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The GT Weekend ~ Calling Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) What is your “why” as a follower of Christ? As we consider the magnitude of our eternal blessing of eternity in the presence of God, everything else in life seems to fade in comparison. When we grasp the depth of this truth, we ought to be stirred to invite others to share in the blessing with us regardless of any struggles we may experience as we share. When you read this study, did a name jump to your mind of someone you want to share Christ with? Maybe you have a friend who is far from God or someone who has drifted away from your church body in the last few months, realizing she doesn’t really miss the Lord. Maybe there is a college student you know who is struggling to reconcile her faith and her doubt. Set up a time to get together with this friend with the express purpose of sharing your faith and how God is working in your life. Commit to pray through Ephesians 3:14-21 for your friend every day leading up to your appointment. If you are struggling to come up with a name, have a conversation with God in your journal about what would keep you from setting this kind of appointment and ask Him to send someone into your life with whom you could share the gospel.

2) In Ephesians 4:1, Paul urges the Ephesians to live in a manner worthy of their call. Those who have been called to follow Jesus have the honor, privilege, and responsibility to live focused on God, becoming the people He wants them to be. By practicing spiritual disciplines, we can learn and grow in our faith so we can walk in a worthy manner. In Galatians 5:19-23, we see two lists of behavior patterns and character traits to help us visualize and grasp what our way of living ought (and ought not) look like. Take some time to read these two lists again. Did any traits from the first list stand out to you as ways you have been living and need to change? Honestly evaluate your life before the Lord and write down the specific ways you have been living outside of a manner worthy of your calling. Repent of those things, and ask God to help you walk in a new way. As you look at the second list, consider how you have grown in your walk. Name a specific fruit of the Spirit God has developed in you. Write down a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the work He has done in your life.

3) The book of Ephesians talks frequently about living in unity with the body of Christ. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, we become a part of a new family, the family of God. With this new family comes a new set of expectations and a new way of living. This new way of living can only be authentic when it comes from the Holy Spirit working in our lives, changing us from the inside out. We can try to force outward actions, but true change can only come from imitating Christ and allowing Him to change our inner selves. Where in your life have you been forcing an outward change without submitting your heart attitudes to the Lord? Take some time to write a prayer asking God to reveal the heart attitudes you are holding onto that need His redemptive work. As you see those attitudes in your life, confess them and ask for His changing power in your life. Take part in your spiritual family by telling a trusted friend what you are struggling with and asking her to pray with you for true and lasting life change.

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 Ephesians 3:20-21 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer Journal
You, oh Lord, are able to change lives. You have come down from Your holy hill and made a way for Your people to be united to You and be one in You. You have given Your children great gifts and blessed us with a new way of living. Help me, merciful Father, when I fall short. Search me and reveal the ways I am trying to fix myself or make myself better without relying on Your power and transforming work. Help me to leave behind my old way of life, my fleshly desires, and my sinful tendencies. Make my heart soft to the spiritual fruit You are growing in my life. Help me to live my life so others see Your changing work. Thank You for the many ways you have already changed me. Thank You for setting me free from my old ways of life and for bringing renewal to my relationships. You have shown up for me in ways I could never have imagined. Give me courage to speak your truth to those around me, so they may also experience the life-changing work You do every day.

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

The GT Weekend ~ Blessed Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Hungry and happy. Lord, teach me, please, to long for this state of being. Keep before my eyes how little I know, and have experienced with You, compared to all You are and all You have for me. Keep my heart hungry to feast upon You with insatiable longing. Turn my eyes from lesser loves; let me love them less and less until they no longer pull me in with their lucrative cravings. Make space this weekend to slow down to a place of complete stillness. Maybe a dark closet. Maybe a walk outside with no other distractions. Or maybe it’s just closing the bathroom door on yourself and b r e a t h i n g. In and out, slowing yourself, and praying, asking the Spirit to create a deep craving hunger inside you for Him. Beg Him to show you His glory and speak truth over you. Be hungry and happy.

2) The mercy Jesus spoke of in the beatitudes goes much deeper than loving compassion for someone or their situation. His mercy moves in to another’s circumstance, holds their hand, weeps while they weep, grieves while they grieve, and sits beside them in their suffering. The sweetest gift is given to those who are merciful to others, they are shown mercy. Tears fill my eyes just thinking of the vast kindness offered to us by our Savior in this! As we live out His merciful love to others, our God promises to show us the beauty of His deep mercy to us. Who is the Lord leading you to be merciful towards? Don’t close your box in and only consider those who you naturally love; where is the Father stretching you to be merciful? Know that, as you do, the Lord will shower His mercy upon you!

3) When I was a younger student of the Bible, I would read many passages with similar ideas to this one from Psalm 24:3-5, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord…stand in His holy place? Only those with clean hands and a pure heart…who has no deceit…He will receive blessings from the Lord and…salvation.” I would leave God’s Word feeling sick to my stomach, because I knew I could never be “one of those” who ascended the mountain to be with the Lord. No deceit? A pure heart? Clean hands? Shame would flood me with sharp realization of how deeply I was stained with my own sin. BUT GOOD NEWS! Jesus came to take ALL my sin and shame and do the miraculous, DECLARE ME RIGHTEOUS! Because of Jesus, I can ascend to be with the Lord. I have clean hands. I have a pure heart, because of Jesus Christ, my Mighty Rescuer! What sin and shame have you been carrying for far too long? Turn to the One who died to free you and elevate you with His righteousness when you humbly admit your need for a Savior!

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 Isaiah 29:14-16 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Therefore, I will again confound these people
with wonder after wonder.
The wisdom of their wise will vanish,
and the perception of their perceptive will be hidden.
15 Woe to those who go to great lengths
to hide their plans from the Lord.
They do their works in the dark,
and say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”
16 You have turned things around,
as if the potter were the same as the clay.
How can what is made say about its maker,
“He didn’t make me”?
How can what is formed
say about the one who formed it,
“He doesn’t understand what he’s doing”?

Prayer Journal
Lord God, let me not be found mocking your gift of lavish grace and love. What an indescribable gift to be given. Genuine, true, constant, intimate relationship with You, the Living God! And not a single work I could do to either earn it or keep it; only You have that mighty strength. Yet, Lord, I take this unsurpassed kindness, and I still choose to serve myself, withhold mercy to others, and choose my ways over yours. I still struggle trusting You. I still find myself doubting Your goodness. Spirit, remind me how You lovingly take me as I am, bind me up in Your love, and remake me to love and live in a way that brilliantly reflects Your own glory. Oh, Lord, I’m in awe of Your ways and Your working!

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

The GT Weekend! ~ Relentless Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) “If the Lord is for us, then why has all of this happened to us?!” Gideon’s question hits all of us. If we are willing to be honest, then you know as well as I do, I’ve pleaded with the Lord over this query. I’m challenging you and me to be bold before the Lord and write out what our fill-in-the-blanks are for this question in relation to our own lives. “If the Lord is for me, why did my friend commit suicide? Why is my marriage so difficult? Why am I so weary?” Pray these to the Lord from a place of transparency and seek His solace and His answers over your own. Connect with a trusted, believing, friend in the next few days and share your thoughts, asking her to pray with you.

2)  Amy shared on Wednesday of times she had questioned God’s love for her, run from Him in anger, and have failed to follow Him. Take some time to write down, even if it’s on your phone’s notes, times when you have done the same. There is something powerful that happens in our hearts when we verbalize reality. As you take steps to be transparent with yourself, pray over these and bring them to the Lord. Tell Him honestly what you have questioned, why you were (or are) angry, and why you have run. Pray. Seek His Word, studying it as you pray for His Spirit to free you and show you His relentless love!

3)  We all like winning, don’t we? Reaching the goal, checking off that list, knowing we hit the target square on, we crave that win! Kendra reminded us yesterday that God always wins, meaning that His purposes cannot be thwarted and what He intends to accomplish, He will do. What would it look like if we abandoned our ideas of winning, and instead picked up the Lord’s? What if He became our source for strength and we shifted our eyes to see His win instead of our own? What radical difference might it make if we knew that whenever we aligned ourselves with His ways over ours, we would be assured His victory in His way and in His time?

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 Lamentations 3:22-24 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

22 Because of the Lord’s faithful love
we do not perish,
for his mercies never end.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness!
24 I say, “The Lord is my portion,
therefore I will put my hope in him.”

Prayer Journal
Because of Your love….I am here tonight to praise You, I held my babies tight today, I slept peacefully last night, I saw the sun this morning, and breathed in Your new morning mercies. Because of Your love, gracious, good Father! Your love is better than life itself! (Psalm 63:3) Teach me, on repeat, to view my days and moments and relationships and circumstances through the lens of “because of Your love” just like the psalmist wrote. Teach my lips to sing it, my hands to love with Your love, and my eyes to see with Your love. You alone are my portion, Oh God; how great is Your faithfulness!

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

Pause 2 Day 8 Imperishable Beauty

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Pause 2, Day 8

Where’s your beauty, girl?!  
What did your reflection say this morning? 
Did you look her in the eye as you applied your makeup?  
Did your eyes wander to those parts you don’t love when you got ready for your shower?  
I know mine did.  
 
Our society has determined what beauty is, but we don’t have to agree.  
 
Today’s passage in 1 Peter is overflowing with much to say about beauty.  
Imperishable Beauty.  
 
Beauty that isn’t found in a cream, or an outfit, or tan lines, but inside our hearts.  
Pull out your journal with me, Sister!  
It’s time for a makeover!

Today's Invitation

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down all of 1 Peter 3 today. And as you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, think of the incredible gift it is to be invited into God’s presence through His word!

2) Choose one of these options to answer the invitation of going deeper into biblical community!
a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote from it.
b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT Community group and share how God has been working in you.
c) Leave a comment here about it.
d) Share something God has been showing you in a comment at the GT Community Group 
e) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.
f) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.
g) For some of us, having a “2am friend” to build biblical community with is a new concept. If that’s you, this is an exciting, fresh place to be! Connect with our Facebook Community, send us an email, reach out to your local church body, seek out a small group and plug in! 

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!

1 Peter 3

In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 3 Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4 but rather what is inside the heart —the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.
7 Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For the one who wants to love life
and to see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit,
11 and let him turn away from evil
and do what is good.
Let him seek peace and pursue it,
12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against
those who do what is evil.
Undeserved Suffering
13 Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people – were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. 

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 2 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 2!

Pause 2, Day 3 Treasures Of Wisdom

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Pause 2, Day 3

For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you,
for those in Laodicea,
and for all who have not seen me in person.
I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love…
Colossians 2:1-2

This is Paul’s heart, spilled over onto parchment with ink to his brothers and sisters at the church in Colosse and the surrounding areas.
His heart breaks for them, even those he hasn’t met.
Why?
Because he knows Jesus.

Jesus, His treasured riches of wisdom, love, and grace, are boundless.
And Paul’s heart struggles laboriously in love that those who read his words might know the Savior as he does.

Community is the life-breath of the early church, its pulse beating steadily all throughout Scripture and into our churches today as we span the globe for the gospel.
Sisters, let Paul’s burdened heart burden you today as you read his Spirit-breathed words in Colossians 2.
Lean in to your biblical community and ask the Lord to give your heart a weighty burden for others that they too might know and experience the treasured wisdom of Jesus Christ!

Today's Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down all of Colossians 2 today. And as you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, think of the incredible gift it is to be invited into God’s presence through His word!

2) Choose one of these options to answer the invitation of going deeper into biblical community! 
a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote from it.
b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT Community group and share how God has been working in you.
c) Leave a comment here about it.
d) Share something God has been showing you in a comment at the GT Community Group 
e) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.
f) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.
g) For some of us, having a “2am friend” to build biblical community with is a new concept. If that’s you, this is an exciting, fresh place to be! Connect with our Facebook Community, send us an email, reach out to your local church body, seek out a small group and plug in! 

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

Join the GT Community on Facebook!

Colossians 2

For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. 3 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. 5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.

6 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.

8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

16 Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ. 18 Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind. 19 He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.

20 If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? 22 All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. 23 Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 2 weeks, we will provide you with a simple challenge. Each challenge 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 2 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 Pause 2!

Pause 2, Day 2 Hope Grown Fruit

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Pause 2, Day 2

Hope. 
None of us can live without it.  
The hope we have as believers in Jesus isn’t “blind faith” or random events strung together that we hope will work out in the end.  
 
The hope Jesus brings is bound up in His character as God the Son, co-equal and eternally existing with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.  
But don’t take our word for it…..take His!

Today's Challenge

1) Pull out your Bible and read Colossians 1 fully through 3 times. 

2) Each time, write down everything that pops out at you, makes you curious, or wonder “why?”. When you’re finished, go back through and you’ll be amazed at the new things the Spirit is leading you into knowing about Him!

3) Pay special attention to the fruit, the produce, or the results of hope. 

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

Join the GT Community on Facebook!

Colossians 1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:
2 To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace. 7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 and he has told us about your love in the Spirit.
9 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.
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
16 For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
19 For God was pleased to have
all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him— 23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church. 25 I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 2 weeks, we will provide you with a simple challenge. Each challenge 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 2 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 Pause 2!

Dwell Day 5 Building Altars

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 28:10-19
Habakkuk 2:2-5
Psalm 94:16-23
Joshua 4
Psalm 139

Dwell, Day 5

Life can be difficult, exciting, scary, or down right turbulent.
We get so caught up in what’s going on around us we forget
to give God glory or even look for His hand.

Our tendency to forget isn’t a secret to God.
And so, He invites us to build altars.

Genesis 28:10-19 tells of Jacob and his dream. Jacob was twin to Esau and son to Isaac, who was Abraham’s son of promise. Through Isaac, God promised Abraham he would become the father of many nations, ultimately having lineage leading to Jesus Christ Himself. Jacob was a Hebrew, which meant he was offspring of Abraham and set apart for God.

Esau, with a chip on his shoulder for his dad, Isaac’s, faith in the God of Abraham and a desire for lucrative women, decided to marry outside the Hebrew faith. Eventually, Esau’s lifestyle choices led him away from the Lord God as he worshipped false gods.

Isaac, seeing Esau’s choice, warned Jacob to marry a Hebrew woman, who believed as Isaac did. Jacob obeyed and began traveling back to Haran, which was Grandfather Abraham’s homeland. As Jacob stopped for rest during his travels, he was given a dream by God, wherein God renewed the Promise of Inheritance He had given to Abraham and Isaac.
God said, “Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 28:14)
It was in incredible encounter with the Living God!

Jacob awoke and incredulously declared,
“Surely the Lord is in this place!”
As a reminder of God’s promise and his encounter, Jacob set up an altar where he had dreamed.

Jacob’s altar reminded him of truth, despite what circumstances might say.
The altar was a testimony of what God had said and done in his life.

We might not go around setting up rock towers and anointing them with oil as Jacob did (Genesis 28:18), but we can create similar spiritual memorials through journaling.

Transparently, I’ve been in a season where the enemy is continually planting doubt in my mind.
“Are you sure God said that? Or was that just your feelings?”.
One way I battle these lies is with my prayer journal.

As I pray, sharing my thoughts with God and writing how God responds,
my altar to the Lord is built. When the Enemy lies, I go back to my documented prayers to clearly see my testimony of God’s truth.

Why is writing an important battle plan against the enemy?
The Lord has always especially used the written word to make Himself known,
even Jesus was first introduced in John’s gospel as “the Word made flesh.” (John 1:14)

As Habakkuk, one of many prophetic books, exemplifies by recording the Lord as saying,
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets…” (Habakkuk 2:2)

We are told to plainly write how the Lord moves and acts.
Not only for ourselves, but also that others might know Him!

Centuries after Jacob, his dream, and his altar, Joshua was leading the Israelites (Hebrews) into Canaan, the land God had promised through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In order to cross into the land, they had to go through the furiously fast flowing River Jordan. Like He had done before with Moses, God parted the waters and all of Israel crossed over on dry land.

Then Joshua records something unique as he commands 12 stones to be brought from the Jordan and built as a memorial altar before the Lord.
Why?
Joshua answers wisely, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come,
‘What do these stones mean?’
then you shall let your children know, Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ (…)
so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty….” (Joshua 4:21-24)

A memorial was made.
An altar was built.
That all might know the Lord.

Journaling is that practice of building altars, it’s our memorial for what the Lord as done and how He has spoken truth over us.

The greatest “journal” of the Bible is the book of psalms, which overflows with memorial altars. Here, the psalmists carefully recorded various circumstances and God’s faithful, solid true response to their hearts. As a result, the world reaps the benefit of seeing how a life centered on God is unshakeable despite rocky circumstances. Their “journaling” allowed the name of the Lord to be made known!

Journaling allows us to trace the places He has taken us,
the prayers He has answered,
and the tangible way He loves us.
It has built my trust in Him and it can build yours as well.

A worship chorus by Elevation Worship says,
I’ve seen You move, come move the mountains
And I believe, I’ll see You do it again
You made a way, where there was no way
And I believe, I’ll see You do it again.

How can we trust He will do it again
if we don’t have the reminder that He has done it before?

Journaling can be challenging at first, because sometimes you have no idea what to write, but there are easy ways to start.

A Journible is a great tool for journaling. In these unique books, you become the scribe, recording the very words of Scripture. Then, with simple prompts, you’re encouraged to respond with your heart, engaging in conversation with the Almighty.

If you enjoy using technology over pen and paper, Journey is a great resource that allows for online journaling.

Whatever method you choose, don’t miss out on the opportunity to build an altar and declare God’s faithfulness!

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 Dwell 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 Dwell!

The GT Weekend! Screenshot Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Sara shares in “Hidden Talent” how the Lord took her progressively deeper into truth through Scripture in regard to the spiritual discipline of stewardship. She began with applying stewardship to her finances, was later convicted of stewarding time in her life, until the Spirit of God moved in her heart, showing her that she herself, the whole of her, was the “talent”. Where do you see yourself fall in that same progression of discovery? How are you living that out currently? What’s holding you back from surrendering more control to the Lord?

2) Discouragement sprouts up anywhere, ready to slow us down and disarm us of passion and excitement to grow God’s Kingdom. Fear and worry follow close behind discouragement, ready to distract us so effectively that we become ineffective for all the Lord has invited us into. Where are you most tempted to give in to any of these three “weeds”? Share honestly with the Lord of these areas, and cling tightly to truth, remembering that “The Story Isn’t Over!”.

3) While developing spiritual habits like Scripture reading and prayer are full of highs, lows, and mediocrity, we are absolutely assured these sweet truths: The Father is Ever-Present when we sit with Him, and He will never waste what we are willing to invest in relationship with Him. Whether you carve out 3 minutes or 63, the Lord will meet you. He has much to show you about Himself, precious encouragement to personally give you, and direction to help you refocus your heart. Don’t wait; begin creating a plan to spend regular, consistent time with Him! Get ready for what He wants to do in your “Now”!

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 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains un-lifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.6 For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Prayer Journal
Father, I praise you for truth from Your Word that victoriously declares, “The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!” Freedom to come out of hiding, ready to follow your leading despite my fears. Freedom, whose voice drowns out those of discouragement and worry. Freedom that openly invites me, every moment of every day, to build Your Kingdom.

Make my heart tender to You, Spirit, that I might learn to follow quickly as you lead me into that freedom. Lord, break my heart for those whose faces I see around me; all of them with hearts that long for freedom. Give me opportunities to share what You have faithfully done in my life that they too might discover the deep freedom only You give!

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

The GT Weekend! Character Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) James 1:19-21 shows what our human anger brings to our lives. Read through this passage and reflect on its words. Mark the places that show the results of our anger. Look for what James’ solution to our mess looks like. See the reality of Scripture come alive as you see we are not destined to hopelessness and despair. The Lord has provided a means to reconciliation!

2) It is an amazing privilege and Biblical invitation, to worship together corporately with other believers. It’s equally amazing to choose to worship in the ordinary parts of our lives. Where could you be intentional with choosing to give back praise for God’s faithfulness? Set aside specific time in your calendar to sing/write/draw in praise to the Lord. Share with us your day-to-day means of praise on Instagram #GTpraise.

3) God knew His created people would walk away from Him and choose substitutes for His glory. He gave the Old Testament law to show His children the extent of their brokenness. He sent Jesus to fulfill the need of a blood sacrifice to speak to God directly. God orchestrated every piece so He could redeem you, dear sister, back to Himself. He’s calling you, drawing you; are you ready to answer? What’s holding you back?

Journaling your prayers is simply another way to talk to the Lord. Slow down, pull out pen and paper, read the following Scripture passage and prayer, then let your own words flow to the Almighty One who loves you so deeply!

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is made complete in us.
– 1 John 4:7-12

Lord when I get bogged down by the law and spending so much energy on not being ruled by it but following in obedience, my heart still misses the point. I still miss Your desire; relationship with me, for Your glory. Forgive me for the times I make it about me and what I can do for You.

As I fold the laundry, wash countless dishes, and interact with every crazy driver on the road, let me choose praise. Because of Jesus, I have the access to sing Your praise every moment of the day. And yet I so often grumble, or even ignore Your work in my life while I mindlessly scroll Facebook. Help me “take every thought captive to obey Christ” this week!

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