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Kneel Day 15 Hear My Cry

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 63
Psalm 54
Psalm 22
1 John 1:5-10

Kneel, Day 15

“God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer.” (Psalm 61:1)
Have you ever wondered if God hears your cries?

If so, you’re not alone! David–shepherd, king, and psalmist in ancient Israel–expressed a similar sentiment when he penned the opening to Psalm 61. David was considered a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), yet he wasn’t perfect. Just like you and me, he was full of dreams, plans, goals, desires (some good, some not so good), but his heart was most often set on the Lord.

David’s life and prayers appear in several books in the Old Testament, but his psalms offer the clearest depiction of his character and prayers.

David’s psalms teach us that prayers don’t only need to be offered with bowed head and quiet voice. In fact, David was often quite vocal as he poured out the depths of his feelings to the Lord.

“O God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you.
I thirst for you;
my body faints for you
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.” (Psalm 63:1)

David wrote this psalm in the desert of Judah, his words echoing the landscape around him as he cried out to God. Similarly, Psalm 62 expresses David’s pursuit of the One who is his hope, his satisfaction, and his deliverer; we feel the depth of his emotion as he sought the God who was everything to him, Yahweh Tsuri, “The Lord is My Rock.” (Psalm 62:7-9)

David also prayed before and during battles. While we don’t know the exact circumstances of each prayer, we know that in the midst of our own battles, we can pray like David. Like Psalm 62, Psalm 144 begins with David stating God as his rock and fortress. He continues by asking, or perhaps yelling, as he passionately pleads with God to destroy his enemies. He cries for rescue. (Psalm 144:7-8)

In fact, several of David’s prayers were written while under attack or hiding from his enemies. He composed Psalm 54 while doggedly pursued by his predecessor, King Saul, and Psalm 71 describes David’s heart’s cry to the Lord while fleeing from his own son.

Have you questioned God?
Have you ever wondered if He knew what He was doing?
Or why He seemed silent?
David experienced much of the same at times.
Psalm 22 asks, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
In David’s prayers, we find a man unafraid to bring his human-ness to the One who made him, the One who knows every part of him, and the only One who could bring David true comfort and peace in any circumstance.

One of David’s most relatable prayers is recorded in 2 Samuel 11-12. After committing adultery and murder, David is confronted by the prophet Nathan. Convicted of his sins, David moves into deep repentance, then grief at the consequences of his sin. I can picture him prostrate on the floor, utterly broken, crying out the words recorded in Psalm 51:

“Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.”

While we may not have sinned in the same way, we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect holiness. (Romans 3:23) Crushed by the weight of our sins, utterly broken, we can cling to the hope living in David’s story and words. This hope is rooted in God’s unchanging character and redeeming power. (1 John 1:8-9)

For God does hear us. He knows our hearts, therefore we can bring Him our messy prayers, our confused or questioning prayers, and our disjointed prayers when we don’t have the right words. The Spirit will make intercession for us, praying on our behalf when words fail us. (Romans 8:26-27)

In 2015, Psalm 121:1-2 became my constant prayer (it’s also the inspiration for For King and Country’s song, “Shoulders”). While traveling, my mother became ill. As my family rushed to be with her, it wasn’t clear whether she would survive. Though I was near the Gulf of Mexico in Florida’s panhandle, this verse about keeping my eyes looking up was my soul saver.

Perhaps David’s heart had cried the same words as he was trapped in a valley, hiding, unsure if foes or friends were lurking in nearby caves and hills. He needed to set his gaze higher than the natural hilltops for his protection and help. Similarly, as I waded through the valley of my mother’s death and my subsequent grief, I needed to keep looking up. At times, I still do.

We can rest assured that no prayer is too small or too great to reach God’s ears.

Whether our prayers are offered in the quietest of whispers or with reverberating intensity sizzling through every word . . .

Whether we come to Him battle-weary or devastated by the wreckage of our sin. . .

Whether we are in a time of rejoicing or lost in grief . . .

He hears our cries.

“I called to the Lord in my distress,
And I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
And my cry to him reached his ears.” (Psalm 18:6)


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Word Day 6 How’s Your Worship?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Word, Day 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is there a prerequisite for worship?
Yes!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here, we slip blissfully into true worship.

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

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

How’s your worship?

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Worship VIII Day 9 Who Is Like Our 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 Who Is Like Our God?!

The Questions

1) What is the meaning of “the Word” in this passage?

2) How was Jesus’ life the light of men? (verse 4)

3) How does this passage lead us to worship?

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.  3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

Original Intent

1) What is the meaning of “the Word” in this passage?
Perhaps a better question would be Who is the Word. The Word is Jesus. John is explaining in these opening verses of his gospel narrative that Jesus is in fact God; He is eternal, even taking part in creation. Hebrews 1:3 tells us the Son (Jesus) is not only the “radiance of God’s glory”, but also the “exact expression of His character.” John begins his account of the gospel by providing a foundation of Who Jesus is as fully divine as he helps his audience understand this idea of a triune, meaning three-in-One, God. Part of the original intent would have been to link the God the Israelites had studied and worshiped their entire lives to this new guy on the scene, Jesus. John takes his readers all the way back to Genesis 1:1, even using the same wording “in the beginning”, to make the connection. Additionally, the account of creation in Genesis tells us God spoke his “Word” and the world was created. Again, his language points clearly that this Jesus, a man in the flesh, was present at the time of creation as the Word, co-equal with God the Father. The original Greek language used “logos” for “Word”, which signified “a distinct manifestation of God”. Holman Bible Dictionary explains, “John saw that the same agent of God who gave life in the first creation was also giving life in the new creation inaugurated by Jesus’ coming. The creative Word of God became flesh; being divine He embodied divine communication. Now the Word dwells among us revealing the glory of God.” John is leading us towards an understanding of Jesus’ eternal nature, while also providing reasons why He alone is worthy of our praise and worship precisely because He is God!

2) How was Jesus’ life the light of men? (verse 4)
To answer this question, we must first understand what the purpose and essence of light. I know it seems rather silly. Light is obviously an energy source that allows us to see and find our way in the darkness. When we back up to the obvious understandings, we can make more sense of the complicated concepts of Scripture. In this context of seeing in the dark, we can understand that the life of Jesus is meant to provide us with direction, clarity, lighting up the dark paths surrounding us. Up to this point, the Jewish people had been looking to the Law, passed down from Moses to light their path and provide them with instruction and guidance for living. The Law was extremely detailed and confusing, not to mention long, and impossible to keep in its entirety. Nonetheless, the Law of Moses was all the Israelites had ever known. Now, Jesus comes on the scene and things began to change. John tells his readers they no longer need to look to the Law or religious leaders for direction, but to the God-man, Jesus because He embodied the fullness of the Law and the prophets. He was the one who would light their paths and show them how to live. This meant a new way of thinking for the Jews. It was also one of the reasons why the religious leaders (Pharisees and Scribes) didn’t really like Jesus. Can you imagine how freeing this would have been to your average Jew?! Your entire life had been lived under an exhausting set of rules. Then Jesus came to shine the true Light of freedom and forgiveness found only in Him that leads to eternity. There is only One Worthy of our worship, and it’s Jesus, the Life and Light of the world!

3) How does this passage lead us to worship?
John’s readers had been taught their entire lives that you only worshiped the Lord God and this worship happened most often in the temple where the Spirit of God resided. Not only that, but only those chosen as priests could enter the Holy of Holies (inner sanctuary of God), the place where His Presence dwelt. Teaching them to see and understand that Jesus, this guy they could see, hear and follow, was in fact the same God they had grown up worshipping. His Presence was however, no longer confined to the temple, but was walking among them. This was mind-blowing! It meant they no longer needed to travel to the temple to worship, but could worship God wherever they happened to be. It also meant they had just as much direct access to God as did the priests. They themselves could talk to God because He gave His Spirit to live within all who believed on Him! These few verses clearly pointed to Jesus and His eternal nature, His power, and His authority. I mean, talk about a reason to worship!!

Everyday Application

1) What is the meaning of “the Word” in this passage?
As with the original intent, John’s gospel helps us connect the dots so to speak, providing the critically important understanding that Jesus has always existed. There was no “beginning” for Jesus; He was present before, and involved in, the creation of the world. Jesus is One with God. (John 17:21) This “word play” can become confusing for us when we talk about God as our Father and Jesus as the Son of God, because those terms seem to indicate two separate beings in the English language and our minds! Returning to the Greek “logos” and reminding ourselves of the original meaning, “a distinct manifestation of God” is incredibly important as we work to understand the meaning of Jesus’ identity. Christ Jesus is that very distinct manifestation or visual representation of the fullness of God. It’s important to note that this same word “logos” is used in Revelation 19:11-13 speaking of the return of Christ. The Word (Jesus) was, is, and is to come. Someone once asked me, “Isn’t it a good thing that you don’t completely understand God? Do you really want to worship someone you 100% understand?” While at first you might think, “Yes; that would make life so much easier!” But, if we give some time to pondering the idea, we will land in a place of honesty where we realize we would certainly not want to worship One we could fully comprehend. God is utterly unlike anyone we know; His ways and thoughts cannot be understood by mere human beings! His altogether otherness is what makes Him worthy of our worship!

2) How was Jesus’ life the light of men? (verse 4)
As we study this passage and carry its truths into our everyday moments, let’s keep in mind the purpose of light by providing us with the ability to see where we are going. The older I get, the more light I seem to need in order to see clearly. Whether it’s driving at night or trying to read pretty much anywhere, I find it much easier for my old eyes to focus and see clearly when the light is bright. Given a choice, I will always choose the well-lit road to travel. This principle is the same when it comes to following Jesus. The way He illuminates is the way that leads to abundant life! It really is simple; the light Jesus provides is just like the brightness that a lightbulb provides, allowing us to see clearly and pointing out any obstacles that may be in our path. When we surrender ourselves to Jesus, He teaches us how to follow Him where there is shadow or darkness. Even the darkness is light to Him! (Psalm 139:12) Reference after reference in Scripture talk about Jesus being our Light. Psalms 119:105 tells us, “your word is a lamp for my feet and light to my path”. In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world”, and Matthew 4:16 says, “those living in darkness have seen a great light (Jesus)”. The Life of Jesus provides the best Light possible because only Jesus can conquer the darkness of our sin through His infinite Life. His Light never burns out or grows dull, but shines just as brightly today as it did hundreds of years ago.

3) How does this passage lead us to worship?
Allow me to offer perhaps an easier to understand paraphrase of these verses by inserting “Jesus” in place of “Word”. Jesus was in the beginning, Jesus was with God, Jesus was God. Jesus was the Creator of all things, and nothing was made without His involvement. Jesus is life. Jesus is light and no darkness has or can ever overtake the light He alone provides. These are clear and easy to understand facts that lead you and I to understand who Jesus is; our natural conclusion is that He alone is worthy of our worship. Without Jesus, we wouldn’t exist! Without Jesus, we would not even understand Light. Without Jesus, we would have no access to God. Without Jesus, we would still be trying to live up to the impossible standards of the Law. Without Jesus, there would be no hope of being free from the condemnation we deserve because of our sin. Without Jesus, we would be lost, wandering, and constantly searching for something or someone to make our life complete. Without Jesus, there would be nothing. Our everyday lives are flooded with many distractions and loud voices all claiming to have the answers, the product, or the experience we are missing. This world wants us to believe we are our own gods, that we can be and do whatever we want, without consequence. This world elevates celebrities, athletes, politicians, and lately, even medical professionals and vaccines, as the answer. These things simply are not true, and won’t last for eternity. All of these people need Jesus just as much as you and I. We all have one Creator; one Savior and His name is Jesus! He is absolutely the only One worthy of our worship!

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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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Fervent Day 12 Suffering Of One: 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 Suffering Of One!

The Questions

1) What principles of prayer does Paul demonstrate in these few verses?

2) What is the purpose behind Paul’s prayer request to be rescued? (verse 31)

3) What is the purpose of Paul’s benediction? (verse 33)

Romans 15:30-33

30 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf. 31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.

33 May the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.

Original Intent

1) What principles of prayer does Paul demonstrate in these few verses?
Paul modeled many wonderful things in following Jesus, but fervency in prayer ranks foremost; it was his heartbeat. Everything about his regular life, from tentmaker, to traveler, to speaker, student, and teacher, was simply an overflow of his private prayer life. Prayer wasn’t something Paul did for show, it was his lifeblood. Of all principles we can take from Paul’s model, consistent and intimate time with the Lord personally is by far the most significant and impactful. Paul demonstrated for us the unity of prayer not only with the Lord, but as a gift to share within the Body. He makes his appeal not to an organization or a business partner or even to a friend, but to his brothers and sisters. He appealed to his siblings. There is an understanding of common, mutual ownership and a right to ask each other to stand in the gap for one another. This request for prayer wasn’t a formality, a checkbox, or just the “Christian thing to do”, this was an urgent need and it was treated with fervency. Prayer wasn’t the last resort, it was the hard work Paul knew was precisely necessary for the task at hand. Paul connected his appeal with the word “striving”, intentionally asked his family to earnestly strive and work hard with relentless fervency in prayer regarding his specific requests. Paul was confident the Lord would hear and answer his prayer, but he also knew the Lord wanted to shape the believers’ hearts to learn dependency on Him and grow their love for the lost as they persistently prayed together. Prayer is not simply a powerful tool for Kingdom work on earth, but it’s also the same method by which the Savior crafts our hearts and opens our eyes to see Him and know Him.

2) What is the purpose behind Paul’s prayer request to be rescued? (verse 31)
“…strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf.” (verse 30) When you hear the words “on my behalf” you probably aren’t thinking the person speaking is actually referring to the benefit of someone else. If you weren’t slowing down and watching closely, his next words might continue to convince you Paul wants nothing more than to get out of his suffering. He was being heavily persecuted for preaching Jesus and his life was constantly in danger. (Acts 21:27-36) Instead of wanting to be free for freedom’s sake, Paul asked, “Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.” (verses 31-32) Yes, Paul prayed for rescue, but the why is the true focal point of this passage, and it’s beautiful to behold! His plea for rescue hinged on the oneness of the Body of Christ and his service to the Church. His first goal was for believers around him to be strengthened in their faith, “that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints”. His “ministry” here actually refers to a financial collection taken up for the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, and he wanted to securely deliver it to them and assure them of his partnership in the gospel with them. His second reason is equally as beautiful, “(that) I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.” Like beloved family members who have long been separated from one another, he ached to be with his brothers and sisters in Rome so they could together be refreshed and encouraged by their mutual love for each other.

3) What is the purpose of Paul’s benediction? (verse 33)
No words are counted as insignificant within Scripture (Matthew 24:35, Revelation 22:18-19) because they were all breathed out by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (2 Timothy 3:16) The God who uniquely crafted insects and atoms is not random with the words He has preserved in Scripture. He wastes nothing and as we linger with His words, asking the Spirit to bring them to life within us, we understand Him more clearly. With that, I encourage you never to gloss over “boring” things like introductions, lineages, or benedictions! Following this fervent request for his brothers and sisters to join him in the work of prayer, Paul again reflects the depth of his intimacy with the Lord as he pens a beautiful benediction. “May the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.” (verse 33) Paul is evidencing the depth of his understanding of this God who welcomes all prayer requests, listens to them all, and answers according to His perfect love and our faith. (Philippians 4:6) His confidence in God’s faithfulness is breathtaking. In essence, Paul concludes with the confident assertion that God will provide His divine peace upon the beloved children He has adopted, regardless of the struggle or the circumstance or the outcome of their fervent prayer. (Romans 8:15-17) His peace will come, His peace will hem them in on all sides, both to all of them collectively as a unified Body as well as individually, meeting each specific need for peace. His peace is unfathomable, while also a beautiful benefit of being welcomed into the family of God called Church. (Philippians 4:4-7)

Everyday Application

1) What principles of prayer does Paul demonstrate in these few verses?
How often the words fall quickly from my lips or fly from my fingers in a text or email, “I will pray for you”, but then lay there, dead almost as soon as they were birthed for lack of follow through. This is not God’s heart for prayer! Neither does it reflect the fellowship and unity He desires to be shared among the Body of Believers called Church. He calls us to fervently ask our faith siblings to strive earnestly alongside us as we seek to make Jesus known in our spheres of influence, and then reciprocate by fervently interceding for our faith family spread across the globe as they share Christ. This is the call of fervent prayer, it is the work we are called to as followers of Jesus, having the privilege of being called His children. Sister, and know that this word holds an even more precious meaning to me as I type this, may I ask you the same questions I’m asking myself? Are you ready to step into fervency? Are you ready to get serious about this work of fervent prayer on behalf of our family strung across the world, not in random, but strategically by the God who loves us and wants others to know and experience His love? It’s time for me to stop living as if prayer is a Christian nicety. I need to invest, truly with intentionality, in knowing my Savior through prayer, asking Him to teach me by His Spirit what it really is both to intercede and to ask for intercession with faith-filled confidence and specificity. Paul’s model shouldn’t be glossed over, instead, let’s join in with fervency!

2) What is the purpose behind Paul’s prayer request to be rescued? (verse 31)
Recently, my husband and I were on a date discussing areas of growth and stretching in marriage. His words caught me off guard, “I think the next few months will be about me and you really learning what I want.” The look on my face surely expressed my confusion as I managed to ask, “What is it you feel I am missing in knowing you?” “Well, mostly, that I just want you to talk to me, to share honestly with me, and hold me accountable to when I’m not honoring you.” Again, I was confused, but for different reasons. His explanation of me wanting to know him actually translated to him wanting to know me. Ladies, my husband has taught me much about Jesus in our nearly 2 decades of life together, but this recent understanding paired with this specific Scripture study has given a fresh perspective on oneness and unity within the Church. Oneness comes first; everything will be ill-fitted unless unity is primary and others’ interests are ahead of our own. “For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.” (Romans 12:3) This foundation of genuine, tenderhearted unity, bathed in humility, should be the directive for our prayers and our face-to-face interactions with all believers. Perhaps the reason many of our prayers lack the answers we seek is precisely because our motives have run amok in the sands of self-focus and comfortability. Pray fervently, Sisters, pray for our brothers and sisters who suffer, ask for prayer if you are suffering, but ask the Spirit to reveal and root out any motives that reflect a heart of selfish ambition. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3) 

3) What is the purpose of Paul’s benediction? (verse 33)
Promised peace and confidence in waiting for it, despite the contents of our everyday lives, may at first seem ridiculous to even consider. But, wait. Suppose the Lord was carrying around peace and confidence with Him everywhere you are, waiting to give them, but you never sat down with Him to really pray in all honesty and gut-wrenching transparency. He’s there. His peace is waiting. But the access route may be different than what you’ve been trying, because most of us don’t first consider a joyful heart and thankfulness to be the pathway to peace. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (…) Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7, emphasis mine) Or maybe, you’ve felt too self-successful to even need divine peace right now. Explore your self-sufficiency, is there room for humility there to sit with the God of the Universe? Do you ache for peace inside the suffering? Take up the invitation to sit with the Lord, open His word, and ask the Spirit to bring you deep wells of joy in Him. Are you awash with delight in the gracious gift of God’s peace? Revel in this depth, and learn to sit longer with Jesus. Paul knew Jesus deeply and personally, as a result he could confidently know beyond all doubt that the peace of God was near and accessible, and he blessed his audience with this Spirit-led benediction. Consider who you can bless by praying a benediction of God’s peace over them!

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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!

Digging Deeper Community

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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Questions 2 Can You Hear Me?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 88
James 5:12-16
Ephesians 1:3-14
Romans 8:18-27

Questions 2, Day 5

I stuck my neck out and asked him on a date.

Because we are living in the 21st century, I sent a Facebook message, threw my phone across the room, and waited. I waited for what felt like years . . . but it was honestly less than 24 hours.

I remember thinking, “Did he get it? Has he read it? It says ‘read,’ but what if he accidentally opened it but didn’t see it and now he doesn’t know it’s there?! What if he never sees it?”

The waiting can be the hardest part of asking. 

While I eventually heard back from him, and we went on one pleasant date, never to see each other again, prayer has always been a varying iteration of this Facebook message scenario. We ask God to intervene in the big moments and the little decisions, to provide guidance and discernment, and for Him to heal our broken bodies, hearts, and spirits. We launch our prayers into the vast, unknown universe, believing God has the power to take care of it all, and hoping He hears us.

And then we wait.

In the waiting, we are left to wonder if our prayer got lost along the way. Perhaps God heard us, but He’s too busy working on all of the other prayers He’s received in His prayer inbox. We wonder if prayer even works as we stand exposed in the silence.

When I look back on my prayers, there are moments when God made everything so clear it would have slapped me across the face. But there are many other times when I am left wondering if my prayers even reach His heart. These prayers become deep longings in my soul as I come before God time and time again and tap my metaphorical prayer microphone, asking, “Excuse me, is this thing on?”

What are the longing prayers of your heart, prayers you’ve asked God to answer and then just . . . waited . . . in the dust of deafening silence?

While we hang around for answers, perhaps letting our emotions get the better of us as we spill out all that’s flooding our hearts into words lofted towards the Almighty, we may feel, like David, as if we’re in a pit of despair.  It’s in this murky space of volatile emotion paired with desperate need, we must remember to take a deep breath and ask ourselves,
“What is true?”

Where else can we go to find absolute truth but Scripture? God’s word tells us,

When we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him. (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

What when we ask, we shall receive; when we seek, we will find, and when we knock, the door will be opened to us. (Luke 11:9-10)

God hears the prayer of a righteous person. (Psalm 34:17)

As we settle into the unshakeable truths of Scripture, we remember God has already revealed Himself to us through the life of His son, Jesus, who came to earth to stand in the gap of the sin separating us from the Father. Jesus connects us back to God through His life, death, and resurrection, and now we have access to the Holy Spirit, who is God dwelling inside of us! Through the Holy Spirit, we have a God who more than just hears our prayers; He is intimately living within us, knowing and feeling every groaning cry that burdens our hearts.

It isn’t always easy to focus on truth in our prayers. Since the beginning of time, the allure of the world has been working to pull our hearts, minds, and attention away from God. Sin and suffering have afflicted us at every turn. But even (and especially) in the midst of your suffering and your pleading, let your prayers pour out to God. He cares and yes, He is listening.

Friend, may I pray for your heart today as you ask God if He can hear you?

Father God, I pray for my sister today as she comes before You, wondering if You can hear her prayer. Time and time again, she has come before You and laid her heart out before You. In the chaos of the world around her, she has been unable to hear Your response to her heart and she is left wondering if You are listening. 

Holy Spirit, open her heart and her mind to how You are working in, through, and around her, that your glory might be revealed. Give her comfort in knowing You are present with her and dwelling in her. Thank You for Your son, Jesus, who revealed Who You are to her and connected her heart to You and to us, as sisters in Christ. In Jesus’ Holy and Precious Name, Amen. 

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Questions 2 Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Questions 2!

Pause IV Day 6 Intently Waiting

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Pause IV, Day 6

Within the intensity of a deeply committed relationship, our hearts are laid bare with frank vulnerability. Raw emotion, profound passion, heartache, and love mingle together and are offered in plain sight of the other. Trust has long been built over time. There is no need to hide behind self-defense or barbed attacks. Love and trust hold up the foundation where both parties stand, bound up in unity.

Here, in the sweetness of a long-time journey with the Lord God in intimate relationship, Habakkuk stands before the Lord. His heart is grieved. His insides wail at the atrocities being committed against a holy God by his own nation. He begs the Lord to mend the broken.

Then the Lord speaks, and Habakkuk writhes in anguish at His answer.

Bluntly, again in context of their shared relationship, Habakkuk wrestles in plain sight with the Lord. How could He use an enemy nation to bring retribution against Israel? Can the Righteous One choose to act so far outside Habakkuk’s limited line of sight and perspective? Will Habakkuk still trust the Lord?

The insides of his heart have now been verbalized, the air hangs heavy between Habakkuk and the Lord. Habakkuk leans in, intent on listening.

He is confident the Lord heard him.
He knows the Lord will answer.
He stands ready to hear.
He watches like a guard on a high tower, waiting for the slightest whisper from the Spirit of God.
He is not in a hurry.
Habakkuk intently waits to hear from his Lord.

What a beautiful pattern for us to follow in our own walk with the Lord God!
His invitation for depth and authentic sharing of our hearts is just as available to us as it was to Habakkuk. In fact, He longs for just such an exchange. Will you trust Him? Begin investing deeper in your relationship with God by spending time in His Word consistently. Be honest before Him.

And intently wait for His response.

Today's Invitation

1) Read Habakkuk 2:1 and answer these 3 questions in your journal:
a) What do these verses tell me about God and His character?
b) What do these verses tell me about others and the world around me?
c) What do these verses tell me about me and my heart?

2) Close your time by praying for these truths to take root in your heart and for the Holy Spirit to remind you and teach you more about these things today.

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Habakkuk 2:1

I will stand at my guard post
and station myself on the lookout tower.
I will watch to see what he will say to me
and what I should reply about my complaint.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause IV Week 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 Pause IV!

The GT Weekend – Remade Week Two

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The GT Weekend

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

Journal With Us!

Journal Prompts

1) There are many descriptive phrases in Psalm 51. Go back through a make a list of all of them. Take note of the ways in which God is actively renewing you despite you bringing your sin before him. He could never love you more or less based on your actions. He simply loves all of you. Be real with Him; the reward will be great communion with Him.

2) One easy way to work on having Spirit filled reactions to people in your life is by spending time in the Word; reading, studying and memorizing it. How do you plan to do that this week/year? Write to us at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com or share with a friend for some accountability.

3) What does the Gospel mean to you? Try to explain the Gospel to another believer this week in 2 minutes as practice, even if it’s your child or spouse. The more comfortable you become with what the Gospel is, the easier it’ll be to share with a non-believer in the moment.

Worship In Song

Music Video: Jeremy Riddle’s “Fall Afresh”

Pour Out Your Heart

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

Father, I echo David’s prayer and ask You to create in me a clean heart, restore the joy of my salvation, grant me a willing spirit. Show me how to walk even closer to You. Lord I want to lean in and listen for Your whisper, remake me to more closely resemble You.

Pray With Us!

In everything, with praise and thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God!
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Journey With Us

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