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Slain Day 3 Blandina

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Slain Day 3 Blandina

Sara Cissell

April 16, 2025

Called,Enemies,Fear,Hero,Resurrection,Struggle,Suffering

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 2:8-11
John 15:1-17
Matthew 11:25-30
Genesis 1

A friend of mine recently passed away. In the midst of grief, however, joy does arise when I think of him in heaven with Christ. I have no doubt Jesus welcomed him with joy and the confirmation of a life well-lived. 

My friend is not known beyond the circles in which he traveled, but I know his desire to live for Christ will live on as we reflect on his humble servanthood and carry his example with us. 

My friend died at a much younger age than anyone would have expected, especially since we often think of a life well-lived as including many decades of walking with Christ. Our Lord constructed time (Genesis 1) and lives beyond its constraints. Therefore, our definition of a life well-lived should reflect the mindset expressed in this quote:

“The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.” ~William James, philosopher

As we enter the Easter season, we are focusing on believers who gave their lives in the pursuit of Christ. 

Today, I am honored and humbled to focus on Blandina, a young slave girl who was martyred in Lyons in 177 AD. Christians were under incredible persecution from the Roman empire at that time, persecution so intense the only options were denying Christ or enduring torture culminating in death. 

Blandina is known today, not because she was one of the first martyrs or even one of the most politically significant ones. In fact, she was only a young slave girl, one characterized as “weak in body.” (The Gospel Coalition) Yet, Blandina did not cower in the face of torture nor deny her Lord. Rather, she endured torture beyond what anyone thought her body capable of handling. 

Her name made it into the history books because she withstood torture device after torture device and, through it all, encouraged her fellow Christians to not lose heart. Blandina experienced significant pain and traumatizing experiences, yet one historian noted that the more she endured, the stronger she seemed to become. Only God could have imbued this frail girl with strength to not falter in her faith.  (Revelation 2:8-11)

Because of her example, Christ-followers in her day saw the example of a life spent on that which would outlast her breaths on earth. 

We are invited to witness her faith and be challenged to live out our own with all the courage. 

Many of us will not experience martyrdom or anything remotely close to all Blandina went through, but we will be placed in positions of either choosing Christ or choosing the world. 

A choice for the one is a denial of the other. 

Are we mentally and spiritually prepared to choose Christ regardless of the outcome?

Could we truly walk in Blandina’s footsteps with such unwavering faith? 

Blandina was no gladiator; she was neither physically fit nor prepared to fight. Her strength stemmed from within, from her connection to Christ. (John 15:5) Faith enabled her victory. 

Matthew 11:25-30 may seem like an odd choice for connecting to Blandina’s story, as “easy” and “light” do not describe her last days. However, her life highlighted how the Lord carries the weight in our relationship with Him. He strengthened Blandina and encouraged her just as she, in turn, encouraged those around her. 

Several years ago, I lived through one of the hardest, most intense seasons of my life, a season filled with spiritual warfare, doubt, darkness, and a serious lack of hope that the season would ever end. During that time, the Word came alive in a way I had never realized possible, largely because I had never needed it so desperately. During this season, I learned to “remain in [Christ]” in new and deeper ways. (John 15:4)

As I reflected on that season shortly after circumstances changed, I realized that deep within me, at my core relationship with Christ, I felt the strongest in Him I had ever felt while walking through the dark. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, I felt like I had been hit by a truck, but I recognized the power of the Holy Spirit was dwelling richly within me regardless. 

It is this indwelling power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to answer Christ’s call in John 15: “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” 
(John 15:12-14)

Whether we, like Blandina, are led to literally lay down our lives for Christ, or whether we are called to sacrificial love in a relationally difficult season, we are empowered and strengthened as we abide in Christ. 

I have not felt the persecution Blandina suffered, but I have needed to choose where I put my hope and accept the consequences of my choice. 

During my hard season, I repeatedly ran to Jesus and His Word, certainly not perfectly, but desperately, consistently, and humbly. The Lord proved He is faithful, powerful, and sufficient for all my needs. 

That season shifted my perspective to a more heavenly one. Heaven is our home, and living for Christ will always be worth it, even if our journey takes us down paths we never wanted to walk. 

It has been challenging to realize how an easy life can often hinder my spiritual growth. My desperation to hear the Lord’s voice lessens, and I allow a myriad of other things muffle His Words. Social media, busyness of life, relationship challenges, and so many other things begin to take precedence in my calendar, and my ability to discern true kingdom work fades. 

Blandina demonstrated a life spent on something that will outlast her breath. I challenge and encourage us to pattern our days to do the same. 

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hope,life,martyr,reward,worship
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Jesus, who came to earth as an infant born to a humble carpenter’s family (Luke 2:12) and who slept under the stars during his years of ministry (Luke 21:37), assured His followers that they were choosing better by choosing to walk in His ways (John 15:5).

Though they were not rich in material things, Jesus’ followers were rich in spiritual blessings.
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Worship XIII, Day 4 I Will Hide In You: Digging Deeper

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Worship XIII, Day 4 I Will Hide In You: Digging Deeper

Beloveth McKnight-Miles

March 27, 2025

Adoration,Anchored,Comfort,Glory,Help,Hero

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

This DD Connects With "I Will Hide In You"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 55

“God, listen to my prayer and do not hide from my plea for help. Pay attention to me and answer me. I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint, because of the enemy’s words, because of the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster on me and harass me in anger.

My heart shudders within me; terrors of death sweep over me. Fear and trembling grip me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, ‘If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. How far away I would flee; I would stay in the wilderness. Selah

I would hurry to my shelter from the raging wind and the storm.’ [. . .]

But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, and he hears my voice. Though many are against me, he will redeem me from my battle unharmed. God, the one enthroned from long ago, will hear and will humiliate them because they do not change and do not fear God.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why are the psalms significant to those who trust in the Lord? (verses 1-8, 16-19, and 22)

While most books in the Bible can be categorized as epistles, historical narratives, prophecies, or Apocalyptic, the collection of hymns known as Psalms is poetic in nature as it describes both the human heart and the heart of God. Psalms emphasizes the raw, real emotions of the human experience through poetic prayers and songs of worship.

The vivid imagery and figurative language reach into the soul of the reader performing spiritual surgery by the Spirit of God on our hearts. The songs relate our feelings of emotional pain with the salve of truth in reminding us of God’s presence and faithfulness, especially during times of trouble.

“Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.
I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember You […].” (Psalm 42:5-6)

Interestingly enough, there are 150 psalms in five separate volumes, the largest of which is Psalms of Lament. Laments unabashedly express an array of strong emotions, and although lament can seem like the antithesis of worship, bringing God our honest cries of pain and suffering is itself an act of faith.

“God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray.” (Psalm 73:1-2)

Blessedly, Psalms of Lament usually end with resolved thinking by a renewed mind and praise for the God who remains steadfast, good, and compassionate. More than a mere vehicle to vent, Psalms of Lament model for us how to manage our human emotions with integrity and, yes, worship. As we walk the paths of suffering, grief, and loss in honesty before the Lord, we find comfort in His heart of compassion and learn to trust His goodness despite our pain. (Psalm 23:5-6)

The Everyday Application

1) Why are the psalms significant to those who trust in the Lord? (verses 1-8, 16-19, and 22)

I observed my mother handle the sorrows of life’s blows with annotated psalms. Nights were coal black on our rural dirt road, with cricket choirs perfuming the air and a resounding cacophony of sweet-smelling scents of earth tucking us in. The muffled cries of my mother’s heart often escaped her lips and traveled through the plywood into the bedroom I shared with my little brother and sister. Her faith was teaching me, even in her lament, just as David’s faith instructs us now from his psalms.

Consider the groanings of verses 6-8; it’s likely you could have written these words yourself as you walked through a particular dark season just as my own mother had on many occasions. King David’s woes are so intense that he looks at a bird and desires to be as carefree and happy as this creature appears.

How many of us have done the same? Perhaps you’ve reminisced of an earlier time when life seemed easier. Years after King David’s longing, Jesus used the untroubled nature of birds when He taught us to cast off our fears onto the Lord in light of His good character, “Consider the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

By verse 16, King David realizes God’s care for a bird is not to be envied but serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to all His creation, especially man. David then finds the faith to profess that God will deliver him. And He does! Read the full story in 2 Samuel 18.

The Original Intent

2) What is the painful backstory that prods King David to pen Psalm 55?

Not only is Psalm 55 a lament, but it is believed that King David composed it during his son Absalom’s rebellion. (Enduring Word) You can read the tragic, painful narrative of father and son for yourself in 2 Samuel 15-18.

Prince Absalom was King David’s third son. He was extremely handsome and gifted with eloquence, charm, and sensitivity for others. Though his name means “Peace of God,” Prince Absalom harbored bitterness and resentment toward his father, King David, over personal failings, misunderstanding, and different opinions that eventually hardened into rebellion and hatred. Prince Absalom took matters into his own hands, having individuals murdered without his father King David’s blessing. With a lust for more, Prince Absalom formed a rebellion against his father to take the throne.

Prince Absalom manipulated people’s hearts, convincing them he cared about them more than his father, King David, and would make a better king. Many followed him, including a close advisor of King David, Ahithophel. In verses 12-14, King David pours out before the Lord that his painful betrayal is not from an expected enemy but a “peer, companion, and friend”, meaning Ahithophel.

By verse 19, King David is confident God has heard his prayer and will exact justice. As the narrative unfolds in 2 Samuel, Ahithophel hangs himself when he realizes Prince Absalom will not supersede his father King David after all. Adding to King David’s heartbreak in losing his friend’s life on top of the betrayal, his son, Prince Absalom, is killed during battle despite David’s pleas to keep him alive.

The Everyday Application

2) What is the painful backstory that prods King David to pen Psalm 55?

A spirit of pride and self-love is a serious threat to the spiritual well-being of a person.

Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 that a spirit of rebellion and lawlessness (like Absalom’s) is abundant. It affects every aspect of our lives and those around us, even the church body if we are not continuously on guard against these workings of our enemy, Satan. He desires to be enthroned in our lives and will manipulate our desires, worming his way into our thoughts, convincing us to believe we are entitled and God is stingy.

A person who has allowed this spirit of lawless rebellion to pervade their minds harbors bitterness and resentment about unresolved issues. They are judgmental and critical of others, which causes them to be blind to their own sins. They are defensive when confronted with their own sinful blind spots, they are easily lured into manipulating others for their self-centered gain, and they quickly become fixated on correcting and punishing others.

Consider the below indicators with careful prayer and ask the Spirit of Truth to illuminate any areas within you.

  1. A belief they should garner greater attention for their wisdom or actions, evidencing a puffed-up sense of self. (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)

  2. A ready-judgement of harshness that demeans another and elevates self as they determine their own definition of a moral code or twist Scripture to benefit themselves. (Matthew 15:3, 7-11)

  3. Easily offended by leadership or other fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus, holding tightly to themselves rather than stooping low to love with compassion and set themselves aside. (John 13:13-17)

  4. Marked by divisiveness, whether covert or blatant, they insist on their own way, are quick to argue and prove the ‘correctness’ of their point. They would rather argue points of morality than serve with humility. (Titus 3:9-11)

Forgiveness and humility are the only effective defenses against such destructive Self-Love; put these on by the Spirit of God!

The Original Intent

3) What is the meaning and purpose of the word “Selah”? (verse 19)

The meaning of the Hebrew word “Selah” isn’t perfectly clear to Bible translators. Scholarly guesses range from “raising voices or instruments louder in praise” to “a musical direction meaning instrumental pause”, which would allow voices to continue acapella. We do know that a synonym for Selah is another Hebrew word meaning “forever”. (Logos.com)

Selah is used in many psalms at the end of a verse as it transitions from a phase of grievance and protest to a point of praise. It’s as if it’s the lull in the storm to redirect a worshipper’s heart toward the character of the One they worship.

Note how Psalm 55 includes a weaving in and out of honest complaints (verses 3-7 and verses 12-15), and trust (verses 8 and verses 16-21), which lead to a confident request for deliverance (verses 9-11 and verses 19-21). The grand conclusion of the psalm finds the psalmist returning to the assurances of truth he has learned from knowing the Lord personally (verse 22), and, once settled in assured truth, honest, humble worship flows unhindered (verse 23).

Notice how the instructional “Selah” is strategically placed throughout the psalm, directing the psalmist’s heart to slow down, pause, and reflect just as the psalm’s trajectory begins to shift. Even if we don’t know the exact meaning of Selah, we can observe its importance both in flow of the psalm and the outcome of the heart.

The Everyday Application

3) What is the meaning and purpose of the word “Selah”? (verse 19)

As I write this, it’s Thanksgiving Day. Much like the meaning and purpose of “Selah” in Scripture, this North American holiday reminds us to pause, spend time with loved ones, and express gratitude for their blessings.

While the Hebrew word “Selah” is a directional reminder to pause and worship God amid song, the Israelites also celebrated The Passover, The Days of Unleavened Bread, and The Pentecost for much of the same reason as the command “Selah” is noted in Scripture. Most national festivals took place over several days and ensured the Israelites made time to commune with God, teach their children about God, and remember God’s miraculous acts.

In Luke 22:19-20, Jesus commanded New Testament believers to participate together in the sacrament of Communion (also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Last Supper) and remember His sacrifices for our salvation. “Selah” is just one aspect of a disciplined, developed habit of thanksgiving which God nurtures in His believers. Just as believers should join together in weekly gathering for worship, teaching, and regular participation in Communion, so should we each be diligent about practicing and safeguarding Selah in our everyday lives!

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comfort,Lord,near,Savior,selah,shelter,worship
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Worship XIII, Day 3
Journey Study

Lord, these dark corridors feel like terror closing in. (Psalm 55:5) My relationships are plagued with sin, its brokenness showing up with fangs which steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10)

Do You see the suffering of the oppressed because of sin’s deadly chains?

Do You see how the handiwork of the enemy is destroying the ones I love? Do You see how it’s destroying me?

Hear my plea, Lord!
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Come Day 2 Come To See: Digging Deeper

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Come Day 2 Come To See: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

February 11, 2025

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

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

This DD Connects With "Come To See"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Habakkuk 3:16-19

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

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

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

The Original Intent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Everyday Application

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

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

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

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

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

The Original Intent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Everyday Application

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Original Intent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Everyday Application

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

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

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

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

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

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

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character,come,invitation,Jesus,worship
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Come, Day 1
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It’s hard to stand on God’s promises when it feels like we’re sinking!

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

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

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Lowly Day 13 The Voice Of The Lord

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Lowly Day 13 The Voice Of The Lord

Meribeth Schierbeek

December 25, 2024

Adoration,Comfort,Glory,Hero,Humility

Read His Words Before Ours!

Joshua 5:13-15 
Luke 2:1-6 
Psalm 19
Psalm 29
Colossians 1:19-20 

Do we remember the day we were born?

Did we understand what our first cries signified? Did we understand from where our first breaths came to utter our “wail of life” cries?

The first cry of our Savior’s voice came in weakness as a helpless baby yet contained the sound of our mighty unstoppable Father’s life.

The voice of our Lord was both mighty and weak that day in Bethlehem. Years earlier, it had been prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2) God used the government’s census to bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy. (Luke 2:1-6)

We see this birth scene as the humblest in all of Scripture. We hear of kings’ luxurious palaces all throughout the Old Testament, but here our King comes not to a palace, but in humility.

“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6) 

No huge parade, no birth announcement photos, no showers to give baby Jesus all the things He would need.
His Father provided…
the place,
the people,
and the way to bring His own voice down to us.
All in the form of a humble, lowly, helpless baby King. 

God’s voice was heard here at His birth; Jesus fully divine and fully human, crying for His mother to comfort Him in her arms amongst a barn filled with animals, for there was no room to house the King of the Universe.

Yet, God’s voice is also heard:

The magnitude of God’s voice was displayed at the cross when the humble baby Jesus, God’s own Son, now grown into a man, hung on a tree to complete the work of salvation freely available to all sinners. Believers hear the voice of our Savior saying, “It is finished” (John 19:30), and we know our victory is sure for His righteousness now fully covers our sin. 

This voice, heard from Genesis to Revelation, profoundly affected our pre-Christmas figure, Joshua, after the Passover upon entering the promised land of Canaan. (Joshua 5:13-15) Joshua heard God’s voice, and his response was the same as the shepherds and wisemen in Matthew 2:11. Bowing in worship.

This voice tells Joshua to remove his sandals, and we recall God’s voice telling Moses to do the same in Exodus 3:5, for this was holy ground.

“Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, ‘Glory!’” 
(Psalm 29:1-2, 9)

Oh may this be our heart’s posture today.

As a young mother teaching Scripture to my kindergartener, this verse reminded me that the voice of the Lord is majestic and powerful. Today, as we study God’s Word together, I hear His voice again, beautifully full of humility. From the voice of baby Jesus giving life’s first cry to His final words on the cross, “It is finished”, His voice encompasses majestic lowliness. 

“For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20)

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

This voice which began as a tiny baby born in conditions we cannot fathom will come again in a mighty way to complete all things. Because of this, we have faith, “the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen,” for Christmas and beyond. (Hebrews 11:1)

The powerful, yet lowly, voice of the Lord is revealed throughout Scripture from beginning to end. This Christmas season will bring us the opportunity to listen for God’s voice and rejoice. 

How will we purposefully pause our gift unwrapping and festive meals to notice the way God’s voice comes to us?

May we set aside time to hear His voice through Scripture, rejoice in its sound, and share His voice with the world as we stoop low to love others with His love. 

It is, after all, His season: Christ-mas.

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The key to hearing God in all creation is to stop and listen.

We get too busy with our lives and seldom stop and look at the beautiful creations of God. We forget to stop long enough to hear His voice.

We must discipline ourselves to stop and listen.
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Table Day 13 Foretaste Of Redemption

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Table Day 13 Foretaste Of Redemption

Carol Graft

April 10, 2024

Called,Confession,Desperate,Faith,Glory,Gospel,Hero

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 12:1-28
John 1:29-34
Luke 4:18-21
Isaiah 53:7-8

“‘This day is to be a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. You are to celebrate it throughout your generations as a permanent statute.’” (Exodus 12:14)

“‘Do this in remembrance of me.’” (Luke 22:19b) 

In Exodus, we read about the barbaric oppression of the Israelites in Egypt. The Israelites had settled in Egypt when Joseph, a Hebrew, was made second-in-command over Egypt through a series of divine orchestrations. (Genesis 50:15-26) Later, along came a Pharaoh who hadn’t known Joseph; he felt threatened by the growing population of Hebrews and enslaved them. (Exodus 1:8-14)

Over 400 years, the Israelites cried out to the Lord for rescue. God saw their anguish and heard their cries. (Exodus 2:23-25)

The Lord raised up a Hebrew man, Moses, to serve as His voice before Pharaoh. (Exodus 3) Again and again, Moses and his brother Aaron relayed the Lord’s command to Pharaoh, “Let My people go[.]” (Exodus 5:1-2) But Pharaoh refused. 

Nine plagues followed, yet Pharaoh’s heart was increasingly hardened. God warned of one last plague: the death of every first born. (Exodus 11) Human and animal, Egyptian and Hebrew. 

But God also provided a way of rescue for His people. 
A way of protection. A way of preservation. 
A way of invitation to gather at a table, first in anticipation, and later, in remembrance of God’s rescue.

Through Moses, God instructed the Israelites to kill a spotless firstborn lamb, applying its blood to the lintel and doorposts of their homes. (Exodus 12:21-23) When the Lord moved through the land, He would pass over homes covered by the blood of the lamb, sparing the first born within. 

The Israelites were then to prepare a Passover meal, roasting the lamb and seasoning it with bitter herbs; accompanied by unleavened bread, the meal symbolized the bitterness of their oppression and the haste of their departure from Egypt. Finally, they were to eat the meal dressed for travel, as an embodied proclamation of their faith in God’s promised rescue. (Exodus 12:1-11)

Then they waited. 

As they listened to the cries of anguish echoing throughout the land as firstborns died, we can imagine the heartache and fear and uncertainty settling over them. Perhaps these emotions grappled with fledgling hope of God’s promise to bring them freedom. I wonder if the Hebrews were praising God, even as they waited for another sign. 

It seems accepting God’s invitation to the first Passover table might not involve much celebration, but rather a somber acceptance of the mercy and protection found by following God’s instructions. 

It was truly a night like no other.

When the annual Passover meal was established as a remembrance of God’s rescue and faithfulness, elements of the meal would also point to the promised Messiah, the One who would rescue, once and for all, God’s children from their bondage to the power of sin and death.

Just as the shed blood of a spotless lamb brought deliverance at the first Passover, Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and subsequent resurrection brings us freedom from the sin and death enslaving us. (John 1:29; Romans 3:25-26)

Today, because of Jesus’ propitiatory death and victorious resurrection, we too are invited to celebrate our rescue by God. (Luke 22:14-20)

Today, we can grasp how the first Passover pointed to Jesus, the spotless lamb in whom no sin was found. (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:18-19)

Just as God protected and delivered those within a home marked by the blood of the sacrificed lamb, Jesus rescues and redeems anyone who repents, turning away from sin and calling on Jesus as her Savior. 

If you are ready to accept God’s invitation of rescue and redemption, will you join me in a simple prayer of repentance and faith?

God, I believe You are the one, true God. I believe that because of Jesus’ great love for me, He died to rescue me from sin and spiritual death, and that He rose to life again. I turn from following my own way, I accept Your gifts of forgiveness and grace, and I commit my life to following Your way.
Amen.

Welcome to the gathering table of the family of God, sisters in Christ! As we leave our time together today, let us proclaim together that our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, and we are rescued, redeemed, and set free to walk in newness of life with Him! (Romans 6:4)

*If you prayed the above prayer with us today, we invite you to leave a comment! We’d love to celebrate and connect with you!

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Table, Day 14
Digging Deeper

Until John the Baptist met Jesus at the Jordan River’s edge,
his life had been lived at the Jesus “fandom” level.

He knew and believed the prophecies and the promises and even his early womb encounter (Luke 1:44) with Jesus.

But seeing the Holy Spirit descend as a Dove and hearing God say that Jesus is God’s Son cemented everything he believed about the long-awaited Messiah.
Dig Deeper!

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Table Day 5 A Meal & A Promise

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Table Day 5 A Meal & A Promise

Rebecca Adams

March 29, 2024

Alive,Faith,Freedom,Friend,Glory,Gospel,Hero,Hope

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 18:1-15
Job 34:10-25
Hebrews 6:13-20

Who gathered at the Table?
With warm breezes rustling its leaves and smaller limbs waving against stronger ones, the mighty oak provided a picture of steadfast growth and strong beauty. Birds nested among its limbs, small animals chattered at its base, and acorns scattered across its maze of hidden roots.

Each time Abraham lifted the flap of his tent and looked upon the land the Lord had promised as his inheritance, Abraham’s eyes would alight on the sprawling tree.
It was his constant reminder of the goodness of God.

When Abraham had first entered the land of his inheritance he was drawn to the cluster of these grand oaks. The Lord had said, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west, for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width, for I will give it to you. (Genesis 13:14-17)

So Abraham walked through the land, and, finding the oaks, he chose to make his home by their grandeur. By the oaks, he built an altar and worshipped the Lord, and every day since, he would step outside his tent to enjoy their beauty, sit in their shade, and be reminded it’s the Lord who provides.

The Lord provided the land, and promised to provide an heir, but more so, the Lord provided a relationship, deeper still, a friendship. (Isaiah 41:8)

On this particular afternoon when the sun was hottest, Abraham sat at his tent’s entrance, waiting for a cooling breeze to dry his skin. Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of three men standing by the oak trees. How long had they been there? Where did they come from? Heart pounding with adrenaline, and fueled by a culture of obliged hospitality, Abraham ran as fast as 99-year-old legs can move in mid-day heat to the guests who seemingly appeared from nothing. (Genesis 18:1-2)

Bowing to the ground with middle-eastern respect, Abraham extended an offer for food and drink, to which his mysterious visitors agreed. (Genesis 18:2-3) Running back, a breathless Abraham urged a sweat-beaded Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and make bread.” Running again, the near centenarian hastened to his herd, selected a choice young calf and handed it off to his servant to craft a freshly prepared steak.   

Who was invited?
The towering trees punctuated the cloudless, blue sky as Abraham drew near that afternoon to their billowy branches. With refreshing milk, butter, and meat in tow for the trio of men, he couldn’t possibly have understood the significance of this unusual Table.  Abraham was bringing them a meal, but the *pre-incarnate Christ was bringing His Presence and a Promise.

Abraham stood nearby waiting on them while the men ate! (verse 8) If I could visit an Old Testament meal, this feast would rank just below the Passover! To see the *humanity of God with skin on eating an ordinary meal in the company of two angelic beings in the presence of the aged patriarch who still waited on a promise of an heir yet to be fulfilled. Stunning!

The Lord had told Abraham 24 years prior he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 12:1-4), but now at 99, he and his wife, Sarah, were still childless. God had not forgotten His Word, nor was He slow in fulfilling it, for He always intended to come to the old couple on this day, at this Table, to prove He would accomplish His will in His time by His power, for who could bring a son from a man who was as “good as dead”? (Hebrews 11:12)
Only Yahweh.

What will we remember and proclaim?
The Lord gave Abraham a clear promise and a sign to be assured His Word was true. The promise of a son would bring fulfillment to the 24-year-old promise Yahweh had first given. Abraham would be the father of many nations so that through his “impossible” offspring, “all the nations of the earth will be blessed”. (Genesis 22:18)

How would all peoples and all nations be blessed because of one “dead man’s” son born of faith in a God he couldn’t see?
Because the one who sat at the Table, eating Abraham’s meal, would also one day, be born of a virgin, birthed into poverty, laid in a manger, and hung tortured on a cross as He took on the world’s sin so that we might have the righteousness of Christ in exchange for impoverished wretchedness. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Abraham and Sarah needed more than an heir, they needed Hope to rescue them from sin. And Hope is exactly Who sat at Abraham’s table that hot afternoon under the swaying branches of oak trees the Lord Himself had planted.

Wonder of wonders, this very same God invites us to come and sit at His table. He knows we need a Rescuer, one who can pay for our sin, conquer it in our lives, and bring us Hope. Our need is precisely why He came, why He suffered, and why He victoriously rose from the dead, forever defeating Death so we can be free!

Will we dine with this God who sits under oak trees and humbles Himself to meet with us?
Or will we reject Him and choose instead to remain trapped in our sin and the eternal death it provides?

Come and sit at His Table, share His meal of love and forgiveness while you hold, by faith, His promise to make you new though sin has made you as “good as dead”. (Ephesians 2:1)

Look upon the cursed tree where Jesus laid down His life for yours.
Be reminded of the deep goodness of God.
Be reminded of the God who provides.
Find the friendship of God and come alive at the Table of Christ!

* Scripture tells us this was God in human form in verse 10 as it translates “LORD” from the Hebrew, “Yahweh”, the self-given moniker God used when revealing Himself to Moses in the burning bush. (Exodus 3:13-15)

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Table, Day 5
Digging Deeper

Would Jesus do as He promised He would and be the access point, through faith, for all nations to come and be with God?

Yes, of course He would, He promised He would by His own oath. He was bound by His own good, righteous character because this was His heart’s desire all along!
Dig Deeper!

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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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Pause VII Day 6 A Call To Selah

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Pause VII Day 6 A Call To Selah

Rebecca Adams

January 29, 2024

Amazed,Help,Hero,Hope,Mercy,Mighty,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46:4-7

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
Read More Of His Words

It’s a vague word from ancient Hebrew. Scripture makes no attempt to provide a definition where it has been recorded, making it difficult to translate with confident accuracy. “Selah” is found only in two books of the Bible, Psalms and Habakkuk. (If you’d like to explore the riches of Habakkuk, visit Pause IV!)

In the span of thirty-nine psalms, Selah is included an amazing seventy-one times! Usually, it is placed after a set of verses like we find in our Psalm 46, or sometimes it’s found at the very end of a psalm like a built-in doxology. (Psalm 3, 24, and 46) The structure of the word is similar to two other Hebrew words meaning “to lift up; to praise” and “to pause”, which gives scholars the most educated guess for a definition.

Fitting for our Journey Theme, isn’t it?
“To pause and praise with uplifted hands and voices.”

Have you done that today?
I know, it’s Monday, but maybe Selah is precisely what you need most.

I sat with a friend today who was recounting how she had told the Lord on a particularly busy day last week that she simply had no time to sit with His Word. She knew immediately the Holy Spirit was telling her ,“No. No. No.”, and when she read “No. No. No.” on a random sign, she was quickly convicted. She stopped what she was doing and sat down to open her Bible.

Selah

More interesting to me is the location of Selah in this psalm. The last two instances follow a repeated chorus, “The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (verses 7 and 11) A settled and confident refrain that declares the assurance of certain truth, implying that when we pause, selah, we ought to think intentionally on the truths we know to be unshakeable.

Perhaps part of your Monday can include carrying this truth with you into every meeting, phone call, and conversation. Remember Who fights for you, Who is present, Who holds you Strongly, and choose to selah.  

While the Sons of Korah call us to Selah after singing of our mighty fortress, the songwriters also call us to Selah after staring in the face of our struggles. (verses 2-3)

It can be easy to fall into the false belief that, because we are Christians, we must surely have all our struggles figured out and respond with a Bible verse platitude to pain.
“God has a plan.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Trust God.”

While all true statements, if we don’t take time to genuinely sit in the reality of pain and suffering, these truths land tritely and, instead of peace, we feel only irritation and frustration in our souls.

The call to Selah in Psalm 46 instructs differently.
“Though the earth trembles
 and mountains topple into the sea,
though waters roar
and mountains quake…”
Look square in the face of your pain and behold all of its terror.

Then, while anchoring in the Truth of Who your Stronghold is, choose selah.

We don’t need to pretend we’re fine, Sisters.
Let’s not hide our pain behind a Bible verse, let’s hold onto truth, all of truth, and choose to “pause and lift our hands in praise” despite all the real, raw mess.

Because, our God?
He’s the God of Angel Armies.
He’s our fortress.
He’s got this!

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Read Psalm 46:4-7 and answer these 3 questions in your journal.

a) What do these verses tell me about God and His character?

b) What do these verses tell me about others and the world around me?

c) How can I live differently because of these truths?

2) Close your time by praying for these truths to take root in your heart and for the Holy Spirit to remind you and teach you more about these things today. Write out any questions you have as you read and send us an email; we’d love to study with you!

3) Memorize Psalm 46:4-7 and begin connecting it with verses 1-3 this week!

Close by reading Psalm 46
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 5

The more we read His Word, trust what it says to be true, and put our full weight upon the Almighty God, the impossible becomes possible, and circumstances fade as worship takes center stage in our hearts. Fear’s grip loosens, peace floods, and Hope’s roots dig deeper, anchoring our hearts.

Anchoring is what comes to mind for me as I read Psalm 46. The lyrics begin with rock solid truth about what is known about God.

This leads to a stalwart statement of faith screaming into the winds of both tragedy and monotony, “Therefore, we will not fear!”.

Faith is anchored in God alone, and from it, Hope deepens.
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She Day 13 Gardner Of The Home

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She Day 13 Gardner Of The Home

Rebecca Adams

November 15, 2023

Beauty,Bold,Captivating,Christ,Family,Hero,Holy Spirit,Marriage

Read His Words Before Ours!

Titus 2:1-5
Psalm 92
Proverbs 14:1
Revelation 3:19-22
Psalm 1:1-3

Submission.

The arrangement of those particular letters forming that specific word often turn my insides raw.

A “you will obey me” mentality comes to mind.
Coercion.
Manipulation.
Head down.
Crushed spirit.
Wanting to fight, but knowing it would bring no benefit, and would likely make it worse.

Slap on a “spiritual happy face” and label this scene “submission”.

Ugly Chills.

But it’s not just my heart that revolts against that definition. The Lord’s righteous jealousy glows hot when His daughters believe such sinister lies as they actively exchange the truth of God for an insidious Satanic lie wrapped in a package labeled “Christian Wife Qualities”. (Romans 1:18, Nahum 1:2-3)

Is your stomach churning?
Mine is.

The same slippery snake has been doling out sickening, sugar-coated deceptions since time began in the Garden of Eden with his cunning question, “Did God really say…?”. (Genesis 3:1)

It worked in Eden as creation’s very first She, Eve, took God’s original words, added to them, and twisted His intent, making the Almighty Gracious Creator look like a stingy, self-absorbed power-monger. And it works exactly the same for us every time we hold onto a definition of submission that departs from Scriptural teaching.

Ready for some truth?
I Am!

There’s something richly wholesome about feeding on solid truth, and as Shes in a world of fraud and faux, Truth sets a welcoming banquet like nothing else.
I need truth.
Desperately.

Bring your stretchy pants for this one, girls, we’re gonna’ EAT!

“…older women are to be reverent in behavior,
not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking.
They are to teach what is good,
so that they may encourage the young women
to love their husbands and to love their children,
to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home,
kind, and in submission to their husbands,
so that God’s word will not be slandered.” (Titus 2:3-5)

Pastor Paul sent this letter to Titus who was strengthening house churches on the island of Crete. Church leadership had gone awry as self-love took first place and cultural slothful laziness influenced Christ-followers so much that they began to look more like Cretans than Christians. Paul’s letter provided wisdom and practical insight as Titus went to work correcting poor spiritual habits in the churches on Crete.

Let’s join Titus at the table while the Holy Spirit teaches our hearts through His Word!

Teachers (verse 3)
Women are excellent teachers, whether it’s in the classroom, at home, or at work; we were designed to teach others just by the way we live. The woman mature in Christ will leverage her teaching gifts to influence others for the gospel as she trains them to follow Jesus.

Encouragers (verse 4)
Jesus-loving women have grown strong in emotionally connecting and naturally empathizing with others; they are quick to not only notice when encouragement is needed, but give it generously.

Love (verse 4)
Women are natural born lovers and nurturers. We comfort, tend, fuss over, soothe, and foster nourishment. When that woman has sat under the maturing work of the Holy Spirit, their lives will prove it by loving their children, spouses, neighbors, and teammates with a deep, fight-for-you kind of selfless, humble love.

Self Control & Purity (verse 5)
Spotting the admirable characteristics of self-control and purity in Paul’s list, we understand that women who have learned to dance in step with Jesus will be wearing Self-Control as she lives out Purity of thoughts, words, and actions in her hum-drum normal life.

Then comes “workers at home” and my modern, feminist-culture-influenced-self shoots up flags.
Um, what?
No.
Workers at home?
I can’t have a career?
Can’t speak up?
Don’t have influence?

Soon, we’ve grasped so tightly onto a single aspect, wrenching it free from its original place in Scripture to its original audience, that we’ve lost sight of the Lord’s good intention. (verse 3) In fact, our eyes likely missed “kind” altogether, skipped to “submission”, and we’re ready to make heads roll as the feminist flag flies high.

Before we jump on that bandwagon, sisters, would you be willing to sit quietly with me and reach a little deeper into God’s Word to see something spectacular?

Christ Jesus, Lord of all things, Holder of every molecule, submitted.
It was His idea.
He modeled it.
He chose it.
(Colossians 1:15-20, Luke 22:42)

Steeped in Scripture, we start to rightly define submission.
It’s a choice.
Never a coercion.
Never a manipulation.

If you’ve ever been “commanded” by anyone to “submit”, you’ve been the object of severe mistreatment of God’s Word.
Submission can only ever be willfully given. 

Submission is our gift to the Lord Jesus who submitted to the Father, by submitting to the cross to pay the death penalty in our stead.
Submission is our gift to a husband if we are married.
Submission is our gift to brothers and sisters in Jesus.

Have you ever read the gospel accounts of Jesus healing diseases everywhere He went as crowds gathered? (John 6:2) Have you ever wondered why there aren’t also stories of relationships suddenly healed and marriages made whole?
Answer: Submission

The Author of submission
who wrote the rules of love,
knew that forced behavior
would never equal humble, sacrificial love.
Submissive love must be chosen.

Which is why Christ will never force Himself on any soul. We are each given the choice to accept or reject His offer of total forgiveness for our sin as He powerfully pursues us with mercy and goodness. (Psalm 23:6, 1 John 1:9)

Within a marriage relationship, submission is such a stunning gift and holds such great, steadying value that the Greek word translated in our Bibles as “submit” provides the visual of a pillar that upholds a building. It’s an anchoring support. The building, or in the case of wives, the Home, grows shaky without her influence.

She, as homemaker submitting to her husband, has been handcrafted to uphold structure, to protect those within her care, to guard them from harmful influences and cultivate growth as the Gardner of Her Home.

Does She have influence?
So Much.
And in unique ways that her husband doesn’t because marriage is designed as a partnership.

Should She do whatever her husband says?
Absolutely not, for the Lord God created male and female. Uniquely fitted to work together to reflect the trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Incredible!

Through submission to her husband’s love, she reflects what Christ Jesus did unto the Father when He chose death to pay for our sin so that
He could be our pillar of safety,
our anchoring support, our guard,
and our nourishment.
Can there be any more stunning role than this?!

She who submits is a She who has great influence and great power,
yet willingly chooses to use those powers to uphold, guard, protect, and deeply, sacrificially love.

The next time you see letters arranging the word “submission”, I hope you’ll think of Jesus.
I hope you’ll think of Pastor Paul writing to Titus, urging him to find Jesus-following Shes who so deeply loved Jesus they couldn’t think of any better investment for their lives than willingly submitting to Christ and their husbands for the strengthening and nourishing of the whole, beautiful family of God!

“Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.”
(Proverbs 14:1)

Be a She who submits to Jesus!

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Community,home,mom,she,Wife,Woman
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