adoration

Worship X Day 11 From Eternity To Eternity

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 103
Deuteronomy 6:10-12
Deuteronomy 8:11-20
Psalm 25:8-11
Isaiah 40:28-31

Worship X, Day 11

Day 1
As I sit to write today’s Journey Study, physical and emotional tiredness are my companions. Thankfully, tomorrow is a new day and His mercies are new every morning.

“[Your mercies] are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:23)
His promise allows me to let the events of the day drain away while focusing on the truth found in His Word.

The truth in Psalm 103 is a solid reminder while my body is ready for rest and a new day, His mercies for today are still active.

“My soul, bless the LORD,
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
My soul, bless the LORD,
and do not forget all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:1-2)
Tiredness begins to melt away as my focus shifts from myself to the truth of the Lord. The tension in my shoulders eases as I ponder His benefits.

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.” (Psalm 103:8)
Thank You, Lord, for Your compassion, grace, and slowness to anger. I am so undeserving of those, especially today when I failed to extend the same to my husband. Please forgive me.

“He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve
or repaid us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10)
Thank You for Your forgiveness, for not repaying me according to what I deserve.

“He satisfies you with good things;
Your youth is renewed like the eagle.” (Psalm 103:5)
Thank You for renewing my youth and my strength, so I can “run and not become weary [. . .] walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31) when I wait on You. This, too, is one of Your mercies for today. Help me wait on You and experience Your energizing presence.

Lord, You have poured out so many benefits, yet how often do we fail to thank You for all the ways You demonstrate Your love towards us?

I’m not sure I actually want to answer that question.
But I can choose to make tomorrow and each subsequent day different.

Day 2
I set alarms today on my phone. Four of them.
When they sounded throughout my day, I intended to pause and focus on the Lord and the truth of Psalm 103.

When the first alarm rang, I remembered my conviction, paused to say a quick thank You for my current blessings, and continued on with my day.

A short while later I snapped at my husband in conversation and the words of Psalm 103:2 wafted through my mind, “do not forget all His benefits.”

Ugh. My fleshly heart rebelled at the gentle conviction of the Lord through His Word.

My study of this verse revealed connections to Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 6:12 reminded the Israelites, in the midst of their materiel bounty,
“[B]e careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.”

Two chapters later, Deuteronomy 8:11 reiterates,
“Be careful that you don’t forget the LORD your God by failing to keep his commands, ordinances, and statutes that I am giving you today.”

Understanding began to dawn. I’d said thank you to the Lord for His benefits to me with the first alarm, but quickly forgot Him by failing to follow His commands to show His mercies to others.

With the next alarm, my heart posture stretched a bit deeper.

Thank You, God, for forgiving me. Please help me to demonstrate my love for my husband and respect him with my words and tone.

This encounter with the Lord didn’t fade into the background of my day. Much like the eased tension of the previous night, my emotional and physical reactions softened. I sensed the Holy Spirit within me, helping me as I surrendered more fully to Him.

The third alarm was set for late afternoon. Reflecting on the impactful second alarm, I felt anticipation growing. What would You speak to me during this moment of encounter, Lord?

As I waited for late afternoon to arrive, the words of Psalm 103:17 lovingly wrapped themselves around my heart.
“But from eternity to eternity
The LORD’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him[.]”

Psalm 25:10 echoes,
“All the LORD’s ways show faithful love and truth
To those who keep his covenant and decrees.”
He is faithful to us now, and promises His faithfulness will extend to eternity.

This brought such hope to my heart; no matter the circumstances awaiting us in this lifetime,
if we seek the Lord, He will faithfully walk with us.

We can thank Him for the hard times with confidence.
We can rejoice in today.
We can praise Him for all of His benefits.

In the Lord’s divine multiplication, when we praise Him
from the depths of who we are
for who He is, He is honored and we are helped.
He is worthy of worship now and for eternity!

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Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship X Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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The GT Weekend Worship IX Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Jesus said, “…True worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23) Does that make you wonder if there are “fake” worshippers? Looking at Scripture, I would say yes. In Monday’s Journey Study we saw that worshipping in spirit means we are tuned into and obeying the Holy Spirit living within us. Worshipping in truth means our adoration flows out of knowing His Word and His identity as the unchanging One True God.  Consider some ways you can sharpen your ears to hear from the Holy Spirit? How might you begin putting these into practice starting this weekend? Another side to truth is intention. Worship cannot be like a cloak, used to cover the stain of our sin. We must truly be cleansed to be considered true worshippers. Have there been times when you were a “fake” worshipper? What steps did you take to return to the heart of true worship? What are some ways you can move worship from just “Sunday mornings during church” to the everyday moments of your life? Revisit the Journey Theme Character to remind yourself of the character of the God we serve and worship. Journal something new you learn about God, or are especially thankful for, each day this next week!

2) Did you know that many worship songs are based on Scripture? Does anyone else besides me pause at a passage or verse and start singing the associated song? Brenda taught us that even though songs can tug at our emotions, the most powerful songs are those which sing Scripture back to God. What better way to worship Him than to echo His words? Journal the names of some songs that are based on Scripture, adding the passage or verse and why it resonates with you. A beautiful aspect of worship is how it boasts about God. Who better to boast about?! King David even realized this when he wrote in Psalm 5:11, “…may those who love Your name boast about You”. Spend time this weekend looking up some of God’s promises. How do they spur you on to boast about Him? Recall some hard situations God has seen you through. If you haven’t boasted about His goodness and faithfulness to you during those times, use this weekend to do just that.

3) In Friday’s journey, Paula took us on a stunning journey through the Old Testament, pointing out “I AM” in many chapters and stories. We’re then transported to the New Testament where I AM came to dwell among us in the person of Jesus Christ. If we worship Him for nothing else, this would be a sufficient reason. But even more so, He not only dwelt among us, but also redeemed us by taking our place as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. Revelation 5 tells us all of Heaven will worship the Lamb. Can you think of anything better than focusing your worship on God? Revisit Worship VII, which focuses on God’s wondrous glory! Pick one day from each week of Worship VII (or more if you’re feeling ambitious!) and journal your thoughts on that day’s topic.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Colossians 1:15-17 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

Prayer Journal
Father God, I think of the song that talks about “going back to the heart of worship”. I confess the times I’ve made worship about me and my preferences. Only true worship focuses on You because it’s about You in every aspect. I pray I can focus on Your unchanging character so I’m always mindful of how holy, great, and deserving You are of all my worship. May I remember Your faithfulness toward me even in the face of my unfaithfulness. As I live my daily life, I want others to see me worshipping You by the things I do and say, in the small choices and the big ones. Let my internal thoughts also contribute to a lifestyle of worship for You desire truth in every inmost place. (Psalm 51:6) You, God, are the One True God who has redeemed me from all my rebellious sin. I will worship You in spirit and truth because only You are worthy of that kind of whole-life praise.

Worship Through Community

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Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

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Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Word Day 7 How’s Your Worship?: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out How’s Your Worship?!

The Questions

1) What are the benefits of following the Lord?

2) David repeats the phrase, “the fear of the Lord”; what does this mean?

3) Why does David write, “bless the Lord”? I thought God blesses us.

Psalm 103

My soul, bless the Lord,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 My soul, bless the Lord,
and do not forget all his benefits.

3 He forgives all your iniquity;
he heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit;
he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things;
your youth is renewed like the eagle.

6 The Lord executes acts of righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He revealed his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us
or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve
or repaid us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his faithful love
toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed
our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows what we are made of,
remembering that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass—
he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes,
and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity
the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear him,
and his righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep his covenant,
who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord,
all his angels of great strength,
who do his word,
obedient to his command.
21 Bless the Lord, all his armies,
his servants who do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works
in all the places where he rules.
My soul, bless the Lord!

Original Intent

1) What are the benefits of following the Lord?

In this psalm, David lists a multitude of benefits for following the Lord. Just because David was the one anointed to become king (1 Samuel 16:1-13), didn’t mean he was isolated and protected. He was hunted down to be killed by more than one person, including his own son, Absalom. (2 Samuel 17) He faced death often, and even before he was chosen as the next king, he was viewed as insignificant. (1 Samuel 17:33) He was also far from perfect. David murdered (2 Samuel 11:14-18), lied (1 Samuel 21:2-3), and committed adultery (2 Samuel 11:2-4). He still suffered the negative effects of those sins. Yet, he penned this psalm of praise, encouraging everyone to follow the Lord because His way is wise, best and overflowing with benefits. When he committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:1-15), David experienced the benefit of the Lord’s forgiveness. (verses 3, 9-10) David knew firsthand what it meant to have his life saved from destruction as he was pursued by enemies. (verses 6, 8, and 13) Because David had experienced the many, gracious benefits of the Lord throughout his life, he confidently proclaimed how the Lord would continue blessing future generations who committed to following the ways of the Lord. (verses 15-19) We see one evidence of God’s generational blessing specific to David and his son, Solomon, in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:6.

 

2) David repeats the phrase, “the fear of the Lord”; what does this mean?

Fear in this case does not mean being afraid in the sense of terror, rather it means a humble recognition that God is all-powerful and the only One worthy of respect and glory. The fear of the Lord is reverential awe. David’s son, Solomon, would eventually write, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10) Fearing the Lord in the Old Testament looked like sacrifices, but it also was tightly connected to the posture of the heart. (Psalm 51:16-17, Isaiah 1:10-15) Brothers, Cain and Abel, both offered sacrifices, but only one brother’s offering was acceptable. (Genesis 4:4-5) Sacrifices were commanded by God because He wanted His people to understand that sinning against Him breaks His relationship with them. Sin pridefully asserts ourselves against God’s righteousness. Because God wanted His people to understand the seriousness of sin, and the reality that sin comes at a price, He instituted the Sacrificial System. Depending on the type of sin, sacrifices were required to pay the penalty of sin. Doves, grain, sheep, and bulls (yes, an entire cow!) were offered as atonement for sin when they stepped away from following God and His law. (Leviticus 19) All of this was designed to help Israel understand that fearing the Lord meant realizing God is righteous and holy while we are sinners, separated from Him. There were a lot of laws to remember, and along the way, Israel’s focus shifted from fearing the Lord to simply managing their behavior with ever-lengthening lists of “how to’s and don’t do’s”. David’s words were a reminder to Israel that fearing the Lord is a good thing; the best thing. Revering the Lord is the right way to live because only in this context, we enjoy a close relationship with the Lord. By walking in the fear of the Lord, God pours out His blessings on generations to come. (verses 13 and 17)

 

3) Why does David write, “bless the Lord”? I thought God blesses us.

There are several types of psalms including lament, thanksgiving, and praise among others. While some psalms combine themes, Psalm 103 is full of praise as the psalmist, David, lists reasons to “bless the Lord, oh my soul” both individually and corporately with other believers. David knew how to praise the Lord because he had witnessed the Lord’s kindness in all aspects of life, whether difficult or easy and he wrote many psalms extolling God’s goodness. He literally danced in the street so great was his desire to bless the Lord. (2 Samuel 6:14-22) David’s “oh my soul” refrain springs from a desire to go deeper in his worshipful adoration of the Lord. In the midst of his praise, David speaks to himself. He isn’t content with merely singing, or even dancing or hand-raising as outward expressions of praise. David wants to praise the Lord from the depths of his being. He wants to be all in for blessing the Lord.   

Everyday Application

1) What are the benefits of following the Lord?

Because the Lord doesn’t change, the benefits of following Him are the same for us as they were for King David and the generations who followed him. (Numbers 23:19, James 1:17) When Jesus came to earth as God incarnate (in human flesh), those who followed God experienced a fuller manifestation of His benefits. After Jesus ascended back to Heaven, He poured out the Holy Spirit to dwell within those who trusted Him. (Acts 2:4) His presence brought a radical abundance of blessing to God’s people. For us today, His benefit may not look like a leper being cleansed (Mark 1:40-45), but it could look like a different diagnosis, being healed completely, or having minimal side effects from a treatment. (verse 3) The benefits in the 21st century may be evidenced as the exact provision we need precisely at the time we need it. Deliverance may not be a physical “parting of the Red Sea”, but it could look like your plans suddenly changing, later realizing the shift ended up being better than the original plan. Even running late could be the Lord’s protection and deliverance from a potential accident. The Lord’s benefits are as simple as a flower’s bloom or as grand as healing, but the most significant benefit from the Lord is forgiveness from sin and redemption from our past. These benefits didn’t end when Jesus died on the cross, they only started there. The price Jesus paid to cover our unrighteousness was for all time. Repent from your sin, believe on the Lord Jesus, and your sins will be washed away just as David wrote, “…as far as the east is from the west.” (verse 12)

 

2) David repeats the phrase, “the fear of the Lord”; what does this mean?

Even today many view God as angry and vengeful when His “rules” aren’t followed. We tend to miss God’s heart’s desire to have a relationship with us. Still, our sin separates us from Him. This is why Jesus came as God in the flesh! Christ came to earth, sacrificing Himself as the full payment for all sin, demonstrating once and for all that God is merciful and gracious. He loves each person. In the Old Testament, sin had a sliding scale of “value”. Different sins mandated different types of sacrifices, some more costly than others. There may have been instances of people not being able to provide the sacrifice required, which meant they were still under the burden of unremitted, unforgiven sin. But Jesus! Jesus paid for all sin, whether large or small, past or present. All sin is sin. There are still consequences to our sins, but if we trust Jesus as our Savior to make payment for our sin and we repent, we are forgiven. The effects of sin remain as long as we are on earth, but the eternal price has been paid at Calvary with Jesus’ blood sacrifice. In our modern age, fearing the Lord should still be the focal point of our everyday lives. His love for us leaves us awestruck! Even when we are deep in sin, we are still loved and can be rescued! A lifestyle drenched in iniquity, a vice we can’t seem to overcome, even a bad attitude can become like mire and keep us trapped in the pit of sin. When we repent and believe in Christ, choosing to follow Him and His ways, we are rescued from the Pit of Hell! (verse 12) We are no longer separated from God! In Jesus, God in the flesh mercifully gave Himself for us. Instead of angry judgement, He gives compassion, love and mercy. We should stand in reverential awe of this divine, selfless grace as He wraps us in His love.

 

3) Why does David write, “bless the Lord”? I thought God blesses us.

We know how to bless others, like family and friends, with kind gestures of generosity or a thoughtful phone call, but how do we, mere humans, bless the Lord God Almighty? In our modern culture we use “bless” and “blessing” to mean bestowing gifts or as a description for receiving good things. But blessing the Lord can stem from nothing less than a true heart of worship. The Lord owns all things and has authority over all things, but He has given us free will to choose whether we will worship Him or worship ourselves. Even as finite human beings, we can indeed bless the Lord by surrendering our hearts in adoring worship to Him. While outward gestures bless people, the Lord looks at our hearts. We can raise our hands, bow our heads, and sing vibrantly, but unless our hearts are humbled before the King of Kings, we aren’t truly blessing Him. David wanted to praise God from his innermost being, to be completely in for blessing the God who rescued him. Psalm 103 lists a whole slew of reasons (if we needed some help) to give the Lord worship and praise. Let’s tap into the very deep core of our spirit, turning ourselves over in genuine worship to give God the praise and blessing due His name!

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Catch up with How’s Your Worship?!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Word Week Two!
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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

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Word Day 6 How’s Your Worship?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 4:23-24
John 4:32-42
Galatians 5:16-26
Psalm 103

Word, Day 6

Put the praise music on. Turn up the Christian playlist.
Raise your hands in church. Sway to the rhythm.
Close your eyes.

Worship. Adoration. Emotion.
Is it? Is this worship?

Cease the lashing with your tongue and voice.
Yank out the bitterness.
Pull up the cynicism and critical heart.
Tear down that wall of self-protection and distrust.
Throw out the pornography and lusts of your eyes.
Break down the idols you love to serve.
Your jealousy, your tendency to stir up chaos as you self-love, the way you chase yourself, the little groups of ladies you gossip with, that clique you form to keep others out, the disdain in your eyes, get rid of it all. Trash, it’s trash. (Galatians 5:19-20, my paraphrase)

“I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21)

Oh yes, that list is full of worship. Worship of ourselves as ruler, insisting all others bow to our power. No room for any other to take up residency with us, let alone instead of us.

Worship cannot be about us.
It cannot be about what we do, what we bring, what we say, or the songs we choose.
It cannot be what we have made it, so what is it?

Jesus speaks over us, His voice insistent, strong, and full of truth,
willing our hearts to listen and hear His Word.

“But an hour is coming, and is now here…” (John 4:23)
It’s present. The time is now. No more waiting. We are not free to pretend we’ll get around to true worship “later,” when we have more time. We cannot claim ignorance. The hour is here.

“… when the true worshipers…” (John 4:23)
The line of distinction is a real thing. There is an actual judgment call the Lord God is righteous to make. True worshippers vs everyone else. Faith vs Fake.

“… will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23)
Here’s the identifier for the true and the faithful worshippers. It’s found in Spirit and Truth.
What is flesh cannot beget what is Spirit. Only Spirit births what is spirit.

There are no true worshippers who are not born of Spirit. None. Zero. Zilch.
Sure, we can fake it, follow the motions, lift our hands, close our eyes, and sway to the rhythm, fooling our neighbor and ourselves.

But if our hearts are not re-birthed from the Spirit of the Living God,
Jesus is abundantly clear,
we are not true worshippers.

Is there a prerequisite for worship?
Yes!

Full surrender to the One who died for us, taking our punishment for sin upon Himself. He, who is blameless and righteous, willingly and humbly took upon Himself our long list of hideous sins that we might be whole, forgiven, and free to worship Him in Spirit.

Birthed by His Spirit,
sealed by His Spirit,
taught by His Spirit,
we who once were dead in our sin, are now awakened to
worship Him because of the Spirit alive within us who cries out, “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:6)

The One God, in whom no deceit is found (1 Peter 2:22), births worshippers who offer their surrender in truth. There is no place for lies here in the sacred space of holy adoration.

Emotion? Passion? Tears? Rhythm? Hands in the air? Prostrate on the ground?
These are not the identifiers of true worship, my precious sister.
These are not required by our God.

When we base the litmus test of true worship on the level of our emotional connection or the language of our bodies, we have removed ourselves from the realm of true worship.
We have added performance stipulations Christ never intended.

Angry? Celebrating? Hurt? Happy? Alone? Joyful? Afraid? Peaceful?
Truth, bring the truth of your real, honest, heart condition. Fling the masks far from you, burn them in the blaze of sacrificial offering. Offer the fullness of your honesty with your sacrifice of praise, realizing anew the beauty of the gospel. Here in this place of true worship, we bring our mess, confident we will be forgiven and set free in ever-deepening ways because of the very truth of the Christ Whom we worship.

Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. (John 4:23)
His Spirit draws us in, nearer to His consuming fire, closer so we can breathe in the familiar scent of the One our hearts blessedly call Father.

Home.
Here we are home, welcomed in the embrace of Abba.
Here we are made whole.
Here we are treasured children and beloved daughters.
Here we are known.
Here we lay down ourselves for the kindest, gentlest Daddy who holds our hands, our hearts, and our lives.

Here, we slip blissfully into true worship.

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

Amen and Amen. May our hearts ever resound with this truth as our lives are set ablaze with the evidence of our offering of true worship born of Spirit and declared with truth.

How’s your worship?

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Word Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Word!

Pause IV Day 15 Joy

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Today’s reading is the crown jewel of the book of Habakkuk because it describes the pinnacle of God’s work in His prophet’s heart. Remember where Habakkuk started, and then read these verses. Only the Lord could bring Habakkuk’s wrestling, angry, fearful, indignant heart to a place of complete and utter worship and dependence on God alone.

This is where God longs for each of our hearts to journey towards!

Trust.
Reliance.
Adoration.

Not for circumstances, but in spite of them.

Notice Habakkuk’s determined statement of faith, “I will rejoice in the Lord, Yahweh. I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Habakkuk resolutely chose joy in the face of exile, because He intimately knew the goodness of his God!

As we close out Pause 4 and our study of the ancient prophet, Habakkuk, know that his God is your God. We pray your heart has been encouraged because you have come to know Him better, which will result in deep joy!

Today's Invitation

1) Read through Habakkuk 3:17-19 out loud today twice. Slowly. Explore deeper by studying some cross-references or write out your own version of these verses using your circumstances. Give them over to the Lord as you pray!

2) Here is our last hand-crafted Spotify playlist for Pause 4! Remember, you are prayed over and delighted in! Put this playlist on repeat this weekend and be reminded of the rich truths God has shown you this week in Pause 4! Remember Habakkuk set this last passage to a song as an offering to the Lord from his heart. Let your worship be an act of joy before your God!

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Habakkuk 3:17-19

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
He makes my feet like the deer’s;
He makes me tread on my high places.
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause IV Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme? Here’s a link to all past studies
in Pause IV!

Sketched IV Day 12 Zechariah: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Zechariah!

The Questions

1) What was the significance of Zechariah’s son’s name?

2) Why were the people filled with fear when Zechariah began to speak again?

3) Why did John stay in the wilderness?

Luke 1:57-80

57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”

61 Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62 So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

 

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited
and provided redemption for his people.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 just as he spoke by the mouth
of his holy prophets in ancient times;
71 salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of those who hate us.
72 He has dealt mercifully with our fathers
and remembered his holy covenant—
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham.
He has given us the privilege,
74 since we have been rescued
from the hand of our enemies,
to serve him without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called
a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare his ways,
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high will visit us
79 to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Original Intent

1) What was the significance of Zechariah’s son’s name?
The meaning of the name Zechariah is “Yahweh remembers.” The meaning of the name John is “God has been gracious.” Verse 61 hints that children were commonly named after a relative. Throughout Scripture, names hold significant symbolic weight. The meaning of names often implied the character or job of that person. Based on the meaning, it is easy to see why God, through the angel Gabriel, instructed Zechariah to give his son the name John. Before, and during, the life of Zechariah, the Jewish people had been waiting thousands of years for the coming Messiah to rescue them from captivity. God used the specificity of Zechariah’s name, “Yahweh remembers” to declare that He did indeed remember them. He was coming to rescue them and He had not forgotten them. John’s name is the forerunner of that graciousness, Christ Himself. John’s life was intended to prepare people for the imminent coming of the Messiah. The fullness of God’s graciousness is revealed in Jesus Christ, to whom John was a forerunner.

2) Why were the people filled with fear when Zechariah began to speak again?
We see two responses to Zechariah’s ability to speak again. For those who were gathered at John’s naming ceremony, the Bible records the people as being “amazed” (verse 63). The Greek word here implies wonder or being awe-struck, like seeing first-hand something spectacular. In verse 65, we read “fear came on all the neighbors” and the word was spread across the land resulting in people asking, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.” (verse 66). The same word for “fear” here is also used in Luke 7 when Jesus raises a widow’s son, which resulted in the people recognizing the miracle as only possible through God, for which they glorified Him with their praise.
The people may have been stunned at Zechariah’s abrupt restoration of speech. Perhaps they, like the audience in Luke 7, recognized the miraculous nature of this event. Or maybe, it was what Zechariah said rather than the fact that he talked again. Whatever the reason, it was clear this child was unusual, set apart for God’s divine purposes, which should make any of us stand in awe of God and His mighty deeds!

3) Why did John stay in the wilderness?
The New Testament Commentary states that John chose to follow the example of the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, by living in a desolate area. John knew from a young age that he had a special mission from God; he was set apart on purpose for a specific purpose. By literally distancing himself from the community, he was able to prepare himself for the task at hand, and the fulfillment of his calling, because he fully surrendered himself to God and His Spirit. God would be John’s counselor and teacher and equipper. His purpose was so singular, he simply couldn’t afford the constant distraction of everyday life as he prepared for the purpose of going before the Savior of the world!

Everyday Application

1) What was the significance of Zechariah’s son’s name?
In modern times, as in biblical times, names still carry weight and value. People often name their children after themselves or a relative. My grandfather named my father and also one of his half-sisters after himself (Nicholas and Nicolette). Why do we do it? Because we love the name so much? Because we know the meaning of the name and want to brand our children with it? Whatever the reason, names have always been important because life itself is significant and precious; we want our children to grow up and own their identity. Consider yourself, not just the name you call yourself, but the identity you own. How do you frequently identify yourself? Fat? Stupid? Beautiful? Wise? Funny? Too much? Delighted over? The names we give ourselves speak volumes of how much truth we believe about God. If we believe the Lord is fully good, wholly intentional, and loving, we must also believe we, as His created ones, are precious and honored.

2) Why were the people filled with fear when Zechariah began to speak again?Imagine your pastor has planned a trip to the mountains as a study getaway. He tells everyone goodbye as he goes, but when he returns he cannot utter a word. Would you assume that he contracted some sort of virus that attacked his vocal chords? (That would probably be my natural reaction.)
Now imagine that, at the very moment input is needed for the use of a large donation, he bursts forth with all kinds of ideas! Would you be frightened? Would you think he was pulling a prank? Or would you see it as the work of the Lord?
God does work in mysterious ways, and it would do us good to remember that (speaking to myself here). Not everything is explainable; not everything obeys the laws of nature. Sometimes there is just no other explanation for it than: Miracle. And for people who think they have it all under control, that’s terrifying! Consider your response to God’s might, His authority, and power. Do you cringe and want to run? Or do you kneel in awe-filled humility and praise?

3) Why did John stay in the wilderness?
Sometimes when a person feels a calling from God they run from it, like Jonah.
But for the heart intent on obeying the voice of the Lord, the call is so weighty and important that it becomes absolutely necessary to have extensive time alone with God to prepare. Paul spent three years in the Arabian Desert before launching into full-time ministry that would define the rest of his life. (Galatians 1:17) Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before God knew he was ready to answer the call as Deliverer for the Hebrews enslaved in Egypt. (Exodus 3) Jesus was also led into the desert before His ministry on earth. (Matthew 4)
John (the Baptist) was not afraid of God’s call on his life. He took it seriously and took steps to willingly surrender his plans to God. May we all have a heart like John’s! Take intentional time to get away, be still, and surrender to the Lord’s voice in the middle of your busy, everyday life.

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sketched IV Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

The GT Weekend! Worship III, Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Where have you lost the wonder of your faith? Take time this week to assess where you are in your walk with the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the reality of your life. If you haven’t caught the wonder of God yet, email us at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com . We would love to talk with you about salvation offered through Jesus!

2) God has created the world with order. Each person has their own place and purpose. It’s not always comfortable to fall in line with where God has designed you to be, but it is always richer and deeper than we dreamed. Where have you felt tension in your life with the position God put you in and where you would like to be?

3) No doubt about it, technology has changed our lives. Make a list of ways technology has helped your relationship with the Lord. Make another list and see where technology may be hurting your relationship with Him. Pray over these lists and see where God is asking you to make any changes.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Psalm 97:1-6 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad.
Clouds and total darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him and burns up his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord —at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness; all the peoples see his glory.

Prayer Journal
O heavenly Father, who hast filled the world with beauty:
Open our eyes to behold Thy gracious hand in all Thy works;
that, rejoicing in Thy whole creation, we may learn to serve
Thee with gladness; for the sake of Him through whom all
things were made, Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
–The Book of Common Prayers

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Worship III, Day 5 Made For Worship

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 19:1-6
Romans 12:3-8
Job 38
Job 39

Worship III, Day 5

We live in a fascinating era where information can be received and shared at an astounding rate and volume. You can make a transfer between bank accounts, order a new bathtub, share a work-proposal, make a deposit in your kid’s lunch account, and face-time your cousin in China, all from the comfort of bed if you want.  And that’s just before 8am.

The tools and technology God has allowed mankind to progress in have also enabled us to make some pretty amazing progress in spreading the gospel, making disciples, educating ourselves, and simply staying in touch with our moms.
There’s no arguing that technology is pretty great.

But is it that great?

In this wonderfully wild era of exposure, I am presented with a unique temptation to think that I am pretty great.  The tech and tools that allow my voice, image and thoughts to reach further than ever before, can also deceive me into thinking my voice, thoughts and ideas are greater than ever before.

And well, that’s simply not true.
But it’s hard to remember this unless I encounter the voice, the image, and the thoughts of Greatness Himself.

What we need is a regular dose of what Carl Gustaf Boberg responded to in the late 1800s. This Swedish pastor was on a walk when he was caught in a terrific thunderstorm.  After it died down, he heard church bells ring and was overcome with God’s majesty on display. He immediately scribbled down a poem that would eventually become the beloved hymn, How Great Thou Art.This song has stood the test of over a century and is still considered a favorite today.

It is a stunning depiction of man’s response to God’s greatness.  The first two stanzas come from Boberg witnessing the might and wonder of God’s creation:
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

The refrain leads no one to wonder who the greatest is.
Boberg responded with what the human heart was hard-wired to do – worship.
When we see God for who He is, we will worship Him!
How similar to David’s declaration in Psalm 19:1-3 when he observed,
“The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.”

Boberg went on to fully reflect on God’s greatness displayed through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus,
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

In the final stanza he mixes inevitable humility with the hope of being home with our Maker:
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

This hymn has built memories and familiarity for most modern Christians today.
This past month I collected thoughts, stories and memories from people on their perspective of this song.  It was fascinating to see the following four themes emerge from the responses I received. 

God’s Majesty
Most commented that this song often comes to mind when they are out enjoying God’s creation. Many resonated with the idea that they feel closer to God when outdoors.  It reminds them of their position, and helps them rest in God’s.

History
Many had stories and memories of their grandmothers singing this song. It also evoked feelings of safety or being “at home”.  Along those lines, some expressed the lyrics themselves reach across denominational backgrounds, and helping bridge familiarity when relocating.  God’s greatness is far reaching across generations, cities, countries and church bodies!

It is applicable for any circumstance
Reading others’ memories pointed out that this song has been used for a broad spectrum of life events including funerals, weddings, celebrations, loss, and in giving praise.  When we reflect on the greatness of God, He provides comfort and joy in every season of our hearts.

Full scope Gospel lyrics
This hymn quite naturally takes us through the gospel of Jesus Christ!  For some, the third stanza comes to mind while taking Communion, for others the fourth stanza encourages them to keep longing for their forever home.

How Great Thou Art gives the Bride of Jesus Christ a beautiful way to collectively express our worship. It is a perfect of seeing ourselves rightly, in light of who God is (Romans 12:3). When we see His greatness, beauty, sacrifice and promises,
it will not make us cower, but it will make us worship!

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
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Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship III Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d
love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to
all past studies in Worship III!

Worship III, Day 1 Join The Song

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 19:1-4
Psalm 148
Romans 12:1-2
Revelation 5:11-14

Worship III, Day 1

The middle of the orchestra was a wonderful place to be. 

Sitting there in the center of the woodwind section, I was captivated by the different sounds all around me: the delicate melody of the violins, quiet at first but gradually growing, the rich harmony of the violas and cellos supporting it, the driving rhythm of the double basses underpinning it all.
Everything was perfectly balanced.

Then the horns and trombones came in adding warmth and strength, then the volume increased until finally, as the choir began singing, the percussion section exploded with rhythm. The brilliance of the trumpets added a joy and vibrancy which lifted the whole thing to a new level.

As I sat there, listening to the music all around me, I was caught up in worship, longing to join in and be part of it until, finally, my entry approached, and I lifted my clarinet to join them, playing my part in the song.

As I read the lyrics of the hymn “All Creatures Of Our God And King,” I picture a similar scene as all creation joins together in praise to God.  As with the instruments in an orchestra, there is rich variety but also unity of purpose and, while each individual line has its own beauty, they combine to create something even greater.

The “burning sun with golden beam” lighting the darkness and providing warmth, the “silver moon with softer beam” gentle and peaceful, accompanied by thousands of shining stars which point to the vastness of God, the “rushing wind that art so strong” displaying God’s power and might.

That’s not even to mention the majesty of the mountains, the stunning beauty of the sea, the attention to detail shown in the intricacy of the tiniest flowers and creatures.

Each aspect of creation points to its Creator. As David writes:
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1)

Psalm 148 is a call to praise God.  One by one the different parts of creation are invited to join the song: the heavens, the skies, the angels, the sun, moon and stars, ocean creatures, wind and snow, and animals large and small…

I’m left with the same longing to be a part of it,
until finally our turn comes:
“Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all judges of the earth,
young men as well as young women,
old and young together.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for His name alone is exalted.” (Psalm 148:11-13)

We are not called just to listen and appreciate God’s creation,
but to join in and play our part in this symphony of praise.

Romans 12 makes it clear that worship, the part we are to play, is not only about our words, but about our lives: presenting our bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”  This is our “true worship.”  (Romans 12:1)

The hymn gives some examples of what that might look like in practice:
“And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others take your part,
O sing ye!  Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him, O praise Him!
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!”

As creation points to God, we are called to do the same: reflecting God’s character in our compassion and forgiveness towards others, demonstrating our trust in His love and faithfulness in the way we turn to Him and trust Him through times of trial and difficulty.

The hymn also calls us to remember our place, to “worship Him in humbleness.”|
We are to come before Him, acknowledging that He is the Creator and we are the creatures, that it is only because of Him that we exist, and that our purpose is to praise and honor Him.
Our little individual lines are only one small part
of the great symphony of God’s creation.

When you play in an orchestra, it is important to know whether your line is melody or accompaniment.  Is your part meant to be the prominent one at this particular moment, or is your line there to add depth and color to someone else’s melody?  If one part is too timid, or too overbearing, the outcome is disappointing, but when you work together and follow the direction of the conductor, the result is beautiful!

If we approach God with that same attitude of humility, knowing our place, focused on loving Him and loving others,
the result will be sweet-sounding music that glorifies His name.

We may only be one small part of the great symphony,
but it is a song of praise that will echo into eternity and never end:
“I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!””
(Revelation 5:13)

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship III Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Worship III!