His

The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched VII Week 2

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!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Deborah found herself in a position of power, leadership, and extreme influence. She did not ask for, nor was she seeking this position. Like anyone in leadership can attest to, positions such as Deborah’s are heavy. The potential for influence, whether good or bad, is significant. As you think through where you are in life right now, look through the lens of influence the Lord has given you. Many times, we don’t recognize the platforms we have been given. We can easily discount the relationships around us as being unimportant or we feel our influence is insignificant because we measure it by numbers. Whether you are a mother, a neighbor, a business woman, a grandmother, or a wife, your influence matters! God has given you your platforms as a means of preaching His gospel! How will you leverage your position to further His kingdom?!

2) Nicodemus came to Jesus undercover in the middle of the night so as not be seen by his peers. He had real questions about what it meant to follow Jesus, and he needed answers. What are the questions you have about faith? About God? What are your fears about following Jesus wherever He might lead you? Make some space today to write these out, even if it’s just for 5 minutes tucked away in your closet. The Lord loves your honesty! Maybe you are in a solid place with your questions, and you’ve already wrestled through your heavy thoughts. What are you doing with the answers and hope you have found? Are you available and intentionally investing in others who have questions? Make a list of people the Lord has given you connection with, pray about how to take next steps in investing spiritually with them!

3)  Loretta, a real overseas missionary, who has dedicated her entire life to telling other people about Jesus, began her journey with just one small step of obedience. God didn’t show up one day and ask her to move to a hut in Africa and eat rice the rest of her days. He had crafted her heart to fill a specific mission, and when He had led her heart to just the right spot of surrender, He began revealing his plan one small step at a time. It’s easy to look at the end of a picture and decide right away we can’t do that. But, suppose, like Loretta, God is calling you, but the picture He has in mind, is not what you fear? Suppose He knows your heart because He intentionally crafted it to live on mission for Him? Journal out your own prayer to God I honest transparency as you think about where He is leading you next.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Romans 10:1-2 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved! For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Prayer Journal
Father, my heart breaks when I consider those around me on all sides, everywhere I go, who do not know You. It’s easy for me to look at the outside, to see a good person, and make the assumption that they have a saving relationship with You. Even if I am only at home, my children, or neighbors are around me, who may not yet know the full glorious truth of the freedom and forgiveness You alone offer through the sacrifice of Your son on our behalf.  Help me to see with Your eyes. Teach my heart to be more sensitive to Your Spirit as You lead me to engage with others and speak intentionally of Your truth. Make me ready to speak and make my heart bold in Your love, not cowering in fear of people. Stir me to action for those who don’t know You, but who may feel they do because they are relying on their own good deeds to save them instead of Your complete righteousness. Open my eyes specifically to those You want me to invest in for eternity!

Worship Through Community

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

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

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sketched VII Day 2 Being His: 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 Being His!

The Questions

1) What is the building from God and how does it relate to being naked and clothed? (verses 1-5)

2) How do tents and buildings relate to being clothed and naked?

3) How does the discussion of tents, buildings, naked, and clothed relate to God’s “purposes”? (verses 5-15)

2 Corinthians 5:1-15

For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. 2 Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 since, when we have taken it off, we will not be found naked. 4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

6 So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If one died for all, then all died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

Original Intent

1) What is the building from God versus the earthly tent? (verses 1-5)
The citizens of Corinth were well known for their incredible architecture. Their magnificent acropolis, the most popular of all then-current city-states, towered over 2000 feet tall and had access to inexhaustible springs, making it a prime location for safety during times of battle. Corinth also boasted several sprawling temples to false gods like Apollo and Poseidon, but the most popular temple was reserved for Aphrodite, the goddess of love and fertility. Ancient Corinthians had much to boast of regarding their advanced architecture, all built by their own hands. To live in a tent at the time of the Paul and his Corinthian friends meant one thing, you weren’t staying here long. No one would consider living in a makeshift tent in the magnificent city of Corinth; it only meant you were traveling through with no plans to take up residency for long. Paul recognized these realities to the Corinthian citizens, and used these cultural relevancies to point to the greatest architect, God. When Paul speaks of our “earthly tent”, he’s referring to our bodies while we live here on earth. These are the bodies we live and breathe in; we use our bodies to eat, drink, run, and laugh, but these are temporary and will one day be destroyed by physical death.

2) How do tents and buildings relate to being clothed and naked?
When this “tent” of a body is destroyed, one would get the picture that the “soul” of the person would be naked with no housing to protect it and dwell within. Paul says when the tent of the believer is destroyed by physical death, we have no fear of being naked without a dwelling, for God has provided an eternal building. This building, standing in contrast to the ornate Corinthian temples, is not made by human hands at all, rather, this building will last for eternity and is made by God Himself. This “building” isn’t a literal brick and mortar structure, rather it carries the idea of “a place to dwell and call home”. This is the Christian’s dwelling place forever after our earthly bodies die. The main focus on this eternal home is not what the structure looks like, but rather its incorruptible, everlasting quality that stands in sharp contrast to the temporary, sufferable, and half-clothed “tent” of our physical bodies as we live out our days on earth. Paul takes his metaphor a step farther by telling the Corinthians, that even in our earthly “tents” we are still naked, at least partially, even though it looks like we have a dwelling place. While we live in our “tents”, we experience grief, loss, pain, sickness, suffering, and persecution, all of which make the believer long to be fully clothed. We long for home, the eternal dwelling that is incorruptible and made by God rather than flawed human hands. This idea would have been easy for Corinthians to connect with because they viewed someone who lived in a tent as only having a temporary dwelling. Who wouldn’t rather live in strong, sturdy Corinthian-like structure than a flimsy, temporary tent?! A tent may be adequate most of the time, but the longing for a permanent dwelling would be strong! Paul says when the believer’s tent is destroyed it’s as if Life itself has swallowed up Death entirely in one fell swoop. For the Christian, the one who is safe in the salvation of Christ, there is no real “death”, only a physical changing of dwelling places.

3) How does the discussion of tents, buildings, naked, and clothed relate to God’s “purposes”? (verses 5-8)
While it’s deeply comforting to know God not only sees we are “partially clothed” on earth while we live in our earthly bodies, but has prepared a permanent, loving solution to our movement from physical bodies to eternal dwelling, there is so much more to this passage. Verse 5 serves as a transition point for Paul as he describes that this loving forethought of God is anchored in one mind-blowing reality. He purposefully crafted our bodies to die and our souls to transition to our forever home, to fulfill His purpose of dwelling with us for eternity! His heart passion is to be with us! Just as a dear friend or loving, passionate spouse deeply desires to spend time with us simply because they love us and enjoy the company of our presence, so is this the case with the God of the universe except on an infinitely grander scale! In the Garden of Eden at the very beginning of time, God’s intentional design was to dwell with His creation, especially Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:8) Sin made that impossible, so He has been pursuing us ever since with His grand plan of restoring a relationship with us so we can once again experience what it is to dwell with Him in pure delight. (Ezekiel 37:27-26)While we are in the tent of our bodies, while we are partially clothed, while we are waiting for our forever home, He graciously gives us the “down payment” of all that is yet to come when we go Home by giving us the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of us. (Ephesians 1:13-14) God is dwelling within every believing heart who has fully surrendered their will to Christ’s. This is the proof that we are His. His Spirit is our mark of being eternally adopted (Ephesians 1:5) and is our constant reminder that this painfully broken tent will one day be swallowed up by the fullness of Life With God, never again to be interrupted by sin and its devastating effects. Praise God for this indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Everyday Application

1) What is the building from God and how does it relate to being naked and clothed? (verses 1-5)
It’s easy to forget that this life is only the precursor for the life that will never end. It’s easy to put our trust in our everyday successes, and point to what we can build with our own hands as being the summit peak of our existence. The cute outfit, the well-behaved child, the flawless performance of a business deal, strong relationships, or amazing life-experiences can all distract us, keeping our eyes on the fleeting, temporary, and very quickly fading moments of now. What might shift in your actions, thoughts, words, and how you viewed the opportunities around you in relationships if you were looking through the lens of “eternity is coming, now is fleeting”? Would you invest more deeply? Where would you choose to eliminate activities because they are meaningless? Where would you slow down and create more space even at the expense of something else “important”? Take time this week to prayerfully ask the Lord to help you train your eyes, mind, heart, and hands to live for eternity rather than the temporary!

2) How do tents and buildings relate to being clothed and naked?
To have our brokenness, our shame, and all of our pain, emotional, physical, and relational, swallowed up and cast away, only to be replaced by a life more full and complete and never ending than we could possible comprehend….what a true gift!!! Where is the brokenness around you threatening to overwhelm you? Where are you tempted to believe that “now” is all we have? Don’t give up!! All of eternity is coming! Yes, we groan, just as Paul said we do, because this tent of a physical body and physical life brings disappointment deep and wide, but this is not as good as it gets! Fix your eyes not on what is seen around you, but on what is unseen. Anchor your heart in the unshakeable truths of Christ and all that is to come, and keep pressing onward. Connect with another trusted Christ-following friend this week and commit to encouraging one another to specifically keep following Jesus and focus on the eternal rather than the temporal!

3) How does the discussion of tents, buildings, naked, and clothed relate to God’s “purposes”? (verses 5-8)
Paul makes it clear in this passage that God’s intended purpose is to live with us perfectly for eternity. He longs to dwell with us so we can mutually delight in having fellowship with Him and with others who have trusted in Christ for their salvation. (1 John 1:3) As absolutely remarkable as this truth is, Paul calls the attention of the Corinthians to another strong reality in verses 10-11, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore….we persuade others”! The precious gift of eternal life in a “building” that will never be destroyed and the richness of literally dwelling with the God of the Universe forever is meant to motivate us to t e l l  o t h e r s of this radical love! We are meant to persuade others by our love for them, our love for Jesus, and our bold willingness to share the gospel with our words so all can experience this dwelling with God for eternity. It is His love for us, and for all people, that motivates us to engage with everyone in our circle of influence about the freedom and rich love of knowing and living with God forever! (verses 14-15) Who have you told? Who will you tell? Who will you intentionally begin cultivating a relationship with so they can know God like you do? Eternity is at stake! Go, friend, SHARE truth with grace!

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Sketched VII Day 1 Being His

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Corinthians 5:1-15
Exodus 3:1-15
Isaiah 43:1-7

Sketched VII, Day 1

It was January of 2016.
My heart was learning to love Jesus more each day, but the road was full of potholes with a constant up and down scaling of mountainous terrain. My marriage of 14 years was equally as roller-coaster-like. We still hadn’t found a rhythm of love and communication since walking down the aisle, giving birth to 6 children, and holding the ashes of our baby.

I loved writing with a passion so great it hurt my heart not to write, but again, I couldn’t find the rhythm to do what I dreamed. Kids, babies, laundry, dishes, homeschooling, church, marriage, tension, h a r d.

Raw footage from my journal in December of 2015…
So now, I’m curling into bed in the room where we’ve spent the last 52+ hours fighting.
Lost.
Alone.
Unknown.
Feeling as if I’ve aged 10 years in 2 days.

Tomorrow will come. I just don’t know how to face it.
how to look in their eyes.
how to look at the mess
in the kitchen
in our marriage
how to fix any of it…

Backing up farther to November of 2014, my marriage thick with perpetual conflict, God whispered, calling me to know Him better. Deeper. Every Single Day.
I had emphasized to others about regular, daily quiet time with God for years, but I was terribly inconsistent myself. A couple days here followed by weeks without reading my Bible. I blamed it on everyone and everything else except me. God called me out of my aimlessness, asking if I truly wanted to follow.

Did I?
Did I really want to follow Jesus?

His Spirit moved my heart to YES, so with blank journal pages before me and Bible open, I tentatively stepped forward in surrender.
Every Day. No more room for apathy.

It was horribly awkward at first, but inexplicably, as days turned to weeks and months, the Lord became everything to me. I was alive, despite the brokenness around me. It thrilled me! A few weeks in, the Lord’s voice came again, “Pray for your husband and write it down, every day.” I remember the moment clearly, and my heart seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for God to recant. Of course, He didn’t, He only waited for my response.

Would I follow?
Did I even want to say yes?

Before I could begin telling God why I couldn’t, the Spirit within me moved me to YES. I opened a new journal, hesitant at first, writing casual and surface-level prayers, until the Spirit groaned within me, urging my heart into full transparency as I interceded on behalf of my husband, and asking God to change my heart.

I tell you these backstories because it would be easy to begin sharing stories of how God has used Gracefully Truthful to reach women, to encourage them, and to bring about depth and intimacy in their relationship with God.

In the telling, it could look like I had made this happen.
But, I did not.
I know the truth.
I know this journey, this ministry, is not, nor has it ever been, about me.
Because I am utterly broken without my Savior.

Even my Yes to follow has always been an act of God from inside me.

January 2016.
Disarray everywhere.
With the one exception of that solid ground space in my heart where
Jesus had become more necessary than breathing,
Here, Lord asked if I would follow again.

It came in a rush of ideas and dreams.
It was well after midnight and I was still jotting down ideas of what this next step could be as I huddled under blankets in my bed. My heart beat wildly as the Spirit leapt within me, opening my eyes to next steps. Journey Studies, women studying the Bible for themselves, truth being discovered and lived out, the Spirit calling women to life from the grave, equipping women, holding out the life of Scripture with gut-honest transparency, redemption stories, living in biblical community, and the thoughts kept spinning.

The next day, I pulled in three of my closest friends and asked if they would be in for this crazy ride, wherever it led and whatever it meant. They prayed with me, they gave wise counsel, we held hands, and when God asked if we would follow, He had already prepared our YES.

Saying yes isn’t glamorous.
And it really, truly isn’t about us.
It’s about obedient surrender.

Saying yes to following Jesus will always, always come with a price.
This particular yes has cost my countless nights of sleep, evenings lazily watching TV, precious time with my children, and space for hundreds of other activities. This follow has brought me to tears and frustration, tension in my marriage, and so many moments of wanting to walk away.

It has also cost me my apathy.
While following Jesus will always require sacrifice, it will also burn up the impurities in your life you never even recognized.
This is perhaps, God’s greatest goal in asking for our yes, because it means we will become more like Jesus in the process, bringing Him more glory.

With the apostle Paul, let it be said of me,
Since I know what it is to fear the Lord, I am trying to persuade you to follow Him as well. What I am on the inside is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to you.
I am nothing without Christ.
I am not commending myself to you, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of God’s work in me. For if I am out of my mind, it is for God. It is Christ’s love that is compelling me to follow Him because I know this above all else: Because Jesus died for all, all those who are alive should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised to give them life. (2 Corinthians 5:11-15, my paraphrase)

Let my story urge you forward, Daughter of the Most High.
Not into doing great things for God, but for being a delighted over daughter as you enjoy His presence. In that precious place, His own Spirit will teach you to follow,
and to rest while you trust Him in your obedience.

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

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

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 Sketched VII 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 Sketched VII!

Esther Day 5 In The Details

2 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 2:19-23
Matthew 10:28-31
2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Esther, Day 5

I’ve always felt a special connection with Esther. Maybe it was the Bible study I did in middle school, or the movie I saw with my best friends as a young teenager, or maybe the tattoo I have from her story: “for such a time as this” from when I was in Kenya. (You bet your bottom dollar I got a tattoo in Africa and lived to tell about it!)

For whatever reason, Esther and her story have always held a special place in my heart, so writing about her and God’s redemption story in this book of the Bible feels second nature to me, as if I’m typing out my own life description here.

One detail that has always captured me about Esther, is how God’s name isn’t mentioned even once in the entire book. An entire book in the Bible without one mention of God’s holy name?! Yes! But His silence amplifies His presence.
Here, in absence of His written Name, we catch a glimpse of how He works through minute details and His people to bring about His redemption story.

In one brief recording, we see God’s perfect timing and attention to detail to save His people. Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gates when he heard of a plan to kill King Ahasuerus. Two of his eunuchs were angry with the king and plotted to kill him.
God, in His intricate attention to detail, placed Mordecai at the gate where these eunuchs ‘just so happen’ to discuss their plan.
Mordecai would ‘just so happen’ to have an “in” with Esther, who was now Queen, and told her what he’d overheard and the King’s life was saved!
Then the King would ‘just so happen’ to ensure this was recorded in the book of the chronicles, which would later play a tremendous role in promoting Mordecai.

Maybe this little rabbit trail of a story doesn’t seem important, but it is.
Because nothing is wasted with the Almighty.

Mordecai was later honored for life-saving act, which would become a tipping point for a man called Haman, whose goal was to eradicate every Jew.
Like divinely placed dominoes, God then used King Ahasuerus to help save the Jews from annihilation. Which, of course, he needed to be alive to do!

The book of Esther so obviously points us to the cross, when God would piece together so many small, seemingly insignificant details to ultimately save His people again…
This time, however, that salvation would not be for Jews alone, but for all people across all time.

Just like it was so easy to believe darkness had won when Jesus died on the cross, it may appear like darkness would win in Esther’s story as well.
The king was to be killed.
The Jewish people would be destroyed.
Darkness would win!
But our God works in the details.

Jesus was to be killed.
His disciples were too afraid to show their faces.
Christianity would die.
Darkness would win!
But our God works in the details.

You and I are dead because of our sin.
We have no hope for earning our way out of Hell.
Our destiny is separation from God.
Darkness would win!
But our God works in the details.

He’s in the details as you’re reading this Journey Study, as you pick up your Bible, as you connect with someone who loves Jesus, as you are encouraged by a friend, as you encounter God in the tiniest whispers.
Because our God hand-crafted the details to point you to His heart of love and redemption.

Nothing is wasted.
Darkness will never win over Light

Esther became the new queen.
Details.

Mordecai helped save the king.
Details.

Esther boldly told the king of Haman’s plot to kill the Jews.
Details.

With so many more details intertwined throughout the entire book (and really, the entire Bible), how can it not be the hand of our Mighty Creator?

Does this theme feel new to you?
Do you ever wonder where God could possibly be in the midst of the darkness that seems to be winning in your own life? I’ve wondered, too. 

He’s there. I promise He is.
He’s teaching us patience, perseverance, and trust as we wait for His story of redemption to unfold.

He is in the details, even when He is silent.
He’s simply giving room for His presence to be magnified,
so one day we can look back and say,
“You were there, God. You were in it all.” 

Darkness will never overcome.
The God of the details has already won!


Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

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 Esther 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 Esther!

Esther Day 2 Known & Loved: 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 Known & Loved!

The Questions

1) How does this passage reflect the idea of being “known and loved” from Esther’s story?

2) What is implied by giving specific location directions in verses 5-6?

3) How are those who “bear (His) name” different from those who don’t? Are there people who aren’t created for His glory? (verse 7)

Isaiah 43:1-7

Now this is what the Lord says—
the one who created you, Jacob,
and the one who formed you, Israel—
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are mine.
2 I will be with you
when you pass through the waters,
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not overwhelm you.
You will not be scorched
when you walk through the fire,
and the flame will not burn you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior.
I have given Egypt as a ransom for you,
Cush and Seba in your place.
4 Because you are precious in my sight
and honored, and I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you
and nations instead of your life.
5 Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’
Bring my sons from far away,
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who bears my name
and is created for my glory.
I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.”

Original Intent

1) How does this passage reflect the idea of being “known and loved” from Esther’s story?
This passage is precious to many believers, including me, because it clearly spells out God’s dramatic love for His children. While it was originally intended for a strictly Jewish audience, we know from the New Testament that God’s special, redeeming love extends to all who call on His Name, whether Jew or Gentile. (Romans 10:12-13) Context is everything when studying Scripture, and when we back up into the previous chapter, this message of love becomes even more radical. The Lord calls out Israel’s intentional deafness towards God’s call to repentance. God calls them blind, as they stubbornly refuse to see Him as their only God. The refuse to acknowledge Him or His righteousness, clinging instead to their own love of idols, self, and sin. A poor trade indeed! Chapter 42 closes out with God pouring out His just, righteous anger on Israel for their prideful sin, but still they refused to change. Immediately following that dramatic scene of outright, face-slapping rebellion, the Lord God astoundingly speaks, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine”. (verse 1) Truly unfathomable!! God not only loves Israel with unrelenting love, He knows them intimately, sees every hateful sin, and still chooses to love.

2) What is implied by giving specific location directions in verses 5-6?
After King Solomon (King David’s son) died and his son, King Rehoboam, took the throne, Israel split into Northern Kingdom (Israel) and Southern Kingdom (Judah). Everything went gradually downhill from there. At the time of Isaiah’s prophetic book, Assyria had already destroyed Israel (Northern Kingdom) in 722BC and all of its inhabitants had been scattered to various regions. No semblance of Israel remained. Isaiah prophesied, and warned, the remaining Jews living in Judah to return to the Lord before they too were obliterated. His warning and prophesies, however, fell on deaf ears (just as noted in our passage today!), and Babylon destroyed Jerusalem (located in Judah) in 586BC and carried off the majority of Jews into exile. Long story short, Jews were scattered in all directions because of their love affair with sinful rebellion. Even so, God speaks tenderly and lovingly to them, letting them know they are His. Isaiah’s prophecy points forward to day when God will bring all exiles back home from wherever they have been scattered. Jews from all directions will be brought home.

3) How are those who “bear (His) name” different from those who don’t? Are there people who aren’t created for His glory? (verse 7)
To get a fuller understanding of this idea of “bearing His name”, we look into the next chapter of Isaiah. Again, the Lord is speaking to His people, telling them not to fear because He has chosen them to be His own people. Isaiah shares the prophecy of a coming time when offspring and descendants will abundantly spring up. The interesting note is how this prophecy for offspring is worded, “This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.” There is a clear choice involved. Though God has already called and chosen the offspring, a choice remains. That choice is ours. God had planned in advance that Christ will come and offer Himself as a sacrifice in our place. He has planned in advance that through Jesus, all will have access to God. God planned in advance that the way of salvation and peace with God would be made available for Jews and Gentiles alike. He also knew the decision to follow Him would be a choice we would each need to make.

Everyday Application

1) How does this passage reflect the idea of being “known and loved” from Esther’s story?
Queen Vashti was superficially loved for her beauty, but her husband neither knew nor valued her heart, so she remained unloved for who she really was. We all like to think we are pretty good people, not flawless, of course, but we do the best we can and make pretty good choices most of the time, right? That would be okay if we were judged on a sliding scale of sin, but we aren’t. One sin is all it takes for us to be declared wholly un-righteous. (James 2:10) This sounds like terrible news until we put it in context of what we learn about God in the passage from Isaiah. He knew Israel’s dirtiest sins from the inside out. There was no sin that escaped the sight of His Holy eyes. Though He knew them, He still loved them. And so, we are safe when we are inside the love of our Holy God. Once we acknowledge our own damming sin, and surrender all of ourselves to the love and forgiveness of God, who died in our place to make just payment for our sin, He loves us with the kind of love outlined here in Isaiah. A love that will not relinquish us to eternal condemnation and separation even though we sin and rebel against Him. Where sin has increased, so God has given grace to increase all the more! (Romans 5:20) Where Vashti was unloved by her husband, she would find complete and perfect love inside the heart of God. So it is with each of us. Where relationships fail, God’s love remains. Where friends or spouse or co-worker or children abandon, wound, or leave us unknown and unloved, God’s love remains constant!

2) What is implied by giving specific location directions in verses 5-6?
As we learn in the New Testament, God’s heart is for all people, not just the Jewish nation. He intentionally grafted in the Gentiles, so all would have a place in His kingdom as His special, dearly loved people. As Isaiah notes, “everyone who bears My name is created for My glory.” “Everyone” literally means “everyone”. Not all choose to live for His glory, not all will surrender to His love for them, and not all will be rescued and brought back home to dwell with Him, but it doesn’t change how that is His heart’s desire. He longs for all people to be saved. (1 Timothy 2:3-4) Those who have heard and answered the call of the Lord to be fully His, will one day be called all together and nothing will hold them back. When Christ returns, all who have trusted in Jesus for salvation through faith alone will be fully redeemed!

3) How are those who “bear (His) name” different from those who don’t? Are there people who aren’t created for His glory? (verse 7)
Though God invites everyone to participate in His kingdom and receive His love, not all will receive that gift. All were created with a specific purpose of reflecting His glory and participating in specific callings and roles inside the Body of Christ, not all will accept that gracious invitation. Because He is a sovereign God, He will never waste a life and will use all people to further His purposes, even if they rebel against Him. In Israel’s case, God used the Assyrian Empire to enact rightly deserved punishment on the Northern Kingdom, even though they hadn’t submitted to God and His ways. For the Southern Kingdom, God used the foreign Babylonian Empire to bring Judah into exile. Farther back in Jewish history, when they were only Hebrews enslaved in Egypt, God used Pharaohs’ hard heart as a platform to display His magnificent power of deliverance for the captives. His purposes will always prevail, but whether we choose to accept His invitation to actively be part of His gracious love towards us is up to us. He will give us the faith needed to say yes, He will supply the grace to give us access to Him, but will we say, “I am the Lord’s”?

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

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 Esther Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Pause 3, Day 10 By Faith

Leave a Comment

Pause 3, Day 10

Hebrews was intended to grab our attention and make a clear, concise, logical claim for why Jesus is exactly Who He claimed to be as fully God and fully man, the only possible sacrifice available to cover our sins and welcome us into a restored relationship with Himself as God.

Because we have been granted 100% full-time access to the presence of God by accepting, through faith, exactly who He is and what He came to do for us, we are given the rich blessing of leaning into Him and learning from His precious character on a continual basis.

As we discover Him, surrendering to Him moment by moment as we learn to trust Him more fully, He transforms us, renews us, and fills us, not only with His purposes for our existence, but also with His Spirit to live vibrantly through us in everyday life!

His Spirit works His purposes out in the messy mayhem of our real lives, and in the process, His kingdom is built on earth as it is in Heaven. What an incredible life!

Be encouraged today as you read the mini-faith stories of believers who set their eyes on the face of the God who loved them and called them into more, and know you too have been called and welcomed into much through faith in Jesus!

Today's Invitation

1) Read through Hebrews 11 out loud today twice. Slowly. Linger over that verse (or verses) that stick out to you, slowing and listening as God’s Spirit speaks to your heart! Choose 1 or 2 to write out on notecards and post them around your house – then post a picture of your reminder cards on Instagram or on our Facebook Community Page. Take the weekend to memorize these and forever hide them in your heart!

2) If you’ve journeyed with us all the way through Pause 3, you’ve almost read the entire book of Hebrews together in community with other sisters across the globe!! Finish well today and carve out some extra time to read chapters 12 and 13, being sure to record your thoughts, prayers, and questions in your journal!

3) Don’t forget about our hand-crafted Spotify playlist! We created it as we prayed over *you*. Put this playlist on repeat this weekend and be reminded of the rich truths God has shown you this week in Pause!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Connect with our community on Facebook!

Join the GT Community on Facebook!

Hebrews 11

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by it our ancestors won God’s approval.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

7 By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful. 12 Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. 14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. 16 But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, 18 the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. 19 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter 25 and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin. 26 For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward.

27 By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible. 28 By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. 29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.

32 And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 2 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 3 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 3!

Captivating Day 14 His Heartbeat: 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 His Heartbeat!

The Questions

1) Verse 9 says “for this reason ‘also’”. What is the “also”?

2) What does this passage teach about the “guts” of prayer?

3) What is absent from Paul’s prayer list and what does this reveal?

Colossians 1:9-14

For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Original Intent

1) Verse 9 says “for this reason ‘also’”. What is the “also”?
Paul, the itinerant preacher who moved across Asia Minor to preach the gospel, plant churches, and then go back and encourage those churches to stay true to the gospel, had never physically visited the brothers and sisters in Colossae, at least not at the time of this writing. Paul had heard of them through another co-laborer in the early church, Epaphras, (verses 7-8) and their work to share Christ was known throughout the “entire (known) world.” (verse 6) Clearly, their love for Christ had caught fire in Colossae, and as is intended by God, was igniting others with its flame as they drew people towards knowing Jesus as Savior. The primary reason Paul and his companions prayed fervently for the church in Colossae was simply because they were fellow believers, followers of the same Jesus Christ who had rescued Paul from his own sin and transformed him with a new life. This was not a random group of people, even though they had never met or even exchanged personal details. They were brothers and sisters in Christ, and that was enough reason to come before the throne on their behalf. (verses 3-5) Adding, however, that these believers were “bearing fruit” in their own lives and simultaneously influencing the world around them (verse 6) through the same extravagant love shown them through Christ’s love, and Paul had even more reason to pray deeply and fervently. Because Paul knew what they were in the middle of, he could pray with laser intentionality. Because Paul could identify with them through his friend, Epaphras, his heart was knit to theirs and he prayed for them.

2) What does this passage teach about the “guts” of prayer?
This prayer from the heart of Paul is so rich in content! A few major highlights include:
1) He prayed consistently. Paul did not pray for the Colossian believers a handful of times and then check them off his prayer list. Because of his personal connection through Epaphras, he marked out time every day to pray for them. (verse 9)
2) He prayed for fullness. Depth of understanding who God is as He reveals Himself through Scripture is core to following Jesus. If we do not properly understand who God is, we have created an idea of Him in our minds that doesn’t line up with Scripture. (verse 9)
3) He prayed for their captivating witness. These believers had already proven to be world changers and influencers for Christ with His winsome love. Paul prayed this would not only increase, but that they would know God’s character better as a result of His work through them. (verse 10)
4) He prayed for their relationship with God. As they grew closer to God, becoming steadily more intimate with His heartbeat of love, Paul knew the outcome would be their own encouragement and delight in relationship with the Lord. They would be strengthened, their hearts would be emboldened, they would be joyful, and they would grow thankful as their hearts were focused ever more intently on the freeing gospel of Jesus Christ! (verses 11-12)
5) He prayed the gospel. Paul knew that everything hinges on the gospel, the freedom it brings, and the hope it points us toward. The gospel is not only for those who don’t know Jesus, it’s for every believer. We need to preach this gospel to ourselves daily, which is exactly why Paul includes it in every letter he wrote and wove it into the prayers he prayed. (verses 13-14)

3) What is absent from Paul’s prayer list and what does this reveal?

Often, what Scripture doesn’t say, is just as important as what it does say. While it’s dangerous to take this line of thinking too far (ridiculous example: the Bible doesn’t specifically say don’t gorge yourself on taco bell tacos after midnight, so it must be a healthy choice!), we can wisely look at what the Bible is silent on as long as we are simultaneously holding that conclusion up to the rest of Scripture to verify its validity. In our western church culture, we are quick to pray for safety and protection and blessing, generally intending monetary blessing and physical protection. While it isn’t wrong to pray for health, safety, and protection because the Lord does care about every aspect of our lives including physical, Paul only notes it in a specific prayer 1 time out his many, many recorded prayers. (3 John 1:2) We never once read of Paul praying monetary blessing over any one or any church. Paul’s main focus in prayer was the gospel unleashed in a believer’s life and their continued, steady spiritual growth through Scripture and the unity of biblical community.

Everyday Application

1) Verse 9 says “for this reason ‘also’”. What is the “also”?
Perhaps you know what it’s like to pray for a group of people you’ve heard about. Maybe it’s another church, maybe it’s a general vicinity like “inner city”, or “unwed mothers”, or the “lost without Jesus” or “persecuted Christians”. Or maybe you were scrolling social media and saw an image of a sick child that broke your heart and you were drawn to pray for them. We want to pray for them, we do pray, but when a prayer need becomes personal, a believer’s heart yearns and aches to pray for them, interceding on their behalf. When it’s your mother, your best friend, your nephew, your child, your pastor, your neighbor….we pray deeply and fervently because our hearts love them in deeper ways. Paul prayed for the believers in Colossae just as he prayed for all the other believers scattered across the known world, but then, on the word of his brother-friend, he ached for them. He wanted to carry them along in prayer, he wanted to encourage them, he literally came alongside them through prayer, even though they’d never met face to face. Write out the names of people or groups who you pray for generally, then narrow it to those you pray for specifically because your heart has been knit to theirs. Spend time intentionally carrying them along this week in prayer, while praising God for the way He builds His Body of Church together!

2) What does this passage teach about the “guts” of prayer?
Paul’s prayer for the Colossian believers provides us with an excellent gauge to assess our own prayer lives. As you read through the “guts” of Paul’s prayer above, push against any tendency to fall into guilt or shame (that’s never the voice of Christ!) or the pitfall of comparison. Instead, look for where the Lord is calling you deeper in relationship with Him. How is He equipping you to boldly stand in the gap and pray deeply, intentionally, and fervently? Look for areas to grow in as well as places you can be encouraged because your heart is already chasing after the Lord’s. And maybe? Maybe the person you first need to pray this kind of regular, consistent, wise, gospel-focused prayer over is yourself. Bring your transparent honesty before the Lord, regardless of what your personal prayer life looks like. Whether your spirit is familiar with the breathing of the Spirit as you move steadily along with His rhythm, praying as He speaks to you, or whether you feel intimidated and clumsy when it comes to prayer or how to even begin. Be encouraged that not even Paul began praying these kinds of prayers immediately; every single one of us is on a faith journey to know Jesus better and grow more intimate with Him! The important step is to take one!

3) What is absent from Paul’s prayer list and what does this reveal?
Given Paul’s very intentional focus in not only this prayer, but in his other recorded prayers in Scripture, we should use the opportunity to thoughtfully (and prayer-fully!) consider the DNA fabric of our common prayers. How often are we actually praying? What are we speaking with the Savior about in those sacred moments with the Holy One? It’s easy to rush in and pray a quick “blessing” for ease or healing or financial relief or safety. Again, it’s not that these prayers are wrong, but if these themes are the major chords in our prayer life, we are missing out on the heartbeat of the Lord God. Long for the Healer more than the healing, for the Giver more than the gift, and for spiritual riches and blessing that come through studying Christ and His Word more than the temporary happiness brought about by financial ease. Begin earnestly praying for these good things and see how much the Lord will pour out Himself on you, those around you, and your local church!

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

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 Captivating 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.

Captivating Day 13 His Heartbeat

4 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 1:7-13
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Revelation 14:6-7

Captivating, Day 13

Our miniature matatu (think African style of a city bus…kind of) bumped up and down and our bodies bounced with it without the constraint of seatbelts. Red dust flew up behind us while some billowed through the windows, filling our nostrils with the ever-present African-dust smell. The chatter of my seven teammates filled the matatu, but I wasn’t hearing them. My senses were in the slums of Kenya, seeing, hearing, smelling, breathing my surroundings, but my heart and my head were somewhere else.
I saw children playing in the streets made of dust, I saw women walking to and fro, and I heard men shouting to one another, but in my mind, the red dust of this town was replaced by red dirt of Southern Utah. Children’s laughter was replaced with the memory of the foster children’s laughter from the camp I’d worked at earlier that year.
Never in my life had I experienced the pull and the weightiness of the world… and I broke. 

As we drove through Kenyan slums, I could literally feel my heart being torn in two, slowly ripping right down the middle. When we arrived at the preschool ministry site for the day, everything came pouring out with deep sorrow. I turned to my leader, Allison, and said, “I don’t know what’s wrong. I’m here, I know I’m here and I’m supposed to be, but I’m so broken for the people in Utah who need Jesus, and I’m aching for the foster children in Kansas City who need redemption. What is wrong with me?”

“Kendra,” she told me gently, “have you ever prayed that God would break your heart for what breaks His?” I slowly nodded my head and squinted my eyes.
“He’s doing that right now.” 

If I was weeping before (which I was), I was weeping harder now.
I didn’t know God’s heart hurt so much for us, and I only had a glimpse.

If we know anything, it’s that our world is shattered and broken.
Spreading the healing hope of the gospel and praying for nations to know the Lord is our urgent mission until Jesus returns. Paul presses the Church to pray for God’s creation in each of his epistles by asking them to pray for other churches, for people in leadership, and for those who are still lost without hope… but, why?

Why do we pour out our hearts in prayer for the
hurting, hungry, desperate, lost, broken people who make up God’s creation?
Because, God… “wants everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4). The Father’s heart is for His Creation.
He longs for us to know His love and be rescued from our sin.

Let us learn from Ezekiel 22:30, where God says He is looking for someone to stand in the gap for their nation, but found no one. We are called to stand in the gap for the nations with the hope of the gospel! Let us, who have the authority to approach the Father’s throne because of Jesus in us, pray for the nations!

Can I be real for a minute? (Ok, ok, I’m always real.)
Sometimes, I feel so overwhelmed with how many people I need to pray for, and how many things I need to pray for, and all the brokenness and lostness and heaviness
that I just don’t pray at all.

I know I need to pray for the nations, for my daughters, for my friends and family, for the people in leadership positions in the Church and in my country, but I don’t always know where to start or what to pray.

I’ve found the best place to begin is rooted in Scripture, following the leading of the Holy Spirit. Read His Word, and be ready to pray whenever and however the Spirit is pressing in.

Pray for the nations’ leaders to be filled with wisdom and be surrounded by wise and godly advisors. Pray for their hearts and ears to listen to wise counsel. (Proverbs 11:14)

Pray for leaders who don’t know Christ to have divine encounters with believers who would point them to salvation. Pray for leaders who are Christians to have steady discipleship pouring into them and that they would have strength to fight the arrows shot at them from the enemy. (Proverbs 2:1-8 and Ephesians 6:12-18)

Pray for unity in the Church in each nation. As each nation writes their own laws and citizens live in ways they feel just, the Church has different struggles in each country. How the Church is being pulled in the United States is entirely different than the struggles for the Church in New Zealand or India. Pray for unity within the Church in each country, and that followers of Christ would base their standards on biblical truth and not what society dictates. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Sisters, sometimes I feel small.
Sometimes I feel like my prayers and voice won’t matter.
Will the Lord really hear my pleading for the underground church in North Korea?
He will.
He does.
And my prayers are pleasing in the sight of the Lord, as are yours.

Ask the Lord to break your heart for what breaks His.
Ask Him to burden your heart for the lost.
You might be surprised who you feel burdened for, but don’t be surprised when He answers your prayer. When He does, take action and pray for the lost, the hurting, the persecuted, the Christians and the non-Christians, then take steps to bring hope to them!

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 Captivating 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 Captivating!

Kaleidoscope Day 10 Un-Annoyed

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 50:15-21
Matthew 5:43-48
I Peter 1:3-4

Kaleidoscope, Day 10

“Is it just me, or is it loud in here?”
I find myself saying this when my students’ noise is louder than usual.
But sometimes, it really is just me.

“I can’t believe he did that!”
“I can’t believe she said that!”
I’ve heard myself say this too.
Maybe my feelings were hurt by another’s actions, but sometimes, if I’m honest, I’m looking for a reason to be upset.

Irritations, annoyances, and hurtful actions are often found staring us in the face. Maybe they show up as a family member pushes our buttons.  Or perhaps it’s a constantly nagging voice, seemingly relentless to attack you.

But the Lord’s voice rises above them, “Love is not irritable or resentful”.
His is a precious voice to me because I know I’ve lived in the land of Irritable and Resentful.
I took up residency there for several years.

Looking back, I was a grouch with a sour disposition.
Anything could set me off.
I could “hold it” until I was alone, but catch me at a bad time, and you might get an earful.

The Lord’s voice whispered this passage, and my heart knew I needed His truth to move me out of Irritable and Resentful.

Other translations say, “Love is not easily provoked” or “Love is not easily angered.”  
That isn’t to say we don’t have hurt feelings, however, it’s a call to consider our response to those feelings.  How quickly do we pick up anger, harsh tones, or sharp words?

I know I’ve regretted my harsh choices; Moses did too.
In Numbers 20:2-13, Moses was a little, well, maybe a lot, irritated.
The people were fighting and complaining (again). There was no water in Maribah.
God, their constant Provider, instructed Moses to speak to the rock and water would come.
But Moses didn’t choose his response well and gave his feelings full reign.
Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses hit it with his staff, choosing his way over the Lord’s.

We may say it wasn’t Moses’ fault, it was the Israelites’ complaining.
But the Israelites didn’t hit the rock, Moses did.
Moses had a choice.
And he chose to live and act from the land of Irritated and Resentful.

When it comes to resentment, other translations say,
“Thinks no evil”, “Does not hold a grudge”, or “Keeps no record of wrong”.
What does this look like in real life?
Do you dwell on the hurt that happened, repeating every detail over and over until YOU have decided what the other person was thinking/saying/doing?
It’s easy to find fault, judge from our perspective, and look for the bad.
I’m guilty.

So was Esau.
Genesis 27 tells the story of Esau and his grudge towards Jacob for stealing his Birthright and tricking him out of his Blessing.  A birthright, usually given to the firstborn son, is our modern-day family inheritance. A blessing could be given to any son, but the oldest, holder of the birthright, usually received a greater blessing.
Jacob, the younger son, had finagled his way to win both of these.
Esau despised his brother for stealing what was intended for him.
Esau held onto resentment, had evil thoughts toward Jacob, and nurtured hatred towards his brother with a desire to kill him. Justified or not, Esau chose to live in the land of Irritable and Resentful for much of his life.

I Corinthians 13:1-3 beautifully defines love, but it also provides a definition of the opposite of love by replacing “love” with “irritable and resentful”.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, and am irritable and resentful,
I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and I have all faith,
so as to remove mountains, but I am irritable and resentful, I am nothing.
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but I am irritable and resentful,
 I gain nothing.”

Ouch, when I read it like that, it makes me want to love others better!

Both irritation and resentment grow over time. When someone says or does something a little irritating or a little hurtful, we might easily let it go.
But if the offense repeats again and again, it becomes easier to dwell on it for longer periods.
We might even gossip about it.
Before we know it, we get snappy and mad.
Like Esau and Moses, when we allow resentment and irritation to grow, it becomes easy to let our feelings control our actions.

Love is the opposite of allowing life’s irritations and hurts to control our lives.
Love calls us out of the land of Irritable and Resentful.

Hannah had good reason to be irritated as someone in her life constantly provoked her. (I Samuel 1:6)
The Lord calls out, “Love is not easily irritated….love is patient.”
While our insides may scream frustration, Hannah modeled an example for us we can all learn from.
She prayed in the middle of her distress. (1 Samuel 1:10)

Joseph had every reason to hold a grudge as his brothers hated him, plotting to kill him.  (Genesis 37:18-20) Eventually, as God moved in Joseph’s life, Joseph chose forgiveness for his brothers instead of retaliation. God’s love changed Joseph because His love doesn’t live in the land of Irritable and Resentful. If God’s love lived there, none of us could stand before Him as we have all sinned against Him!

God calls us to love just as He loves when He laid down His life for us, even while we were His enemies.
His love abides in the land of Gentle, Kind, and Good.
His love forgives, even in the face of irritation.
His love intentionally chooses un-annoyed.

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

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 Kaleidoscope Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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