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Shofar Day 9 Dear Believers In Thyatira: Digging Deeper

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Shofar Day 9 Dear Believers In Thyatira: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

January 29, 2026

Discipline,Focus,Grace,Justice,Kingdom,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 "Dear Believers In Thyatira"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 2:18-25

18 “Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: Thus says the Son of God, the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze:

19 I know your works—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first. 20 But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.

22 Look, I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction. Unless they repent of her works, 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known ‘the so-called secrets of Satan’ —as they say—I am not putting any other burden on you. 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come.”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What do verses 18-19 say about the character of Jesus and how He sees His church?

The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1-2) is the final book of the Bible. Written by the apostle John, it serves to encourage the loyal saints of God to unwaveringly resist the demands of wicked dominions. Even though a final showdown between God and Satan is imminent, the believers will be vindicated when Christ returns!

The truths of Revelation have sometimes been missed or misconstrued by those who have attempted to make it a book about times and symbols pointing to a very specific interpretation. Instead, it is a message that highlights Jesus, His divine nature, and supreme authority. An overall description of Jesus as King is found in Revelation 1:14-18, but Jesus specifically shares with seven churches some of His character qualities that are directly applicable to that church.

In verse 18, He identifies Himself to the church at Thyatira as “the Son of God.” This is the only use of this title in Revelation, emphasizing Jesus Christ’s deity and right to judge. This would be pertinent to the church since the main local god in Thyatira was Tyrimnas, who was dubbed ‘a son of the gods’ by his worshippers. They depicted him on their coins as a warrior riding a horse and wielding a double-edged battle axe in judgment. (biblehub.com)

In reality it is Jesus, the one with flame-like eyes (discerning and severe judgment) and  bronze feet (a warrior with protected feet) who is the One who sees and knows all; His judgment is perfectly perfect! (Revelation 1:16-18) With a gaze that penetrates any façade and pierces innermost thoughts, Jesus also knows the sincerity of those who claim to follow Him. In verse 19 the Lord Jesus encourages believers to remember that He sees their recently increasing love for God and one another. This encouragement precedes His severe warning.

The Everyday Application

1) What do verses 18-19 say about the character of Jesus and how He sees His church?

Jesus sees and knows it all. I wonder how this image of Jesus as all-knowing Judge compares to the common portrayals or expectations people have of Him. Sister, He is indeed great and good. These can never be separated. Amidst this reality, we don’t want to miss the importance of the Lord’s all-seeing eyes and all-knowing heart. It hopefully causes us to be confronted and comforted.

He knows our hearts’ desires to love Him. He also knows our weakness and sins. The beauty in having Jesus as our Savior is that, even when we do fall, He knows the deeper longing in our hearts to love Him. (Romans 8:26-27) He chose us and gifted us with faith to receive Him and love Him (Ephesians 2:9, 1 John 4:19), sealing us with His Spirit forever. (Ephesians 1:13-14) He guards us and keeps us from stumbling. (Jude 1:24)

The terror in knowing that Jesus is Judge is that He also knows those who are insincerely and deliberately claiming to know more about Him than others, puffing themselves up with pride. I am so thankful that my understanding of Jesus’ all-knowing character brings me peace. (Matthew 6:6-8)

I know that I know He is my Savior and Lord who is returning to take me to live with Him forever. (1 John 3:1-3) This changes how I live day-to-day because I know that I know that He is able to discern all my thoughts and deepest desires. (Hebrews 4:14-16) Because of the depth of His love, He will hold me fast. Sister, we rest in that great hold.

The Original Intent

2) Who or what is being confronted in verses 20-23?

In short, it’s false teaching. Even as Jesus sees and praises the church for its love, faithfulness, service, and endurance (verse 19), He also sees their tolerance of wickedness as a glaring red flag of spiritual and doctrinal laziness. (verse 20) It could be that Jesus’ mention of “Jezebel” was referring to someone specific in the church who was leading others astray through distorted teaching and sinful practices. It is more likely this is symbolic rather than literal.

Even so, understanding who this person represents is necessary to feel the weight of Jesus’ rebuke. In 1 Kings 16–21, we are introduced to the infamous Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab. She is portrayed as a powerful, manipulative queen who led Israel into idolatry and immorality. She actively promoted the worship of Baal, persecuted God’s prophets, and wielded her influence to corrupt both religious and civil life. (1 Kings 18:3-4, 1 Kings 19:1-2) In Jewish culture, her name became synonymous with spiritual seduction, false religion, and rebellion against God’s authority.

The symbolic use of Jezebel as a false teacher, or representative of false teaching, is echoed in other New Testament passages that include warnings regarding the corrupt influences within the church. The apostle Peter warned believers about them (2 Peter 2:1-3), as did Jude. Each of these reinforce the thought that “Jezebel” in Revelation is most likely representative of a dangerous influence.

Jesus is speaking to His church as the Judge when he calls them to repentance from their spiritual adultery in verses 22-23. It is HE “who examines minds and hearts, and … will give to each … according to [their] works.” The phrase “thrown into a sickbed” is not meant to be taken literally as a simple illness in a person, but rather as a symbolic representation of divine judgment and punishment for spiritual corruption and apostasy.

The Everyday Application

2) Who or what is being confronted in verses 20-23?

‘Jezebel’ symbolizes a recurring threat in the life of God’s people: the compromise of truth for the sake of power, pleasure, or acceptance. (biblehub.com) Christ’s words to Thyatira, then, are a timeless warning for believers to remain discerning and faithful to the truth. Unfortunately, it’s also a strong rebuke to those tolerating false teachers or teaching.

I realize there is a great tension between judgmentalism and enabling sin. We must be in the Word for this very reason. We want to know what God says is clearly sin in order to be truthful and wise. This means that sometimes we will be involved in hard conversations. We will need to speak out and speak up for the God we know. At GT, we are so aware of this tension, and our desire is to help you, Friend, to learn what the Bible says so we can grow in discernment and courage.

How thankful we are for a God who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all good. This brings us peace because we know His judgments are always right. It also keeps us near Him, so we can discern what is true and what is false. Jesus will hold us if we are His. Through the Holy Spirit, the Lord will convict us when lies are being taught or preached. Also, we will be comforted by the Spirit as we obey the Word, knowing we are kept for the Day of Jesus’ return!

The author of Revelation wrote these words of Jesus in his gospel, “I will come again and take you to Myself.” (John 14:1-3) False teaching says this is too good to be true. Jesus says, “Hold on, Sister!”

The Original Intent

3) What type person is being compared and contrasted in verses 24-25?

Jesus knows the hearts of those impacted or not impacted by false teaching. He encourages those who have not succumbed to the negative influences around them to hold on to what they know to be true. He reassures them of what He’s said about Himself before, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30)

The teachings of Jesus are not burdensome like that of false religious teachers. Since Jesus taught with authority and compassion, He called out those who missed the point because He wanted them to find real life instead of false substitutes. The false teacher(s) at Thyatira were claiming they had a deeper message than the apostles’ teaching from Jesus. It was instead dipping into the depths of Satanic doctrine and Gnosticism. The term “gnostic” comes from the Greek word gnosis, meaning “knowledge.” Gnosticism was an early heresy that threatened the Christian church during the first few centuries. At its core, Gnosticism taught that salvation came not through faith in Christ alone, but through acquiring secret spiritual knowledge.

Gnostics taught that the material world was evil, created by a lesser, flawed god, and that only the spiritual realm was good. This belief led to two dangerous extremes: asceticism, where people denied themselves physical pleasures to become more “pure,” or immorality, where people believed the body didn’t matter at all, thereby freeing them to indulge in sin without consequence.

The “Jezebel” teaching was in complete contrast to the teaching of scriptures about Who God is as Creator of all things good and the Sustainer and Source of help for of His people. Jesus, God-in-flesh, confronted the church at Thyatira with Himself! He was and is a merciful Judge for the repentant heart that seeks Him, and His hold is forever. (Matthew 24:11-14, Matthew 28:18-20) Any other message is a lie!

The Everyday Application

3) What type person is being compared and contrasted in verses 24-25?

These last verses are a call from our Lord Jesus to persevere despite temptation, pressure, or spiritual fatigue. Certainly, we find ourselves in a time of moral compromise and subtle mishandling of God’s word on all sides.

I know you already know this to be true, Friend. We all likely agree that holding onto truth is essential to make our way through the chaos and confusion. We are hopefully building habits and relationships which help us stay grounded in our walks with God.

Look at you, studying your Bible with us! We are thankful and encouraged by that. We believe that community, Scripture, prayer, and other disciplines play a role in keeping us tethered to Christ. Of course, we know that the promise of Jesus is that He hold us tighter than we hold Him.

Once we are in Him, He gives us the strength to hold on to Him. So, we encourage you to be part of the few who aren’t swayed by the voices around us. Rest assured that Jesus’ teachings don’t include silly laws you must keep or heavy burdens you must bear in order to come to the Father. Christ’s death sealed the deal for us. We simply believe and receive His gift of grace. His kindness is calling you today, sweet Friend. (Romans 2:1-11)

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We, too, stand out if we follow Jesus with devotion. Our idols may look different from ancient Israel’s, but their pull on our hearts is no less powerful. Today, as in the days of ancient Israel, one fruit of idolatry is sexual immorality.

Sisters, sex is God’s gift, meant to be a physical expression of a whole-life commitment.

When these elements are separated, we sacrifice the Imago Dei of another human on the altar of briefly appeasing an appetite: another person created in the image of God becomes an object we use to scratch an itch. Destruction inevitably follows.
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Pause VII Day 8 The Victor Within

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Pause VII Day 8 The Victor Within

Rebecca Adams

January 31, 2024

Dignity,Focus,Hero,Holy Spirit,Hope

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46:5

God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.
Read More Of His Words

“God is within her, she will not fail.”
Perhaps you’ve seen these words on a cute, trendy t-shirt and wondered if they’re really in the Bible.

I did!

So few verses specify “she” or “her” in speaking directly of a woman, I remember wondering if this verse was being accurately quoted when I saw it on a cute shirt.

A quick google search landed me in Psalm 46:5 where, sure enough, the words were actually a direct quote!
The original meaning, however, was not directed to a woman, but a city.
Not just any city, but the city of God. (verse 4)

This wasn’t a promise God made to women everywhere of success in whatever she put her mind to accomplishing.

This was a holy, sacred assurance to God’s people, backed by the Almighty God whose voice has the power and authority to quite literally melt the earth. (verse 6)

I hope you’re catching the serious weightiness of these words.
They certainly weren’t meant to be flippant.
Nor were they meant to paint an individualistic picture.
These words depicted THE Almighty God living among His people whom He had set apart for mutual delight. (verse 4)

When the Spirit of God spoke through the Sons of Korah to write this song, which would be sung by every Jew down through the ages, the Almighty intended them to know that, despite the insane chaos of the tumultuous times (see verses 2-3),
He Still Held Israel Upright; He was the support within her.

Nothing could thwart His redemptive plans for Jesus to come through the tribe of Judah and bring redemption to His people, and the whole world. These believers, of all nations and all tribes, would make up the new City of Jerusalem, the very “City of God”.

The very best part?
He would dwell, live, exist, breathe, among them, within them.
For Eternity.

“God is within her; she will not be toppled.” (verse 5)

His people, called by His name, would not be swallowed up by the suffering that seemed to seal their fate. They would not be toppled by earthquake or violent enemy armies, for nothing, absolutely nothing, could keep them away from His pursuant love. (Romans 8:35-39)

And one glorious day, His Spirit would descend on all those who trusted Jesus as their Stronghold Savior, and live within His people, changing everything.

What a breathtaking prophecy!
What an incredible Hope we get to live in right now!

If you have turned away from your sin, repulsed by it, confessing it to God and asking forgiveness, then His Spirit lives inside you and your eternity is secure.
Your citizenship has been secured in the City of God!

Richer and deeper, by far, than a catchy slogan that misses God’s intended meaning for a handful of words, the truth here is meant to take our breath away as we anchor our hearts in a Hope we cannot yet see, but we are certain is coming.

For our Hope is coming, more sure than the dawn.
When it does, our Victorious Christ will ensure we are safe within His City, for He paid for our passage from death to life with His blood. (Romans 6:8-11)

Hear the words of another prophet, Zechariah, who adds even more beauty to this imagery,
““Daughter Zion,
shout for joy and be glad,
for I am coming to dwell among you”
—this is the Lord’s declaration. 

“Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day
and become My people.
I will dwell among you,
and you will know
that the Lord of Armies has sent Me (JESUS) to you. 

The Lord will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land,
and He will once again choose Jerusalem.
Let all humanity be silent before the Lord,
for from His holy dwelling He has roused himself.””
(Zechariah 2:10-13)

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down every word of Psalm 46:5 today.

2) Look up these cross-references for this passage and dig a little deeper into the context of the whole of God’s unfolding picture for His people to dwell with Him in unity without any entanglement of sin! Imagine what that will one day be like!
Isaiah 12, Zechariah 2:10-13, Revelation 21:1-8

3) Choose one of these options below to live boldly with authentic honesty in biblical community. As we grow deeper in God’s Word, the Lord designed us to share and grow with others walking alongside us.

a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote from it.

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) Share something God has been showing you in a comment at the GT Community Group

e) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.

f) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been your Timothy.

4) Keep working on Psalm 46:4-7

Close by reading Psalm 46 (As a prayer; feel free to add in words to personalize this prayer to your specific scenario)

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

4 There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when he lifts his voice.
7 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah

8 Come, see the works of the Lord,
who brings devastation on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
he sets wagons ablaze.
10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
11 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah

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Pause VII, Day 7

Did you let your mind paint that stunning picture as you read God’s Words by His Spirit to Ezekiel?!

That description of the deepening waters, where it becomes so deep it’s impassable, is what it’s like to be lost in the wonder and richness of knowing God. How do we know Him? We walk in the River of Life which brings sheer delight.
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Worship XI Day 8 Kaf, Lamed, & Mem

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Worship XI Day 8 Kaf, Lamed, & Mem

Carol Graft

June 7, 2023

Comfort,Courage,Faith,Fear,Focus,Hope

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:81-104
Luke 5:37-39
Revelation 6:9-11
Psalm 89:1-2
Proverbs 24:13-14

כ Kaf (Psalm 119:81-88)
“I long for your salvation;
I put my hope in Your word.”
(verse 81)

True confession:
I sometimes spend more time dreaming, wondering, fretting, and catastrophizing, rather than seeking answers in God’s Word. (Maybe you can relate?)
It’s easier to be upset; it’s also exhausting.

As I reflected on this verse, I felt God drawing me to relinquish worry, instead quiet myself as I prayerfully read the Word and listen for His voice. 

 “My eyes grow weary
looking for what You have promised;
I ask, ‘When will You comfort me?’”
(verse 82)

Like the psalmist, we may find ourselves wondering,
“Why haven’t I seen these dreams fulfilled?”  

We know God is fully aware of our dreams and desires.
When they intersect with His plans, 
we know He will keep His promises to fulfill His plans for us.
Sometimes, we see the fulfillment right away;
other times, we may not recognize it, because it appears different than we imagined,
or it may not happen on our preferred timeline.

In the waiting, we can look for the Divine and Holy in the midst of our now.

“Though I have become like a wineskin dried by smoke,
I do not forget your statutes.”
(verse 83)

Forty-plus years into my walk with Christ, I can easily forget the fresh love, joy, and rebirth I experienced in the early days of my salvation. Life has a way of drying out the “wineskins” of our souls; yet I know God will never abandon me. 

When we feel cracked and brittle, we are invited to refresh our weary souls with His presence, softening these vessels so they can hold fresh words, anointings, and callings. (Luke 5:37-39)

[If this resonates with you, check out “New Wine” by Hillsong!]

 “How many days must Your servant wait?
When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?
The arrogant have dug pits for me;
they violate Your instruction.
All Your commands are true.
people persecute me with lies—help me!
They almost ended my life on earth,
but I did not abandon Your precepts.
Give me life in accordance with Your faithful love, 
And I will obey the decree You have spoken.”
(verses 84-88)

 Daughters of the King, when we feel surrounded by enemies or suffering or lies, 
we can hope in His promises of true justice, faithful love, and life everlasting.  

ל Lamed (Psalm 119:89-96) 
“Lord, Your word is forever;
it is firmly fixed in heaven.  
Your faithfulness is for all generations;
You established the earth, and it stands firm.”
(verses 89-90)

Isaiah 40:8 echoes, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God remains forever.”

Throughout the generations, God remains steadfast. The same God who cares so tenderly for me will lovingly hold my great-great-grandchildren! 

To every generation, He reveals Himself anew 
as Jehovah Nissi, our banner or protector
as Jehovah Jireh, our provider
as Jehovah Rapha, our healer.

[Check out “The Blessing” by Kari Jobe, based on Numbers 6:22-27!]

 “Your judgments stand firm today,
for all things are Your servants.
If Your instruction had not been my delight,
I would have died in my affliction.”
(verses 91-92)

 My afflictions, my offenses, my sins were great. Yet even in my humanity, my stumbles, my failures, You are there. You draw me close. You forgive me and wash me clean. 

 “I will never forget Your precepts,
for You have given me life through them.
I am Yours; save me,
for I have studied Your precepts.
The wicked hope to destroy me,
but I contemplate Your decrees.
I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but Your command is without limit.”
(verses 93-96)

 I will call upon You day or night, for You alone can still the storms within and around me.
I am Yours; save me!

[Check out “Take Me to The King” by Tamela Mann!]

מ Mem (Psalm 119:97-104)
“How I love Your instruction!
It is my meditation all day long.
Your command makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is always with me.”
(verses 97-98)

Line upon line, precept upon precept. Lord, let me cling to Your promises, meditating on them. I must seek You and Your word daily.

[Listen to the lyrics of “Word of God Speak” by Mercy Me!]

“I have more insight than all my teachers
because Your decrees are my meditation.
I understand more than the elders
because I obey Your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path
to follow Your word.
I have not turned from Your judgments,
for You Yourself have instructed me.”
(verses 99-102) 

I will praise You even in the midst of my questions. As I meditate on Your word, You bring true understanding to my heart and guide my path.

“How sweet Your word is to my taste—
sweeter than honey in my mouth.
I gain understanding from Your precepts;
therefore I hate every false way.”
(verses 103-104)

A generation after Israel’s king David penned these words, his son, Solomon, wrote in Proverbs 24:13-14:
“Eat honey, my son, for it is good, 
and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; 
realize that wisdom is the same for you. 
If you find it, you will have a future, 
and your hope will never fade.”

The delight and sweetness of Your word draws me near again and again. 
Thank You, Lord, for Your life-giving Word!

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Worship XI Day 9
Digging Deeper

We know God’s Word is true, and that we can trust what the Scriptures say. (Psalm 33:4)

In a world where the rules are constantly changing and what was deemed moral yesterday is considered immoral today, having God’s Word forever settled in Heaven keeps believers off the merry-go-round of confusion and ambivalence regarding Truth.
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Mission Day 5 Living On Mission

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Mission Day 5 Living On Mission

Malinda Fugate

May 12, 2023

church,Faith,Focus,Follow,Grace,Journey

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 28:16-20
Acts 1:1-11
Romans 10:8-15
Romans 12:1-8
1 Samuel 12:23-24

Eleven men trekked up the mountain to meet their Teacher. For three years, they had devoted themselves in discipleship to the Son of God. Now, after witnessing the miracle of His death (Matthew 27) and resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10),
they were about to receive a life-changing assignment.  

They were slightly out of breath when they reached the top of a familiar ledge and saw Him, Jesus, their Friend and Savior. Their hearts overflowed with worship, but some also doubted. The road they’d traveled had been long, full of miracles and mystery. Suddenly, each man fell silent as Jesus spoke.

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

These instructions, often called The Great Commission, would direct every day of the rest of their lives. As they shared the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, more people knew God’s love and understood His powerful forgiveness and salvation. These new believers also received the same commissioning call to share this gospel message. The new disciples would then make more disciples, spreading the message far and wide, to the ends of the earth, generation after generation. 

They were given a mission. Though we didn’t walk the dusty roads of ancient Israel alongside Christ, we, too, are disciples. His words were recorded for a reason because we’ve also been assigned these instructions.

Often, we think of “missions” as traveling to a distant land to deliver sermons and meet physical needs. Intimidating visions of missionaries living far from the comforts of home persuade us to stick to something safer. Meanwhile, we regard people in vocational ministry as the disciple-makers, and we frequently join them for an event like an after-school program, outreach to the unhoused, or a supply collection for the local pregnancy center. All of these are good things, but they don’t fulfill the Lord’s Great Commission.

The key word is disciple.
Discipleship involves a great deal of time and dedication, much like being an apprentice. The disciples who walked with Jesus devoted their entire lives to serving and learning to be like Him. Deeper than students, they were also Christ’s friends. Their relationship with the Lord transformed their hearts. We are called not only to share the words of God’s story, but to create and nurture disciples, followers of Christ who dedicate their entire lives to deeply knowing Him. To do so, we are required to be disciples ourselves.

When we live out the love of Christ, God in us puts the gospel on display in remarkable ways. Demonstrating God’s Word speaks to the heart as well as the mind, a testament to His truth. The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Colossae explaining discipleship as life in community. In Colossians 3:12-17, he describes compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. Teaching and worshiping together as a community are key, as are peace and gratitude. 

God gives each of His disciples unique gifts and purpose. (Ephesians 2:10 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31) The pages of the Bible are full of ordinary people living for the Lord, like Joseph, Esther, Priscilla and Aquila, or the woman at the well.

Their mission was to love their neighbors.
Their tools were the abilities and experiences God gave them. 

Similarly, we can make disciples right where God places us, with what He’s given us, when we’re filled with and empowered by His Holy Spirit, which comes through true repentance from our sin and faith in Jesus as our Savior from the deadly consequences of sin. As we tell the story of Christ’s love and salvation, we care for relationships, modeling God’s relationship with each of us. Through this, we can bring others into the Lord’s community. Our family, coworkers, neighbors, and friends are right here, and they need Jesus just like we do.

Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth telling them to “Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) This tells us we must ditch the notion our discipleship mission is an event or project; instead, it’s a lifestyle. Paul explained to the Romans that we are to serve God with every ounce of our being; our bodies are a living sacrifice to Him. (Romans 12:1-2) Our mission is in every moment. 

Like Jesus, our entire lives are made to emanate the love of God and the message of the Gospel when we surrender to His ways being lived out in us! We demonstrate this by consistently caring, listening, and being a friend. Praying for our neighbors is an incredible way to faithfully serve as God transforms lives. As we genuinely invest, the Lord will provide natural conversations as means of sharing the Gospel authentically. When our everyday living matches the words we share, we powerfully display the good news.

Dear friend, I invite you to live out the assignment God has given you, right where He’s placed you, with the gifts He’s given you. May you live with so much of His love that the people around you see the Lord in all you do. Pray for your community as you nurture relationships, seeing people through the eyes of Christ. We’ll watch as He moves and delight in being part of His incredible mission. 

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hope,mission,prayer,purpose,real life
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Sister, may the desire of our hearts be like Paul: that our confession of Christ would be from a sincere heart that would inspire other people to come to know God in their hearts and truly be saved!
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The GT Weekend! ~ Sacrifice Week 2

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The GT Weekend! ~ Sacrifice Week 2

Marietta Taylor

April 9, 2022

Deep,Fear,Focus,God,GT Weekend,Jesus,Obedience,Prayer,Relationship,Sacrifice,Truth

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

His Words Before Ours

Hebrews 6:13-20

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself: I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.

And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. Because God wanted to show His unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because He has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

Lord thank You for the way You love me. I frequently wonder why You love me so lavishly. I’m so unworthy of such a pure and complete love. Yet, despite my unworthiness, You still sent Jesus to make the greatest sacrifice in the name of love. This sacrifice guarantees I will spend eternity in heaven with You. Lord, I confess I don’t always live like I’m redeemed by the blood of Jesus, by Your love for me.

I have idols, and I am ashamed I still choose to love them. Please empower me to tear down the high places in my heart, destroy my idols and devote myself to You and You alone. Lord, You are worthy of this! I trust You to help me remove everything that takes up space in my heart that belongs to You. I cannot wait to live solely for You Lord!
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

Have you ever felt unqualified or unworthy to do something? Monday’s Journey relays just such a time in Abraham’s life. Can you imagine entering a blood covenant with Almighty God?

Abraham questioned his ability to hold up his end of the deal. But he had nothing to fear because God already knew he wouldn’t be able to. God alone walked the blood path, swearing by Himself, both parts of the covenant. How can we relate to this? Someone else also fulfilled a blood covenant on our behalf. His name? Jesus.

He shed His blood on the cross at Calvary to pay our price of redemption once and for all. We can never repay either of these sacrifices, nor does God expect it of us.

Read through some of the Hallel journeys. Pray about how these truths make you feel. Record your praises to the Lord for His sacrifice. Who can you tell about this sacrificial blood covenant that offers us eternity with the same God who walked the blood path of the Abrahamic Covenant? Go, share and celebrate our great God!
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

Single. For some reason this word has taken on negative connotations over the years. To be single is undesirable. To have a single job is not wise because we need a side hustle. To eat a single serving size of something is unnecessarily depriving ourselves. On and on the negativity goes, but Sarah showed us that being singly devoted in love to the Lord is desirable. To place Him first is wise and beneficial.

Abraham demonstrated this kind of single devotion by his willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, the promised child from whom nations would come. How could he do this? It flowed from the relationship he had developed with God over the years. In this relationship, God had taken first place in Abraham’s life, which made obedience a no-brainer.

Journal some ways you can develop a deeper relationship with the Lord. Ask the Lord to direct you in relationship building with Him. For help training yourself in this area, check out the Training Journey Theme. Which of the areas in Training would most help you deepen your relationship with God?
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

Friday’s Journey took us to Mount Sinai where Moses first encountered I AM. Here, he received his calling to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, but Mount Sinai was also the place where, after being rescued from slavery, the Israelites rejected God and worshiped a golden calf in His place. How could they, right?! But don’t we do the same?

Reflect on things you spend more time on than God. What about those things that have a more significant role in your life than God? List those idols. How can you remove those idols from your life? Reflect on how Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to free us from our slavery to sin.

Pray for the Lord to help you live focused on HIs sacrifice and its significance to your life, both temporal and eternal. Visit the Journey Theme, Kneel for a deeper dive into the type of fervent prayer necessary to live fully for the Lord.
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Wilderness Day 6 For The Long Haul

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Wilderness Day 6 For The Long Haul

Carol Graft

March 14, 2022

Faithfulness,Focus,God,Journey,Love,Promises,Rescue,Scripture

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 33:12-23
Deuteronomy 29:1-15
Matthew 26:36-44


 

When we journey to a new place, we don’t plan on traveling for 40 years, encountering hardship after hardship.

Yet, that’s exactly what happened to the people of Israel.
God delivered them from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 13:17-22), and they began their journey to the land He’d promised.
Then they spent 40 years in the wilderness.

Their wilderness wanderings were marked with struggle and pain and sin . . . and by miracle after miracle, if only the people could recognize them.

Their first wilderness encounter with the God Who Saves is at the edge of the Red Sea. (Exodus 14:5-14) Barely out of Egypt, camped between equally insurmountable obstacles of desert and sea, Israel hears the sound of distant thunder. Turning their eyes from the pillar of cloud embodying God’s presence to the horizon, they see Pharaoh’s army swarming toward them. Panic and horror sweep through the camp, and the people swiftly turn against Moses, the man appointed by God to lead Israel.

But God.
Miracle #1- God parts the sea and holds back the waves so Israel could walk to the other side. (Exodus 14:15-22)
Miracle #1.5- As the Egyptian army attempts to cross, the sea crashes back to its original position and their pursuers drown. (Exodus 14:23-28)

Exhilarated by God’s rescue, Israel turns her face to the Promised Land. According to today’s maps, their journey should have only taken 7-10 days.

Even on this relatively short journey, resources and rations were finite and began to dwindle. When we walk in the wilderness, it’s easy to focus on what is lacking (can you relate?), and so the people turned to grumbling.

But God.
Miracle #2 – Even in the wilderness, there are oases, places of rest and refreshment. God led Israel to Marah, a place of water. Though the water was bitter, God miraculously caused it to become sweet. (Exodus 15:22-25)

Miracle #3 – After a brief stop in Marah, Israel set up camp in Elim, which held 12 springs, with the implication that one had been prepared for each of Israel’s tribes. (Exodus 15:27)

How would you have reacted to this bounty of clean, cool, fresh water after being in the wilderness for about six weeks? Sadly, the Israelites don’t see God’s leading. Instead, they focus on what they lack, even in the midst of God’s miraculous provision. They think their former life of bondage would have been better. (Exodus 16:2-3)

Before we judge too harshly, let’s realize we often do the same. When struggling through a wilderness season, it’s easy to imagine the past season as immensely better than the present . . . even if it was a season of bondage.

But God.
Miracle #4 – Though Israel quickly forgot His faithfulness, rescue, and provision, God still saw them and heard their complaints. Daily, He fed them, giving quail in the evening and manna (a wafer-like bread) in the day. (Exodus 16:4-23) Some people wanted more, deciding they didn’t trust God to provide again tomorrow, so they tried to stock up. However, manna was meant for just one day, and the extra spoiled. How often have we missed God’s perfectly timed provisions because we focus on future worry?
For God does indeed still show up, Sisters, even in our barren and desolate seasons.

Israel continues to grumble and complain, leaning on their own understanding and erecting idols (Exodus 32), yet God holds them.
God faithfully led His ungrateful, rebellious children right up to the Promised Land (Canaan), but, overwhelmed with fear of its inhabitants, they refused to enter. (Numbers 14) They chose disobedience over God’s ideas, and it cost them an entire generation.

Thus began the 40-year road trip.
And the story repeats, over and over.
God miraculously provides, protects, and empowers Israel as He leads them through the wilderness, from victory in battle to shoes and clothes that don’t wear out. (Deuteronomy 29:5) Yet, time and again, His faithfulness and provision are quickly forgotten as His people choose sin and self.

Sometimes, we may realize our own wilderness is due, at least in part, to our sin and our choice to follow our way instead of God’s. This realization is always painful. Yet God, in His faithful love, remains with us just as He was with Israel.

While we may not wander in an actual desert, wilderness seasons remain part of our lives. My prayer is to not miss God in the midst of them. And not be so stubborn (yes, even when I am feeling desolate and empty) that my attitude causes me to stay in the wilderness for what seems like a generation.

How should we respond when finding ourselves in the wilderness?

Look for God-moments in the midst of what feels like aimless wandering. He’s active, don’t miss Him!
Focus on intentionally looking for His hand, for He will keep us from falling into despair.
Lean into Scripture, for even Jesus, God Himself made manifest, relied on Scripture in His wilderness. (Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 26:36-44)
Cling to the certain knowledge that Emmanuel, our God-with-us, is present every step of our wilderness, providing for us, rescuing us, and leading us home.

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Wilderness, Day 7
Digging Deeper

God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8) and in our wilderness seasons, our own grumbling and stubbornness can impede what God is trying to teach us about Himself and following Him. It may seem He is silent at the moment of our pleading, but His truth is ever prevailing. His presence is always constant. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
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The GT Weekend! ~ Build Week 2

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The GT Weekend! ~ Build Week 2

Lesley Crawford

February 26, 2022

Courage,Focus,Genuine,God,GT Weekend,Wisdom

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
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His Words Before Ours

Romans 5:1-4

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
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Reflective Prayer

Father, thank You for the truth of your Word. Thank You for the hope, encouragement, and renewal it brings. Please help me to be faithful in turning to You to receive restoration so I may live in a way that honours You and reflects Your character to others. Please help me to lead well in the areas where You have given me influence on others. I desire to honor You by leading with integrity, compassion, and wisdom.

Reveal to me the areas of my life and leadership where You want to bring change, shaping me to better reflect You. Where there are challenges, help me to persevere. I praise You this isn’t something you call me to do in my own strength; You promise to supply all that is needed as I fix my gaze on You. Help me to hold to the promises of your Word and the truth of the Gospel so I might be sustained by You, even when difficulties arise.
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

In Monday’s Journey Study, we considered Nehemiah’s approach to leadership. Rather than lording it over those he led, he genuinely cared for them and sought their good. He also displayed integrity in refusing to accept special privileges. We are not all leaders who carry responsibilities like Nehemiah, but all of us have influence over others and responsibility for them in some way.

Perhaps our influence colors the workplace, our church, or within our families. List the situations where you have leadership or influence and take time to consider your approach to these responsibilities, asking God to highlight any areas He would like to build up in you. As Monday’s study reminded us, “Whatever position of leadership we may occupy where God has placed us, we are His ambassadors.” Pray, asking God to help you display His care, wisdom and integrity to help you lead in a way that honours Him.
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

As he and the people worked to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, Nehemiah persevered through many challenges like mocking, threats, and accusations. In all of this, he kept his focus on God, never allowing the obstacles or opposition to distract or deter him from the task to which God had called him.

What situations are you facing just now where you need to persevere? Make a list of these, being sure to include the ways you feel especially overwhelmed or challenged, and prayerfully bring these to God. Note down anything that threatens to distract you or tempts you to give up and ask specifically for God to give His courage and determination to persevere in the tasks He’s given. Are there specific Bible verses or promises of God that encourage you to keep going?

Consider choosing one or two to write out and put in places where you will see them regularly as a reminder to focus on God. For example, you could stick them on your mirror or beside the sink, or you could use them as a lockscreen for your phone.
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

Nehemiah led the people in restoring the walls of Jerusalem, but they also needed spiritual restoration. Their heart’s need was to turn back to God, seek Him, and live in a way that honoured Him. In the same way, each of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and we need the restoration only accessible through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Take time to ponder this reality and to write a prayer to God as you reflect. You may want to confess specific sins He brings to mind and ask His forgiveness, or you may want to declare praise for the restoration He is bringing. Carol’s Digging Deeper Study reminded us that, as we await God’s final restoration, we can find daily restoration and renewal, as well as hope and joy, through God’s Word.

How have you been encouraged by God’s Word in the book of Nehemiah over the last two weeks of this Journey Theme? Look back and note some encouragements, lessons, or things you want to remember or put into action, then place them by your bed or your phone where you will regularly be reminded!
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Build Day 8 Building Perseverance

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Build Day 8 Building Perseverance

Sara Cissell

February 23, 2022

Character,Faith,Focus,Jesus,Persevere,Promises,Wisdom

Read His Words Before Ours!

Nehemiah 6:1-7:73
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Romans 5:1-5


 

Ice cream cone in hand, the woman walked to the nearest park bench. As she sat, her dog planted himself in front of her with a laser-sharp focus on the sweet treat.

The woman ate her ice cream at a contented pace and appeared to enjoy watching the activity around her: young families caravanning by with their bikes and strollers, other dog-walkers out for a leisurely stroll, and rambunctious squirrels playing tag amidst the trees.

Her dog, however, paid little attention to his surroundings. The occasional shifting of his ears indicated his awareness, but his focus never strayed more than a moment from the yummy goodness in his owner’s hand. She rewarded his calm patience with the last bite of the cone.

Just like that, the spell was broken. All evidence of the cone licked clean, the dog looked around him, taking in the activity and sniffing his surroundings.

The entire interaction was quite mesmerizing to observe, and served as a prime example of Nehemiah’s focus on building the wall.

Nehemiah possessed a similar focus and determination. He, too, could have become distracted by the efforts of Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and those others opposing the rebuilding of the wall. However, he kept his focus on the Lord and His glory. (Nehemiah 6:1-4)

Such focus required intentionality and a great deal of faith. His enemies sought to cause Nehemiah to give up on completing the wall. They constructed false narratives about Nehemiah planning to declare himself as king. (Nehemiah 6:5-9) If he’d attempted to clear himself of these accusations, Nehemiah’s energy and time invested in the wall would have been derailed.

When he persisted in building, the tactic changed.
False prophets began to warn Nehemiah of those coming to kill him. (Nehemiah 6:10-14) Nehemiah could have hidden in fear and declined his leadership role in order to save himself. However, much like the dog focused on the ice cream cone, Nehemiah kept his eyes and ears trained on the Lord. He listened for the Lord, did not hear the Lord confirming the warnings as true, and proceeded to lead the Israelites in rebuilding the wall.

Nehemiah showed great perseverance throughout his leadership of the rebuilding project. Successful perseverance is predicated on knowing the what and the why of a goal. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was a large-scale what, and the why rested solely on the promises and character of the Lord. Nehemiah’s responses reflected his understanding of these concepts, and displayed a conscious choice to trust the Lord’s faithfulness.

Additionally, Nehemiah did not build the walls alone, and others followed his demonstration of the same faith-filled perseverance. Without all Israelites working together, the rebuilding would have taken longer or may never have even been completed. As the wall took shape, the team then needed to continue persisting in their faith by guarding it effectively.

The Lord’s focus and perseverance are also interwoven deeply throughout the story. He provided Nehemiah with favor, supplies, leadership grace, humility, wisdom, and courage. All of these, in turn, blessed the people whom Nehemiah led and displayed surrender to the Lord’s plan to rebuild the wall.

Evidence of the Lord’s faithfulness didn’t stop there! He prompted Nehemiah to gather the people according to genealogies. These names and numbers, listed in chapter 7, show the ongoing fulfillment of promises the Lord made to Abraham regarding his descendants being more numerous than the sand of the sea. (Genesis 22:17-18) Talk about a long-term example of perseverance!

The Lord’s perseverance and faithfulness continue to endure long past the close of Nehemiah’s story. His faithfulness is displayed today as He is near to each of us, waiting for us to lean into Him and His building plans for our lives. We are invited to persevere with Him as He builds His kingdom in and through us. While the context of our individual needs for His presence to pursue us varies, the foundation for our perseverance is the same: Jesus.

How has the Lord spoken to you in your current scenario? Are there specific verses, promises, or elements of His character you can focus on to empower your obedience?

The Lord has great rewards for our perseverance, rewards which may not be experienced for some time, or even in this lifetime. However, they are coming! (James 1:2-4) We may experience ridicule, misunderstanding, exhaustion, and many other challenges in our journeys, much like Nehemiah. For those who surrender to the Master Builder, Jesus, every trial will be accompanied with the joy of knowing obedience honors the Lord and His work carries an eternal impact.

Dear sisters, the effort and probable pain of perseverance is always worth it when Christ is the laser-focus of our life’s purpose. May we keep our gaze unswervingly on Him.
He sees it all and will reward our faith and trust in Him.

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Build, Day 9
Digging Deeper

In Romans 8:7, Paul describes the mindset of the flesh as hostile to God. Sin creates enmity (bitter fighting) between every human being and God. (Genesis 3:15) Being justified by faith in Jesus erases that hostility caused by sin and brings us into communion with God, giving us peace.

We are no longer at war with God because we are one with God who is our peace. (John 14:20, Ephesians 2:14)
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Waiting Day 8 The Anticipated Gift

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 2:21-38
Isaiah 55:8-11
Psalm 62:1-12
Psalm 25:1-22

Waiting, Day 8

Oh, the very goodness and faithfulness of the Lord!
Check in on how your heart responds to that phrase.

Celebratory? Enthused? Encouraged?
Or, perhaps, this Journey Study comes to you in a season where that sentence feels so very far from the truth. A season of waiting…maybe more accurately, painful waiting.

A season where more questions fall from your lips than victory cheers.
Where are You, Lord?
Why did You give this to me?
Why did You take this away?

Regardless of heart motives, I’m so thankful our “why” questions are embraced by God; He faithfully draws us close in our questioning. Still, nowhere in Scripture does He promise to reply in the manner we might hope.

Yet, even in this space of unknowns, we can praise the God who carries us through our uncertain seasons of waiting as He actively works to soothe our fears and cultivate our faith. His strength is endless, His power limitless, and His pen authors the best stories every single time.

Waiting is a vital part of any story.
How we choose to wait often determines the level of joy contained throughout our journey and, in many cases, it impacts the story’s end. Such was the case for Anna and Simeon, two faithful saints of the Lord who demonstrated faith-filled waiting. Though the waiting period yawned before them, they fixed their gaze on the unchanging Yahweh, Lord of All. They daily sought His presence, choosing to dwell with Him instead of the land of fear and doubt.

Anna and Simeon waited for the long-ago-promised Messiah. Finally, on a seemingly ordinary day, as they sat again in the Lord’s presence at the temple, their faith was turned into sight as they beheld the infant face of Christ Jesus. They beheld the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord God wrapped in wrinkly days-old skin.

Precisely because they had spent their waiting in worship,
they were familiar with the Spirit’s pressing.
Finally, here was the goal of their faithful waiting.

Though the whole nation of Israel had waited centuries, they missed the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise. They neither welcomed the wee Christ, nor did they worship as He performed miracles and declared Himself to be the Messiah. Israel waited, just as Simeon and Anna had, but the difference was their “how”.

Israel sought a king they could control; one who would fulfill their expectations.
The humble in heart welcomed the King they already worshipping while they waited.

Like Israel, like Simeon and Anna, we each can choose how we wait in our seasons of mystery, pain, and seeming endlessness. Will we focus our hearts more on receiving the promise or on worshipping the Promise Keeper?

Though I have much to still learn about waiting well, over many seasons of waiting, the Lord has faithfully taught my heart to worship in the waiting; He has shown me the joy to be discovered if we wait on Him.

I had been single for several years and sensed the Lord leading me to a specific man as my future husband. In a story that would take far longer than I could recount here, the Lord walked me through years of listening and obeying; these became my praise to Him. I continued praying for this man, and many fellow Christians prayed alongside me, until finally I asked the Lord for a clear answer the next time the two of us interacted. When I saw him again, I mentioned an interest in getting coffee, but he didn’t set up a date. As we turned to go, he exited through one door, and I turned towards a glass one, but realized too late that it was a pull exit instead of a push door. I walked full force into the see-through glass, but instead of feeling humiliation at my clumsiness and grief over losing this man, laughter bubbled out. After years of waiting and praying, I found myself filled with joy and laughter.

I had waited well, and the evidence was the Lord’s joy showing up against all odds. The outcome wasn’t what I had envisioned, but the Lord had given me the same gift He had given to Anna and Simeon and all who waited for the Messiah with humility, Himself.

In that specific season I had learned to know His voice better and lay my plans at His feet. I wonder how often Anna or Simeon doubted the Lord would show Himself to them as they waited, yet still, they came to Him each day at the temple, expectantly waiting with open hands to receive whatever He had for them.
These were sacrifices of praise.

I’m now married, with a little one on the way, to a man the Lord had been preparing for me all along. As I feel tiny kicks inside, I am reminded again that the Lord writes the best stories. His storyline taught my heart to trust and worship Him regardless of plot twists. He was faithful to Simeon, Anna, and even to Israel, though they rejected Him, and He continues to be faithful to all who humbly seek Him.

Delight yourself in the Promise Keeper, Sister.
Learn the rhythm of worshipping while you wait and joyfully discover His faithful goodness that will never fail!

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