courage

Sketched XI Day 11 Wearied, Worn; Rested, Revived

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Sketched XI Day 11 Wearied, Worn; Rested, Revived

Shannelle Logan

July 3, 2023

Believe,Deliver,Hope,Identity,Lonely,Mighty

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 19
Hosea 13:1-9
Isaiah 45:1-19
1 Peter 2:1-10

It was not supposed to end this way. 

I shouldn’t be here, hiding under this stupid broom tree. 
I can’t do this anymore, Yahweh. 

I’ve spent three years being stalked by the shadow of death, whether from the wicked king and queen of Israel or the drought and famine brought on by their abandonment of You, Yahweh. 

I OBEYED You and prophesied the drought was coming. In my ensuing time at the Wadi Kidron and with the widow of Zarephath, You brought me to know You.

You are sovereign
You are enough
You are omnipotent
You are truth
You are jealous
You are revealed.

I OBEYED You as You revealed Yourself to be the one true God of Israel,
defeating the prophets of Baal. 
I OBEYED You, announcing the return of the rain to the land. 

Yahweh, we have come so far together, You and I. I expected You to remove King Ahab and Queen Jezebel from power in an act of final victory. Instead, Jezebel has unleashed her fury, swearing to end my life. (1 Kings 19:1-2)

My hope has been crushed; I can no longer walk among the land of the living. “I have had enough!” I wail to the cloud-laden heavens. Collapsing into the dust, I murmur a final prayer of despair. “LORD, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:4-5) I am wearied and worn. Let me sleep and not wake up.

I feel something shaking me, but I don’t have the energy to open my eyes. A calm voice pierces my malaise. “Get up and eat.” (1 Kings 19:5) As I rub the crust from my eyes, I take in the scene before me. An angelic figure stoops before a gently glowing fire. There is a jar of clear water I immediately reach for to ease my parched throat. To my surprise it is cold and refreshing! And a fluffy warm cake beckons me from the fire’s stones. 

But I’m still tired and sadness still grips my soul. The angelic figure radiates peace, and I lay down again to rest.

“Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” (1 Kings 19:7) My angelic visitor has prepared another meal, then taken a seat by the crackling fire. As I sit beside him, I am cooled by a lingering breeze. 

Feeling rested and revived from the food, sleep, and the angel messenger, I gather myself and begin walking. I need help, encouragement. My purpose seems to have been swept away. The heaviness of loneliness and, dare I, the prophet Elijah who called down fire from Heaven, say it aloud, am shot through with fear. I’m not sure where I’m headed, but I know my angelic visitor had been intentionally sent to revive me for the path my feet will tread. 

Forty days and nights later, I find a cave on the mountainside.
Mt. Horeb.
The place Moses met with Yahweh.
The mountain that had once quaked and smoked with the presence of the Lord as He gave His law to us. My soul trembles within me as my wearied and worn body climbs the cliffs, desperately looking for hope. I can’t stop the tears from running down my beard or the sobs from shaking my shoulders as I am plagued by the extreme ways Israel ravages the relationship with Yahweh represented by that covenant law. How wicked Israel’s rebellion! How ineffective I feel against such darkness. The weight of failure threatens to bury me alive. Anxious, I huddle far from the entrance to the cave, lest I attract dangerous attention. I am exhausted and confused; does Yahweh still see me?

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9) 

I recognize the quiet voice that has directed me along every step of the last three years.
Peace floods as familiarity embraces me, strengthening me. 

Yahweh.

All of my questions and fears come tumbling out. 
“I have been very zealous for the LORD God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.” (1 Kings 19:10)

It is a relief to finally get the words out. Yahweh responds, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the LORD’s presence.” (1 Kings 19:11)

A fierce wind streams into the cave and I cling to the craggy walls. Massive rocks are ripping out of the mountain and breaking into pieces at the cave’s mouth. 

But the wind subsides, and Yahweh is not there. 

I’m confused and just as I recover, an earthquake hits, dropping me to my hands and knees. Fear grips me as the mountain shakes around me. 

But the movement of the Earth subsides, and Yahweh is not there. 

A blazing fire appears at the mouth of the cave, burning with such intensity that no creature could come near. Even a distance away, the heat saps my remaining strength. 

But the fire fades away, and Yahweh is not there. 

Finally, a soft whisper reaches my ears.
I wrap my face into my cloak and make my way to the entrance of the cave.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:13)

Though I see no one, I feel His presence and repeat my answer. 
But this time, instead of self-righteous indignation and a thinly-veiled challenge to DO SOMETHING, my words are laced with a deep assurance of Yahweh’s sustaining power.

He has sustained me, a follower of the true God, in a wicked time.
He has sustained me through drought and famine.
He has sustained me through a stunning revelation of His holy jealousy over His children.
And yes, He has sustained me as I flee, yet again, for my life.

As Yahweh directs me to anoint a new generation of kings and prophets who are devoted to Him, I realize I have never been alone. Yahweh has been working out His plan all along.

Two weeks later, I arrive in Abel-meholah, and find a young man named Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. I walk into the rain-soaked, muddy fields and cast my cloak onto the young man’s shoulders. 

A Note About Sketched

In Sketched themes, we imaginatively step 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 viewed God, themselves, and the world around them.

Perhaps we will find parts of our story reflected in theirs!

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carried,courage,despair,faith,hope,life
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Sketched XI, Day 12
Digging Deeper

I will go before you and level the uneven places I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.

I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord. I am the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.

I call you by your name, for the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know me,

so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.
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Sketched XI Day 1 One Light?

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Sketched XI Day 1 One Light?

Bri Bailey

June 19, 2023

Courage,Desperate,Faith,Help,Hope,Journey,Strength,Struggle

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 16
Deuteronomy 18:9-18
Psalm 16
Romans 1:20-25, 28-32

Despair settled over me like a too-heavy yoke. 

I’d secured my sandals, slung a pack of provisions over one shoulder, and caught up my walking staff. Then, with hand on door, I froze, unable to push through the dread into the sunlight outside. 

I can’t do this, my mind protested. 
I’m only one man. 

Go, the small voice whispered. 

Groaning, I straightened my shoulders and set out to Samaria.

As dusk approached, I set up camp, then slumped dejectedly before a small fire. 

“Am I crazy?” I muttered aloud.

I must have imagined the small voice, I decided. In the morning, I’d return to Gilead. The evil in Israel was too great, and one man was too small to save a nation.

Bolstering my growing resolution, I remembered the Asherah poles atop the hills I passed. I’d kept my head down, trying to avoid the attention of prostitutes practicing sexual rituals to entice the goddess of fertility to bless the land.

I certainly couldn’t stop them, I reassured myself. I can’t uproot generations of wickedness.

Israel’s unfaithfulness to God began nearly as soon as their dusty feet touched Canaan. Raised in a community founded by Israel’s early judges, I’d grown up on tales of Israel’s infidelity. 

I could hear grandmother’s voice recounting Israel’s story. Our history was a tapestry laced with tragedy and faithfulness, she explained.

Miraculously rescued from slavery in Egypt, Israel cowered from entering the land God promised them. Consequently, they wandered the wilderness as an entire generation passed away. Yet God faithfully protected and provided for His children, leading them again to Canaan. 

Accustomed to the desert, we’d entered Canaan’s lushness agog, my grandmother recounted. Baal and Asherah worship, the god and goddess of fertility to whom Canaanites attributed their agricultural prosperity, assaulted Israel on all sides. 

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt [. . .] Do not have other gods besides me.” (Exodus 20:1-3)

“When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable customs of those nations. No one among you is to sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire[.] Everyone who does these acts is detestable to the LORD [. . .] You must be blameless before the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 18:9-13)

My grandmother’s voice always grew deep with mourning when recounting God’s words. He forewarned us to protect us, she murmured. God is sovereign; He knew evil and suffering would come with worshiping other gods. 

Yet the siren call of other gods was strong, and Israel’s devotion for Yahweh wavered.

Briefly, Israel was led by David, a king whose sinful humanity was undeniable, but who remained a man after God’s own heart, worshiping God alone. 

Successive kings once again married pursuit of other gods with Yahweh’s worship. (1 Kings 11:33)

Astarte, the goddess of the Sidonians.
Chemosh, the god of Moab.
Miclom, the god of Ammon.
Golden calves, unsanctioned temples, and an illegitimate priesthood. (1 Kings 12:25-33)

David did what was right in God’s sight, following God with all his heart. (1 Kings 14:7-11)
Consecutive kings each did evil greater than their predecessors, thrusting God behind their backs. (1 Kings 15:1-3, 25-26, 34)

And the people moved again into syncretism. God, Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Armies, was fine for assuring victory in war, the people reasoned.

But for daily provision? For ensuring consistent rain cycles? For flourishing in stone-built houses, rather than wilderness tents?

Perhaps Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Who Provides, wasn’t quite up to the task, the people reasoned.

Better include Baal,
also known as lord of the earth.
Lord of rain and dew.
Rider of the clouds. 

I broke from my reverie, memories of my grandmother slipping away into the blackness edging the fire. Fire . . . and Baal.

Baal was reintroduced to Israel through the marriage of our current king, Ahab, to Jezebel, a Sidonian. Baal was worshiped with massive fires laid at the base of monstrous effigies. In times of plenty, livestock were sacrificed.

But in times of drought or famine, people believed Baal could only be aroused to send rain by the sacrifice of first-born children. Young children were thrown into the outstretched, superheated arms of the flaming idol, as priests created a cacophony of sound to drown out the horrific death-screams. Nearby, worshipers engaged in ritual sex, hoping to stimulate the gods to their own acts of fertility, bringing the rain.

Israel had known God, His eternal power and divine nature, as Creator of the world; yet they exchanged His truth for a lie, worshiping and serving creations instead of the Creator. (Romans 1:20-25) The evil into which Ahab led Israel and the rushing flood of suffering in its wake were nearly incomprehensible.

The people overflowed with unrighteousness, greed, and wickedness.
They breathed envy, murder, and malice.
They reveled in gossip, slander, and God-hating pride.
They abandoned trust, love, and mercy. 
(Romans 1:28-32)

Israel, it seemed, had done their very best to obliterate any trace of the One in whose image they were created. (Genesis 1:26-27)

“So why are you sending ME?!” I flung my vehement question toward the star-pocked heavens. “I am no one from nowhere, nearly the last of Your followers. You want ME to convict Ahab?! To convince him to repent? By foretelling famine and drought?? Do You understand, this will only drive him further into the fiery arms of Baal? I can’t compete with those priests! I can’t persuade the people! I can’t do it!”

My throat raw, my chest heaving, I turned away to the shadows.
“I’m not even sure You’re really there,” I whispered.

As I gazed into the darkness, a flicker of light appeared, diminutive as the flame of a single candle. 

Elijah, the small voice gently replied.

I am Yahweh, I AM WHO I AM.
I am the Sovereign One;
I alone possess the power and responsibility to convict, convince, or persuade. 
I am the Sovereign One;
no evil is so profound I cannot overcome it, no one is so lost I cannot rescue him, no darkness is so complete I cannot light it.
I am God With You, now and always;
I will go with you wherever I send you, for I hold your days in My hands.

Now, go.

A Note About Sketched

In Sketched themes, we imaginatively step 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 viewed God, themselves, and the world around them.

Perhaps we will find parts of our story reflected in theirs!

Tags :
courage,faith,present,question,trust,Wandering
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Sketched XI, Day 2
Digging Deeper

It doesn’t appear David was looking to God for protection from anyone or anything particular.

He was requesting God Himself to be near – a reflection of his own desire to abide (dwell) in God’s presence.

Just as Moses desired. Just as Elijah desired.
Dig Deeper!

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

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June 19 - July 7, 2023 - Journey Theme #120

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Worship XI Day 8 Kaf, Lamed, & Mem

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Worship XI Day 8 Kaf, Lamed, & Mem

Carol Graft

June 7, 2023

Comfort,Courage,Faith,Fear,Focus,Hope

Read His Words Before Ours!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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courage,forgiveness,freedom,hope,power
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Worship XI Day 9
Digging Deeper

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

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

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May 29 - June 16, 2023 - Journey Theme #119

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The GT Weekend! ~ Confidence Week 2

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The GT Weekend! ~ Confidence Week 2

Katelyn Palmer

April 29, 2023

Alive,church,Comfort,Confession,Faith,Future

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

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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Romans 5:1-5

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, You have not left me with a weak spirit. You have left me with the Holy Spirit, a bold Spirit defined by Your mighty love and strength. (2 Timothy 1:7) Lord, everyday temptation to sin entices me. Resisting sin is impossible on my own strength; in those tough and decisive moments, I ask for Your help in clinging to the Holy Spirit and reminding me I am Your child. (1 John 3:1)

You have sent Your Son to pay a debt I could never afford and You have gifted me endless grace. You love me, Lord, and You have not forgotten or forsaken me. (Isaiah 49:14-16, Deuteronomy 31:8) I am Yours and at Your feet I will worship, because You alone are worthy. (Psalm 145)

No enemy of mine could overthrow You, no power of this world could consume You. (Matthew 19:26, John 16:33) You cared for me before You even knit me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16) and You have rescued me from death. When these truths seem far away, I beg You, Lord my God, to remind me who I follow and renew my confidence in Your power and faithfulness.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Many generations have come before us. It is likely many will follow. Our hardships may look different; our false teachers may go by different names; our persecution may lay heaviest on the shoulders of different nations; but we all share the brokenness of this world…and we are each offered the eternal hope & joy of Christ’s resurrection power!

We can be confident in our rescue from the deadly effects of sin because of the testimony of the Christ-followers who have gone before us.

We can be confident in our rescue from eternal separation from God because of the preserved print in our Bibles, which is God’s Word to us. Scripture is the primary channel of communication God uses to speak to His people, and it’s filled with truths that provide us confidence in God.

Thus, it is important for us to prioritize regular, daily intake of Scripture study. God’s whispers of loving rebuke, encouragement, and unchanging truth enable us to avoid falling victim to Satan’s tricks. His Word equips us with quiet, stalwart confidence that the Lord is who He says is.

God’s words to humanity haven’t changed through the ages, and neither has His gift of salvation. He has not failed us yet and He never will. 

JOURNAL TWO

Regarding the Lord’s forgiveness, here is what we know to be true from His Word: God sent His Son to die on the cross and be resurrected on the third day in order to forgive our sins in whole. (1 John 2:2) I’m not sure there is anything more convincing than the brutal sacrifice of God’s own Son to fulfill the debt of our sin.

The Bible records many specific examples of forgiveness across Old and New Testaments; every narrative points to the forgiving heart of God. Stories of forgiveness always detail the sin, not shying away from it or sugar coating, but naming the sin and then demonstrating God’s forgiveness, even through broken, sinful people. Take time this weekend to pick a forgiveness narrative and read it to see God’s heart more clearly!

Warring brothers (Genesis 33), sexual sin of God’s chosen king (2 Samuel 11-12), an adulteress caught in the act (John 8:1-11), Christ’s closest friend denying knowing Him (John 21:15-17), and, of course, the forgiveness offered for all people from the Only Holy God (Romans 5:8-9)!

Forgiveness is available to every person for every single sin without condemnation or punishment; it’s simply ours to embrace through complete faith in the Forgiving God!

JOURNAL THREE

As we’ve discussed this week, God is faithful. He has been true to His Word since the beginning of time and that will never change. But sometimes we still have doubts, right?

We’re humans living in a broken world, which means doubts easily arise when we aren’t grounded in truth. The Lord knows this and has provided ways to renew our confidence in Him, a confidence that tells us His work in us is not finished and He will return to finish what He has started. (Philippians 1:6)

First, we must engage Scripture with humility. The Bible allows us to know God’s heart more fully, which will build our confidence in His character. His Word illustrates His faithfulness throughout time and reminds us He is not restricted by the world we know. When we restrict God to our own concept of time, we can feel forgotten or like He no longer cares about us; we must remember God operates in eternity, outside of linear time.

Second, we must engage biblical community. God uses our current time in life to prepare us for Jesus’ return. This preparation involves spreading the gospel, reflecting God’s light to the lost ones around us, and steadily being shaped into the image of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lastly, we are to worship God with the whole of our lives in order to continually shift our perspective from our circumstances to our Lord and Savior. As we do, our love for Him grows and our trust in His goodness increases!
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The GT Weekend! ~ Steadfast Week 1

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The GT Weekend! ~ Steadfast Week 1

Carol Graft

April 1, 2023

Christ,Equipped,Faith,Jesus,Paul,Resurrection

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

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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Luke 24:36-38

36 As they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 “Why are you troubled?” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts?”
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Lord, when we read about You actually appearing in the flesh to Your disciples and so many  more, over 500!, following your physical resurrection from the dead, I’m astounded with awe! It gives me pause to wonder, “How would I react?”

I’d like to think that I would not doubt or question the sight of You. For how I have longed to see You as Your first disciples did, especially on my hard days and dark seasons. One day, Lord, one day I’ll be welcomed Home because of Your resurrection! Because You conquered death, and my faith hangs on You, I will also conquer death.

Until that day, when I’ll see you face to face and worship at Your feet, give me eyes to see You moving in the midst of my every day. In my hard circumstances and my joyous ones, give me an ear to hear your words of wisdom and a heart to quickly obey.

I desire a deep, abiding relationship with You just as Your first followers had when you walked the Earth. Draw me close, Jesus, through Your Spirit! Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

On Monday, Sarah pointed to the essential foundation Pauls’ words built in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 when he described “of first importance” how Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised on the third day.

This is our foundation for both Eternal Hope of life after death as well as Living Hope in the midst of every circumstance on earth. Christ is our resurrected Savior! “…Because of His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope…” (1 Peter 1:3)

Sarah also asks questions that have been asked throughout millennia. Perhaps you’ve wrestled with God’s identity and purposes, His promises, His timing, and His presence in our lives. God’s Word reveals Him, and His Spirit teaches us to trust His faithful, steadfast character.

We can take the truth of Peter’s words from the Lord and hold fast, “The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you…” (1 Peter 5:10)

We can declare these truths over ourselves, personalizing His Word in us. His Words discipline us to keep our eyes on the prize of Jesus and the coming reward of an eternity with Him for all who trust Him as Lord and Savior.

JOURNAL TWO

Like reading the preface of a book, understanding the background of biblical characters helps us grasp the workings of God in their lives.

Lesley evidenced this as she helped us enter the life of Paul and his ministry beginnings. We seem to think Paul was the apostle of all apostles because of his numerous writings and successful church plants. We forget he began as an enemy to the church. After the dramatic meetup with God on the road to Damascus, he spent a few years studying God with new understanding and growing in his faith.

Looking back through the Scripture, the Torah, the psalms and the prophets (what we term the Old Testament), Paul grew in dependent faith on the Lord Jesus. Paul studied not with his former eyes of a Pharisee, but through the lens of his new relationship with the Christ.

Paul neither became the “super apostle” nor changed the early church overnight, and neither will we. Steadfast growth requires discipline to study God’s Word and a willingness to keep on surrendering our ways to the Lord one small step at a time. As the Lord shepherds our hearts, just as He did for Paul, we will see Him shaping us to be more like Jesus!

JOURNAL THREE

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

These comforting words were evidenced in Friday’s Journey Study depiction of Christ as the very same God who authored humanity’s redemption beginning to end. Our rebellion as human beings against the Lord God has never lacked in fervor from the Garden of Eden to the 21st century. Neither has our need for a resurrected Savior ever lessened.

Melodye unpacked the fundamentally essential component of the physical, literal resurrection of Christ’s dead body back to life from the grave. Without this piece, not one of us has any hope for life after death!

We don’t generally like to ponder the end of life. But for the person who has surrendered full control to the God of the Universe and placed their Hope on this God whose power raised Christ from the dead, death is the beginning of the consummated Hope we’ve longed for!

When you think about your death, what emotions surface? Trace the roots of those emotions to their source and be curious about what drives them. Do you find Hope or Fear? Why?

Spend time this weekend considering what you personally believe about the biblical account of Christ’s resurrection and why, or if, it matters.
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courage,Easter,faith,hope,resurrection,Truth
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The GT Weekend! ~ Surrender Week 1

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The GT Weekend! ~ Surrender Week 1

Carol Graft

January 28, 2023

Anchored,Courage,Faith,Freedom,GT Weekend

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

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Romans 8:29-30

For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Thank you, Lord, for knowing me long before I knew You. Thank you for loving me even when I don’t see how any part of my situation, whether in the past or present, could possibly fit within Your plan. I don’t understand why I walk through hard challenges when You could remove them. It would be so easy for You to make my life smoother, Lord. From my perspective, the questions, hurts, and doubt could all be erased by an “easier life”.

So, I am faced with a question to either trust You as fully good, despite my pain and limited view, or choose to believe You’ve lied to me in Your Word. Help me to hold fast to what is true. I confess my unbelief; Lord, build my faith! Help me trust the depth of Your goodness extends far beyond my finite vision of my current reality. No matter what I am going through, You are working out Your good plan for me. Help me to see you in the midst of my every day, whether they are good days or bad. Teach my heart to trust you with steadfast surrender. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Astounding healings, provision, and deliverance from bondage are just a few of the miracles that leap from the pages of the Bible. It’s easy to focus on those incidents and say, “Yes, please!”, for we all want big miracles.

When we come to the end of our budget and the pantry seems bare, we hunger for the miracle of the loaves and fish to effortlessly replenish our lack. If we wrestle with chronic illness, we read the amazing healing of the hemorrhaging woman and ask, “Why not me, Lord?”

But God didn’t come to dwell in the flesh only to provide temporary fixes for our woes. Though he can, and often does, His “Come and See” bidding is meant as a far greater invitation to an eternal relationship with Him. The invitation can only be embraced through willing surrender.

We may not be called to leave behind jobs or families to follow Jesus, but it’s possible. When we come to Jesus open-hearted, fully surrendered, and repentant our lives will be changed. Christ will provide, often in ways we never considered. Through surrender, we find we are fully known and fully loved by the Savior of the world.
JOURNAL TWO

I was challenged and convicted by “Pride Or Intimacy” on Wednesday; if you haven’t read it, go there! Mary K. explained how easy it is to return to old sin patterns after becoming a believer. How many times have we wanted to snap back a sharp retort, painfully revealing we are choosing not to surrender to Christ. We all have places in our hearts we haven’t fully surrendered to Jesus.

Consider how often we’ve bypassed the ‘neighbor’ standing on the street corner holding a sign and lacked the compassion of our Lord. Are we engaging our literal neighbors? Or perhaps we’re excluding the neighbors we perceive as different from us.

As I was thinking of surrendering pride, I was reminded of the Journey Study, “Dining With Sinners”, which stories about the scandalous woman who dared anoint Jesus’ feet despite her outrageous sin. Still, she surrendered her pride and walked into Simon’s dinner party uninvited. She wasn’t just surrendering her pride, she was surrendering her history at the feet of Jesus, who lived in total surrender to Father God.

Christ surrendered Himself to a death-penalty we owed in order to extend us eternal life with Him.
JOURNAL THREE

Are you a type A personality? Do others gravitate towards you or shun you because you like to be in control? Even if you don’t fit these descriptions exactly, deep down, we all desire to be in control. Some more publicly than others. I don’t consider myself a controlling person…until…I am.

Still, God lovingly pursues us, calling us to live under his call of Surrender. Rebekah pointed to the Old Testament biographies of Abraham and Sarah, both of whom were called to complete surrender of their control. Surrendering our willful control to God, trusting Him in all the things is not easy, but it is essential. We can rest on the truth revealed in Romans 8:29-30 as we grow in our discipline of surrender.

God predestined us to be a part of His plan. Whether we believe Him now or are still searching for Him, we are known and loved. Though we may often be tempted to wrestle control from the Lord, stomping our feet in frustration, the Lord still pursues our hearts, wooing us to know Him as He knows us. He who knew you, and the paths you would take before you were born, knows what He is doing. He will be faithful to accomplish His good work in us!
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Champion Day 8 Fearful Made Fierce

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Daniel 1:3-21
Daniel 2:27-30
Daniel 6:10-24
Philippians 1:3-11

Champion, Day 8

“Am I good enough?”
“How could God ever use me? I’m so weak in my faith, in my trust, in my understanding of You, God.”

These questions regularly pop into my head. Sometimes, when I look at the Bible Greats (those characters who *seem* to have it all together and act perfectly before the Lord), I get discouraged. I’m sure my name will never go down in recorded history for doing anything amazing. I’m a hot mess just trying to consistently read my Bible every day. How then do we approach the accounts of people in the Bible doing extraordinary things for the Lord?

Daniel is a Bible hero well-known for faithfully praying to the One True God, despite being forbidden by the king. He was thrown into a den of lions and the king expected him dead by morning. (Daniel 6:16-18)

Miraculously, when the king reached the den the next day, “Daniel said to the king, ‘May the king live forever. God sent His angels and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before Him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.’”  (Daniel 6:21-22)

Wow. Daniel’s faith must’ve been great to be considered innocent before God Almighty. Who was Daniel really? How did he get into this pickle?

Daniel and many others were captured and taken from their home in Israel to foreign Babylon. Forced to leave his family, along with everything familiar, Daniel was taken to a strange new place with many different customs and values.

His whole identity shifted to become Babylonian; he was even given a new name. In the midst of this upheaval, he needed to decide if he would continue following God Almighty or worship other gods, as was expected of him by the king. (Daniel 1:1-7)

As Daniel navigated such challenging circumstances, we see that behind every holy choice Daniel made, God was at work, revealing Himself as the true champion.

Daniel chose obedience when he and his friends decided to break the cultural norms and follow God.
The Lord gave them favor with the king, who then entrusted Daniel and the others with great responsibility.
By living in authentic community, they were able to support and encourage each other onward in obedience. (Daniel 1:17-21)
The Lord empowered Daniel to interpret dreams of several successive kings, a feat impossible for Babylonian sorcerers.
Daniel was humble, giving God the credit and glory for his ability. He was able to recognize his limitations and his need for God’s power.

“No wise man, medium, magician, or diviner is able to make known to the king the mystery he asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen[.]” (Daniel 2:27-28)

Notice who Daniel didn’t mention?

Himself.

Standing before the king, in possession of an extraordinary ability, facing an opportunity to curry earthly status and success in a new land . . . and Daniel recognized this as an encounter between the king and God, with Daniel simply present as God’s voice.

Daniel demonstrated this understanding as he closed his speech before the king.
“As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king[.]” (Daniel 2:30)

Repeatedly, the Lord provided perfectly for Daniel. 

The Lord showed Daniel how to be wise with heavenly wisdom.
The Lord gave Daniel strength to be faithful to the truth.
The Lord God Almighty carried Daniel through every trial he experienced;
he was never alone.

At first glance, it’s easy to think we could never do what Daniel did.
In all actuality, he was a boy who was kidnapped and forced to live in a new place.
His God, however, was and is extraordinary.

Daniel chose to be obedient, and the Lord provided for him.
Ladies, the Lord is faithful to finish the work He’s started in us until He returns again! (Philippians 1:6) He is our champion, our rescuer and redeemer!

Lord God Almighty, we long to be great for You. Give us pure hearts when we do what You’ve called us to, humble us if there is any pride in us. Give us favor with those in positions of authority over us. Let us respond with faithful, simple obedience, Lord. Jesus, give us courage to live in community that will keep us accountable. We wait for you to show Your face to us, so we might follow You. We trust you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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Champion Day 7 Behind The Scenes God: 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 Behind The Scenes God!

The Questions

1) How do you pursue God’s will when you are feeling weak or discouraged? (verse 18)

2) How can this Scripture help us navigate a chaotic culture like Esther’s?

3) Why is it so important to resist revenge? (verse 15)

I Thessalonians 5:14-18

And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Original Intent

1) How do you pursue God’s will when you are feeling weak or discouraged? (verse 18)
The apostle Paul exhorted the believers in Thessalonica to help one another in their daily lives as new Christians with their eye on the coming return of Jesus. Paul was very concerned for these new believers. He and Silas fled Thessalonica because of intense persecution, and he worried about those left behind as they faced hardship. Paul sent Timothy to check on them and received good word about the faithfulness of the new believers, so he wrote to encourage and spur them on to new growth and deeper maturity. Persecution was rampant, but Jesus was worth it and he urged them to stay the course of following Christ. Hope was coming! The new believers were both Jews and Gentiles, and Paul suspicioned that false teachers were likely to come in attempting to sway them from solid truth. Paul knew the believers would need each other in order to mature, so he taught them to be on the lookout for those in need of encouragement or a reminder to work hard and do good towards each other. Paul taught God’s will is to “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything […]”. (verses 16-18) God’s will is unity between believers and between His people and Himself. When we cast our focus and affection on the Lord, choosing to worship Him in prayer, we are sowing unity. Paul knew if they pursued worship together, they would continue growing together as a community of believers with one central focus: God. To pursue God, they would need help and encouragement from their brothers and sisters in Christ. In the case of Esther, her story was woven with community as her cousin, Mordecai, and all the Jews prayed to the Lord together bringing unity and glorifying God.  

2) How can this Scripture help us navigate a chaotic culture like Esther’s?
The Thessalonians had much to contend against between the time Paul led them to believe in Jesus and the time Paul sent Timothy back to check on them a few months later. They dealt with ongoing, intense persecution that caused Paul and Silas to flee Thessalonica. Some of their members died, and they were dealing with grief and the confusion about what would happen to their departed friends when Jesus returned. They also wondered what would happen to those alive at the 2nd coming. Some members were being lazy and living off of the generosity of wealthier Christians, while some were struggling with forsaking all of their pagan ways. The church in Thessalonica was dealing with struggles particular to their time and culture, but the intensity of need and the desire for answers is relatable for each generation. Esther stood at a crossroads for her people as they faced extermination. She interceded for them with bravery and humility, but for every step she took, it was the Lord God leading her. We don’t face the same challenges Esther or the Thessalonians did, but our culture screams just as loud to abandon our faith, choose self over intercession, and apathy over zeal for the Lord. The Thessalonians were eager for Paul’s presence, but his letter was welcome instruction on how they should proceed in his absence. Paul wanted them to keep rejoicing, keep praying, and keep thanking God for everything. This would help them focus on God and grow in their faith despite the tumult of the times.

3) Why is it so important to resist revenge? (verse 15)
Paul may have instructed the new Christians in Thessalonica to resist revenge because they were being intensely persecuted by the Greeks in their culture. Their natural, human instinct would be to get even with those harming them, but Paul counseled them that Christianity does not work that way. Even in the Old Testament, God commanded that the faithful “do not take revenge, or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18) Not only were they to resist revenge, but they were to pursue the good of everyone, even their persecutors. Paul was intent on emphasizing God’s character as their Champion to the new Christ-followers; He gives generously of Himself to His enemies by sacrificing Himself in their place. Since Paul himself had zealously persecuted Christians before his conversion, his admonition held particular significance. We are not to take revenge on others, for God Himself did not take revenge on us, instead He sacrificed for us. Mordecai particularly could have taken revenge on his arch-enemy, Haman, at any time, but he showed restraint, waiting on the Lord, trusting His ways over his own. We are to do the same.

Everyday Application

1) How do you pursue God’s will when you are feeling weak or discouraged? (verse 18)
The exhortation in these verses is important every day, but especially on those down days when we just can’t go it alone. If the command to worship through prayer brought an entire city together to beseech the Lord on behalf of the Jews, its benefits to us in our everyday struggles are immense! Prayer and worship prove effective not because of our flowery words, but because it is the Lord who hears and acts on our behalf through our faith. There is one Champion, and it is the Lord God. Paul’s writing reminds us we need to lean on our brothers and sisters in Christ who can pray on our behalf just as Mordecai and the Jews did for Esther. We should reach out for help, encouragement, accountability, and prayer from the community around us. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reads, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.” We are also reminded that prayer and praise change our perspective. If we are called to rejoice always, there is always something to rejoice over. If we pray constantly, we are communicating with God about our daily needs. Giving thanks even in the midst of hard times helps us recognize all the blessings we have that are often taken for granted.

2) How can this Scripture help us navigate a chaotic culture like Esther’s?
It is easy to get bogged down by our never-ending to-do lists and our constant busyness. We don’t always have time to take a shower or eat a full meal, let alone pray constantly or lend a hand to a friend in need. These verses call us to be both intentional and singular in our focus on God. Esther’s need was desperate, pressing, and urging, and though our challenges aren’t the same, we can relate to her sense of desperation and urgency. Consider how we respond in our urgent need moments, or even the long-term needs we’ve been agonizing over for months or years. Are we seeing these as opportunities to turn to the Lord in prayers of faith? The more we cultivate our relationship with the Lord, the more natural it becomes to “pray always” as if breathing. God calls us to invest in our fellow Christians who may need an encouraging word or some extra patience as they face a struggle. He calls us to always pursue what is good for one another, which flies in the face of our culture’s “me first” mentality. While it can be challenging, it is one of the best ways we can represent Christ to our neighbors. John 13:35 tells us, “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” We are challenged to make careful choices about where we spend our time and energy, purposing to help our friends in need, to seek support when we need it, and keep our focus on God alone.

3) Why is it so important to resist revenge? (verse 15)
Paul implores us to be patient with everyone, which includes our enemies. Why is this so necessary? In a way, revenge seems like a great way to ensure that justice, at least our version of it, is served. If someone is doing evil, they deserve to get some pay back. God says, “Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) God wants us to focus on forgiveness and doing good toward others, not on how we can make someone pay for their sins. We cannot champion our own stories by exacting our own revenge. James writes that, “human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent […].” (James 1:20-21) The only one worthy to judge or bring retribution is the Lord God! Romans 12:21 tells us we are able to conquer evil with good. It is vital to resist revenge because by doing so we are taking the first step to overcoming evil with good; only in this can we surrender to the True Champion. In this way, we get our enemy’s attention and turn their focus to the goodness of God instead of our own vengeance. In this way, we practice being like Jesus and trust the results to Him, just as Esther modeled!

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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!

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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 :-))

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Champion Day 5 Legendary Hero

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Joshua 1:6-9
Numbers 13-14
Joshua 5:13-6:27
Isaiah 40:28-31
Isaiah 41

Champion, Day 5

Big burly guy, biceps of steel. Broad back, thick muscular legs. Oh, and a bushy beard.
That’s how *I* picture the Biblical Joshua.

Perhaps we mentally jump to the battle of Jericho as he carried out God’s counter-intuitive battle plan with strong leadership skills. (Joshua 6)

Or maybe we remember Joshua as a spy who explored the Promised Land, one of only two men who trusted God could bring them into the land. We might use words like steadfast, courageous, or brave to describe his heroism.  (Numbers 13-14)

Perhaps you don’t know much about Joshua; our only connection might be a fairly common verse, found in the book named after him, “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Now, why would a brave man who led armies into countless battles AND stood nearly alone in his commitment to God’s promise need to be reminded to be strong and courageous THREE times in the span of four short verses?! (Joshua 1:6-9)

All too often, when we think of “famous” men and women of the Bible, we put them on a pedestal, esteeming them for their valor, courage, perseverance, wisdom, and strength. We look UP to them as someone special, set apart and used by God in extraordinary ways to fulfill His divine purposes. We begin to elevate them, believing WE could never do what THEY did.

Do you notice what we’ve done, though? We’ve taken GOD out of the equation. In truth, GOD was the one who worked through our mighty heroes of the faith, which makes GOD the real hero, NOT Joshua (or Esther or Gideon, or anyone else).

Since God doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8), He can use US in the SAME way He did our favorite heroes of the faith! With this profound truth in mind, let’s revisit Joshua.

As I prepared for this Journey Study, I poured over the Scriptures, digging into Joshua’s story in a new way.

As I studied, God showed me He is always working in our lives, preparing us for the plans HE has for us.  Most often, we are not aware of what the future holds, but God knows every single detail and is weaving a BEAUTIFUL masterpiece, both in our lives and throughout history.

I bet Joshua would say the same, “I had NO clue when I saw Moses stretch out his staff over the Red Sea and the waters parted so we could walk across on dry land that one day *I* would be leading the people in a silent march around the city of Jericho and watching the walls come crumbling down on the 7th day.” (Exodus 14:21-22; Joshua 6:4-5) He might give a reflective sigh, “Man oh man, the JOURNEY sure prepared me for Jericho.”

Perhaps he would open up, “I was eager to settle in Canaan, the Promised Land. The daily manna along the way had filled me with the courage I would need at Kadesh when everyone else doubted God. (Numbers 13:26-33) I had complete confidence God would make a way for us, like He had at the Red Sea. But no one would listen! And because of THEIR doubt, we wandered in the desert for FORTY years. I had NO idea what God would teach me during that ‘wasted time’ in our nation’s history.”  After a long pause, he might add, “The waiting is NEVER wasted.”

Or maybe he would confess, “Even after all I witnessed God doing, I was still afraid as I assumed leadership from Moses. But God didn’t shame or scold me. He definitely didn’t abandon me. Nope! It was almost as if He grabbed my hand, leaned in close, and whispered in my ear, ‘Be strong and courageous. I’VE got this.’”

What about YOU?
Have you ever had Kadesh moments?

Faced with challenges, will we focus on the overwhelming, seemingly-impossible tasks before us, or will we fix our eyes on JESUS, trusting Him to provide strength, wisdom, and courage to follow Him?

Joshua would beg us to “be strong and courageous,” relying not on our own abilities, but trusting wholeheartedly in God, Who ALWAYS keeps His Word.

When we do, we watch walls come crumbling down, broken relationships restored, bodies healed, and bills paid.

You see, the God who helped Joshua conquer Jericho is the SAME God who is asking you to lead a small group, start a new job, or call an estranged family member.

The same God who gave Joshua the courage to believe in Him at Kadesh is the SAME God prodding you to take those foster care classes, write that book, present your idea at work, or message a friend who’s hurting.

If Joshua needed to be reminded (more than once) to be strong and courageous, it’s okay that we have our doubts, too. God is bigger than our fears. He can handle our questions.

So, my sister, be strong and courageous, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU, today, tomorrow, and FOREVER. ALL praise and glory and honor go to GOD, our TRUE Champion.

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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 Champion 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 Champion!