Prayer

Worship XIII, Day 13 I Will Listen

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Worship XIII, Day 13 I Will Listen

Rebekah Hargraves

April 9, 2025

Adoration,Clothed,Grace,Prayer,Relationship,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 85
Psalm 103:1-14
Romans 8:28-30
1 John 1:5-10

His Words Before Mine
Psalm 85
“Lord, you showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave your people’s guilt;
you covered all their sin. 

Selah

You withdrew all your fury;
you turned from your burning anger.
Return to us, God of our salvation,
and abandon your displeasure with us! [. . .]
Show us your steadfast love, LORD,
and give us your salvation.

I will listen to what God will say;
surely the LORD will declare peace 
to his people, to his faithful ones
and not let them go back to their foolish ways.
His salvation is very near to those who fear him,
so that glory may dwell in our land.

Faithful love and truth will join together;
righteousness and peace will embrace.
Truth will spring up from the earth,
and righteousness will look down from heaven.

Also, the LORD will provide what is good,
and our land will yield its crops.
Righteousness will go before him
and prepare the way for his steps.”

My Words Back To Him
Lord, you are a faithful God; 
you have proven your faithfulness time and time again.
You pardon, forgive, restore, and redeem.
You restore the years the locusts have eaten. (Joel 2:25)

You work out Your good plan for Your people, (Romans 8:28)
beyond anything we could ask for or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) 
You tear down and establish kingdoms. 
You free the oppressed and righteously judge the oppressor. 
You hear the cries of the needy, the hurting, the mistreated, and the abandoned. 
You come to their aid, Oh God, and You rescue them with Your unending love. 

Selah

But we have proven unfaithful. 
We lament our abandonment of You and Your ways.
We have sinned, turning our backs on You.
We have forsaken Your way to pursue our own.
We have striven to justify and sanctify ourselves.
We have refused rest in order to prove ourselves. 

We have failed to be Your hands and feet, 
failed to be Your ambassadors of love, truth, grace, and mercy.
We have oppressed more than we have freed.
We have loved sin more than we have loved holiness.
We have loved our own feelings more than we have loved truth, righteousness, and justice.
We have learned firsthand that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

“For what partnership is there between righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You hold our sin against us forever?

For, as You promised the people of Israel so long ago, if “[Your] people, who bear [Your] name, humble themselves, pray and seek [Your] face, and turn from their evil ways, then [You] will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

“If we confess our sins, [You are] faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

We praise You for Your long-suffering nature. 
We thank You for being slow to anger, abounding in mercy and grace, and willing to pardon.
We do not deserve Your grace, but we pray You will help us to never again spurn your mercy.
We ask for the grace to walk in Your ways, the heart to love Your path, the strength to be Your hands and feet.

We ask for others to see You in us and turn to You.
Oh Lord, restore our land, we pray. Grant us prosperity, health, and wholeness. 
May our land produce good fruit, and may we honor You with it.

As I listen to Your voice, I cease my striving and self-justification and find my Selah rest in You.

Confess, Lament, and Praise
Lord, I confess I have not listened to Your voice, calling me to the Selah rest You so graciously offer. 

I have insisted on my own way, 
sought to prove myself, 
desired to earn popularity and prestige, 
been determined to pull myself up by my own bootstraps, 
hustled through life at a breakneck speed missing all the beauties and joys You infuse into every day, 
and leaned on my own strength and understanding. 

I praise You, Lord, for You offer grace, mercy, forgiveness, restoration, and a new beginning in Christ. I thank You for Your long-suffering ways, Your kindness drawing me to repentance, and Your fatherly heart, beating with the desire for my good. I thank You for redeeming our lives from the pit. (Psalm 103:4)

Thank You for the promise of guaranteed eternal rest available in Your Son. My soul finds rest in You, and Your gospel is a balm to my heart. It is the hope I crave, the validation I want, the love I yearn for, the help I need. You alone are my true Selah. 

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is [Your] faithful love
for those who fear [You].
As far as the east is from the west
so far he has removed
our transgressions from us.”
(Psalm 103:11-12)

How kind You are, Oh Lord. May I never forget Your goodness, and may I listen for Your voice every day.

Tags :
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Worship XIII, Day 14
Digging Deeper

Biblical justice actually functions more like a lever than a scale. The honor and shame world of the bible is a vertical world where the honorable are raised and the shameful are lowered.

The Lord Jesus demonstrated mishpat by leveraging His life to lift up those weighed down in shame.

That’s who our God is. In Jesus, He not only brought justice to women in the first century world, He brought a generous justice to them. Even now He reaches all the way down to meet women right where they were.

Women just like you and me!
Dig Deeper!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XIII, Week 2

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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XIII, Week 2

Katelyn Palmer

April 5, 2025

Amazed,Faithfulness,Glory,Justice,Praise,Prayer

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

His Words Before Ours

Psalm 57:2-3

My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.
I will sing; I will sing praises.
Wake up, my soul!
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
God, be exalted above the heavens;
let your glory be over the whole earth.
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

Oh Worthy Yahweh,
Thank You for Your unrelenting love and Your unending faithfulness. (Psalm 57:2-3) Each day You are willing to teach us by Your Spirit and Your Word what it means to be righteous, graceful, and forgiving to others as You ceaselessly are toward us. (1 Peter 2:21-25)

Throughout the ages, You have never abandoned Your people. (Deuteronomy 31:8) Your forgiveness and mercy flow from ceaseless love as do Your rebukes. (Revelation 3:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10) There is no shadow within You, and as we sit here and spend these weeks worshipping You, the only One worthy of our faith and confidence, I am awestruck by Your persistence in showing up for us. (Psalm 92:15)

David grew despondent, yet You carried him, for You cannot be unfaithful. (Psalm 57:3-6) Carry us through our days Lord; remind us we are never truly alone because our Father is always by our side. (Joshua 1:5 and 9)

As we immerse ourselves in Your words from this week, let us rejoice and sing of Your glory, embrace the Spirit, and rest in the shadow of Your wings. (Psalm 9:1-2 and 9, Psalm 57:1)

In Your Son’s name alone, Amen.
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

Glory can be defined as denoting honor, fame, or admiration; possessing resplendent beauty or magnificence. (Dictionary.com) In Psalm 3, David says God is his glory (Psalm 3:3) meaning God is his source of honor, goodness, and beauty.

God is the pure essence of radiant beauty and magnificence, and when David humbled himself under the Lord by trusting Him, God acted as a shield for David, using His glory for David’s good. (Psalm 3:3 and 6) David gave himself completely into God’s hands, demonstrating faith despite how his circumstances insisted otherwise.

I love how fully David immerses himself in God’s love and trusts the Lord with every breath. As a reminder, at the time this psalm was written, David was fleeing the sword of his own son who was after his title as king. I cannot imagine the pain of this kind of betrayal nor the sadness in his heart as he assuredly loved his son more than his own life.

We can learn from David’s perspective, knowing that regardless of what we face in life, whether persecution, loss, illness, or public shame, God is our glory and good. No matter what the world tries to tell us, our identity and value are found in God alone. He, the Creator of all things, defines us, no one else.
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

David sings of God as protector and refuge. (Psalm 57:1) God protected David’s life as he was hunted by Saul’s army. How has He proven to be your protector and refuge?

God is faithful and trustworthy. (Psalm 57:2-3 and 10) God remained faithful to His promise to make David king even as it seemed David’s life would end prematurely. How has God proven faithful and trustworthy in your story?

God is just. (Psalm 57:3 and 6) God sees all, hates oppression, and dispenses justice. It is impossible for Him to be unjust and David submitted himself to God’s justice. How have you experienced God’s justice play out in your life?

God is loving and compassionate. (Psalm 57:1, 3, and 10) David knew God as possessing a loving compassion that fueled Him to rescue His people. Can you spot God’s pursuant love and merciful compassion to you even today?

God is reliable, possessing perfect integrity. (Psalm 57:2-6, and 10) Even when David had lost hope (i.e. despondent), God was still faithful. What evidence can you point to in your life that God doesn’t require your goodness or perfect faith before He will be good to you?

God is worthy of all worship. (Psalm 57:2, 5, 9-11) Before and after he was crowned king, David chose to worship God in the streets, from his rooftop, and within the walls of his home; he understood God’s supreme worth. How will you choose worship on repeat today?

When we recall how God has proven His character in our own stories, it instills greater trust and we grow in our faith!
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

Once more this week, we studied David’s call upon the God of Justice as he worshipped the Lord for His loving work. As we pause and reflect, let’s choose to set aside the business of our lives and see how we, too, can rest in the refuge of our Lord. We can enjoy peace knowing God’s work has already been done and justice has been delivered, even if we never see it with our own eyes in this life. (Psalm 9:3-6)

We can rest knowing God sits on His throne, exalted above all else, and calmly in control of all things. (Psalm 9:7, 16-19) Our souls can be calmed, knowing God is just and fair, He is our refuge in trouble, He hears our cries and will fight on our behalf. (Psalm 9:4-5, 8-9, 15-16,8,15-16).

Most importantly, we can teach our souls to be still because we know God has already completed our eternal salvation and will never block access to His throne because Christ died for us and lives to intercede for us.

Though Christ had not yet come in the form of man when David wrote this psalm, the salvation he speaks of in verses 13-15 illustrate the saving work God has woven throughout history since the Garden of Eden!

God’s unending love and pursuit of relationship with humanity is a kind of love we cannot even comprehend, so rest knowing your life is in the hands of Love Himself!
2-for-1 Friday

This Week's Journeys

Remade Day 15
The Remade Life

January 20, 2017 No Comments

We’ve talked a lot during this Journey Theme about what it means to live this redeemed life that Jesus has so richly given us, but what does the “box top” look like? What does my everyday look like as I’m chasing after this God who longs to continuously remake me

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Remade Day 14
The Law of Love: Digging Deeper

January 19, 2017 No Comments

The pharisees asked a lot of questions, but they didn’t truly want to know Jesus’s heart. When we study the Bible or look for answers to our questions, let’s not go looking for evidence to support our pre-determined ideas, rather let’s seek to understand the original intent of the Scriptures,

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Remade Day 13
The Law of Love

January 18, 2017 No Comments

If we really are living out and doing exactly what Jesus tells us are the two most important commandments, then everything else He tells us to do will fall into place… because, by living out these commandments, we are allowing transformation.
When our minds are transformed, then our actions

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Remade Day 12
No Going Back: Digging Deeper

January 17, 2017 No Comments

Are you stuck in the past, attached and grasping for things leading to death, or are you clinging onto and sinking into the things of life? God is a good God, even on days when our past stops us in our tracks or a situation cements our feet. Be reminded

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Remade Day 11
No Going Back

January 16, 2017 No Comments

As fun as it is to “remember when”, there’s danger there too. Either we can romanticize the past and wish for it all over again, or we begin to drown in its sorrows and become perpetually stuck in its cycle. God wants neither for us!

God told Lot’s family

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The GT Weekend – Remade Week Two

January 14, 2017 No Comments

Lord, You have provided perfectly for us. You have given us a means for relationship with You through Jesus. You’ve given the Holy Spirit to keep us walking in step with You, yet I still think I can hide the real me from Your face. Father, forgive me for putting

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March 24 - April 11, 2025 - Journey Theme #138
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Worship XIII, Day 5 I Will Bless: Digging Deeper

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Worship XIII, Day 5 I Will Bless: Digging Deeper

Mandy Farmer

March 28, 2025

Adoration,Broken,Design,Praise,Prayer,Provider,Purpose

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

This DD Connects With "I Will Bless"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 9

1 I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous works. 2 I will rejoice and boast about you; I will sing about your name, Most High.

3 When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before you. 4 For you have upheld my just cause; you are seated on your throne as a righteous judge. 5 You have rebuked the nations: You have destroyed the wicked; you have erased their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy has come to eternal ruin; you have uprooted the cities, and the very memory of them has perished.

7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for judgment. 8 And he judges the world with righteousness; he executes judgment on the nations with fairness. 9 The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, Lord.

11 Sing to the Lord, who dwells in Zion; proclaim his deeds among the nations. 12 For the one who seeks an accounting for bloodshed remembers them; he does not forget the cry of the oppressed.

13 Be gracious to me, Lord; consider my affliction at the hands of those who hate me. Lift me up from the gates of death, 14 so that I may declare all your praises. I will rejoice in your salvation within the gates of Daughter Zion.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they made; their foot is caught in the net they have concealed. 16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed justice, snaring the wicked by the work of their hands.

Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked will return to Sheol— all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy will not always be forgotten; the hope of the oppressed will not perish forever.

19 Rise up, Lord! Do not let mere humans prevail; let the nations be judged in your presence.e 20 Put terror in them, Lord; let the nations know they are only humans. Selah
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Who wrote Psalm 9 and what was happening in his life at the time? 

This psalm was written by David, the most well-known king of Israel of whom God said was a man after His own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14) Most agree David was reminiscing through this psalm about having faced Goliath when he was younger. David encountered many trials in his life, so it’s reasonable to think he may have been preparing to face another “giant” in his life. David’s psalms often follow a pattern of encouraging his soul by reminding himself of all God has formerly done. (Psalm 103) 

Perhaps it has been a while since you read David’s victory over Goliath recorded in 1 Samuel 17. If so, go read #HisWordsBeforeMine! The shepherd boy David was the youngest of eight boys. His three oldest brothers were off fighting in King Saul’s army against the Philistines. Their father sent David with food for his boys at war, but when David arrived on the battlefield, everything was at a standstill. The Philistines boasted an enormous giant who stood over nine feet tall. Goliath challenged the army of Israel to fight an Israelite one-on-one. Not surprisingly, no one stepped forward; everyone was terrified of Goliath. That is, until David showed up with his faith. 

David told King Saul he would fight the giant alone. Initially, King Saul was reluctant, but when David insisted, based on the Lord’s victory with him in slaying lions and bears, sure that this Philistine would be like them, Saul agreed.

David refused Saul’s armor, choosing instead to battle Goliath with a slingshot, five smooth stones, and his Victorious God. Goliath mocked David, but David placed one stone in his slingshot and slung it right at the giant. The stone sunk into Goliath’s forehead, killing him instantly. David stood over the giant and, using Goliath’s own sword, cut off his head. David stood in the Lord’s Victory!

The Everyday Application

1) Who wrote Psalm 9 and what was happening in his life at the time? 

If you were to re-write Psalm 9 to encourage your own soul and give thanks to God from scenes in your life, what events would you recall? What giants have you faced where you have seen God do marvelous things? Take time to thoughtfully reflect and actually make note of these times. What was the circumstance? What characteristics did you note in the Lord? How did He show you attentive care and compassion?

I could list a myriad of things. Most assuredly, I would think of how God has carried me through years of chronic pain and the dismissal of my husband from pastoral ministry through betrayal. God was faithful at every point, never abandoning us. We wondered how we would make it through this season, but here we are on the other side of betrayal, still held by the Lord. I lean hard on these experiences now as my husband faces stage three pancreatic cancer. 

If you haven’t walked with the Lord before now, take heart! He is still for you! We can look to the Scriptures and other believers to see the character of God and how He acts toward His sons and daughters in times of need. Consider asking a Christian friend this week how they have seen God work in their lives!

The Original Intent

2) What is the purpose of praise and worship? (verses 1-4) 

Prayer is communicating with God, and the more we practice it, the more familiar and deeper our relationship with the Lord grows. The reverse is also true for, without the constancy of prayer and a lack of acknowledging Him, we develop anemia in our spiritual lives, easily forgetting what God has done and what He is capable of accomplishing.

In the abandonment of connection, we focus more on ourselves and our needs than on the God who is our Sole Provider. Beginning our prayer time with adoration of our great God draws us near to God, reminding our souls of how wonderful He is. Thus, our faith is rekindled. (J. Oswald Sanders, Prayer Power Unlimited, C.S. Lewis Institute) 

A useful acronym to remind us to begin with praise is A. C. T. S.. The four steps using this acronym are 1) Adoration 2) Confession 3) Thanksgiving 4) Supplication. At just a glance, we see the importance of lifting God up and humbling ourselves before him.

Consider exploring God’s Word for yourself and finding some verses to pray alongside each prayer step with A. C. T. S.. If you’re already familiar with several passages, challenge yourself to find new ones! Unsure of where to start? You only need to read a few Psalms to find examples of each prayer step, so get started and draw near to the Lord!

The Everyday Application

2) What is the purpose of praise and worship? (verses 1-4) 

God inhabits the praises of His people; that’s my personal translation of Psalm 22:3, and I use these words of truth to remind my soul of the importance of worship. I can think of no better place for my soul to be than to be praising our God. Whether worried, fearful, carrying anxiety, grief, sorrow, joy, or excited delight, nothing compares to spending time in the courts of the Lord to give Him praise!

The author of Psalm 100 pairs praise with God’s character in verses 4-5,
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good,
and His faithful love endures forever; His faithfulness, through all generations.”

Another psalmist sings in Psalm 84:10, “Better a day in your courts

than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people.”

I have often found in my melancholy that if I sing His praises, I am soon no longer gloomy, but joyful. God has done much for me, and I cannot help but praise Him. Worship draws me near to God and lifts my spirits high.

When I consider how God has carried me through my pain, suffering, and loss of all kinds, I am humbled before Him, and I praise His Name. As promised in James 4:10, He lifts me up as I come near so I am positioned to be blessed by Him. Humility before God acts as an elevator for our souls. 

The Original Intent

3) How was David able to praise the Lord amid his trials? (verses 3-6) 

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon said of David’s psalm 9 that this was no “half-hearted praise”. David praised God “with his whole heart”. (Charles Spurgeon, Treasury of David) Satan attempts to pull us down when trials arise, but the best defense against our enemy is praise! It’s so essential that the Lord even ordains a “stronghold of praise” as uttered from the lips of babies and children! (Psalm 8:2)

David was determined to always praise God, regardless of his circumstances. David had found praise to be so instructive to his heart that he wrote in the longest recorded psalm, “I praise You seven times a day for Your righteous judgements.” (Psalm 119:164) God had done so much for David in the past that praise simply bubbled out of him.

Just in Psalm 9 alone, we can see David’s determination to choose praise: 

“I will thank the Lord with all my heart.” (verse 1) 

“I will declare all your wondrous works.” (verse 1)

“I will rejoice and boast about You.” (verse 2)

“I will sing about Your name, Most High.” (verse 2)
“I will rejoice in Your salvation.” (verse 14)

No matter the current scene of your life, the Lord will always be worthy of our praise!

The Everyday Application

3) How was David able to praise the Lord amid his trials? (verses 3-6) 

The practice of remembering God in spite of pain increased David’s trust that God was faithfully working behind the scenes. David’s practice has helped me create my own tools for choosing praise in my circumstances. 

1) Meditate
God often prepares us for our trials if we practice coming to Him daily and meditating on the truths of His Word. (verses 9-10) Before my chronic pain began, I had studied Psalm 119. [She Reads Truth] This psalm focuses on delighting in the Word of God; meditating on it dramatically increased my love for Scripture. I haven’t stopped reading God’s Word daily since that summer of 2011. 


2) Sing
God gives each of us a song to sing. (verse 11) That same summer, Laura Story released her song, Blessings. Her song challenges us to consider the idea that God’s greatest blessings are found wrapped inside the hardest aspects of our lives. Hymns are another excellent tool, and Gracefully Truthful has studied many wonderful song lyrics from Journey Into Worship I through this current one, Journey Into Worship XIII.

3) Remind
Remind yourself what God has done for you by physically making a list. (verses 3-10) Later in my faith journey, Ann Voskamp released her book, One Thousand Gifts where she challenged readers to begin a gratitude list. She suggested listing three things each day for which you are grateful. When you get to 1,000, you’ll find joy restored to your soul!

4) Discipline
It’s a small practice but choosing to read a psalm every day has influenced my life more than I can tell. The discipline of daily reading a psalm ranks number one on my list. A pastor once told me to read a psalm daily, and it has proven to be one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received and followed! 

Tags :
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Worship XIII, Day 5
Journey Study

Loving God,
What a joy to wake up and begin a new day wrapped in Your goodness! Sunshine and hot coffee usher in my day, full of blessings from Your hand.

It wasn’t always this way. I remember when anxiety and stress threatened to overpower joy, when the busyness of my demanding life squeezed Your kind voice out of my consciousness.
Join The Journey!

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Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
March 24 - April 11, 2025 - Journey Theme #138

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

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Worship XIII, Day 5 I Will Bless

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Worship XIII, Day 5 I Will Bless

Christine Wood

March 28, 2025

Adoring,Anchored,Constant,Daughter,Faith,Identity,Praise,Prayer

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 3
Psalm 9
Psalm 34
John 11:25–26

His Words Before Mine
Psalm 9
I will thank the Lord with all my heart; 
I will declare all Your wondrous works. 
I will rejoice and boast about You; 
I will sing about Your name, Most High. […]

You are seated on your throne as a righteous judge. 

You have rebuked the nations: 
You have destroyed the wicked; 
You have erased their name forever and ever. […]

But the Lord sits enthroned forever; 
He has established His throne for judgment. 
And He judges the world with righteousness; 
He executes judgment on the nations with fairness. 

The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted, 
a refuge in times of trouble. 

Those who know Your name trust in You 
because You have not abandoned 
those who seek You, Lord. 

Sing to the Lord, who dwells in Zion; 
proclaim His deeds among the nations. […]

Be gracious to me, Lord; 
consider my affliction at the hands of those who hate me. 

Lift me up from the gates of death, 
so that I may declare all Your praises. 
I will rejoice in Your salvation
within the gates of Daughter Zion. […]

Higgaion. Selah

The wicked will return to Sheol— 
all the nations that forget God. 
For the needy will not always be forgotten; 
the hope of the oppressed will not perish forever. 

Selah

My Words Back To Him
Loving God,
What a joy to wake up and begin a new day wrapped in Your goodness!
Sunshine and hot coffee usher in my day, full of blessings from Your hand.

It wasn’t always this way.
I remember when anxiety and stress threatened to overpower joy,
when the busyness of my demanding life squeezed Your kind voice out of my consciousness. I remember when my to-do list and calendar ruled my time and heart, and the relationships most precious to me became merely an obligation, collecting the dregs of my exhausted self.

It is only by Your grace we made it.
When our table is surrounded by laughter and love, I know it is because of Your kindness.

I am so grateful.

In some places in the world right now the enemy is obvious; his minions use weapons and drop bombs, intimidate and imprison.
I see the images on my newsfeed, I hear the cries, and my heart breaks.

Save Your people, Lord. Raise Your mighty hand against the wicked, 
those who kill and destroy with pride and revenge, 
those who rule with fear, exploiting the weak and ignoring the cries of the powerless.
Hear the cry of the oppressed and bring justice in Your mighty name.

While some enemies are obvious, some enemies are subtle.
They are wolves in sheep’s clothing, disguised as friends. (Matthew 7:15)
Attractive, engaging, popular and prolific, constantly calling me to veer off Your narrow path.

They are constantly asking, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1), gently cajoling me to conform.

Thorns grow high: the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth,
sucking the nutrients, stealing the sun, overcrowding the space in my mind and heart. (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)

Oh, my soul, calm your heart and take captive your thoughts. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Lord, I invite You to be the gardener of my heart.
Pull out the weeds, fertilise the soil, pour out the nourishing rain of Your Spirit,
and grow in me a faith strong and true.
A faith that is resilient, fruitful, and sweet, with roots growing deep into the bedrock of Your holiness. (Jeremiah 17:8)

I won’t remain silent. I won’t hoard Your goodness to myself.
Oh my soul, taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)

He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18)
A bruised reed he will not break (Isaiah 42:3)
His faithfulness flows from generation to generation. (Psalm 119:90)
It won’t stop with me!

My God, still my anxious heart.
Engulf me with Your rest.
I declare You are my source, my Selah.

Confess, Lament, and Praise
My God, I confess there have been so many times when I ignored Your call to rest and have struggled on, feeling alone and frustrated, weighed down by worry, burdened by inadequacy, and overwhelmed by the gap between my capacity and the needs around me.

I sooth my weary soul with another glass of wine, another piece of chocolate, a bubble bath, a Netflix binge, and then I whine and complain about how tired I am, how hard I am trying, and how far away You feel.

When all the while, you are right here.

Emmanuel, God with us, (Matthew 1:23) longing for me to draw near. (James 4:8)
Near to my source of rest, of wisdom, and of peace, near to the still small voice, whispering words of love, near to immeasurable power.

Power to do more than I could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20), power to heal and restore, power to bring light into darkness and life to the dead. (John 11:25–26)

The One who hears the cry of the oppressed (Psalm 9:18), the One who will judge the world with righteousness (Psalm 9:8), the One who fills the gap between my capacity and the needs around me.
The Lord, on His throne. (Psalm 9:7)

Jesus, forgive me, I pray.
I surrender my life to Your Lordship.
I offer my body, a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1)

I invite You to search and cleanse my heart. (Psalm 139:23)
I will thank the Lord with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wondrous works.
I will rejoice and boast about You;
I will sing about Your name, Most High. (Psalm 9:1–2)

My Selah.

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Worship XIII, Day 5
Digging Deeper

Read a Psalm every day.

Music and gratitude lists are excellent tools for finding joy; however, The Psalms are on the top of my list.

A pastor once told me to read a psalm every day. That is one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received and followed.
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March 24 - April 11, 2025 - Journey Theme #138

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Run Day 7 Running On A Prayer: Digging Deeper

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Run Day 7 Running On A Prayer: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

March 11, 2025

Anchored,Faith,Heaven,Help,Prayer,Pursue,Relationship

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 "Running On A Prayer"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Timothy 2:1-4, 8

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How do petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving differ? (verse 1)

Paul urged Timothy that “petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone.” (1 Timothy 2:1) Some theologians argue that the difference in the terms is not greatly significant, like author Thomas Constable, who writes, “This is a Semitic literary device that groups synonyms to enhance the basic concept, namely, that Christians should pray all types of prayers for all people.”

However, others note the subtle nuances of each term used. Petitions are requests, asking for something from the Lord. (Philippians 4:6)

Prayer implies communication with God, pouring out our hearts to the Lord and waiting before Him in anticipation of His answer. (Psalm 62:8) Charles Bailey suggests prayer is “reverent devotion to God because of what He is capable of performing and providing. The root word suggests a meeting with God, one provided only for his obedient children.” (John 9:31, Proverbs 15:29, Proverbs 28:9)

Intercession is fervent, determined prayer on behalf of another. (James 5:16) Andrew Murray asserts, “The power of the Church truly to bless rests on intercession —asking and receiving heavenly gifts to carry to men.”

Prayers of thanksgiving offer gratitude for God’s blessings and gifts. (Psalm 92:1) C. S. Lewis wrote, “We ought to give thanks for all. If it is good, because it is good; if bad, because it works in us patience, humility . . . and the hope of [Heaven].”

What a blessing to have the privilege of prayer! Through prayer, not only can we communicate with God about our own needs and the needs of others, but we can also worship the Lord and draw closer to Him!

The Everyday Application

1) How do petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving differ? (verse 1)

I never appreciated birds until my children became interested in spotting them in our backyard. I could only recognize a few common types like blue jays and starlings, but through the eyes of my children, I discovered a more complex avian world. I worked to distinguish a mockingbird’s song from a cardinal’s trill, and I frequently grabbed my binoculars to identify what kind of woodpecker was hopping around the apricot tree. With delight, I identified a rose-breasted grosbeak and added it to our birding list.

I had known about birds in a general sense, but now I could identify and appreciate dozens of varieties because I am looking and listening for them. Just like discovering there is more to the birding world than sparrows and robins, so Paul’s admonition that “petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:1) opened my eyes to understand that prayer is also multi-faceted.

While all prayer is some form of communicating with God, God calls us to pray in different ways at different times.

God invites us to petition Him, asking for what we need. (1 John 5:14) He also wants us to draw close to Him in prayer, spending time with Him to become more like Him and learn to discern His voice, sensing His friendship. (John 15:7) When God asks us to intercede, He wants us to pray fervently and persistently for others for their salvation or to receive His help. (Colossians 1:9-11) God also wants us to thank Him at all times for everything. (Ephesians 5:20)

Having gratitude, according to Ann Voskamp, means “we intentionally notice all the everyday things, and accept God’s grace, in all things, with thanks.” Lord, help us to pray at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:17) in all the ways you have provided.

The Original Intent

2) How does prayer lead us toward living tranquil and quiet lives in godliness and dignity? (verses 1-2)

Paul urged the early church that “petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2) Paul promoted prayer for everyone, but particularly governing authorities, because those leaders controlled many aspects of their daily lives.

John Sartelle suggests “Paul was pressing the church to pray for the “Caesars” of this world, that the church might not live under the constant disruption and havoc of persecution.” Paul knew that praying for leaders could make a difference, and he wanted to ensure he had the freedom to carry out the work God had called him to do. (Acts 22:21)

Albert Barnes notes, “God has power to influence [leaders’] hearts, and to incline them to what is just and equal; and hence we should pray that a divine influence may descend upon them.”

Being tranquil and living a quiet life in godliness and dignity are not dependent upon having good neighbors or good leaders. God calls us to these things regardless of our circumstances (1 Peter 1:15) Still, livelihoods that aren’t restricted by government interventions and disputes with others allows Christians to focus on living like Jesus and sharing His love. It is no wonder, then, that Paul wrote with urgency and in detail about praying for everyone, especially our leaders.

The Everyday Application

2) How does prayer lead us toward living tranquil and quiet lives in godliness and dignity? (verses 1-2)

My friend taught at a local high school, and he struggled to follow his department chair’s leadership. She had a very different philosophy of education than he did, and they didn’t see eye to eye on anything. She refused compromise or collaboration, and she didn’t care if her lack of diplomacy ruffled feathers.

One day, my friend was praying about the conflict, asking God to change the situation, when he felt impressed by God to start praying for her instead of about her. The Lord told him, “Pray for her; you don’t know what she is going through.” My friend obediently started praying for her, and soon his perspective changed.

They never shared the same perspective about most issues, but he was able to see her in a different light and not allow her negativity to impact his teaching. He went from feeling combative towards her to feeling compassion for her, all because of prayer.

My friend learned an invaluable “why” behind Paul’s entreaty to believers to let “petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

God commands us to submit to leaders (Romans 13:1), but also to pray for them, because authorities have the power to enact laws and policies that affect our ability to carry out the will of the Lord, not necessarily our political agendas. Are we praying for our leaders with this mindset?

When we pray for our leaders, we acknowledge that God can direct their hearts wherever He chooses (Proverbs 21:1), and we petition Him to lead all authorities away from repression and persecution for Christians.

The Original Intent

3) Why does Paul exhort lifting hands in prayer without anger or argument? (verse 8)

Paul instructs Timothy to teach “the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.” (1 Timothy 2:8) Charles Ellicott explains, “It was the Jewish practice, not only in taking a solemn oath—or in blessing—but also in prayer, to lift up the hands.” Paul’s emphasis wasn’t necessarily on physically raising hands in order to pray, rather his instruction was meant to train them on what to do when they did raise their hands: pray.

Paul wanted them to lift up holy hands, reminding them that, for whatever cultural purpose they raised their hands, they were to remember to pray, but also to live holy. Adam Clarke notes, “holy hands refer to the Jewish custom of washing their hands before prayer; this was done to signify that they had put away all sin and purposed to live a holy life.”

Part of living a holy life means putting off anger or divisiveness when coming to pray. God warns that acting in anger and indulging rage will bring harm (Psalm 37:8) Charles Bailey states, “Either anger or doubting (disputing), when entertained in the heart, serves as a hindrance to a Christian’s prayer.”

God knows the intentions of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12), and He wants us to do away with our anger and arguing, coming instead with pure hearts ready to hear from Him and be changed by Him. (Psalm 24:3-4)

Charles Bailey further suggests, “When the Christian comes before God’s presence in prayer, he must figuratively cleanse himself by being in humble submission to the divine will.” When we ask God to remove anger and arguing from our hearts, we align with His will (Colossians 3:8) and prepare ourselves to encounter God in prayer (Jeremiah 33:3).

The Everyday Application

3) Why does Paul exhort lifting hands in prayer without anger or argument? (verse 8)

Once, when my husband and I were having a heated disagreement, he suggested we stop arguing and pray together. I folded my arms across my chest and huffed, “I know that is what we should do, but I don’t want to!” I was still angry and not ready to let go of my resentment. I didn’t want to do what Paul suggests and lift holy hands in prayer without anger or argument. (1 Timothy 2:8)

I found that I can’t lift my hands to the Lord when I am still clutching anger, hurt, bitterness or resentment because it erodes peace and connection with God. (Ephesians 4:26-27) I’m blocked in by my own sin, and I can’t lift my hands either to worship or receive from Him.  If I am willing to let the anger go, and come with humility, He will faithfully meet me in true communion. (James 1:19-20, James 4:10)

The Lord wants to answer us and give us good gifts, which is why He instructs us to set aside our anger when coming in prayer. (Matthew 6:33)

Because He knows how hard it is for me to release my grip on angry feelings, He offers me grace, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Not only does He sympathize with my weakness and invite me to seek His mercy, but Jesus actually intercedes for me. (Romans 8:34) When I remember His great love and mercy, it is easier to let go of my anger and seek Him in prayer.

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Run, Day 6
Journey Study

In running, there is a difference between a 50 yd dash, a 100-meter run, and a marathon. The 50 yd dash and 100-meter require speed immediately. The fastest runner wins.

Running a marathon requires a different mindset. You still want to win and, yes, in a traditional marathon speed is necessary, but so are pacing, stamina, and resilience.

It is the same in our journey with Christ. Ours is not a race of speed, but a race building endurance, stamina, and resilience.
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March 3 - March 21, 2025 - Journey Theme #137

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Run Day 6 Running On A Prayer

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Run Day 6 Running On A Prayer

Carol Graft

March 10, 2025

Anchored,Prayer,Relationship,Scripture,Strength,Struggle,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 33:7-11
1 Timothy 2:1-4
John 15:1-8
1 Corinthians 9:24-26

I once took a spiritual gifts inventory, and my top scores were in prayer, worship, and faith. I joined an intercessory prayer team, taught workshops on prayer, and was a devout prayer room attendee. 

Please do not stop reading.

I do not say this to puff myself up. This is all past tense. Those accomplishments and service opportunities, for a variety of reasons, disappeared. 

And I felt like I did, too.

I thought losing all those positions meant I was no longer a prayer warrior, and I worried I had pulled back from a true relationship with God. Maybe you have too, or maybe you are trying to find that kind of relationship for the first time.

Let’s journey together, shall we?

In running, there is a difference between a 50 yd dash, a 100-meter run, and a marathon. The 50 yd dash and 100-meter require speed immediately. The fastest runner wins. Running a marathon requires a different mindset. You still want to win and, yes, in a traditional marathon speed is necessary, but so are pacing, stamina, and resilience. 

It is the same in our journey with Christ. Ours is not a race of speed, but a race building endurance, stamina, and resilience. 

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”  (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

We build up endurance, stamina, and resilience by being in relationship with Christ and talking with Him in prayer. 

In John 15:4, Jesus teaches us about remaining in and with Him by being attached to Him. Thousands of years before Jesus walked the earth, Israelite leaders, Moses and Joshua, were in the Tent of Meeting praying and worshiping. Joshua wanted to remain with the strong presence of God even when Moses left. (Exodus 33:11) That kind of relationship is not relegated to “faith heroes” like Joshua, Moses, or Isaiah; that kind of relationship with God is for us! 

We really can do nothing apart from God, nor should we try. The only way to confidently know God is with us is for us to be firmly attached to Him through His Word. By saturating ourselves in His Word, and regularly coming to Him in humility, we are cultivating a relationship with the Living God, and, just as in human relationships, depth begins with conversation. 

He already knows how our days go and the contents of our dreams and plans, but He wants to hear from us. He wants us to speak to Him, cast our cares on Him, and intercede for others, even our enemies. For, as we speak with Him, so our relationship flourishes.

What if God were so near you could feel His presence? He is; He is for you. Simply reach out to Him in prayer. (Acts 17:28, Revelation 3:20)

We were created in His image for a relationship with Him. (Genesis 1:27, Matthew 27:51) The veil separating man from the Holy of Holies as a result of sin has been torn, making an obvious statement that, with Christ’s death, we have free access to Him and no longer need a mediator. 

A beautiful truth is that this kind of relational prayer can be continual. We really can “pray without ceasing”. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Practicing dwelling in constant communication with God, and being open to hear from Him, opens the door for the Spirit of God to change us.

Our worries may still be present, but they don’t get the final word.
Our tongues are not as sharp.
Peace blankets.
When we focus on Christ and praying for others, we have little time to be self-focused, and certainly no time for self-pity. 

No matter what characterized our relationship with our earthly father, our relationship with our Heavenly Father is essential and steady, offering a continual safe harbor of beautiful goodness. 

Relational, connective prayer might look like…
Lament, with or without tears.
“Flare prayers”, those moments when you truly only have a moment or two to lift up a quick prayer before you must act or speak in a situation.
Words poured on a journal page or penned as a question in the margin of your Bible.
Words spoken aloud or whispered “in your head”.

When practicing prayer, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all method because the Lord is a personal, relational God. What matters most is coming near with a humble heart. (James 4:8, 10) Life holds snares, traps, and brambles, but prayer keeps us on guard, for when we draw near to the Father, He holds us close, lifting us from oppressed to freed. 

In a traditional race, runners may win medals or a cash prize, but for believers who keep running the spiritual race, we win streets of gold on which to walk with God the Son.

In the first years of marathon races, the winner received a laurel wreath placed on their head. At the end of our race, we get a crown, which we will lay at the feet of the One who gave us the endurance to run, who breathed life within our souls to never give up, and who cheered us on by His Spirit. 

Oh, and the other beautiful thing about this race with Christ?
All who trust Him for their rescue, WIN!

”Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown but we an imperishable crown.”
(1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

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Recent Journeys

Run, Day 7
Digging Deeper

I had known about birds in a general sense, but now I can identify and appreciate dozens of varieties because I am always looking and listening for them and I know what to look for.

Just like discovering that there is more to the birding world than sparrows and robins, reading Paul’s admonition that “petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:1) opened my eyes to the truth that prayer is multi-faceted as well.

While all prayer is some form of communicating with God, God calls us to pray in different ways at different times.
Dig Deeper!

Can We Pray With You?

Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

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Explore This Journey Theme!
March 3 - March 21, 2025 - Journey Theme #137

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The GT Weekend! ~ Come, Week 2

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The GT Weekend! ~ Come, Week 2

Katelyn Palmer

February 22, 2025

Adoration,Called,Dwell,Glory,Made New,Praise,Prayer

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

His Words Before Ours

Isaiah 1:16-19

Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.

“Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land.
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

You, Yahweh, are the King above all else. (Psalm 95:3) Everything we see is Your creation, O Lord our Maker! (Psalm 95:4-6) We are the people of Your pasture, sheep under Your care. (verse 7)

Lord, You have called each of us into Your flock to come and follow You. (Mark 8:34-38) You call us to rest in Your presence and let our weary hearts find relief. (Matthew 11:28-30). I pray that my heart, and the hearts of my sisters joining me all over the world to learn more about You, would be emboldened by Your call to come and follow just as Your first disciples were. (Matthew 4:20) You are a kind God, full of mercy and grace who lavishes His children with love and compassion. (Isaiah 54:8) We need only to trust and obey Your loving commands, then we will eat the fruit of Your blessings! (Isaiah 1:19)

Teach us to love with our actions (1 John 3:18) and so demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-26) Let it be as John wrote, “The one who says he remains in Him [Jesus] should walk just as he walked.” (1 John 2:6)

We are Your ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20-21), called to worship (Psalm 66:1-4) and to share the name of our Creator with others. (Hebrews 13:14-17, Philippians 1:18-20) May our Hearts be filled with joy as we worship You and love others! <br.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Lord. Amen!
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

This week, we began our studies by looking at Jesus’ first invitations to follow Him, extended to His would-be disciples Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John. (Luke 5:2-11) Lesley connected these winsome welcomes to Jesus’ invitation for all to come and follow Him. (Mark 8:34-38)

In this grand invitation to all of us, Jesus tells us we must deny ourselves, that is, our flesh, by daily taking up a cross (cruel form of death) to crucify our fleshly desires so we might live out Christ’s call. (Luke 9:23)

“Taking up the cross” references Jesus’ death by crucifixion. None survived the torturous death of Roman crucifixion, and Jesus’ point is that our desires to live for self must be daily killed. Just as Jesus submitted to the Father’s will by His crucifixion in order to save us, so we must submit to the cross as well, daily living to follow Jesus.

We are to follow Him in His example of righteousness and humble, extravagant love. By living in love (John 19) and submitting to the Father as He did (Luke 22:39-43), His resurrection life lives in us!

The reward of following Jesus is revealed in Mark 8:35. Jesus tells us that denying our flesh and losing our lives for Jesus’ sake is actually to gain it! After all, what good is it to gain the world yet lose our soul?! (Mark 8:36)
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

Song of Solomon 2:10-13 reflects the promise of hope that lies within Jesus Christ. The husband, who is speaking to the wife, invites her to come away with him. (verses 10 and 13) In Matthew 11:28, Jesus beckons us to him, as well.

The husband describes a scene of new life, refreshment, and relief from the cold of winter. (verses 11-13) Jesus calls out the weary and burdened, those who have fought through their own winters of sorts, offering rest. (Matthew 11:28)

He promises an easy yoke and light burden (Matthew 11:29-30), which cannot be offered by the world; it cannot be offered by winter, but rather by spring. The husband has painted a vision reminiscent of the Promised Land, where milk and honey flowed, and the land was fertile with blessing. (Exodus 3:8)

Spiritually, Jesus is our Promised Land. He is our path to eternal life with God and He holds within Him the promise of no more pain, sorrow, or death, and instead, rich blessing and abundant life. (Revelation 21:3-4)

Song of Solomon paints a picture of the kind of rest, relief, and refreshment we can only find in Jesus Christ. Greater still, Jesus has called us to Himself because He wants to give us these things. So, as the husband urges his wife, I urge you, too, to “arise…come away” (Song of Solomon 2:10-13) and find “rest for your soul” (Matthew 11:29) with the One who hand-crafted you!
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

In finishing Week One of Journey Into Come, we studied Psalm 95 and Isaiah 1:16-20. Michelle explored how these passages call us to worship and invite us into relationship with Yahweh. The call to worship in Psalm 95 points to the greatness of God by identifying who He is and what belongs to Him (hint: it’s everything!).

It is clear the psalmist understands the majesty of the Lord and has appropriately exalted Him above everything. The psalmist reminds us God is our maker, and the land and sea are His. (Psalm 95:4-6) This introduces us to God the Creator.

Verse 7 calls us “the people of His pasture,” which introduces us to God as our Shepherd. Verses 8-11 reference the exodus from Egypt into the Promised Land with a warning against hard hearts and straying from God, which depict God as Warrior, Redeemer, and Judge.

The Psalmist encourages us to know the God we serve and understand our insignificance in comparison to His omniscience, inevitably resulting in fervent praise. When we flip the pages of our Bible to Isaiah, we are called to cleanse ourselves and learn to live righteously. (Isaiah 1:16-17)

While we can learn to do what is good by studying Scripture, Yahweh knew we could not cleanse ourselves before Him. This is why He invites us to settle our sin together. (verse 18) Yahweh acknowledges our uncleanliness, but then He cleanses us, making us “white as snow” and “like wool.” (verse 18)
2-for-1 Friday

This Week's Journeys

Remade Day 15
The Remade Life

January 20, 2017 No Comments

We’ve talked a lot during this Journey Theme about what it means to live this redeemed life that Jesus has so richly given us, but what does the “box top” look like? What does my everyday look like as I’m chasing after this God who longs to continuously remake me

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Remade Day 14
The Law of Love: Digging Deeper

January 19, 2017 No Comments

The pharisees asked a lot of questions, but they didn’t truly want to know Jesus’s heart. When we study the Bible or look for answers to our questions, let’s not go looking for evidence to support our pre-determined ideas, rather let’s seek to understand the original intent of the Scriptures,

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Remade Day 13
The Law of Love

January 18, 2017 No Comments

If we really are living out and doing exactly what Jesus tells us are the two most important commandments, then everything else He tells us to do will fall into place… because, by living out these commandments, we are allowing transformation.
When our minds are transformed, then our actions

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Remade Day 12
No Going Back: Digging Deeper

January 17, 2017 No Comments

Are you stuck in the past, attached and grasping for things leading to death, or are you clinging onto and sinking into the things of life? God is a good God, even on days when our past stops us in our tracks or a situation cements our feet. Be reminded

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Remade Day 11
No Going Back

January 16, 2017 No Comments

As fun as it is to “remember when”, there’s danger there too. Either we can romanticize the past and wish for it all over again, or we begin to drown in its sorrows and become perpetually stuck in its cycle. God wants neither for us!

God told Lot’s family

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The GT Weekend – Remade Week Two

January 14, 2017 No Comments

Lord, You have provided perfectly for us. You have given us a means for relationship with You through Jesus. You’ve given the Holy Spirit to keep us walking in step with You, yet I still think I can hide the real me from Your face. Father, forgive me for putting

Read More »

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Feb 10 - Feb 28, 2025 - Journey Theme #136
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Pause VIII, Day 15 A Collect Of Praise

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Pause VIII ~ Day Fifteen

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His Words Before Ours

Psalm 150

As we enter our final day of Pause 8, I invite you to begin our time together today with a few moments of reflection, particularly upon #HisWordsBeforeOurs. 

+ Which Scripture passages have most impacted you these last 3 weeks?

+ Where have you seen the Lord differently, or more clearly, because of how His Word has come alive?

+ In this time of quieting our hearts to better hear His voice, what has He spoken to you through His Word and in your prayer time?

How will you choose to respond?

Today, as has become our Friday pattern, we will respond to God and His Word through crafting a collect. We’ve been looking to the biblical psalms for inspiration, and have already written our own psalms of lament and thanksgiving, based on themes we see in Scripture. 

For our final collect, we’ll look to psalms of praise for our inspiration.

Most of the definitions of praise I found involved expressing admiration of God for His holy attributes. While this might be technically correct, for me, the language felt a little . . . flat. Merriam-Webster infused a bit of vitality by adding “to glorify,” and including a list of synonyms, such as bless, extol, exalt, magnify, celebrate, and resound.

You see, sisters in Christ, I don’t think we’re motivated to devote our lives to following the way of Jesus by mere admiration. I admire many people, but I haven’t centered my life on them. If faith in Christ is defined as total dependence on the truth of the Gospel, admiration won’t get us there.

But in God, we find the One in Whose image we are made. (Genesis 1:26-27)

The One who breathes life into our dusty souls. (Genesis 2:7, John 1:3-5)

The One who loves us beyond measure, such that no sacrifice was too great to rescue us. (John 15:13, Romans 5:8)

The One who runs to us in mercy, holds us up in faithfulness, and leads us with patience and wisdom. (Ephesians 2:4-5, Psalm 36:5, Isaiah 28:29)

He is everything.

Whether we praise Him with resounding hymns from life’s mountaintops or broken, choking whispers in life’s valleys, praise rightly reorients us to Him and preaches, to ourselves and to others, of the One in Whom our hope lives.

So today, let’s praise Him!

Thank you for joining us in our third week of Pause 8! We hope you’ll return to our handcrafted Spotify playlist often to be reminded of where the Lord has led you on this journey of pausing, worshiping, and reflecting.

Be sure to sign up for free delivery of our next Journey Theme, Lowly, as we lean in and see the Humble Christ at Christmas (and a few surprise characters as well!). 

Meditate & Reflect

1) First, let’s read Psalm 150.

Hallelujah!
Praise God in his sanctuary.
Praise him in his mighty expanse.
2 Praise him for his powerful acts;
praise him for his abundant greatness.
3 Praise him with the blast of a trumpet;
praise him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and flute.
5 Praise him with resounding cymbals;
praise him with clashing cymbals.
6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!

2) Next, let’s praise Him through song! If you have a favorite praise song, feel free to worship with its melody and Christ-orienting lyrics now!

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out All Glory Be to Christ by King’s Kaleidoscope. (Bonus? We have a Journey Study & Digging Deeper Study to match!)

3) And one last time, let’s write a collect together!

Here’s the format for collects:
1. Address: a name or characteristic of God
2. Doctrine: a truth about God’s nature, serving as the basis for prayer
3. Petition: what is requested of God
4. Aspiration: what good result will come if the request is granted
5. In Jesus’ name: a reminder Jesus is our mediator

Once your collect is complete, bring it to God in prayer.

4) Finally, if you feel comfortable, we’d love for you to share your collect with GT sisters! Drop it in the comments below? Send it via email? How about sharing in our private Facebook Community?

Worship

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Pause VIII, Day 5 A Collect For Lament

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Pause VIII ~ Day Five

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His Words Before Ours

Psalm 5

As we conclude our first week of Pause VIII, refocusing our hearts through the practice of praying through collects, we want to give you an opportunity to construct your own collect!

We’ll be using psalms as inspiration for our Friday collects on our three-week Journey Theme. One way to categorize the biblical psalms is by content: psalms of lament, of thanksgiving, and of praise.

Today, we’ll begin with a psalm of lament. 

Author Clint Watkins has written extensively on the subject of holy lament; he explains, “The Psalms are the hymns of God’s people, a compilation of corporate prayers and songs. Lament is its largest category, accounting for 68 of 150 psalms. Scripture’s hymnal is filled with saints who wrestle with the Lord. In other words, lament is not something we do in order to worship. Lament is worship.”

Mitch Everingham, in an article on learning to lament published with The Gospel Coalition, adds, “Psalms of lament show us that crying out our complaints with heart-wrenching honesty is not only okay–but Godly. Even in the depths of the pit, the loss of a loved one, or a moment of despair–God anticipates and hears each of our cries.” 

In a world gutted by sin and suffering so intense despair seems the only logical response,  lament is a courage-soaked declaration of hope in a just and compassionate God who sees, cares, and walks through our suffering with us.

So today, we invite you to join us in worshiping God through creating a collect for lament of your own design.

To begin, check out Psalm 5, a lament written by the Israelite king and poet, David.

For a modern song of lament, based on a prayer of penitence in the Book of Common Prayer, listen to “Lord, Have Mercy” (Keith and Kristyn Getty).

Now, it’s time to write!
I’ve found it helpful to have the structure for collects handy while writing, so I’m going to drop it here, as a reminder:

  1. Address: a name or characteristic of God
  2. Doctrine: a truth about God’s nature, serving as the basis for prayer
  3. Petition: what is requested of God
  4. Aspiration: what good result will come if the request is granted
  5. In Jesus’ name: a reminder Jesus is our mediator

Once your collect is complete, bring it to God in prayer.

Finally, if you feel comfortable, we’d love for you to share your collect with GT sisters! Your boldness will encourage and strengthen the community, urging us to worship the Lord God together!

Drop it in the comments below, send it via email, or share it in our private Facebook Community Group! 

Meditate & Reflect

1) This time is for you and the Lord. He has already prepared gifts and mercies to give to you as you spend time in His Word and engaging Him through prayer. Settle in, choose as quiet of a place as you can find, and read His Word, then pray it back to Him as you form your own collect!

2) Here’s Psalm 5 to begin your meditation and reflection time as you prepare to pen your collect!

1 Listen to my words, LORD;
consider my sighing.
2 Pay attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for I pray to you.

3 In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil cannot dwell with you.
5 The boastful cannot stand in your sight;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who tell lies;
the LORD abhors violent and treacherous people.

7 But I enter your house
by the abundance of your faithful love;
I bow down toward your holy temple
in reverential awe of you.
8 LORD, lead me in your righteousness because of my adversaries;
make your way straight before me.

9 For there is nothing reliable in what they say;
destruction is within them;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongues.
10 Punish them, God;
let them fall by their own schemes.
Drive them out because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them shout for joy forever.
May you shelter them,
and may those who love your name boast about you.
12 For you, LORD, bless the righteous one;
you surround him with favor like a shield.


Worship

More From GT

Join A GT POD

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

#GTGoingGlobal

Come on mission with us by expanding our reach to take the gospel to lands where our feet cannot go. #GTGoingGlobal
Join The Mission

Apply To Join Our Global Team!

Get started here to impact peoples and cultures around the world as, together, we build study tools to equip women across the globe to understand and rightly apply Scripture within their culture while bolding living out their faith. Together, we are strengthening the global Church!

Explore Opportunities!

Study With Us!

Free Journey Studies delivered straight to your inbox to help you connect with the Almighty God in the midst of everyday life!
Register!
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