, put music to Watts’ poem “Joy to the World”.  I always find the original lyrics interesting, especially the verses we don’t sing like verse three:

“No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.”

I love Rebekah Hargraves’ authentic prodding in her Journey Study. She called us to recall how easily our joy can be zapped when we set unrealistic expectations for the holidays. The holiday dinners, all the gifts, the busyness of coming, going, and doing drains the joy we were meant to have in celebrating Christ.

How often have you focused on the doing and planning of the holidays only to end up exhausted, overwhelmed, and realizing too late that you had inadvertently missed the meaning of Christmas. This busy is not worth it!

As we plan, prepare, and partake of all the wonderful traditions of the season, let’s determine together to start and finish with praise for the Person of Christ. Let’s intentionally be aware of our hurry and choose to reject the distractions caused by all the “doings” about Christmas.

Let us not become weary in trying to do all things well, and instead focus on intentionally being still and welcoming Christ’s Joy that will bring us peace.
(Written by Carol Graft)
Tags :
Christmas,hope,humility,hymns,worship
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Recent Journeys

The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XII, Week 2
December 2, 2023
Worship XII Day 10 Joy To The World: Digging Deeper
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Posted in: Adoration, Believe, Comfort, Fervent, Gift, Worship Tagged: Christmas, hope, humility, hymns, worship

Worship XII Day 8 O Come All Ye Faithful

November 29, 2023 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

Worship XII Day 8 O Come All Ye Faithful

Rebecca Adams

November 29, 2023

Adoring,Deliver,Fervent,Follow,Heaven,Hope,Longing,Suffering,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ezekiel 34:22-31
Hebrews 13:20-25
Hebrews 12:25-29
Philippians 4:4-7

To an 8-year-old little girl, the scene was Christmas postcard perfect.
A cold, dark night with dazzling, crisp stars wrapped the evening as I walked into the country church, complete with white clapboard and stained-glass windows that whispered of real wax candles shining inside.

Walking inside, I’m welcomed by the musty scent of old wooden pews, their creaks and groans mingling with the cacophony of the saints greeting one another as those waxy candles trembled in the early December whistles creeping in around the sills surely 75 years old.

We were late, and the pianist’s trill was calling parishioners to their benches. Then, there it was, I remember like it happened tonight. The voices joined together as one choir despite age, chilly breezes, and children’s cries, “O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant”.

I knew the rest of the lyrics, but my soul swelled and it was as if time lingered on those eight words, warming me. Those words were a wide welcome into the arms of the newly birthed Savior, now born in me.
“Joyful and Triumphant”  
I grinned.
I knew inside me what these wrinkly faced farmers and wives had known for decades; Christ had come to eradicate sin and death for them making them new day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:14-18)

I had given my heart and life to Jesus just one month prior and in that saintly choir, the freshness of the gospel’s hope simply awed me. As I took my seat, my black patent shoes dangling over the red-cushioned pew bench, I knew Hope shone brilliantly inside me, holding me.

Fast forward 30+ years, the crisp, fall leaves and glorious afternoon sunlight beckoned me deeper into the harmonics of an autumnal forest. I laced up my running shoes and begged the Lord to come and let me hear from Him. It was the day I set aside every year to run, pray, and praise the Lord with smiles and tears for the baby boy I carried inside, but never held in my arms.

Faithful. Faithful. Faithful.
Though it was still nearly 3 months until Christmas, the rhythm of my running shoes matched cadence with my swinging black patents decades prior. The Spirit’s clear voice reminded me of His faithfulness to me despite my losses and griefs. Then He pointed to my shoes and whispered, “Your feet are to be fitted with My gospel, not self-defense weaponry.”

My lungs lost their air as it took only a split second to know, of course, the Lord was right.
While He had been faithful again and again, wooing me, loving me, and carrying me from my first “yes” to Jesus right through every “no” I’d told Him too, I had traded in gospel shoes for self-protective footwear that ran the other way if I felt threatened. Grief and loss have a way of surreptitiously eroding our purpose and mission, even if it’s just little bit by little bit.

“O come all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and adore Him,
born the King of angels.
O come let us adore Him.
O come let us adore Him.
Christ, the Lord.”
(O Come All Ye Faithful)

In those thin-air moments of realization that I had again been unfaithful, the gospel freshly warmed my soul like sunlight playing on dancing leaves. The Lord’s conviction is like that, pointed, sharp, and unmistakable, but followed with the warmest of love and solace as He forgives and draws us near.

Where I fell short, my Father had not for a solitary moment lessened the fervor of His faithfulness. In fact, it was His faithfulness that drew me back to Him, growing His character of steadfastness in me by His Spirit! Incredulous grace!

Make no mistake, I was counted among the faithful saints who gathered that starry December night when I was eight, and I was counted among the faithful saints when His conviction struck me on my run. I was counted faithful not because I deserve it, I don’t, but because He Is Faithful. His Spirit in me refuses to allow me to return to muddy mire of life without Jesus.

Let us draw near with a true heart
in full assurance of faith,
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed in pure water. 
Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering,
since He who promised is faithful.

(Hebrews 10:22-23)

With fresh tears in my eyes as I write, I’m warmed again as the chorus swirls around me,
“O Come Let Us Adore Him.”

Yes, Sisters, let’s do just that.
Let’s come and adore because He is worthy.
Let’s come and adore despite our messes, our losses, our wounds, and disappointments.
Let’s come and adore though all we have to bring is tattered worship, let’s come to the Only One Worthy and sing with the saints, “Christ the Lord.”

Tags :
All,faithful,hope,messy,Ordinary,surrender,unshaken
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Recent Journeys

The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XII, Week 2
December 2, 2023
Worship XII Day 10 Joy To The World: Digging Deeper
December 1, 2023
Worship XII Day 10 Joy To The World
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Worship XII, Day 9
Digging Deeper

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful."

The author confidently pens these words to strengthen and encourage his readers to not give up, despite their suffering and challenging circumstances.

The unshakeable is coming. Hope is for the Now in the light of the Then.

Our response?
Worship, sister, worship.
Dig Deeper!

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Nov 20 - Dec 8, 2023 - Journey Theme #125

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Posted in: Adoring, Deliver, Fervent, Follow, Heaven, Hope, Longing, Suffering, Worship Tagged: All, faithful, hope, messy, Ordinary, surrender, unshaken

Sketched XI Day 8 Making A Mockery

June 28, 2023 by Sara Cissell Leave a Comment

Sketched XI Day 8 Making A Mockery

Sara Cissell

June 28, 2023

Desperate,Enemies,Faith,Fear,Fervent,Uncategorized

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 18:1-19
Deuteronomy 4:23-27
Exodus 34:11-17
Psalm 78:58-60; 79:5-8

“How long is this drought going to last, Lord?” I look up and ponder the morning sky. “How long will You remain patient with Ahab?” 

Years ago, the Lord sent me to tell Ahab no rain or dew would fall until I give the command. (1 Kings 17:1) Dust is our constant companion, and Israel’s wicked king Ahab increasingly mocks Yahweh, our unchangingly jealous God, with all of his idols and other gods. (Exodus 34:14)

“Ahab has not budged in his behavior. How long will the wait be?”, I continue my pleading questions to the Lord. “You have proven Your strength with not a drop of moisture touching this land for over three years. Nonetheless, You have kept our oil and flour jars filled.”

I see the widow with whom I had been living look at me from the window. I smile her way, and she returns it with a warm one of her own. At first, I imagine she found my conversations with the Lord rather odd. I talk to Him as though He were sitting in the courtyard with me: out loud, with expression, and with pauses to listen for His response. 

I think back to when I first arrived at her house and can barely contain a snort. Pretty sure my very presence has been stretching her from the beginning, when I arrived on the very day she was preparing a final meal for her starving son and herself before death overtook them.     

Her emotions had spun like the ever-present dust devils on the day I arrived, and again when her son died and the Lord resurrected him. Her faith has grown significantly during the years I’ve been here. 

Mine has, too. I think both of us expected the flour and oil to run out during the first few weeks of my stay. As the weeks turned to years, my trust in the Lord strengthened in ways I did not realize I needed. Each day, He has proven His faithfulness and His presence through my daily bread. 

Through these long years of drought and famine, 
Yahweh has shown me
He is sovereign,
He is enough,
He is omnipotent, 
and He is truth.

In fact, He has grown my faith so much I did not hesitate to ask Him to resurrect the widow’s son when he fell ill and died. 

I look at the ground, kick the dust with my sandal, and chuckle. I am still a bit dumbfounded that her son is alive. I prayed, and the Lord, who loves the boy with surpassing depth and jealousy, did the miraculous. 

Truthfully, being here with the widow has helped me as I wait for the Lord to direct my next steps. My confidence in the Lord answering my prayers has grown; leaning on Yahweh’s faithful provision with another believer, especially one who isn’t even Jewish, has been strengthening as well. Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), and the shared experiences of this season have spurred us both to trust the Lord increasingly. 

“Go and present yourself to Ahab. I will send rain on the surface of the land.”
(1 Kings 18:1)

My head snapped up at the Lord’s command. It was time. After years of asking, the Lord had directed me again. Within the hour, my sandals were covered with dust as I journeyed towards Ahab. 

I prayed as I traveled, asking the Lord to direct my steps and prepare me for all I would encounter. 

The first person I met actually happened to be Obadiah, who himself was on a mission for Ahab. I told him to return to Ahab and announce I was coming. At first, Obadiah hesitated, knowing Ahab would kill him if I did not come as promised. However, he trusted the Lord was directing me and set out to tell Ahab the news. (1 Kings 18:7-16)

My voice turned aloud again, “Thank You, Lord, for reminding me that I am not alone on this path of obedience. Obadiah believes in You too, and he has had to live in the presence of all Ahab has been doing. Thank You for giving us both the strength to walk the paths You have prepared for us. Thank you for reminding us we are not alone.” 

In the distance, I saw Ahab coming my way. “Here we go, Lord,” I mumbled.

When Ahab was within shouting distance, he called, “Is that you, the one ruining Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17) He laughed and arrogantly smiled at his entourage. 

His manipulative response, classic Ahab, stirred a righteous anger within me and a confidence that could have only come from the Lord. Israel was the Lord’s and He would fight for her. 

I commanded Ahab to gather all of Israel and prophets of Baal and Asherah. The Lord is a jealous God. If the lack of rain was not enough for Ahab to change his ways, my God would demonstrate His power another way. No other god could stand before Him. The lack of rain had not caught Israel’s attention. Perhaps a consuming fire would. 

 

Tags :
enough,jealous,power,sovereign,trust
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Recent Journeys

The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XII, Week 2
December 2, 2023
Worship XII Day 10 Joy To The World: Digging Deeper
December 1, 2023
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December 1, 2023

Sketched XI, Day 9
Digging Deeper

God revealed His character in a clear demonstration of certain aspects of His character.

He is a consuming fire, and as Merriam Webster defines jealous: intolerant of unfaithfulness. He alone deserves all glory, praise, and loyalty; He rightly and righteously expects it. He is also the embodiment of love and is full of mercy and grace.
Dig Deeper!

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  • prayer@gracefullytruthful.com
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June 19 - July 7, 2023 - Journey Theme #120

Join a GT POD!

Authentically living out a life of worship to the God who rescued us from darkness requires accountability and intentionality. Join a GT POD and take the next step in your faith journey!

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Posted in: Desperate, Enemies, Faith, Fear, Fervent, Uncategorized Tagged: enough, jealous, power, sovereign, trust

Worship XI Day 10 Nun, Samek, & Ayin: Digging Deeper

June 9, 2023 by Debbie Collin Leave a Comment

Worship XI Day 10 Nun, Samek, & Ayin: Digging Deeper

Debbie Collin

June 9, 2023

Adoration,Amazed,Fervent,Follow,Longing,Mercy

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 "Nun, Samek, & Ayin"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:105-128

נ Nun
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. 106 I have solemnly sworn to keep your righteous judgments. 107 I am severely afflicted; Lord, give me life according to your word. 108 Lord, please accept my freewill offerings of praise, and teach me your judgments. 109 My life is constantly in danger, yet I do not forget your instruction. 110 The wicked have set a trap for me, but I have not wandered from your precepts. 111 I have your decrees as a heritage forever; indeed, they are the joy of my heart. 112 I am resolved to obey your statutes to the very end.

ס Samek
113 I hate those who are double-minded, but I love your instruction. 114 You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in your word. 115 Depart from me, you evil ones, so that I may obey my God’s commands. 116 Sustain me as you promised, and I will live; do not let me be ashamed of my hope. 117 Sustain me so that I can be safe and always be concerned about your statutes. 118 You reject all who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is a lie. 119 You remove all the wicked on earth as if they were dross from metal; therefore, I love your decrees. 120 I tremble in awe of you; I fear your judgments.

ע Ayin
121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. 122 Guarantee your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me. 123 My eyes grow weary looking for your salvation and for your righteous promise. 124 Deal with your servant based on your faithful love; teach me your statutes. 125 I am your servant; give me understanding so that I may know your decrees. 126 It is time for the Lord to act, for they have violated your instruction. 127 Since I love your commands more than gold, even the purest gold, 128 I carefully follow all your precepts and hate every false way.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why does the psalmist plead, “give me life according to Your word”? What does this reveal about his understanding of Scripture? (verse 107)

In verse 107, the psalmist writes that he is “severely afflicted”. Though we don’t know the nature of the affliction, the psalmist is seeking comfort and salvation from the Lord through His Word. “This is my comfort in my affliction: Your promise has given me life.” (Psalm 119:50)

In this passage, we discover that through the Scriptures, the psalmist learns about the Lord’s promises and His commands. As he experiences affliction, he cries out to the Lord and offers worship.

The source of his joy does not stem from his circumstances, but from the Scriptures and the intimacy he experiences with the Lord through them.

The Everyday Application

1) Why does the psalmist plead, “give me life according to Your word”? What does this reveal about his understanding of Scripture? (verse 107)

The psalmist’s plea to the Lord, born from shared intimacy with the Lord through His Word, reveals much about the author’s understanding of the Lord and His life-giving Word. (verse 107) We see his full reliance on the Lord for support, sustenance, and desperately needed hope.

Difficult seasons aren’t limited to the times of the psalmist. The Apostle Paul wrote about the purpose of the Old Testament in his letter to the Romans, “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.” (Romans 15:4) Even the psalmist understood his hope was solely in the Lord. Like him, how can we draw hope and comfort from the Scripture in our personal and corporate worship?

1) Pray using God’s Word. By incorporating Scripture into our prayers, we can communicate with the Lord in a manner that is aligned with His truth. We are literally praying His own words back to Him; along the way, our hearts become shaped by His heart and His holy intentions as we submit to His words and ways.

2) Praise God’s Attributes. Reflecting on the Lord’s character reminds us of His steadfast love and kindness. When we meditate on Who God is, we are reminded of His goodness, His sure faithfulness, and His unfailing love. These reminders invite us to trust Him more deeply, taking our eyes off ourselves and our circumstances and lead us to true worship.

3) Meditate on God’s Promises. We can find comfort and security in the Lord’s faithfulness to uphold His Word and His character. When we reflect on His inability to sin, abandon us, or become unjust, we are urged to “return to your rest, oh my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” (Psalm 116:7)

The Original Intent

2) What does it mean to be double-minded in verse 113?

The word for “double-minded” used in verse 113 comes from the ancient Hebrew word “seeph” (סֵעֵף) meaning “divided, half-hearted”. This stands in contrast to the greatest commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

This command for offering the Lord a whole heart and life isn’t isolated. Each repetition of a command in Scripture urges us to pay even closer attention and underscores the importance of this foundational command.
“Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that He made with you, and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of anything He has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:23-24)

“Do not have other gods besides Me… Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them.” (Deuteronomy 5:7 and 9)

“Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

A divided heart leads us away from rightful worship of the one, true God. The psalmist urges us to draw near to the Lord and experience His covenant love and the joys he has found in relationship with Him.
“I will praise You with all my heart, Lord my God,
and will honor Your name forever.
For Your faithful love for me is great,
and You rescue my life from the depths of Sheol.”
(Psalm 86:12-13)

Scripture is plainly clear in its message from beginning to end. The Lord God, a triune Being, is the Only One worthy of our sole worship. He is jealous of our loving adoration for Him and will not glibly allow other idols to take His place of worship. He knows our hearts will suffer pain, disillusionment, and betrayal if we worship anything else but God alone. This is idolatry.

The Everyday Application

2) What does it mean to be double-minded in verse 113?

When Jesus was asked about the “greatest commandment”, He answered with a command originating from the heart of Old Testament Law, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) This command pre-dated His audience by hundreds and hundreds of years and was the most well-known Mosaic command.

We constantly face distractions that pull our attention from the Lord. A divided heart always leads us to worship idols of our own lusts. Tim Keller said, “[An idol] is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.”

Can we really live our lives free from what lures our hearts away from the Lord? The Bible answers this question plainly! It is impossible to love God with all our heart in our own strength. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) If we could worship wholly, we would be sinless because we would never give in to our own lustful temptations and choose idol worship.

It is through faith in Jesus, recognizing we can’t be good enough to love Him only, that we are rescued. “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

 “I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:16-17)

Consider how great God’s love is for you and receive His gift of eternal life of salvation through accepting Christ as your Savior! In the power of the Spirit, we can have a relationship with God and worship Him with an undivided heart.

The Original Intent

3) What is the psalmist waiting for in verses 123 and 126? What can we learn about God’s character from his faith?

It’s hard for me not to get emotional reading these verses. I can “hear” the psalmist cry out with his deep longings and gut feelings to the Lord.

The Hebrew word ayin (עַיִן) means “eye”. The psalmist writes that he is watching for God to deliver on His promises and for His judgment. The psalmist has not yet seen God act in his specific situation, but still chooses to trust God’s character in spite of what seems like a delay from his vantage point.

The psalmist knows God’s judgment reflects His holiness, mercy, goodness, and grace. “And He judges the world with righteousness; He executes judgment on the nations with fairness.” (Psalm 9:8)

“Lord, Your faithful love reaches to heaven, Your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, Your judgments like the deepest sea.” (Psalm 36:5-6)

The psalmist demonstrates the very definition of faith when he trusts the Lord to prove faithful to Himself when he cannot see proof with his physical eyes. (Hebrews 11:1)

The Everyday Application

3) What is the psalmist waiting for in verses 123 and 126? What can we learn about God’s character from his faith?

In this stanza of the psalm, the psalmist expresses distress over the state of his world and the way people are disregarding the Word of God. Do you ever feel this way in our current culture?

The psalmist models the importance of prayer and meditation on God’s Word in seeking His direction in a world that continually opposes living according to His Word. Through our quiet time with the Lord, we can know God’s commands and promises and grow to be more like Christ despite the pull of idolatry around us. (Romans 12:2)

As we wait on the Lord, we are also reminded of His character. “The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

We can be a part of His mission to the world when we live closely connected to the Lord through meditating on His Word. How can we be a positive witness for Christ in a world chasing idols? How can we actively display God’s love and grace to those around us, even in the face of opposition or rejection? By staying connected to Him through prayer by His Spirit who is always calling us to be His ambassadors.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God.’ He made the One (Christ) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

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I am drawn to verse 109 (ESV), reflecting that I too hold my life in my hands, sometimes in thankfulness, but sometimes in control.

Yet, in my humanity, I forget His law, His better ways, sometimes. In those times, I seek God in confession, asking for help and reminding myself to continue to draw near to His presence in delight, rather than hiding in the darkness of my shame.
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Posted in: Adoration, Amazed, Fervent, Follow, Longing, Mercy Tagged: generous, Gentle, kind, praise, worship

Another Day 15 Service With Love: Digging Deeper

March 24, 2023 by Rebecca Adams 1 Comment

Another Day 15 Service With Love: Digging Deeper

Rebecca Adams

March 24, 2023

Borders,Busy,church,Community,Digging Deeper,Faithfulness,Fervent,Forgiven,Freedom

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 "Purposeful Pace"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Peter 4:7-11

The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why is prayer included in this list of actions? (verse 7)

The phrase, “The end of all things is near”, and ones similar to it like, “The Lord’s coming is near” (James 5:8), or “The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5) are found frequently in both Old and New Testaments. They express urgency and the necessity of working for the Lord while it is still called “today”. (John 9:4)

When an author uses one of these phrases, it accompanies a specific call to action for believers, those who have already been granted the assurance of their certain rescue when Christ returns to judge the world.

Make no mistake, all these Christians have sinned grievously against the Holy God, but the difference between them and everyone else, is they have acknowledged their sin, confessed it to God Himself, and accepted His complete forgiveness of their sin. (1 John 1:9) In place of sin and eternal distance from God, the Lord gives His own Holy Spirit to dwell eternally inside the soul of all who call on Him with genuine faith, effectively drawing them into close, intimate relationship with Himself. (Romans 10:9)

Each call to action in connection with these phrases is meant to align the believer more closely with the Lord in preparation for the increasingly intense battle against evil as we move ever closer to the Day of Eternal Judgment.

James calls believers to “strengthen your hearts” (James 5:8) while Paul says, “wake up from sleep” and “put on the armor of light”. (Romans 13:11-12) Considering the workings of the enemy on all sides, the accompanying allure of sin (1 Peter 4:2-3), and the quickening Day of the Lord,

Peter calls believers to pray. Other actions follow, but Peter places prayer at the top of the list, honing in on that special, intimate relationship between Warrior God and adopted, forgiven child.

The Everyday Application

1) Why is prayer included in this list of actions? (verse 7)

We often relegate prayer to a last resort. Our words reflect what our hearts truly believe when we say things like, “All we can do is pray”, “There’s nothing we can do except pray”, or “We’ve tried everything else, we might as well pray.”

To the Lord, prayer comes first because the power source of our battle isn’t found in the things we can do, the brilliance with which we devise a plan, or our ability to take control, but in our complete reliance on the God of All Victory. He holds all power.

Even the final “battle” between God and Satan at the end of time won’t be a battle. The Lord will speak to silence Satan once and for all, and it will be over. The God who spoke creation into existence, holds galaxies by His breath, and knits our DNA into every cell, is more than able to thwart every attack, calm every storm, heal every disease, and bind up every broken heart, but it all begins and ends in relationship with Him.

We look around and see un-answered prayer and begin to doubt whether “prayer” works, but we forget it isn’t the “prayer”, but the ONE we talk with in prayer who holds our hearts.

Amazingly, when we grow familiar with bringing everything to God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, His desires become ours. (Philippians 4:4-7) Fear dissipates, peace embraces, and shockingly, it no longer matters as much that we “get our way” and “make prayer work” because we have the better, we have God Himself.

Don’t believe me? Try it! Pursue God for who He is, not for what He can do for you. Talk with Him, about everything. You’ll soon discover why Peter places prayer at the very top of his “call to action” list for believers!

The Original Intent

2) What is the motivation for the believer’s call to action in these verses? (verse 8)

We’re studying these few verses from Peter’s letter to the dispersed, persecuted believers of the early church, but context is everything, no matter what portion of Scripture you’re reading.

Reading context and slowing down for right understanding safeguards us from the danger of mis-applying God’s Words to our lives and completely misunderstanding the kind of God He is. Context matters! Study God’s Word, ladies, but do it well!

Backing up in this chapter, we find we are in the middle of Peter’s discussion. Verses 1-6 describe the evil in the world, which accurately reflects the evil naturally growing in our hearts. Human beings are vile creatures, lusting after ourselves and our own desires. Full of idolatry (that is, worshipping anything other than God alone), we actively rebel against the Holy God, choosing our own ways and desiring our own control, wishing to be our own “gods”.

All true believers will recoil at evil because the Spirit of the Holy God lives within them, calling them to be holy as God is holy. (1 Peter 1:16) His Spirit changes a believer’s appetite! (verse 4) It’s a good thing for our appetite and attitude toward sin to shift, causing us to desire righteousness as we honor the Father who adopted us and calls us His own.

The danger, however, because we still feel the pull of our old nature to sin, is to judge, condemn, and revile the people who are lost in the disease of sin just as we once were. The powerful antidote here is genuine love like Christ’s, not just for their physical needs, but for their souls! (verse 8)

The Everyday Application

2) What is the motivation for the believer’s call to action in these verses? (verse 8)

Peter reminds the believers in verse 5, “They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.” This is meant to remind the scattered believers who are in danger because of un-believers, that they too will stand at the coming Judgment Seat. Believers are covered in the righteousness of Christ, but those who continue to reject Christ, will earn their just reward without any rescue and will be sentenced to continue the path they have chosen all their lives on earth, rebellion and separation from God.

The punishment is now far worse for eternity, for no mercies and graces from the Lord will be experienced in Hell as they were on earth. No kindness, no acts of love, only the eternal awful wrath of God against sin.

This reminder should motivate every single believer to become more passionately serious about genuinely loving their neighbor across the street, at the grocery store, and around the world. This reminder of all humanity’s default destination for eternity, should quickly break down the arrogant barriers we’ve erected to think we are somehow better than any other sinner on the planet.

All people desperately need the Love of Jesus “that covers a multitude of sins”. We do, they do.

Let’s get busy and love well by showing them His love in practical ways and by verbally sharing who Jesus is and how He loved them enough to take their place and die their death, so they could live forever inside the life of forgiveness and righteousness!

The Original Intent

3) What is the target goal for this collection of actions? (verse 11)

“Be hospitable without complaint”
(verse 9) reminds us to open our hearts and hands and homes with all generosity. The lack of complaining evidences how this generosity flows from a heart that knows exactly how much she has been forgiven of and how much Christ’s love has covered her sins.

When complaints rise up in hard relationships, stress, or hurt, remember Peter’s call to action that’s backed by the love of a Savior who gave Himself, humbly, for us to not only be forgiven for eternity, but be wrapped in peace and comfort by His constant presence on earth.

It’s hard to complain when we remember how loved we are, and it’s hard to love well when stinginess fills our hearts. The Lord has given every single believer gifts through the Holy Spirit for that Christian to actively live out in everyday life. Perhaps it’s singing, leading others to worship, easily understanding difficult biblical truths, being a good friend, making people feel welcome, cooking delicious meals, folding laundry, running a well-maintained home, or making flowers flourish.

Whatever your specific set of gifts, we are all called to live hospitably (read: openly generous) without complaint. Why? Peter tells us this glorifies God, meaning it reflects His character to the world around us.

When we take seriously each of these action steps, intentionally incorporating them into our everyday lives through the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit, we impact the world by showing them what kind of God would love them enough to save them from eternal separation from His goodness.

The Everyday Application

3) What is the target goal for this collection of actions? (verse 11)

Remember these verses we are studying are in the middle of Peter’s discourse? Let’s not forget the closing section. Though it sounds beautiful and like our authentic love would be well-received, welcomed, and embraced by the people we are trying to love and serve with the Spirit’s power, Peter tells us otherwise. He tells us to prepare to be reviled for loving people well in the Name of Christ. (1 Peter 4:12, 14)

People love their evil ways, otherwise they wouldn’t be stuck doing them instead of enjoying the full life offered by Christ. Evil revolts against holiness, including holy love. While some will soften when we love them like Jesus, and we pray they will embrace Christ as their own personal Savior, expect pushback along the way.

Peter says, “don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you […].” (verse 12) Suffering for doing good doesn’t sound pleasant, but Peter reminds us it’s infinitely better than suffering for doing evil, which is why Christ came and sacrificed Himself, so He could take our suffering for evil upon Himself. (verses 15-16)

Remember that Peter is writing this letter to persecuted Christ-followers, and he is urging them to keep following because, though it is hard, the goal of bringing glory to the Lord Jesus, who holds all rule and reign over all things and will one day bring us Home to dwell with Him forever is worth it.

Together, let’s set our hearts to fervent prayer, upon loving well as Christ loves us, and on living for the Lord’s glory and not our own. When we suffer for following Jesus, let’s remind each other as Peter does to “trust [ourselves] to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.” (1 Peter 4:19)

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Journey Study

Jesus taught, “You [true believer in Jesus!) are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) Because “light carrying” is so important, He instructed, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Be a shiny sheep, serving others, showing them Jesus and giving Him glory? Yes, please!
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Posted in: Borders, Busy, church, Community, Digging Deeper, Faithfulness, Fervent, Forgiven, Freedom Tagged: kind, love, prayer, see, serve, tenderness

Pause VI Day 3 Fearless Faith; Fervent Prayer

January 4, 2023 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Pause VI Day 3 Fearless Faith; Fervent Prayer

Melodye Reeves

January 4, 2023

Faith,Fervent,Pause,Prayer

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 1:12-20

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.

14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word, fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation, through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer and faith have always been connected. Faith expresses itself through prayer. Answered prayer is the key that unlocks a life of growing faith.

Paul has just finished wording his prayer for the believers in Philippi. It seems that praying for them stirred his faith to rejoice and remind them his “imprisonment is because I am in Christ.” He didn’t want them to be sad for him but wanted them to know the gospel was spreading because of his chains.

Paul had prayed for them to love each other and to grow in righteousness. He could rejoice in their spiritual growth and wanted them to rejoice with him in the ways God was working through his imprisonment.

Pause and consider Paul’s source of joy: Christ preached, and lives changed.

Paul had seen an increase of courage in others as a result of his own willingness to be put in jail for the sake of Christ. It had given those around him courageous faith to share the gospel (good news) of Christ more boldly. He was so encouraged by this he could not contain his joy.

“Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice…” (Philippians 1:18)

God used the deep and resounding faith of Paul to actively encouraging believers everywhere, near and far. Paul’s letter was intended to strengthen the faith and courage of believers in Philippi. His steadfast courage and joy strengthened the believers within proximity of where he was in chains (probably in Rome).
Making the gospel known was Paul’s mission, and he knew the source of his strength was God working through believers’ prayers.

Knowing this “secret of strength”, Paul prayed for the believers and they prayed for him even when they weren’t physically together. We know this because Paul was in prison and they were in Philippi. Through prayer and encouragement, they each stirred up confidence in one another. Their partnership in grace (Philippians 1:7), through fervent prayer, was the means by which Paul and others were able to share the gospel with fearless faith.

Let’s pause and pray fervently for fearless faith together. Let’s believe God for greater boldness in sharing with others what He’s done for us. Let pray for others to have that kind of boldness too.

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the words of Scripture down. Make space in your journal to write down every word of today from Philippians 1:12-20. 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 the gospel courage the believers were encouraged toward.

2) Choose one of these options to answer the invitation of going 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 it.
            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.

3) Meditate on and memorize Philippians 1:20 , reflecting on the purpose of our lives as Christ followers.

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Day 2

What a beautiful phrase: partners with me in grace. That’s the most wonderful kind of partnership, isn’t it? I hope you have some partners in grace that walk alongside you in the gospel. We all need those who are with us in this journey of life.
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Posted in: Faith, Fervent, Pause, Prayer Tagged: fervent, prayer, proclaim, Truth

Champion Day 8 Fearful Made Fierce

June 8, 2022 by Michelle Promise Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Daniel 1:3-21
Daniel 2:27-30
Daniel 6:10-24
Philippians 1:3-11

Champion, Day 8

“Am I good enough?”
“How could God ever use me? I’m so weak in my faith, in my trust, in my understanding of You, God.”

These questions regularly pop into my head. Sometimes, when I look at the Bible Greats (those characters who *seem* to have it all together and act perfectly before the Lord), I get discouraged. I’m sure my name will never go down in recorded history for doing anything amazing. I’m a hot mess just trying to consistently read my Bible every day. How then do we approach the accounts of people in the Bible doing extraordinary things for the Lord?

Daniel is a Bible hero well-known for faithfully praying to the One True God, despite being forbidden by the king. He was thrown into a den of lions and the king expected him dead by morning. (Daniel 6:16-18)

Miraculously, when the king reached the den the next day, “Daniel said to the king, ‘May the king live forever. God sent His angels and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before Him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.’”  (Daniel 6:21-22)

Wow. Daniel’s faith must’ve been great to be considered innocent before God Almighty. Who was Daniel really? How did he get into this pickle?

Daniel and many others were captured and taken from their home in Israel to foreign Babylon. Forced to leave his family, along with everything familiar, Daniel was taken to a strange new place with many different customs and values.

His whole identity shifted to become Babylonian; he was even given a new name. In the midst of this upheaval, he needed to decide if he would continue following God Almighty or worship other gods, as was expected of him by the king. (Daniel 1:1-7)

As Daniel navigated such challenging circumstances, we see that behind every holy choice Daniel made, God was at work, revealing Himself as the true champion.

Daniel chose obedience when he and his friends decided to break the cultural norms and follow God.
The Lord gave them favor with the king, who then entrusted Daniel and the others with great responsibility.
By living in authentic community, they were able to support and encourage each other onward in obedience. (Daniel 1:17-21)
The Lord empowered Daniel to interpret dreams of several successive kings, a feat impossible for Babylonian sorcerers.
Daniel was humble, giving God the credit and glory for his ability. He was able to recognize his limitations and his need for God’s power.

“No wise man, medium, magician, or diviner is able to make known to the king the mystery he asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen[.]” (Daniel 2:27-28)

Notice who Daniel didn’t mention?

Himself.

Standing before the king, in possession of an extraordinary ability, facing an opportunity to curry earthly status and success in a new land . . . and Daniel recognized this as an encounter between the king and God, with Daniel simply present as God’s voice.

Daniel demonstrated this understanding as he closed his speech before the king.
“As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king[.]” (Daniel 2:30)

Repeatedly, the Lord provided perfectly for Daniel. 

The Lord showed Daniel how to be wise with heavenly wisdom.
The Lord gave Daniel strength to be faithful to the truth.
The Lord God Almighty carried Daniel through every trial he experienced;
he was never alone.

At first glance, it’s easy to think we could never do what Daniel did.
In all actuality, he was a boy who was kidnapped and forced to live in a new place.
His God, however, was and is extraordinary.

Daniel chose to be obedient, and the Lord provided for him.
Ladies, the Lord is faithful to finish the work He’s started in us until He returns again! (Philippians 1:6) He is our champion, our rescuer and redeemer!

Lord God Almighty, we long to be great for You. Give us pure hearts when we do what You’ve called us to, humble us if there is any pride in us. Give us favor with those in positions of authority over us. Let us respond with faithful, simple obedience, Lord. Jesus, give us courage to live in community that will keep us accountable. We wait for you to show Your face to us, so we might follow You. We trust you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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Posted in: Alive, Amazed, Believe, Enemies, Faith, Fear, Fervent, Hero Tagged: champion, courage, faith, fear, hero, hope, victory

Sacrifice Day 4 Two Sacrifices: Digging Deeper

March 31, 2022 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

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 Two Sacrifices!

The Questions

1) Why does Luke record the aside note in verse 9 of Jesus’ purpose in telling this parable?

2) What are the identifiable hinge points of each prayer? (verses 11-13)

3) Why are Jesus’ closing remarks so important to the whole of the story? (verse 14)

Luke 18:9-14

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’

13 “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Original Intent

1) Why does Luke record the aside note in verse 9 of Jesus’ purpose in telling this parable?
Each gospel writer had a different, God’s Spirit-inspired motivation to record and compile their experiences with Jesus during His ministry on earth. Matthew wrote to his fellow Jews, and didn’t care much for chronological recording, but rather focused on seeing Jesus as the Promised Messiah who fulfilled every prophecy. Mark wrote with big emotion, and though his book is the shortest, it also contains more graphic detail in many accounts than the other gospels because his focus lies in highlighting Jesus’ total authority over all things, especially sin and death. John recorded his gospel from a different perspective than the other three as very few parables or miracles are recorded in his writings. His purpose was to logically lay out exactly why Jesus is both Lord and Savior; John prompts us to deep faith. Luke, as the longest gospel writer, intends to provide as much thorough, eye-witness confirmed information in a clear chronological order as possible. Luke, a physician by trade, is the investigative detective of the gospel writers. He was not an eye-witness of Jesus; he apprenticed under Peter and much of what he records came from firsthand accounts of Peter. Being well-educated and logical, much of his narrative falls under directive headings, like the one we see in verse 9, so the reader will not mistake the intention or become distracted by misapplication. Though Jesus’ audience was certainly wide and varied at the time He told this parable, Luke wants us to understand the thrusting purpose and heart behind why Jesus told it and for who He chose His words.

2) What are the identifiable hinge points of each prayer? (verses 11-13)
First, Jesus underscores that each character in the parable went to the temple to pray. Jesus included this aspect because the common place to pray was the temple. Though both characters went to the right “place” to gain access to God, this didn’t automatically grant them access. This would have astounded Jesus’ first hearers, for it was the common understanding that all who came to the Temple accessed God. Secondly, the true heart-posture of each man in Jesus’ story is identifiable by both their word choices and their body language. Though both men were standing, Jesus says the tax collector was “standing far off”. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says Pharisees would stand to pray in conspicuous places so as to be seen by others. (Matthew 6:5) One man stood to be noticed, the other chose to stand “far off” (think, tucked back in a corner), so as only to be seen by God. (Matthew 6:6) The Pharisee talked to God about himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like others…”. (verse 11) In contrast, the tax collector, without even raising his eyes, talked to God about his need for Him, “God have mercy on me, a Sinner.” (verse 13) The tax collector knew his condition as sinner, and he knew full well the only hope he had was in the mercy of the God who was perfectly holy and righteous. Lastly, where the Pharisee listed his self-proclaimed-righteous-acts, the tax collector merely beat his chest in an outward action that reflected an internal humility. Sisters, which are we? List-givers or humble-heart-bowers?

3) Why are Jesus’ closing remarks so important to the whole of the story? (verse 14)
Jesus finishes His parable with a hard reality and a sweet hope for every human heart; it’s the perfect antidote to the hopeless melodrama of the human condition. Regardless of a person’s good deeds or how wonderfully they view themselves, none can be justified before God by exalting themselves. (verse 14) Some may think, oh that’s good news for me because I always think the worst of myself. I don’t think I’m worthy of God’s love, I know how terrible I am, I mess up constantly. But do you notice the subject of each of those phrases? Self. Whether you think highly or lowly of yourself, you’re still thinking of yourself. Jesus teaches that only the truly humble of heart can “go home justified before God.” Humble of heart does not mean self-deprecation, which is self-focus just in a different form. Rather, humble hearts see the reality of their state as sinner and recognize God as the only available Giver of Mercy because we each deserve eternal death as a result of our sin. We cannot even lift our eyes to Heaven, as the tax collector demonstrated. Not because we think so terribly of ourselves and have lowered our innate worth as a person, but because we recognize God as perfectly holy and ourselves as utterly full of sin. We simply cannot bridge the impossible chasm between us. THIS is a humble heart. THIS is the heart God looks upon and says, “Yes! Welcome Home, Child! You are forgiven and free!”

Everyday Application

1) Why does Luke record the aside note in verse 9 of Jesus’ purpose in telling this parable?
When we read Scripture, it’s absolutely imperative we begin with the original purpose as much as possible in order to make correct application to our own lives. Luke, because he was a natural investigator, makes it easy for us to know we are headed in the right direction with this parable, but we must not gloss over his purposed introduction. This parable is not about how to be a good Christian, or who should come to church (temple), or even how to pray effectively. Though we can gain insights about each of these areas, they aren’t the main reason Jesus told the parable. We would miss the mark of understanding HIM if we go off on our own tangent to make HIS parable into something He didn’t intend. What are good applications for our everyday from this teaching? They are many! But let’s hang out with a handful of them that center around the original meaning and let the Spirit convict our hearts as we pray and study His Words before ours. In a nutshell, the original intent could be phrased, “Self-Righteousness Cannot Justify Us Before God”. Now, let’s offer out our hearts to the Spirit, asking Him to convict us of sin and change us to be like Him! We could ask the Lord, “Where am I holding onto my own “goodness” with You?”, “Am I expecting You, Lord, to act on my behalf because I have told You how much I “deserve” it?”, “Do I expect others to behave or speak in a certain way toward me because I have declared myself “worthy”?”. These are only a few questions we can bring to the Spirit through prayer, but when we pair true Scripture study with genuine, humble prayer, we can be absolutely certain the Lord will speak to our hearts!

2) What are the identifiable hinge points of each prayer? (verses 11-13)
The first-century Jews believed that if they went to the right place and did the right things, they would be right before God. We may live centuries later, but we can be guilty of believing the same deception! Bring these questions before the Lord as you authentically pray, and see how the Spirit convicts you, teaches you, and encourages you. Consider writing down your thoughts as you pray and listen to the Lord as He reshapes your heart to be like His! Ask God, “Where are the places I go, actions I take, and words I say that lure me to trust myself and my own goodness to give me access to You?” “Have I elevated my church attendance, service, giving, or personal ministry to others as a “good work” that You now “owe me” for, or that I “passively brag” about to others to show how “good” I am?” “Remind me, Spirit, that I am justified through faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ alone and my good works have absolutely no bearing on Your love for me, acceptance of me, or Your willingness to forgive my sin.” Consider taking the next few days and studying up on the core tenants of why Christians believe they are saved by grace, through faith, and of Christ; our Journey Into Sola is a great place to begin! When we study Scripture with a humble willingness to be changed by God, He will shift our hearts! (https://www.gracefullytruthful.com/journey-into-sola)

3)
Why are Jesus’ closing remarks so important to the whole of the story? (verse 14)
Jesus begins His closing statements with an interesting phrase we might easily gloss over, “I tell you…”. The Jews held the Pharisee as the Top Dog of Jewish Law. None ranked higher in understanding the nuances than a Pharisee, but Jesus, ever intent on the flipping the tables of our worldviews, speaks with unequivocal authority, “I tell you…”. I, as God the Son. I, as God in the flesh come to rescue you from your bottomless, hopeless pit of sin. I, the God of Mercy. I, the original Law Giver who came to perfectly fulfill the Law and the Prophets for you because you never, ever will. (Matthew 5:17) You can’t. Your sin stops you. Your righteousness will fail you because it isn’t perfect. I know this, and I have come to Be Your Rescue. I have come to be Righteousness FOR YOU. “I tell you…”. Have you adopted these words into your view of self and God? What do they mean for you? What chains can fall away because of their truth? What burdens of “good works” and “trying harder” and “just can’t do all the things” would Christ desire to lift from your shoulders right now, in this moment? He is speaking, Sister, are you willing to give it up to the God of Mercy?

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
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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

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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!

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Posted in: Broken, Digging Deeper, Faith, Fervent, Forgiven, Freedom, Grace, Prayer Tagged: forgiveness, holy, prayer, pride, Sin

The GT Weekend! ~ Worship VIII Week 2

March 20, 2021 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

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) Brianna shared an intensely profound thought on Monday that deserves slow savoring, “The intent of theology, our study of God and His nature, is to expand our heart, enlighten our minds, and grow our love and devotion toward God.” Think of all the reasons someone, maybe even you, might choose to study God. For many, myself included, it can be about appearance or self-proclaimed righteousness. There’s little else as enticing as the idea of making yourself feel good about impressing others, even more so if there’s a chance you could impress God. Others might at first begin pursuing God because others around us are doing the same, and we don’t want to stick out as awkward or shallow. Or maybe, we once loved Him passionately, but somewhere along the way, studying Him became rote, more like a checkbox than an act of adoration. Pray with me, will you Sister? Pray with me for the Spirit to convict our hearts, yours and mine, to bring about true revival so we may lay aside all that hinders our worship and grow deep in our love and devotion towards this God who loves us so magnificently!

2) It’s easy to find our hearts questioning God, isn’t it? Give yourself permission to take a few minutes and explore the corners of your heart without judgment or self-condemnation. Which scenarios in life have brought up your most intense questions or emotions towards God? What motivated your wonderings? What was the undercurrent emotion of your questions? Don’t back away from the emotion stirring in your now as you recall those events. Perhaps, as you look back, you don’t feel you’ve ever really questioned God. Did you ever feel you had the freedom to actually question Him? As Sarah shared on Wednesday about the questions she’s asked the Lord, she reminded us of an unchanging truth, the Lord never changes. He is both the center and the sustainer of all things. His magnitude is unmatchable. There is none like Him. He is not only big enough to handle our questioning, but is also kind, humble, and lowly enough to answer us with tender compassion. If His embrace is strong and sure, what questions will you bring?

3) Raise your hand if you’ve felt overwhelmed in the last 48 hours. Oh, you’re laughing? Last 24? Raising your eyebrows and smirking, I see? Fine, fine, last 10 minutes? There we go, now we all confidently assert we are on the same page of freaking out thinking of all the things. Hold your breath, I’m going to flip the coin. When were you last overwhelmed with the glory of Christ our Savior? A quiet fills the space here between us, doesn’t it? Some of you are smiling, remembering the sweet satisfaction of a holy moment in the not-so-distant past where we encountered the living God that marked you. Some eyes are glazing over as you work to control the outward eyeroll. Others are realizing it has been years since we felt our souls tremble in the presence of the Living God. Wherever you land, let this be a personal invitation to you to go farther than you are. Go deeper. Explore the God who loves intimate connection with you. Explain your doubts, your hurt, your distance, or your love for knowing Him. Lay it out, and ask for Him to make Himself known to you. Listen in, He wants to overwhelm You with the fullness of Himself!

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 Isaiah 42:8 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

I am the Lord. That is My name,
and I will not give My glory to another
or My praise to idols.

Prayer Journal
There is none like You, O Lord remind me today, over and over, if this life-giving refrain. There is none like You. When I look into someone else’s eyes, remind me of Your image stamped upon their hand-crafted soul and my I be in awe, there is none like You. When I connect with someone I love, let me stop to consider how much I love the sound of their voice, and remind me again with fresh wonder, there is none like You! You who gave Yourself in unthinkable sacrifice so I could hear Your voice, be known, and know You. Surely, there is none like You! As I move into next in my day whether it’s errands, or picking up children, or making a meal, or calling a friend, let worship reframe my everyday, common moments. May my heart, my face, my voice, my embrace, my eyes, all reflect the glory of the One who chose to love me and dwell within me. Oh Lord my God, there is none like You!

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

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Posted in: Encourage, Fervent, Focus, Gospel Tagged: genuine, grace, GT Weekend, hope, worship
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14