fight

Shielded Day 14 One Weapon: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

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 13 One Weapon

2 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 6:10-17
Romans 8:1-11
2 Timothy 3:16-17
2 Peter 1:16-21
Hebrews 4:12-13

Shielded, Day 13

Since the beginning of time, words have been used as a weapon. In the garden, the serpent twisted God’s words to tempt Adam and Eve to eat the fruit from the tree of life. From that time until now, lies, manipulations, half-truths, and slander have been fuel for the fire of pain and division.

In Ephesians 6:12 Paul reminds us,
“Our battle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

I’ve used my own words as a weapon against others, or even as a defense to keep people from getting too close and knowing something I would rather they didn’t.
My words have cut others and myself deeply.
They have burned bridges and destroyed friendships.

I think a lot about the conversations and words of the past and the impact I made because of them. I’ve been fighting the wrong enemy using the wrong weapon.
I’ve been duped by the real enemy – Satan.

Up until this very last instruction from Paul, we are asked to take up pieces of armor that are defensive, pieces intended to protect our heart, mind, and soul.
But now, after fastening ourselves with this armor, we are invited to pick up a sword,
the only weapon we are to carry, the Word of God.

For the first two years after college, I was on a traveling music ministry team. After my two-year commitment was over, I was invited to help train the next set of teams who would go out to carry on the work that had been done by teams before us for the last 48 years. While I was on this training staff it came to our attention that many of the team members were suffering pretty intense spiritual attacks. A few of us decided it was time to fight.

In the chapel above the dining hall, there was a small costume and prop closet where I found myself a plastic toy sword, tucked it into my belt loop and joined other staff as we picked up our Bibles, and some old hymnals with scripture-based songs and decided to walk the path around the camp we were staying at and fight. I wore that sword in my belt loop for the rest of the 3 weeks of training. I didn’t realize it until writing this what a significant symbol and message to the Enemy this was.
We were armed with Scripture and we wouldn’t back down.
I would fight for those team members against his schemes,
and I knew we had the upper hand.

It may seem like an ineffective weapon.
How can a book of writings from a bunch of dead guys be our weapon?
Could this really be what Paul meant?
But when we take a closer look, we see there is more power to God’s Word than meets the eye.

Scripture isn’t just a collection of words from random people.
Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God Himself, through the work of the Holy Spirit, guided men to write the truth, His truth, the world needed. The words in Scripture are God’s words.
The God who spoke all of life into creation.
The God who spoke and calmed the storm.
The God who spoke and raised the dead.
The God who spoke, “It is finished” into the air as He breathed His last, defeating the grip of sin once and for all.
These words are our weapon!

The same Holy Spirit who breathed these words into the earthly writers of Scripture and raised Jesus from the dead is the same Holy Spirit who makes His home within every believer when we embrace the gift of Salvation given for us.

How are you training for battle?
Are you relying on your own words to be your dagger?
Or are you picking up the unfailing Sword of the Spirit?

When we are armed with Scripture, we can walk out into the daily battlefield of life prepared to fight the spiritual forces of the heavenly realm with a fool-proof weapon.
Stay in the fight, Friend, His Word will never fail!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

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

Bride Day 1 Picture Perfect Redemption

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Hosea 1:1-10
Hosea 2:7-9
Hosea 2:14-20
Hosea 11:4-9
Hosea 14:4-7  

Bride, Day 1

She doesn’t even know how loved she is. 
She doesn’t know her value. 
She doesn’t know her worth.   

Hosea was alone, once again. His emotions a mix of anger, hurt, jealousy, and sorrow.
She gave herself and her love to every man except him.
They had joyful and sweet moments, but then, she was gone,
chasing other fantasies….other men.  

And Hosea was alone. 
Heartsick, worried; He missed his wife.  

And this, he knew, was how God felt over His unfaithful people.
The Lord had saved Israel time and time again, He had loved her, pursued her, provided for her, yet Israel gave herself and her love to everything but Him.
There were times of joy, sweet worship, and surrender, but then,
just as it had happened before, they were gone…
Chasing other nations and bowing before other idols,
brazenly loving another.  

In Hosea’s emotion he saw the Lord’s heart for Israel.
A burning jealousy for his bride.
A steady flame in his belly, slowly growing until it became a lion within that had to roar.  

“Hosea, have mercy on your wife.” 
The Lord beckoned to Hosea.   

Yahweh, have I not done that before? She had already been loved by many men when I married her, and yet, I gave her all of me, and that wasn’t enough. I am not enough to satisfy her.  

Hosea, allure her. Bring her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. 
Give her beautiful things. She will know you again. 
Let her come home, shelter her from the wars raging inside of her soul. 
Give her rest.   

How do You do this, Yahweh? How do You endure this? 
I see your people, I see their sin! I feel your agony! How can you pursue us still?! 

Because I love my people. They have forgotten my ways, ignored the blessing I set before them, broken our covenant. The more they grow arrogant in their independence, the more they sin against me, and I will punish them for their ways because I want them back! 
They have forsaken me. 
They have left me… just as Gomer has left you. 
I am enough for them, but my Bride would rather believe lies. 
She forgets that I AM the One who has saved her and lavished gifts on her. 
All Israel has is because of Me. 
I give her value. 
I give her worth. 
I’ve fought for her. 
Yet, she still forgets me. 

Together, their hearts broke. 
The Lord’s broke for His children.
Hosea’s broke for his wife, and with fresh eyes, he saw Israel’s faithlessness and he was broken for their sin as a people against the Lord.   

As Hosea spoke the Lord’s prophetic words to Israel, his voice broke and the tears poured.
God was speaking to the Israelites, but Hosea was speaking to his wife.

I led her with cords of kindness, with bands of love. 
I worked to ease her burdens. I’ve provided for her and given everything to her. 
How can I give you up, my dear one? 
How  can I hand you over to another man? 
How can I let you destroy yourself? 
How can I let you feel like you are not worthy? 
How can I treat you like a whore? 
My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. 
I’m angry, but I will come after you. 
I will fight for you. 
I will take up my job as your husband and you will come back to me.  

Hosea found his wife, who had, once again, been loved by another man.
The love that went far beyond emotion began to billow out as he ROARED:
Return to me, your husband! 
No one else can love you the way I do! 
I will love you freely, I’m not angry at you anymore! 
Come back and live with me, let me protect you, and you will flourish, 
you will see your true value and worth.  
COME HOME WITH ME. I WANT YOU. I LOVE YOU. 
AND I WILL NEVER STOP LOVING YOU. 

He paid a price for her and brought her home.
He stared into her downcast eyes and prayed,  

Yahweh, let her see her worth. Let her know her value. Let her know how loved she is. 
Gomer’s eyes slowly raised and met his, and there she saw love. 
There, she saw redemption.  

Sisters, the Lord’s heart breaks when we give ourselves to anything and anyone besides Him, just as Hosea’s broke when Gomer gave herself away to other men.
Gomer willingly abandoned her family and husband to pursue something
she thought was better.

She didn’t know her true worth to Hosea.
She couldn’t fully grasp the kind of love Hosea had lavished on her.  

The Lord chose Hosea to deliver His messages of coming destruction to Israel,
but the Lord knew that Hosea would be able to deliver these messages in a way no other prophet could… because Hosea lived out heartbroken love in his marriage. 
God used Hosea’s heart, his marriage, and his life to showcase His own love for His people. 

Sisters, never doubt the trials God is asking you to endure,
because He may just be softening your heart to reach people.  

And never doubt the great love God has lavished on you,
because, just as Hosea deeply loved his wife, the Lord deeply loves you. 

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

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

Justice Day 6 Modern Slavery

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 2:15-24
Psalm 139:13-16
Romans 13:8-14 

As we wade through the series of injustices which currently plague our culture, time and again we return to the conclusion that each social injustice boils down to a heart issue.
A sin issue.
Our modern form of slavery is no different. You may have recoiled at the word “our.” I did, too. But there is a purpose for my word choice.

Loves, until we are able and willing to call them our own, pick up the weight of these collective injustices and shoulder the responsibility required to abolish them, we will remain ineffective and, forgive me, ignorant to what we have been called to do.

Human trafficking is an atrocity for a host of reasons, but at the rotten core, this injustice reeks of lust and selfishness. This heart sin stems from uncontrolled physical desire and the utter disregard for human life in the pursuit of self-gratification. Millions of men, women and children are currently being traded and sold as if they are nothing more than a commodity. Worldwide, it is estimated that almost 21 million men, women and children are victims of human trafficking. (International Labor Organization) Approximately one quarter of those individuals are trafficked for sexual exploitation.
As we go about our daily lives, the temptation to remain ignorant is strong. I don’t mean that in an insulting way, but when our daily routine takes over, it’s easy to fall into the trap of complacency and think that we are either removed from the problem or that we have no sway over such a major issue. Loves, this is happening. It is real. And we have to face the hard truth that there are attitudes and perceptions we allow (and even cultivate) in our culture which blur the lines between good and evil. As we examine tangible ways we can step up and make a difference, we must also examine the ways we are contributing to, or failing to hold accountable, a culture that regards human life with such disdain.

So…where do we start?

We begin by identifying those attitudes and perceptions accepted by culture and perhaps even within our own hearts and minds and call them out for what they are: lies.

Lie number one: Lust is normal, expected and should be celebrated. (See: Magic Mike, 50 Shades of Gray, pretty much any sit-com, reality show and way too many children’s shows and movies.) I could never say it in a way that will not offend someone, but loves, this is truth. We are held to a higher standard, but we are stooping too low. What are we feeding our minds and hearts when we are watching our beloved shows? Imagine inviting Jesus into our living rooms, would we be able to list the shows, books, fill-in-your-blank running through each of our minds right now, without averting our eyes or mumbling under our breath?
None of us are innocent in this.
Although painful to admit, our blind acceptance of this lie has a direct correlation to the widespread acceptance of porn – and by default, the prevalence of human trafficking.
Much of human trafficking is directly tied to the “entertainment industry” which produces the porn demanded by our lust.

Lie number two: Sex is about our own gratification.
Loves, sex has never been about us.
Sex is a gift from God, designed to glorify Him in the way a husband and wife love and cherish one another, thereby modeling Christ’s selfless – to the point of dying on a cross – love for His bride, the Church. Yes, it can be amazing and beautiful and it binds us to our lover in ways nothing else in this life can, but it was never designed to be what we have made it.
Our selfish view taints the beauty of what our Father intended for us.

Lust and selfishness are at the core of human trafficking.

When God says, I formed you in my image; you have value,
Lust says,Your only value is found in what pleasure you give to me.

When God says, I created you to care for and hold fast to your spouse.
Selfishness says,You are disposable. I care only about how you satisfy me.

When God says, I paid dearly for your life, now and forever, and you are worth every drop of My precious Son’s blood.
Lust says, Your body is all I see and care about.

When God says, I will pursue you and win you.
Selfishness says, I will pursue you and capture you.

Loves, we can’t ignore these truths. We are here to fight against injustice and protect those in need. As hard as it is to hear, we must be willing to listen and recognize how we can make a difference.

Father, forgive us for our pride in thinking that we are so far removed from the problem. Remove the blinders we have so painstakingly put on and renew our hearts and minds. Show us how to model purity and hold ourselves – and one another – accountable to Your Truth. Holy Spirit, convict us when we slip into perceptions and attitudes that are not in line with Your purposes. We love you.

Looking for ways to take a stand against human trafficking? Check out these organizations.

Exodus Cry combats sex trafficking by intervening where it exists, bringing restoration to those rescued and exposing sex trafficking in an effort to end this injustice, locally and globally.

International Justice Mission is a global organization that protects the poor from violence in the developing world.

Veronica’s Voice is a Kansas City based organization with the mission of empowering women to exit from, prevent the entry into, and end all demand for, prostitution-sex trafficking in the United States through survivor leadership.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

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

Battle Day 13 Fought For

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 15:12-17
1 John 3:16-18
James 2:14-26 

In 2010, Disney released “Tangled” and it immediately took my personal favorite spot over Aladdin (although I think Cinderella still might win by just a little). The girl with gorgeous, long hair and an incredible voice, forced to live her entire life hidden away in a castle only to sneak away and become entranced with a charming, but thieving, outlaw drew me in from the start. In the end, when the handsome-outlaw turned kind-hero suffers a fatal injury with the only means of survival being Rapunzel’s healing hair, the story took a twist that stuck with me. Using her hair to heal Flynn meant Rapunzel would forever be enslaved to the wicked Gothel, who used Rapunzel for her healing powers. In an unforeseen act of altruism, Flynn proved his love by cutting Rapunzel’s hair with a shard of glass, thus breaking the power of her magical hair and setting her free from the chains of Gothel.
It meant his death, but her life.
He chose her life over his in a moment’s notice.
The battle for her heart was won by his selfless love.

Going to seminary was not as dreamy and magical as I thought it would be. Rather than drawing us close in the way I’d envisioned, the time commitment of classes and full-time work for my husband, the tiny living quarters, 3 small children, being pregnant, and homeschooling, were all the ingredients we needed for an intense pressure cooker for our marriage.
The bottom dropped out for us and we were left falling headlong towards divorce.
We were in a battle, and we were losing.

Seminary was my husband’s dream since before we even met. His passion for ministry and shepherding people has had his heart for years.
One afternoon, in the middle of our mess of a marriage at seminary, he came to me.
Quiet, but confident.
“I’m leaving seminary,” he said. “I don’t know if I will ever go back, but I’m choosing us no matter what.”
For anyone who knows my husband, you know that he quits nothing and succeeds at everything. Whatever he decides to do, he does it well.
But he left seminary.
He packed up the bags of his dreams and walked away without looking back.
And in so doing, he set me free.
Free to see his love.
Free to believe his love.
Free to trust him.

Wars are costly.
Battles are expensive.
But choosing not to fight for freedom, has a far higher price tag.

Saying yes to our marriage, meant saying no to his dream.
Spending ourselves for another is the core of the type of love that Jesus calls us to.

Christ’s example of love isn’t a “pat on the back, here’s some change from my purse, I wish you well” kind of love.
It’s much more radical.
Much more extravagant.
It’s love that says,
“I’ll give you my time,
here is my money,
here is my house,
I’m willing to move,
I’m willing to give away what is mine,
here’s my vacation time,
here are my talents,
here.
Here. Is. My. Life.”

“By this, all men will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.” John 13:35

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

These are the words from the lips of a man who laid aside glory for the opportunity to offer real,
genuine,
deep,
lasting,
eternal
L I F E
to those who were utterly stuck in their sin, had done nothing to love him,
and everything against him.
You and me.

His is a love that far eclipses anything we could do.
Yet He gave.
And He calls us to do the same.
How could we not?

Pause here with me, Sisters. What faces play across your mind’s eye now?
Who needs you to fight for them?
That girl who sits alone?
That women in the office who acts like a snob?
She who you’ve always excluded?
She who is hurting so deeply and you know it, but you’re afraid to get too close?
She who doesn’t know Christ, but fear holds you back from sharing the gospel?
Your own children who either utterly depend on you or have spurned you?
Your spouse?
The hungry child in Zambia?
The homeless family in Houston?
The family whose race doesn’t match yours, but you’ve ignored?

This life you’ve been gifted…what will you do with it?
You, beautiful daughter, are loved deeply enough that a King stepped from His throne to fight for you in the mess of your everyday.
How will you steward that love?

Name that person that the Spirit is laying on your heart to fight for,
and go,
pick up your sword,
and give your life away to
fight for them!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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!

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

Battle Day 6 A Warrior’s Truth

4 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 103:11-14
Song of Solomon 1:5-6
Song of Solomon 4:7-10
John 8:44
Ephesians 4:12-16

Beloved, the world can be a hard place.
It’s full of disappointment and brokenness and cruelty and just plain hurt. In it, we face an enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. One powerful weapon in his arsenal is lying. In fact, he’s called the Father of Lies. So when we bump up against the sharp edges of this world, he’s right there, ready to rubber-stamp our wounded spirits with false labels.

“Failure​.”
“Worthless​.”
“Unlovable​.”

Labels that can steal our joy, kill our hope, and destroy our courage to pursue the purposes of God for our lives. Unless we find a way to fight back, and find victory despite the battle.

Consider our sister-at-arms, the Beloved in Song of Solomon. All too familiar with the hardness of the world, she faced derision from her family, injustice in her work, and scorn from her community. From where, then, does she find the confidence to proclaim,
“Dark I am, yet ​ lovely”?
Where does she acquire the depth of understanding to acknowledge her hurt and scars, to see past those false labels, and to revel in the beauty within her?

Where does she draw her victory?
I believe it is from the heart of her Bridegroom.
From a deep and boundless love, whispered in healing words of truth.

The enemy calls her
ugly,
unwanted,
shameful.

Her Lover calls her
all beautiful,
without flaw,
delightful.
A lily among thorns.
A precious beloved who has captured his heart.

Sweet friend, His tender song is for you, too.
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for you.
So great that many waters cannot quench it, and rivers cannot overwhelm it.
So great that He laid down His life for you, His friend.
So great that death itself couldn’t keep Him from providing a way to eternity together.
Let the truth of these words and the enormity of His love saturate your spirit.
And then, dear sister, fight well in this battle that is not against flesh and blood!

Love drove Jesus’s ministry: having soaked in the wonder of His affection for us, let our actions and our words be motivated by His love for the world around us.
Because sometimes, Beloved, it’s hard to hear His voice.

Some people we encounter have yet to meet their Bridegroom, and don’t know the truth of His love. Others are walking in the first, fresh days of relationship with Him, just beginning to discover His words and recognize His voice. And there are those of us who know Him well, understand the abundance of His love, and still lose His whispers in the clamor of this hard world.

In those moments of intense battle, lean in to the Body of Christ, seek out deep community and allow others to live out His love towards you. Let love draw your fractured attention from the hurt back to the tender gaze of your Bridegroom. Open your ears and your hearts to His still, small voice. Falling back in cadence with our Lover, we can find that sweet victory once again. I know, because it’s happened to me: three recent emissaries spring to mind. The first was a complete stranger; the second, a good friend; and the third, my husband. In each situation, I couldn’t see beyond the spiteful labels of the enemy:
“Ugly.”
“Unlovable.”
“Hypocritical failure.”
“Worthless.”

I was entangled in condemnation and hopelessness,
until someone in the Body chose,
not just to think, but also to speak​
healing affirmation into my place of pain.

When they chose to step outside of themselves​, it was like watching a flower bloom through time-lapse photography:
the tightly clenched petals of my spirit began to unfurl.
My heart blossomed in the sunshine of His truth, spoken in love.
Victory.

Around the same time, my daughter drove home the pivotal importance of choosing to speak the love of the Father. While playing, she dropped a toy. Nothing was broken: all she had to do was pick it up and keep playing. But as she bent to retrieve it, she sighed and dejectedly murmured, “I’m horrible.” And my world screeched to a halt. “How could she possibly think that?” my stunned mind asked.
Well, it’s pretty simple; the enemy doesn’t discriminate.
He’s an equal-opportunity accuser.
In that moment, his voice was whispering condemnation in her ear.
If her Father’s love was going to drown out the enemy’s lies in this battle, truth needed to be spoken in a way she could accept. She needed me, as her sister in Christ, to capture her full attention and deliberately choose to speak love into her. If my sweet girl is going to win the spiritual battles around her, I have an obligation to act.

Bury yourself in His words of love, dear friend.
Let them be as springtime upon your soul.
And then look outside of yourself.
See the sister who is locked in desperate combat with the enemy’s lying accusations,
and choose to act.​
Let’s be victorious!
Together!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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!

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

The GT Weekend – Battle Week 1

Leave a Comment

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) The “Whatevers” give us a good lens to view everything in our life. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, etc” Print out this week’s printable  and post it in your room to remind you of His Ways this week.

2) What relationship has brought you deep disappointment? Reflect and assess how much stock you are putting in that person to bring you happiness. Think through how to lean into the Lord and look to Him for your happiness instead!

3) Comfortable is nice and good but often lets us miss out on walking deeper with the Lord. Ask the Lord to show you how to step out of your comfort zone, take a risk and follow His leading!

Worship In Song

Music Video: Steffany Gretzinger “We Dance”

Pour Out Your Heart

Father God, You have given us a beautiful road map to navigate our lives. The guardrails you put in place show us the narrow path to walk towards Your righteousness. Lord, I know I have victory through Jesus, but whenever I take my eyes off You, I fall off the path, choosing to dishonor You and Your call to righteousness. Don’t let me idolize my relationships or allow me to stay in my comfort zone. Keep my eyes focused on You.

Lord, I need reminders of how to keep growing. I’m comfortable in my life right now. Remind me of the lost who don’t know You yet. Of the orphans starving and the children being sold into sex slavery. Remind me of my lostness and how much I need You daily as I battle the feelings of comfort.

Pray With Us!

In everything, with praise and thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God!
Click here to comment and pray with the GT Community!
Want to connect with a GT Partner?
Send your prayer request to prayer@gracefullytruthful.com
We are committed to praying over and walking with you!

Journey With Us

Sign up to have GT Journey Studies sent to you!
What were your thoughts from the GT Weekend?
How were you drawn near to the Father and encouraged in your faith?
Share with the community and encourage other women!

Battle Day 1 Beyond Comfort

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Corinthians 1:3-11
Matthew 5:2-12
Psalm 56:8-11 

“Why do you want to go on this trip?” she asked over the phone, while I paced back and forth, my bare feet hitting the edge of the grass before returning to the cool cement.

“Well, I feel like my life is pretty comfortable. And I’m not so sure that’s a good thing.” I responded with words I’ve heard dozens of times from other believers.

Several years later I found myself repeating the same words.

“Kendra, I’ve heard about a job as a music pastor and administrator at a church in Ohio. I really think we should go for it. We’ll really have to learn to rely on God.”

“I’ve been praying for this! And we’ve been so comfortable… too comfortable. We need a change.” I told my husband as our eyes locked in agreement.

Maybe you’ve found yourself in the same boat I found myself those times, and several times before and since. You’re comfortable. You have got it made. You have a great home, you love your job, you attend church every single Sunday and spend time with your community group on the days in between. Sure, sometimes momm-ing is hard, or you have a rough week at work. Money can be tight but it always works out. But really, life is great. It is smooth sailing.
You’ve worked hard and now you’ve arrived.
Your life has almost plateaued.
It is almost…

Stagnant.

And, friend, stagnant is dangerous.

Think about this:
You have a vivacious niece who is five years old. She’s not in kindergarten yet, her mama makes all of her meals and she fills her days with playdates and pretend. She comes to you one day and says, “Auntie. I love being five. I’m going to be five forever. I don’t want to go to school. I don’t want to do anything else except be five!”

“Well, sweet girl,” you say, “being five is fun! You get tucked into bed every night, you only have a few chores, you don’t have to go to work like mommy and daddy do. But there are so many fun things that come when you turn six! And every time you grow up a little more, even more special and exciting things get to happen! You will make so many new friends and visit so many new places. You might get married one day, you might become a teacher, you will do so many amazing and fun things that you can’t do if you stay five forever!”

I feel like this is what the Lord says to us!
“Oh child, I know it is amazing being right where you are. You have a beautiful home and a stable career. I love that you come to worship Me every week. But there are so many amazing things that will happen as you grow closer to Me.”

God wants us to find our comfort in HIM instead of our belongings! He wants for us to learn that our comfort doesn’t come from how much money we have, our career, our health, our relationships with other people.

Our comfort needs to come from Christ alone.

Here’s the deal: sometimes God allows things to happen in our lives that are uncomfortable because He wants us to learn that HE is comfort. Sometimes we just need a little wake up call when our lives are so free and easy that we aren’t growing closer to Him anymore because we aren’t relying on Him! We are depending on things and praising God when our things don’t fail us.

We need to depend on HIM and praise God because He never fails us!

Our little wake up calls can come in the form of a health scare or a job loss. Or it can come in the form of a fellow sister in Christ who has walked in your shoes, struggled like you are, and can still testify of God’s pursuant love!
He wants you to find comfort in Him so you can grow as trials come your way!
He wants you to GROW and experience His fullness and all of the beautiful things that He has in store for you!
Things you will never experience if you keep placing your comfort
in everything and anything but our Father.

Oh friend, we can be too comfortable.
We can become stagnant.
And stagnant is dangerous because it means there’s no growth.

Do something today that makes you completely uncomfortable.
Something that leaves you relying on God instead of your smartphone, your credit card, or your own ability. You may just discover a new level of comfort in the arms of your Savior!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

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