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Shielded Day 14 One Weapon: 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 One Weapon!

The Questions

1) Is Paul writing to a group of believers or individuals in these verses?

2) Who is our struggle against?

3) What is the armor of God?

Ephesians 6:10-17

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.

Original Intent

1) Is Paul writing to a group of believers or individuals in these verses?
Paul is writing a letter to the church in Ephesus. In the letter, Paul focuses on both unity in Christ and unity as believers. These verses are found in the latter section, applying to unity within the body of believers. Immediately before these verses, Paul is reminding the Ephesians of how they should live as the body of Christ. He then turns his attention to reminding them there is a constant battle going on and they need to be ready to engage in warfare. Much of the second half of Paul’s letter focuses on individual behavior and how that looks as a collective group of believers. The individual must be ready because if we aren’t ready individually the Church as a whole will not be fully armed.

2) Who is our struggle against?
Paul is extremely clear that our struggle is not against mankind. He names who the struggle is against in verse 11, the devil. He also reminds his readers our battle is against authorities, cosmic powers of the darkness, evil, and spiritual forces in the heavens. Put simply, the struggle is against Satan and his army. Expositor’s Bible Commentary reminds readers, “To Jesus Christ, it is very certain, Satan was no figure of speech; but a thinking and active being, of whose presence and influence He saw tokens everywhere in this evil world”. The enemy is real, and Paul didn’t want his audience to lose sight of that true reality.

3) What is the armor of God?
Paul specifically answers this question in verses 14-17 where he lists the armor believers in Jesus need to fight against the enemy. Believers need truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God to fight. However, these things are not simply given to believers as automatic apparel. Paul instructs them to put them on, requiring action on the behalf of the believer. In these verses, Paul is encouraging the Ephesians to be on guard and always prepared for the battle coming towards them by actively employing the tools (armor) God has provided.

Everyday Application

1) Is Paul writing to a group of believers or individuals in these verses?
Paul meant this letter for a group of believers and that is true today as we apply it to our local churches. Paul’s words are meant just as much for us as a body of believers both in our unity to Christ and our unity to one another. Just as there were individual callings for his original audience, the same is true for us. Matthew Henry writes, “We have enemies to fight against, a captain to fight for, a banner to fight under, and certain rules of war by which we are to govern ourselves.”  It is both collective and individual. As you study this passage, what are some things the Holy Spirit is convicting you of as you follow Jesus as an individual who is part of a whole Body called the Church?

2) Who is our struggle against?
While we may be over 2,000 years removed from when Jesus walked on earth and when Paul wrote to the Ephesians, the truth about our enemy is no less true today than it was then. Jesus faced this struggle when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). If not even Jesus was above this very real struggle, we should not be quick to think we will be immune. While we know Jesus defeated death and the grave when He died on the cross and rose again, we also still live in a fallen world. Until the day Jesus returns and forever binds Satan in eternal separation from God, he roams the earth with the goal of defeating the Church and preventing the spread of the Gospel. Satan will use any tool at his disposal to achieve this goal. Satan wants nothing more than for us to fall back into sin and become ineffective for God’s Kingdom. While we know the end of the story and Who has the ultimate victory, we must live in the daily struggle against Satan until either Jesus returns or He calls us home.

3) What is the armor of God?
The armor of God is what we, as believers, need in order to withstand the schemes and attacks of Satan. We first must know truth, because as John 8:44 reminds us, in Satan there is no truth. Without truth, we have no hope and no firm anchor to steady ourselves against the deceitful attacks of the devil. Next, we need righteousness that comes from Jesus alone. We then need the Gospel of peace. Matthew Henry describes it this way, “the gospel of peace because it brings all sorts of peace, peace with God, with ourselves, and with one another”.  Next, we need our shield which is found in faith. This faith is in both what Jesus has already done and what He is yet to finish. Through faith we cling to the truth of what only Jesus can do. Salvation is the next piece of armor. Salvation is both a moment in time when we accept what Jesus did for us, and a process as we grow in relationship with Him and are conformed more and more to His image. Last, is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God which we find in Scripture. Jesus used God’s words when He faced Satan in the wilderness. Each of Satan’s three attacks resulted in Jesus answering with Scripture. When we have on this armor we are completely protected from the attacks Satan throws at us. It doesn’t prevent the attacks from coming, but it helps us withstand them. God knew we would face these attacks, and He lovingly made sure we would be ready for them by giving us the Holy Spirit and the tools we would need to fight.

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

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 Shielded 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.

Shielded Day 6 Heart Armor

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 6:10-18
Romans 3
Proverbs 4:20-27
Romans 1:16-17

Shielded, Day 6

Our hearts work in incredible ways.

As you are reading this, your heart is beating with one steady, consistent beat after another, sending carbon dioxide-laden blood to your lungs for a quick clean and then pumping oxygenated blood to every inch of you. It mightily gives each part of the body what it needs to function properly.

Our hearts are also one of the few organs possessing the ability to completely stop the entire body from working in a split second. At any point, someone’s heart could stop beating and life would be over.  When the heart is weak or diseased or blocked, the rest of the body is affected and begins to break down and lose its function.

Because of its essential role in our physical bodies, humankind has taken to using the heart as a spiritual metaphor describing the essence of ourselves,
our feelings and emotions, and our relationships with others.

Our hearts are full, or they’ve been hurt.
Our hearts are given to others who touch our lives.
A special place in our hearts is made for those dear to us.

It’s no wonder God’s design for our bodies protects our hearts with a sturdy ribcage. Similarly, Solomon instructed his son to “guard his heart above all else,” and Paul encourages us to put on the body armor of righteousness over our hearts to thwart the enemy’s schemes.

The heart is vital.

The last part of Ephesians 6 is all about a battle plan, a plan leaning on the attributes of God to stand against the attacks of our enemy, Satan. Paul instructs us to put on various pieces of armor and associates each with characteristics of God. Victory doesn’t come from our own strength or ability, but from a developing, growing relationship with God.
He alone is the One who saves, protects, defends, and fights on our behalf. 

In Ephesians 6:14, we are told to don the armor of righteousness. Other translations commonly refer to this armor as the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate is a piece of armor that covers a soldier from the neck to the waist, protecting the vital organs for life.

Namely, the heart.
We are to cover our hearts with God’s righteousness. 

Read that again.
We are to cover our hearts with God’s righteousness.

I am constantly trying to make things right. Perhaps you can relate? My immediate response to any problem is to solve it on my own. It’s a knee-jerk reaction.

I don’t just leave it at my own problems, either. Present me with an issue, and I’ll have 3 different solutions off the top of my head to offer up as advice. I’ve prided myself for years on this ability, championing myself a hero.

But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand how relying on my own right-making has been more of a hindrance to growth than a pathway to growth. I’ve isolated myself not only from the tender care of those around me, but more dismally, from my Savior’s.

More importantly, in trying to build my own armor of righteousness, I have left my heart, the well-spring of life, exposed to the enemy’s sinister plots.

Remembering the times I’ve allowed the devil to take a foothold in my heart wrenches my gut. I am reminded of harsh words spilling from my own mouth, of attitudes creating division, and of relationships left irreparable, all because I chose not to use the armor so readily available to me.

This sobering truth is echoed in Romans 3, which emphasizes we cannot be righteous on our own. Trying to make things right in our own way is fruitless.

However, Jesus is righteousness incarnate. He was the righteousness of God on earth for 33 years, showing us how to live.

Jesus made the way,
creating the connection from sin-filled us to an utterly holy God,
building a bridge to God’s righteousness through His own life, death, and resurrection.

By Jesus and through Jesus, we have access to His righteous armor.

When we are brought to faith in our precious Savior, Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit, God no longer sees us as unredeemable and wicked. Instead, He sees us covered in the righteousness of His Son. 

And now, our invitation is to pick up our armor and walk in righteousness, drawing ever closer to the One who saves us, the One who makes us righteous by His blood. We are called to dive ever deeper into His Word, letting it wash over our hearts until our lives reflect His promises.

So, let’s pick up our armor of righteousness, dear friends, and march into battle. The war is raging as we speak, but the victory has already been won.

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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 Shielded Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
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Shielded Day 5 Wrapped In Truth

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 6:14
John 14:1-7
John 5:19-29
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Shielded Day 5

We are at war.
Our enemy is real, and he will come after us in fierce attack mode.
But take heart, dear friend, because the story doesn’t end there.

In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul speaks hope into our spirits, encouraging and equipping us for the spiritual battles we face every day on this side of heaven. He teaches us precisely which weapons we need in order to fight back successfully, from a stance of victory.

What Paul describes as the armor of God is the very armor God Himself possesses.
He has gifted it to us
so we might share in His strength and power
and be equipped for victory.

Today we’re going to focus on one foundational piece of armor, the belt of truth.

The belt of truth refers to the whole canon of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. It encompasses everything we are told about the way to heaven, God’s design for men and women, right and wrong, and more.

The belt of truth is God’s righteous, holy standard on all matters pertaining to life
and godliness.
It is unchanging,
relevant,
applicable,
sufficient,
and anything but relative.
When we know and embrace His truth, fully surrendering ourselves to the sufficiency of Christ, Jesus tells us in John 8:32, we are free.

Why the belt of truth? In Paul’s day, soldiers wore military uniforms in which every other piece of armor hinged on the belt. The belt served as the foundation and held everything else together and in place.

In the same way, truth is the foundational weapon with which we face the attacks of the enemy and emerge victorious. When we go to war against the father of lies, we fight with truth.

It is only by first knowing truth we can then access the other pieces of our armor (righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation).
It is only by first knowing truth we will be able to expose the lies of the enemy.

Jesus, for example, wielded the belt of truth successfully in His wilderness season of temptation. Each time Satan threw something at Jesus, a temptation, accusation, or other falsehood, Jesus fought back only ever with the truth of the Word.

Furthermore, our understanding of truth is not merely something we turn to when the going gets tough. It is a belt we must wrap around ourselves every single day of our lives, for as Paul points out in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, it is the Word of God which equips us to successfully live our day-to-day lives:

“All Scripture is breathed out by God
and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
equipped for every good work.”

In an age of relativism, when fewer and fewer people are believing in absolute truth, we can know without a shadow of doubt absolute truth does exist. Truth lives within the pages of Scripture and is there, at the ready for us, whenever we need it.

Perhaps even more amazingly, we have a Helper with us every time we read truth, One Who will guide us into an ever-growing understanding, day by day:

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
(John 14:25-26)

With the aid of our Helper, the truth of God’s word becomes a powerful weapon in our hands:

“For the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
(Hebrews 4:12)

If we want to be overcomers in Christ,
victors in our every run-in with the schemes and attacks of Satan,
becoming students of the Word must be our starting place.

When we dive into the pages of Scripture, guided by the Holy Spirit,
we will be equipped to stand firm.


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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 Shielded Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Shielded!

Shielded Day 4 Unmasking The Real Enemy: 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 Unmasking The Real Enemy!

The Questions

1) Why does the author call the readers to humble themselves (verse 6)?

2) What does it mean that the devil is “prowling around”?

3) How are we to encourage our hearts to resist sin and remain faithful amid suffering and evil?

1 Peter 5:6-9

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. 8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

Original Intent

1) Why does the author call the readers to humble themselves (verse 6)?
The apostle Peter was writing to the Jewish people dispersed throughout Gentile lands. (1 Peter 1:1) In chapter 5 we find the central reason Peter had for writing the letter. In verse 12 he says he wrote, “in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God.” The exhortation he gives in verse 12 is a repeated thought from verse 9: “Stand firm” in it, which is the grace of God. As Bible students, we note the “therefore” in verse 6 and should be careful to connect what is being said before this verse and connect it correctly to this verse. We humble ourselves “because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (verse 5)  By recognizing God’s sovereignty in our salvation and our sanctification (the process being made holy), we understand that everything we have is because of God’s grace, which is unmerited favor. Peter had learned it was better to humble himself before God than to be humbled by God. (Matthew 26:31-35, 69-74) There will be a day of reward. Maybe in this life, but definitely in the next. (James 4:6-10, James 1:9-12)

2) What does it mean that the devil is “prowling around”?
The prophet Isaiah revealed that Satan, who is the devil, was created by God, but turned against His authority (Isaiah 14:12-15) in search of his own. The New Testament tells us that at the present time, Satan leads the kingdom of evil (Matthew 25:41). His power exists not only in the spiritual realm (Hell), but he’s also been allowed by God to roam the earth and wreak havoc until the appointed day when God will destroy him and his demons forever. (Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 20:7-9) Until that happens, Peter warned the believers the devil was not to be underestimated. The devil’s power is limited, but he is attempting to steal, kill and destroy as many people as he can. (John 10:10) Even though he’s described as a lion, his ways are often subtle and cunning. In John 10, Jesus described Himself in comparison to the religious leaders. Jesus, the Good Shepherd came to bring life. The enemy of life uses even those who claim to be of God to carry people away from the grace of God by telling them their morality (their works) can save them.

3) How are we to encourage our hearts to resist sin and remain faithful amid suffering and evil?
We are challenged through Peter’s letter to resist the enemy’s schemes and stand firm in our faith because we have a family of Christians around the world who are experiencing hardship, temptation, and trials like we are. Peter reminded the believers that though it may not seem like it, there were many who followed God faithfully and endured suffering. In Hebrews 12:1, the author writes something similar to Peter as he addressed the oppressed believers, reminding them of those who’d gone before them in faith, “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.” Paul told the Corinthians it was important to remain humble, resist temptation, and remember it wasn’t uncommon to face hardship as a believer. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13) We also do this by meeting together with one another and encouraging one another in obedience and faithfulness. (Hebrews 10:19-25)

Everyday Application

1) Why does the author call the readers to humble themselves (verse 6)?
One of my favorite passage of Scripture is found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In chapter 2, we learn about the humility of the perfect Son of God, who “emptied Himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when He had come as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.” Paul goes on to say that the humble Christ was exalted by God to the highest place. (Philippians 2:9-11) Humbling ourselves is not simply thinking less of ourselves. Rather, it’s moment by moment thinking of ourselves less and thinking of God most. Often, God opens doors to us as a reward of our humble obedience to Him and to following His call in our lives. We may even find ourselves in exalted positions with platforms and big opportunities to speak for Him. Along with this, we need to prepare ourselves that this will possibly lead to and demand much more humility as we depend on His grace to sustain us as serve Him.

2) What does it mean that the devil is “prowling around”?
God has granted Satan some power in this world, though he is most certainly on God’s leash.  In fact, his power does not control the grave even now. Even if Satan thought he had won when Judas betrayed Jesus, it was God who was in control to bring life to all of us! John Piper said, “God uses demons to undo the design of the father of demons. God uses Satan to defeat the purposes of Satan. The death of Jesus disarmed Satan in his warfare against God’s people. It stripped him of his one damning weapon: unforgiven sin. When Satan entered Judas, he signed his own death warrant with the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 2:14-16) The devil is prowling, yes. The devil has some power, yes. BUT death has NO power for the soul surrendered to Jesus! That’s why we can approach the throne of grace boldly (Hebrews 4:14-16) and cast all of our cares on God.

3) How are we to encourage our hearts to resist sin and remain faithful amid suffering and evil?
We can cheerfully cease from endorsing ourselves because we have the assurance from God that He will exalt us, when the time is right. I can’t think of a better way to remind ourselves that Satan’s days are short-lived than the testimony of faithful saints who have endured in the fight against the devil’s schemes. Several years ago, the words to this well-known hymn was slightly modernized by Brian Doerksen who had studied the history and possible meaning in the day it was written. I believe it communicates well what Luther was proclaiming:

A mighty fortress is our God, a stronghold never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe conspires to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with bitter hate,
On earth is not his equal.

If we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
unless God’s man is on our side –  the man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
The Lord of Hosts, His name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure;
God’s Word shall overthrow him.

That Word above all earthly powers is evermore abiding.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Jesus with us siding.
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
the body they may kill, God’s truth is with us still
His kingdom is forever.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Unmasking The Real Enemy!

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 Shielded Week One!
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.

Sketched V Day 13 Paul, The Renewed Soldier

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Read His Words Before Ours!

I Timothy 6:11-14
2 Timothy 1:4-7
2 Timothy 3:1-5
2 Timothy 4:3-5

Sketched V, Day 13

Well this just might be it. 

The Sovereign hand of our Lord Jesus Christ released me for a time from Roman house arrest.  I did all I could in that brief time to continue visiting the brotherhood throughout Asia, preaching the gospel to all who would listen and teaching the established churches, encouraging young pastors to hold fast to what they’d been taught.

By the time I returned to Rome however, the city was in chaos.
Controversies were being stirred up, and those who followed Jesus were beginning to be hated, threatened and accused of wrong-doing. When I made my defense, there were no co-laborers who stood beside me, in fact all of them deserted me! However, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it (2 Timothy 4:17).

I was indeed rescued from the lion’s mouth, but here I sit once again bound up, yet this time chained in a Roman dungeon. And this, this just might be it.

As it may be the end, there’s a fire in my bones.
There’s a pouring out of all the things that have been rushing through my mind, my heart, my soul for the sake of the church, and ultimately, for the sake of the glorious appearing of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My body might be guarded night and day, weak as it is, but my heart and soul are set ablaze to send more letters to the brothers and sisters who need them. Why? Because this is a battle – it is a fight for faith to the end, both of myself and for my brotherhood.
I might be the one in chains, but they must know that all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).  For there is no other option for a good soldier but to share in the sufferings of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3).

That is what I am doing – bound up in chains for the gospel I have preached.
Yet, the Word of God is not bound!
Do they see it?
Do they see how it’s spreading, taking off, taken in, and setting whole regions ablaze?
This is why we pour ourselves out – this is why we suffer – for the sake of the elect, those chosen by God.  And this cosmic injustice that saves us all is that even if we are faithless, God remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13)

I am thinking of one dear child of mine in the faith, Timothy. His is a sincere faith, which was passed on to him from his mother and grandmother – dear women of faith themselves. I praise God for how Timothy received the gospel message and how, as the elders and I laid hands on him, he took up this charge and commission to serve the church of Christ faithfully.

But oh, I must remind him that just as he followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, along with the persecutions and sufferings, he must continue in what he has learned and firmly believed (2 Timothy 3:10-11a, 14).

Yes, he must be warned! In these days, it is becoming more and more difficult to discern truth and preach the gospel without distraction. Many are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:4b), and will completely oppose the truth.
I know my dear Timothy understands where truth comes from and how from infancy he has known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give him wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

I must remind him to be ready to preach the same gospel he first received is of utmost importance, because the risk for not sharing its fullness grows increasingly larger.
The risks of death and suffering will grow, yes.
But the risk of leading brothers and sisters onto a deceptive path to hell is far worse!
Many will turn away from truth and will beg to hear what their wicked hearts long to hear, rather than the truth from God Himself.  So I must admonish Timothy, my dear son in the faith, to exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, to do the work of an evangelist, and to fulfill his ministry (2 Timothy 4:5).

For this is what God has charged of me, and for what I have fought the good fight for.
I have kept the faith in Christ that first came to me, and I will finish this race.
But first, I must pass the torch to the brethren so that they too might fight the good fight in the face of opposition and come through awaiting the crown of righteousness that the Lord will award us in that final day!

So this truly might be it for me.
For in this way I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close (2 Timothy 4:6). But this I know and trust completely: The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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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 Sketched V Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched V!

The GT Weekend! – Incorruptible 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) Think about your appetite for God’s Word. On a scale of 1-5 (1 being untrue, 5 being perfectly describes me), answer these questions. (1) Each day I notice that I long to talk with God. (2) Sunday’s sermon feels like plenty of Scripture to fulfill me all week. (3) Just reading a few verses doesn’t seem like enough, I want to know more. (4) Regular prayer and Scripture intake isn’t something I’ve considered before. (5) Regular prayer and Bible reading is something I do, but sometimes it feels like a burden. Use your answers to help you create specific goals for how you want your relationship with God to grow.

2) When you think of “suffering for Jesus”, what images or thoughts come to mind? Do you think anything in your life could be described like that? Now consider what Sara shared to be “pantry-like-encounters” and re-evaluate areas of your life. What areas of suffering do you need to surrender to the Lord, waiting for just such an encounter with Him? Suffering can bring sweetness, when handed over to the One who loves us deeply and intimately. 

3) Are spiritual battles something you consider happening in regular everyday life? If you were to make a shift in acknowledging that reality as Scripture teaches, how might you prepare differently for the battles you could face in your day? Would Scripture reading become a non-negotiable? How might asking the Spirit to clothe you in His love make your everyday life different? Be specific, write it out, and then pray over your day, asking the Lord to arm you with His love as you walk confidently in hope!

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 1 Peter 4:7-11 back to the Lord and let His Spirit speak to you through it!

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

Prayer Journal
Lord, I admit that being alert and aware of the spiritual battles raging around me isn’t what I naturally consider. It’s easy for me to believe the tempting, sugary lie that my prayers don’t matter, so I give the time of my inner thought life to other things. I want to grow and change here, Lord. Remind me, Spirit, of the truth that praying is essential to our relationship and is effective in the spiritual realm far beyond what I see.  
 
Fill me with Your strength this week, Your words, Your mind, and Your heart as I go through my days. I long for You to be glorified Jesus; use me and shape me to make Your name known. I love you, Abba! Remind my tongue to praise you endlessly this week! 

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Battle Day 15 Faithful Rescuer

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Daniel 3:8-30
Matthew 14:22-33
Romans 8:31-39

It was a freakish storm seemingly coming out of nowhere. What was once a beautiful sunny day, suddenly grew pitch black with fast moving clouds that covered the area within just a few minutes. Pattering drops soon became sheets of cold rain accompanied by loud claps of thunder, whistling wind, and brilliant lightning bolts flashing through the now dark sky.

I was about 10 years old at a Christian summer camp.
A full week of games, sports, water activities, and awkward moments with people I barely knew. Unlike most people at camp, I didn’t have any friends with me. I was new in my faith, lacked self-confidence, and had a million misconceptions about the God of the Bible. I was wrapped up in performance-driven love, but that sudden summer storm has re-played itself in my mind’s eye countless times since, becoming a solid anchor that shaped my view of God.

I was on a trail hike with other campers when the storm hit, and, like every other pre-teen girl, I ran as fast as I could towards the cabins, screaming all the way.
But everyone passed me up and I was left running alone.
Everything was so dark.
The heavy, chilling rain bit into my skin and eyes as I ran.
I screamed for everyone to wait, but no one heard, or cared.
And then my foot found an enormous black hole, and my leg was swallowed with cold mud.
I was stuck and terrified with no one to hear or see me.
Lightening was everywhere and to my freaked-out-10-year-old-self, I was pretty sure I was going to die there in that mud hole. Alone and forgotten, despite my screams.
Dramatic, I know.
But real to me, nonetheless.
Suddenly, I saw a tall figure emerge from the wooded area far ahead of me. Tall and running towards me, a counselor grabbed me from the mud, hefted me to his shoulder, and carried me to the cabin.
In that one moment, the storm no longer mattered to me.
The torrents and flashes could continue their barrage all day, it didn’t matter.
I was safe.
I was valuable.
I was worth rescuing.

I have no other memory of that counselor, no idea what songs we sang that week, and I don’t remember one spiritual conversation, but the image of being rescued has bound me to my view of God ever since.

The prophet Jonah, just thrown overboard in a tumultuous sea and rescued by an unlikely, swimming hero, prays, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress.”
Safe. Valuable. Worth rescuing.
God knew where Jonah would be drowning, knew where to send the hungry sea creature, and then directed that nautical giant to Ninevah’s shores where God wanted Jonah to go.

The disciple Peter, bravado turning to fear when the storms threatened to overtake him as he walked on the water towards the Savior,
“…and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
Safe. Valuable. Worth rescuing.
Jesus knew He held all authority over the wind and waves.
Jesus knew He alone could rescue Peter, not just from physically drowning, but from living a life without fear.

Three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into a fiery furnace for their refusal to bow down and worship a golden statue. Their declaration?
“…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”
Safe. Valuable. Worth rescuing.

Thunderstorms are special for me.
I love their magnificent display of my Creator’s power, the scent of the raw earth, and the
reminder that my God is a rescuing God.
He is “for me and not against me.”

I don’t know what your battles look like.
I do know that I’ve had plenty of them, as I’m sure have you.
And with every passing storm, I’ve learned a bit more about the God who holds all authority over it.

God’s response to Jonah’s distress call?
“….and He answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and (He) heard my voice.”

How did Jesus respond to Peter’s faithless fear?
“Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him.”

God’s answer to the three men in the furnace?
“But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

This battle of yours?
It has nothing on your Rescuer!
Trust the heart of the God who wrapped Himself in flesh to save you from the sinking mud hole of your sin that you might have life to the fullest.

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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 Battle Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Battle!

The GT Weekend! Battle Week 2

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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!

Journal With Us!

Journal Prompts

1) Think through the lies the enemy tells you about who he says you are. Write out those names. Now go back through Scripture to see what your Heavenly Father says about who you are.

Example: Not worthy of His love Loved so deeply He knows the number of hairs (even the grey ones) I have.

2) Having our minds renewed by the Lord, being grounded in His Word, and following the prompting of the Holy Spirit aren’t skills we stumble into. They require discipline and obedience; words we shy away from because they require intentionality. Which of these three is most difficult for you? Focus on praying over that this week that the Lord would break ground in your life!

3) What comes to mind when you hear ‘worship’? Think through ways to expand your understanding and how you can use these varied styles and types of worship to Battle against the Devil’s attack.

Worship In Song

Music Video: Jenn Johnson’s “In Over My Head”

Pour Out Your Heart

Lord, I’m so thankful for Your Word. I love that I can run back to it when I’m feeling attacked. I praise You for being faithful to Your Word. Lord Jesus, I’m grateful for how You’ve whispered my worth to me when I doubted I was worthy enough to be healed. Remind me again Father, when those doubts come crawling back in.

The craziness of the busy fall schedule is in full force, Lord. I’ve been struggling to stay connected with You in time in Your Word. I know in my head it’s important to fight for, but I’m just so tired, I don’t feel like I can battle one more thing. Holy Spirit, battle this on my behalf. Show me how to fight my schedule to carve out time with You every day this week!

Pray With Us!

In everything, with praise and thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God!
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Battle Day 10 Feasting On Truth

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 4:1-11
Psalm 119: 9-11
John 4:31-35
Ephesians 6:10-18
Psalm 119:36-37

Up until about two years ago, regularly memorizing Scripture was a wonderful, admirable, beautiful idea in my mind.  I was reading God’s Word, growing in Him and had a few basic verses memorized, but for the most part, intentionally putting Scripture to memory seemed optional.  However, as my battle with anxiety and depression increased, clinging to the promises in God’s Word became a life-line.

I found myself glued to my verse notecards in the check-out lane at the grocery store, in moments of despair with my kids, and at night before falling asleep. I was preaching truth to my soul, despite my feelings, just like the Psalmist did in Psalm 42.
I learned that God’s Word quite literally protects me from choosing evil (Psalm 119:9-11, 133-35).
His Word became a deeper hope and comfort (Psalm 119: 49-50).
I accepted that even when I didn’t want God’s Word, I needed to humble myself and ask Him to make me want it (Psalm 119:36-37).
I experienced a deeper need to “live… by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

The Promise of Battle
Scripture tells us to expect trials in this life (John 16:33). As believers, we are not to think it is strange or that something unique is happening to us when we go through difficulties of any kind (I Peter 4:12).  We live in a fallen world, which means sin has infected, not only every person’s heart, but also every institution, each system, and all of creation.
This should cause us to expect battle.

Yet these battles are not against our neighbor, our spouse, our child, that other mom in the carpool lane, the co-worker we can’t seem to see eye-to-eye with, the family member who has hurt us, or any other element of flesh and blood.  The Bible is clear that all battles boil down to us against Satan (Ephesians 6:12). He is behind them, poking and prodding and pushing all of his desperate buttons in an attempt to devour our faith (I Peter 5:8).

The Pattern of Attack
Satan uses our own desires against us in his battle for our faith. I John 2:16 explains, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” He will use both external circumstances and internal temptation to weaken us in the battle of faith.  Satan is a professional tempter and liar and his methods have been the same through the ages.

When Satan tempted Eve in the garden, he showed us his cards. First he aimed at her physical appetite, (Genesis 3:1-3) then at her desire for personal gain (3:4-5), then he offered Eve an easy path to power and glory (3:5-6). He pulled the same attack on Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).  Yet Jesus fought off Satan’s lies with responses of obedience rooted in the truth of God’s Word.

Consider that we are most vulnerable to temptation when the following are true:
1) Our physical body and appetites are in need
2) We see things we want or need and do not have them
3) We lack power or glory (think control and recognition) 

Feast for Focus in the Battle
How do we fight against Satan’s lies and temptation? God has not left us alone in the battle! Jesus told Satan in the wilderness, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4), showing us that knowing and living by the Word of God is more soul-critical than even real, human needs. It’s no wonder then, that during his ministry years Jesus had a laser sharp focus on His mission. He told His disciples in John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

What is the will of God, and how does it become our food? God’s will is revealed through His Word, giving us wisdom, direction and knowledge of His heart.  We feast on it by treasuring it, seeking it, reading it, and memorizing it.

But this isn’t simply about getting more knowledge.  Knowledge alone does not transform or equip us for battle. Scripture tells us to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2), and that remarkable work is accomplished by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) as we feast. This is a life-long process for the believer!  As our mind is renewed by the Word of God, we are prepared to rightly discern in every battle.

So, we must make a choice to come and live by the Word of God, submitting to the Holy Spirit, and entrusting the work of mind-renewal to be done by Him. This process of being transformed strengthens us to lay aside the things that so easily distract us (Hebrews 12:1), that we may keep doing the good works God planned in advance for us, according to the perfect will God which He will accomplish in us (Ephesians 2:10, I Thessalonians 5:24).

Come away, feast, and be victorious against the true Enemy!

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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 Battle Week Two! 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 Battle!