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The GT Weekend! ~ Kneel 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) On Monday, we read about Abraham pleading with God for Sodom and Gomorrah. It is not always comfortable to think of these cities being destroyed; however, as well as God’s judgement, it also shows His mercy as He would have been willing to spare the two cities for the sake of ten righteous people. Abraham knew of God’s love and mercy and so he was willing to appeal to God for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Like Abraham, we are called to stand in the gap to intercede for others, including those who may not even be aware of their need for salvation. Who is God leading you to pray for today? Who do you long to see experience God’s mercy? You may want to pray for individual people, your community, or even your country. Start by reflecting on God’s character as Abraham modeled. Make a list of some of His characteristics, such as His goodness, faithfulness, love, and justice. Then, bring your requests before Him.

2) Sometimes, even as we bring a situation to God in prayer, we doubt our prayers will be answered. Maybe we have prayed in the past, only to be disappointed when circumstances didn’t turn out as we had hoped. If you feel that way today, take a moment to acknowledge it before God. These feelings are understandable, yet the Bible shows us several examples where situations were changed in response to prayer, where even those who were praying were surprised by the outcome! What situations do you want to bring before God today? Where do you long to see breakthrough or transformation? Take some time to pray about these things. Even if we feel our faith is lacking, the decision to pray is an act of faith. Our prayers may not always be answered as we hope or expect, but we can trust that God is a good Father who cares and wants what is best for us. Come before Him with expectation and prepare to be surprised!

3) Do you ever wonder if God hears when you pray? On Friday, Carol led us in looking at the example set by David.  Through his Psalms, David was honest with God in good times and bad; he wasn’t afraid to bring his doubts and questions before the Lord. However, even in the midst of challenges, he also made the choice to focus on God’s character and ways he had previously experienced God’s power and faithfulness. Take time to be honest with God today about what you are facing and how you feel about it. No situation is too big or too small to bring before Him and no emotion is too messy. God is more than able to deal with our tears, questions, doubts and anger, and He meets us with love and grace.  Where do you need God to meet you today? What examples of His power and faithfulness (from your own experience or from the Bible) encourage you as you come before Him?

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 Psalm 63:1-3 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you.
I thirst for you;
my body faints for you
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
My lips will glorify you
because your faithful love is better than life.

Prayer Journal
Father, thank you for the privilege of coming to You in prayer, and thank You for always hearing and answering. Forgive me when I try to be self-sufficient, seeking to deal with situations myself instead of turning to You in faith. Thank You that I can come to You as I am, knowing You care about the people and situations I bring before You. Please help me to be faithful in doing this, trusting that prayer makes a difference, secure in the knowledge that you are a loving Father who knows what is best and who longs to give good gifts to your children. Lord, I thank You for Your power to change people and situations, that you are able to do even more than we can ask or imagine. I pray You will give me expectancy that You will work in the lives of those I care for and the situations I bring to You today. “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Kneel Day 15 Hear My Cry

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Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Kneel, Day 15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He hears our cries.

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


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Kneel Day 14 Surprising Answers: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Surprising Answers!

The Questions

1) Why does James list so many different reasons to pray? (verses 13-14)

2) Why does James refer to the prayer of faith in verse 15?

3) Why does James provide the example of Elijah in verses 17-18?

James 5:13-18

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.17 Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.

Original Intent

1) Why does James list so many different reasons to pray? (verses 13-14)
Prayer is not something to be picked up, dropped again, and made to fit our schedules and whims. Rather, prayer is a communication tool between God and His people and He wants His people to pray to him regarding everything. He cares about all things (1 Peter 5:7), and He most desires a deep relationship with us. (Jeremiah 32:38) The best way to cultivate depth is by authentically sharing about all things and learning to trust Him as Sovereign over all things. Prayer is for happy times, hard times, sad times, sickness, confession, forgiveness, praise, and everything else. Nothing is meant to be excluded as Paul writes, “Pray constantly.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) James is reminding his audience of all the purposes for prayer and encouraging them to utilize prayer and all of its power.

2) Why does James refer to the prayer of faith in verse 15?
This doesn’t refer to the faith of the person being prayed for but rather the faith of the person praying. To those who pray, says James, it’s the one who believes the God of the Bible and trusts Him at His Word whose prayers prove effective. Believers should have faith in the mighty hand of God who brings about miracles (Mark 9:28-29), ordains the ordinary (Jonah 4:7), and uses all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). James was writing to Christians who were persecuted for their faith and dispersed from their homes and people. (James 1:1) James turns their attention to “the prayer of faith” to remind them to keep on practicing genuine faith despite persecution, and to put that faith into action through effective, authentic-faith praying. James urges them to keep trusting the same God for whom they were willing to be persecuted, believing Him to be faithful to His own Word and move as a result of their faith-filled prayers. However, James is not asking them to pray with this faith-filled tenacity alone in isolation. Instead, he reminds them that prayer is also a job for the collective Body of Believers; praying together in clear trust of God at His Word is something they should do together. (Matthew 18:19-20)

3) Why does James provide the example of Elijah in verses 17-18?
The Jewish Christians James was writing to would have been very familiar with the prophet Elijah, his powerful ministry of effective prayer, and how God worked through him as a result of his bold prayers. They would have also known Elijah was simply a human like them. While he was a prophet who accomplished much, he was not God, just a man. James is providing his audience with a real-life reminder they can relate with; a modern-to-them example of what faith-filled prayer looks like as evidence for the effectiveness of prayer. Elijah prayed and trusted God to do what seemed utterly impossible and God worked. Check out 1 Kings 18 for an amazing account of Elijah’s faith-filled prayer! James uses Elijah’s model of faith to deeply encourage the Jewish Christians to follow his example in all circumstances and put their faith into real action.

Everyday Application

1) Why does James list so many different reasons to pray? (verses 13-14)
Prayer is a powerful tool. One that can be used in all circumstances. We are to bring our joy, worry, fear, sadness, gratitude, and so much more to Him. Prayer is the means through which we communicate with the God of the universe and James wants us to be fully aware of all its power. It is through prayer we spend time with our Creator both sharing with Him and listening for Him. We should never take prayer for granted or dismiss prayer as a simple, meaningless task. James shows us its complexity and power by including different reasons for praying. Take a few minutes to reflect on your recent prayers. What do they include and exclude? Do you ever find yourself deciding “not” to pray about something as it seems “too small”, or perhaps “too big”?  Challenge yourself to practice an on-going, flowing conversation with God about “all things”. If you get stuck, focus on thankfulness. Air, water, a smile, a ribbon of light, a touch, nothing is too small to praise the Lord for!

2) Why does James refer to the prayer of faith in verse 15?
Effective prayer requires faith. When we pray we shouldn’t simply throw out our wants expecting God to answer in the way we desire. Instead, we are to pray about all situations in all circumstances, yes even the ones that seem like big, difficult requests or mundanely common. The key is to pray expecting God to answer; this is faith, believing God at His Word that He will answer even though we cannot see Him with our physical eyes. We pray in faith knowing God can do anything according to His will. A pastor of mine frequently says “prayer is the work then God works”. Through faith-filled prayer, God accomplishes greater acts than we could ever dream or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) We are invited into God’s activity through the prayer of faith. God is greater and more powerful than our human ability, and He desires us to fully rely on and trust in Him to work in the best way possible, even if that “best” doesn’t fit within our short-sighted human definition. Because God is both infinitely wise and good, His answers will not always match our “most-desired” outcome, however, we can confidently know He will always move in our best interest. We don’t need to worry about the outcome, we are simply called to have faith, pray, and trust God to work His will in us and our circumstances.

3) Why does James provide the example of Elijah in verses 17-18?
Bible student, Matthew Henry, says, “Prayer itself must be a fervent, in-wrought, well-wrought prayer. It must be a pouring out of the heart to God; and it must proceed from a faith unfeigned. Such prayer avails much.” This is precisely the description of Elijah’s prayer. God desires for us to pour our hearts out to Him (Psalm 62:8) and trust God will mightily work on our behalf. Even His answer doesn’t look as we expect, our confidence in His movement for us can remain. James provides us with the example of Elijah as a visual of our calling in prayer. Who do you know in your everyday life who models this kind of fervency in prayer? Matthew Henry goes on to write, “Only in this we should copy after Elijah, that he prayed earnestly, or, as it is in the original, in prayer he prayed. It is not enough to say a prayer, but we must pray in prayer. Our thoughts must be fixed, our desires firm and ardent, and our graces in exercise.” I ask you, sisters, when was the last time you prayed like this? What an incredible example and challenge which will revolutionize our prayer life!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Kneel Day 13 Surprising Answers

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 12:1-19
2 Kings 20:1-7
Isaiah 55:8-9
Matthew 7:7-11
James 5:13-18

Kneel, Day 13

Have you ever been surprised by an answer to prayer?

The people praying for Peter in this account from Acts certainly were!

Peter has been imprisoned for following Jesus, and as he waits for his public trial after the Passover celebration, the church is “praying fervently to God for him.” (Acts 12:5)

They are under no illusions about how the situation is likely to end for Peter. Herod Agrippa recently had the apostle James killed with a sword, and seeing the Jews’ resulting pleasure, has prompted Peter’s arrest. (Acts 12:1-2)

The church knows it is a matter of life and death, and so they pray desperately. Different translations of Acts 12:5 describe their prayers as constant, intense, earnest, persistent, continual, and without ceasing. This is prayer that is intentional and focused.

Consequently, God intervenes in a miraculous way. Awakened by an angel, Peter is told to get up. His chains fall off, the prison gates open, and the guards meant to be watching him closely seem oblivious!

The events are so unexpected that even Peter struggles to believe at first, but finally the truth sinks in.

“Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.” (Acts 12:11)

Immediately, he goes to the house where he knows the believers have gathered to pray, which leads to a rather comical scene. Rhoda, the servant girl who answers the door, is so overwhelmed and overjoyed to hear Peter’s voice that instead of letting him in she rushes to tell the others, only to be met with astonishment and unbelief!

As they argue about whether or not it could possibly be true, the answer to their prayer is standing outside the door the whole time!

Finally, they let Peter in to see for themselves and hear his story, but it raises the question: if they were praying so fervently, so passionately, so continually, why were they so surprised when their prayer was answered?

I think I’ve gained insight into this over the last six months as I, and several others, have prayed earnestly and continually for a friend’s husband who is unwell. There has been so much prayer that my friend says her husband must be the most prayed-for man in the world!

Yet, despite our many prayers, he has deteriorated. His condition has been declared inoperable and, humanly speaking, it is only a matter of time.

We continue to pray for a miracle, yet I admit I would be surprised if my friend’s husband suddenly appeared at my door cured of his illness.

I don’t doubt for a moment that God can do it. I just have no idea whether He will.

I imagine the believers praying for Peter had similar thoughts. After all, James had been killed. Would praying for Peter really make any difference?

Yet, despite their uncertainty, they prayed; this act itself evidenced their faith, imperfect as it was.

They prayed because they knew they were helpless to fix the situation; they knew it was something only God could do. While their prayers may not have been rooted in perfect faith, God heard, and He answered.

As James writes, “The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” (James 5:16)

The difficulty we often have with prayer is that it’s unpredictable. It doesn’t work according to a formula. It’s not about how much we pray or trying to find the magic phrase or perfect combination of words to unlock the miracle or the answer we seek.

In fact, it’s not about the quality of our prayers at all; it’s about the One to whom we are praying.

If our prayers are answered as we hope, as in Peter’s situation or when God healed Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1-7), we rejoice and give thanks to God. Only He can do the impossible, and there is no credit we can take. The glory is His!

When our prayers are not answered as we hope, it doesn’t mean our prayers were lacking in flawless faith or that God doesn’t care. It doesn’t even mean our prayers are unanswered, simply that God’s purpose is different.

“’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.’ This is the Lord’s declaration.” (Isaiah 55:8)

We can’t always understand God’s ways, but we can trust in His goodness. My friend’s husband may not be healed on earth, but we know that, because of his faith in Jesus, an eternal future awaits him, free from pain and suffering. In the meantime, we continue to pray.

Jesus urged His disciples to persistently keep on praying and trusting God’s character as a loving Father who longs to give good gifts to His children. (Matthew 7) Likewise, He invites us to partner with Him in His work, bringing our situations before Him with faith and confidence, trusting in His power and love, and confidently knowing He loves to hear and answer us.

Sometimes, as with those believers praying for Peter, the answers to our prayers can be even more amazing than we would ever have expected!

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

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Kneel!

Kneel Day 12 In The Gap: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out In The Gap!

The Questions

1) James says, “Faith without works is dead” (verse 26), but Ephesians 2:8-9 reads, “We are saved by grace through faith, not from works”. Are these passages contradicting?

2) How were Abraham and Rahab justified by their works? (verses 21 and 25) Is the same true for us?

3) Was Abraham’s belief greater or more significant than another person’s faith? If so, what made it greater? (verse 23)

James 2:21-26

Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Original Intent

1) James says, “Faith without works is dead” (verse 26), but Ephesians 2:8-9 reads, “We are saved by grace through faith, not from works”. Are these passages contradicting?
While it does seem initially that these two passages of Scripture are contradictory, they are not. They should be thought of more as building blocks of the same doctrine instead of opposing, sparring doctrines. To gain a better understanding of the point James makes in these few verses, we must understand the fuller context by reading the complete book of James, or at least the second chapter. It’s important to keep in mind that, for the original readers or hearers of these verses, James wasn’t a book in the Bible broken down by chapter and verse. Rather, they would read his writing, beginning to end, as a complete letter sent from the apostle, James. Additionally, this letter was written to Jewish Christians, meaning while they grew up under the Law and Jewish traditions, and had then converted to Christianity. This contextual understanding is critically important for a couple of reasons. James 1:1 tells us his letter was written, “To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad”. For the first time, these Jewish believers were not living and worshiping together, but scattered abroad as both the gospel and persecution of believers spread. James is attempting to share some “helpful hints”, if you will, for how to live practically as true Christ-followers. James’ purpose in writing is to emphasize there is much more to walking with Jesus than simply believing or having faith that God exists. (James 2:19) True saving faith evidences itself by spurring us on to obediently following, and living, like Jesus in everyday life. These are “works”, which are the building block that follows genuine, saving faith by naturally connecting on top of the “saving faith” block.

2) How were Abraham and Rahab justified by their works? (verses 21 and 25) Is the same true for us?
The word ‘justified’ can be confusing as it carries different meanings in different contexts. In explaining the theology of our salvation and life in Christ as believers, Paul writes, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith…”. (Romans 5:1, emphasis mine) Faith is the key to being justified; it’s the bottom building block. Here, justification is a one-time instance meaning we have been made right with God. Our sin has been paid for through Jesus and, in His grace, we have been justified. “We have been set free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2); we are now declared righteous in Christ. In the context of James’ intention, he includes Abraham and Rahab because, to Jewish Christians, they both represented pivotal points in Jewish history. James’ audience had grown up hearing the narratives of these two heroes of their faith countless times. While their stories are vastly different, both Abraham and Rahab were faced with a difficult decision and chose to act in obedience to the God they knew because of their faith. In this way, their belief in God, their faith, was “shown to be authentic” because of their works. Their works justified, or were the proof of, their faith. Think of that stack of bricks again. Faith comes first, then our works, which, in James’ context, justifies, or proves, the genuineness of the first block, which is faith. Faith, works, justification, obedience, all of these blocks fit together and build on one another.

3) Was Abraham’s belief greater or more significant than another person’s faith? If so, what made it greater? (verse 23)
James is quoting Genesis 15:6, which reads “Abram believed the LORD and He credited to him as righteousness”. Notice it says “Abram” not “Abraham”. This small, but important difference is because Abram’s saving faith in God and His promises came at the very beginning of not only his faith journey, but even prior to the existence of the Jewish nation. We know this because Abraham’s name was Abram first, but God changed it later. God visited this normal guy named Abram in a vision saying, “Guess what? You are going to have offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky and be the father to a great nation.” (Genesis 12:1-3, my paraphrase) Abram, childless at the time, questions God and says, “Umm, did you forget that I don’t have any kids, how is that going to happen?” (Genesis 15:2, my paraphrase) God confirms his promise and Abram believes God! Was Abraham’s belief greater than any others in history? I don’t know that we can answer that question, but we can conclude his belief was great not necessarily because of its quality but because of the Qualifier in whom he placed his faith. Abram didn’t demand proof or argue with God, he simply believed and took Him at His Word. This total trust in God, not self or false idols of the day, is what God looked upon and credited as righteousness.

Everyday Application

1) James says, “Faith without works is dead” (verse 26), but Ephesians 2:8-9 reads, “We are saved by grace through faith, not from works”. Are these passages contradicting?
It is dangerous to pick and choose verses and take them out of context; we will end up with an erroneous application and understanding of God and His Word. Honestly, it’s a common tactic of those who oppose Scripture as they will twist it and attempt to use it against the Christian faith. When it comes to reading and studying Scripture, good students must read enough to understand the whole context of what we are reading. Only in so doing, can we walk away with proper understanding of Scripture’s original intention. These two verses provide a classic case of this type of common misunderstanding. In carefully reading Ephesians 2:10 it says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Yes, we are saved by genuine, trusting faith. Faith alone in Christ Jesus alone is the ONLY way to gain eternal salvation. But it doesn’t stop with salvation. The faith that saves us opens the door for the Holy Spirit to work inside of us, creating new desire for us to “do good works” for Jesus. Works are the fruit, cultivated by true faith. Every genuine Christ-follower is called to put their faith into action, and so prove the authenticity of their trusting faith.

2) How were Abraham and Rahab justified by their works? (verses 21 and 25) Is the same true for us?
Abraham and Rahab’s faith gave them confidence to obey. Simply believing God exists and that Jesus can save isn’t really the point. Yes, God wants everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4), but He also pre-determines specific good works for us to do as we daily live out our genuine salvation (Philippians 2:12-13). Saving faith is proven true by our willingness to live out the proof of our faith by doing God’s good works, which looks like obeying Christ. This is impossible on our own, which is exactly why it’s a proof of genuine saving faith. When we come to God with genuine faith in Christ’s work on the cross to pay for our sin-debt, He saves us, justifies us, and gives us His Holy Spirit to live within us forever. The Spirit gives us a new nature that desires to obey our new Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Saving faith produces a desire to obey Him! If we don’t have this desire, and similar desires like being with other believers, going to church, reading His Word, and growing in faith, our faith isn’t proving to be genuine. This should give us reason to self-examine whether we honestly have given ourselves to God in full surrender. According to 1 Corinthians 12, every believer is called to different “good works” as evidence of their faith through the work of the Holy Spirit in them. In balance, we must be careful we don’t spend so much attention on “doing work” that we forget about “being with Jesus” and remembering it’s His Spirit fueling us to work. Following Christ involves reflection to make sure the “stack of blocks” is in the correct order. We cannot do His work without His Spirit, and we cannot have His Spirit without genuine faith.

3) Was Abraham’s belief greater or more significant than another person’s faith? If so, what made it greater? (verse 23)
While many people claim “belief” in God, the factor that set Abraham’s faith apart to be “credited as righteousness” is total trust in God’s Word and His faithful character. Paul writes that Abraham “did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.” (Romans 4:20) The apostle also said this “crediting of righteousness” occurs for all who come to God in the same way Abram did centuries ago, through true, trusting faith. “’It was credited to him’ was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:23-25) Only the faith that takes God at His Word will prove strong enough to save us for eternity; only this faith pleases God. (Hebrews 11:6) Faith like Abraham’s will always be evidenced by a growing trust and willingness to follow and obey God in real, everyday life. I was talking with a friend recently whose faith is being tested. As we chatted, I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, He wasn’t really looking for sacrifice but obedience. God had already provided the sacrifice before they arrived or built the altar. God may call us to do something that makes no sense, or trust Him with something really hard. When these decisions come, we must choose whether we will live out authentic faith in God or not. Personal experience, and history of other believers, tell me to go ahead, take the risk and follow in faith because the Faithful God can be trusted. If God calls us to follow, He has already planned and arranged for our provision.

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Kneel Day 11 In The Gap

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 18:20-33
James 2:20-26
Romans 6:15-23

Kneel, Day 11

“Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23)

Abraham’s question to the Lord hung in the air. The Lord had proclaimed the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah because of the cities’ unrelenting depravity. Abraham knew he had no right to ask, but love for his nephew Lot, a resident of Sodom, drove him to boldly seek mercy, to intercede for him and his family.

Abraham continued his plea, “What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people who are in it?” (Genesis 18:24)

He knew the character of the Lord, who led him out of Ur of the Chaldees into a new land. God had shown mercy to Abraham again and again. Not only was God just and righteous, He was also Abraham’s friend.

“You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25)

God listened to Abraham’s plea. He agreed to relent from destroying Sodom and Gomorrah if there were 50 righteous people. Abraham continued interceding, because he understood the pervasive immorality of the cities, and the unlikeliness of finding 50 righteous people. Finally, he negotiated down to ten people. Abraham counted Lot, his wife, two daughters, and his future sons-in-law. That was six people; surely, there would be four others.

But there weren’t.

Unfortunately, Lot and his two daughters were the only people saved from the destruction when God rained down burning sulfur on the cities (Genesis 19:24-26), which some scholars believe may now be buried beneath the salty Dead Sea.

Reading about the utter destruction of two cities is very sad. Though the people of Sodom and Gomorrah didn’t know the God against whom they sinned, they still were held accountable for their actions.

Generations before the Law was given in order to make Israel explicitly aware of the depth of their sin, we nonetheless see the stark differences between the heart postures of Abraham, a God-follower (Genesis 18:1-8), and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were bent on immediate self-gratification at any cost (Genesis 19:4-9).

In the residents’ response to the heavenly messengers’ visit, there is not only a total disregard for any holy purpose or message the visitors might bring (check out how Jesus would instruct the disciples to handle such rejection of His call in Luke 10:1-12), but also a revelation of a people devoted to violence and lust and the abuse of power. They were, in fact, a culture built on sin.

And sin results in death. As Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We may not live out the specific sins of corruption and perversion that characterized the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah, but we have been equally corrupted by our own sin. Our definition of good will never be good enough compared to the holiness of God. We are people of unclean lips, stained by our sin, unable to approach a Holy God. (Isaiah 6:5)

God’s perfect holiness demands a consequence for sin. Just as a good and fair judge ensures guilty people are punished for their crimes and restitution is paid to victims, God must hold people accountable for the harm they have caused. If He didn’t, He would be unjust!*

As Abraham was interceding for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, they had no idea of their imminent destruction and need for salvation. Similarly, the people around us may have no awareness of their need for a Savior. Still, like Abraham, we can intercede for them and pray for God‘s mercy despite their sinfulness. We can also pray for our country, state, and city, just as Abraham prayed for those two cities.

This story of justice also shows God’s mercy. He was willing to spare the cities from the consequences if there were only ten righteous people. Abraham‘s plea for mercy shows the power of intercessory prayer. Intercession can unleash God’s mercy and blessing in other people’s lives and alter the course of history. Our prayers can stand in the gap for our country and our city.

How can you pray for God to have mercy on our nation, community, and the people around you?

—

*We would be remiss if we ended the conversation on sin and justice here.
God is holy and just. He is also love (1 John 4:16), as is evidenced by His display of mercy even in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, He spared Lot and his daughters.

Because He loves us with a depth we struggle to understand (Ephesians 3:17-19),
He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the just penalty for our sin. (Hebrews 9:15)

When we acknowledge our guilt before God, seek His forgiveness for our sin, and embrace Jesus’ gift of salvation, our relationship with God is restored through His mercy.

Would you like to learn more, or experience God’s love and mercy for yourself?
Reach out in the comments, or send us an email! We’d love to talk with you!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Kneel 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) Jesus is the greatest authority of all time. He is the beginning and the end, the life-giving vine, and He made himself low that we might have fellowship with Him and abide in Him. He is present with us, and He is our great High Priest, which means IN HIM, we have direct access to God the Father. How would your prayer life change if you fully embraced the knowledge that Jesus Himself presents our requests to the Father? He says that whatever we ask in His name He would give us. Consider the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Read the prayer out loud and consider what it could look like if God were to answer each of the requests listed there for your life. If you want to study this prayer with fresh insight, pick a few studies from our Journey Into Prayer theme. Then take a moment to examine your heart. Are you abiding in Christ? Is there a pattern of sin in your life that you need to repent from? Is there someone you have wronged and need to make amends with? Repent of your sins, make a plan to be at peace with everyone as much as it depends on you (Romans 12:18), then boldly approach the throne of God (Hebrews 4:16), making your requests known to Him with thankfulness (Philippians 4:6). Don’t be afraid to pray big and pray specific. Speak your requests out loud and worship your God. He can do far more than you can ask or imagine. Watch to see how He works in your life.

2) On Wednesday, Bethany challenged us to pray while assuming the best about God. She reminded us we are called to pray about everything, that God wants to know us better, that He is characterized by giving good gifts, that He knows us and what we are struggling with, and finally that He is gracious to us. Which of these truths do you struggle to believe the most? Talk to God about this today. Write down one or two of these truths that are difficult to accept. Why are these harder to believe? What holds you back from accepting God’s character and graciousness toward you? What would need to change for you to believe it? After you consider these questions, look back at the Scriptures Bethany presented to confirm the truth about God’s character. As you read the words God gave us about Himself, consider what would change for you if you truly embraced these things about God. Finally, write a prayer asking God to help you assume the best about Him, and pray as though you do believe those things. God can and will meet you even in the midst of unbelief. He will help you, because He desires you to know Him more.

3) When Daniel prayed to God on behalf of the people of Israel, he didn’t ask for forgiveness because he or the people deserved it. He acknowledged before the Lord how they had done nothing to deserve His forgiveness or action on their behalf. Instead, Daniel asked because he knew the Lord had (and still has!) abundant compassion. Even in our weakest moments, we can rely on God’s character to remain the same. He is gracious and compassionate. “What are you waiting on? What are you wrestling through? What are your hardships? Bring them to the Lord.” Ponder in your heart if you can agree with the Apostle Paul when he says, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” And Sister, remember you do not need to be strong on your own. When we have a personal relationship with Jesus, He gives us strength for each day. (Ephesians 6:10) As an additional help, His church is meant to support one another. As you face your struggles today, would you walk in humility and share your journey with a trustworthy Jesus-follower? As we allow others into our trials, we give them the gift of seeing the Lord work in His great strength along with us. Paul boasted of His weakness that Christ would be made great. We can join in this gift with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

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 Colossians 1:9b-13 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

…We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 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, being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

Prayer Journal
Dearest Heavenly Father, boldly we approach the throne room of grace. Not by any merit or achievement, but only by the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Thank You for hearing our prayers. Thank You for making a way for us to speak with You directly. You are present with us at all times, whether we are aware or not. Help me, Oh Lord, to live and breathe a life of prayerful dependence on You. May I never lose sight of my deep, abiding need for You. My weaknesses, whether on display or hidden away, show me my inadequacies, but You Lord are strong in all my shortcomings. Lord, I believe You when You say You give good gifts to You children. I believe You know all things, even before I speak. I believe You are gracious. Help me in my unbelief. You know the deepest desires of my heart. You know my greatest needs and my hardest struggles. In Your mercy, hear my desperate cry for help, and be my Rock, my Anchor, my unfailing Refuge. Guide me in paths of righteousness for the sake of Your great Name. Help me to walk in Your faithfulness, ever mindful of my need for You, casting my care upon You at all times.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Kneel Day 10 Why God?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Daniel 9:1-19
Ephesians 6:10-20
2 Corinthians 12:6-10

Kneel, Day 10

History repeats itself.
Not in the sense that the same events happen over and over, rather that we have been dealing with the consequences of sin since it first marred God’s perfect world.

Today, we’re diving into the prayers of Daniel, who was no stranger to the suffering of life. As part of the Jewish nation, Daniel joined his people as they were exiled from their homeland in Jerusalem and sent to live under the rule and the captivity of Babylon.

Daniel was acutely aware how the exile and captivity were direct consequences of Israel turning away from God to focus on the fleeting rewards the earth has to offer.
He saw suffering magnified in the oppressive rule of Babylon and yet,
he chose faith in the midst of hardship.
With God’s righteous judgment in play, Daniel pleaded to the Lord on behalf of the Jewish people for their forgiveness and reconciliation back to Him. (Daniel 9:1-19) He confesses his sins and the sins of his people. He recognizes God’s judgment upon His people as just and warranted.

Can we say the same today? How often do we wrestle with the weight of the world and ask, “Why, God?” We see the consequences of sin run amuck around us, and we find our hearts aching for something beyond this world.

The battle we experience with sin isn’t against human enemies, but against the forces of the spiritual realm. (Ephesians 6:12) In the battle for our hearts, our only hope is to focus on our merciful God, the only One able to rescue us from the turmoil.

Daniel had some pretty intense first-person experiences with God’s grace and mercy (in a fiery furnace and a lion’s den). (Daniel 3 and 6) He knew the power of the ever-present mercy of God, so he called on those attributes of God and pleaded on behalf of his people for an end to their suffering.

In his prayer, Daniel acknowledges God is righteous and just, while also merciful and gracious. He seizes this opportunity, while experiencing God’s wrath, to confess, to point to God’s greatness, and to remind himself God keeps His promises, including His promise to deliver His people.

Daniel realizes God is enough. There’s no pretense Daniel will receive all the answers, or possess the power to deliver himself or his people from judgment; instead, he recognizes God alone will provide and sustain.

Daniel shows us through his prayer what it means to be in true, intimate relationship with God:
It’s trust.
It’s a confident hope.
It’s surrendering control.
It’s remembering God is for us.

Like Daniel, I find myself currently in a season of loss and missing all that was familiar and safe. I have been asking myself, “Is Jesus enough? Is the hope I see glimmering beyond these struggles enough to sustain me through the valley? Is a relationship with Him all I need?”

God doesn’t require us to have all of the answers, and we can rest knowing we don’t need them. He simply welcomes us, right now, as we are, to trust Him for the Journey.

For our questions, the Lord provides Himself.
“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God–who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly–and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

For our longing for justice, again, the Lord gives Himself.
“This is my servant [. . .] I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring justice to the nations.” (Isaiah 42:1-2)

For our weariness from suffering, the Lord offers Himself.
“Rise up, Lord God! Lift up your hand. Do not forget the oppressed.” (Psalm 10:12)

Consistently, the Lord God invites us to lean into His mercy and compassion, remembering He alone is enough.

What are you waiting on?
What are you wrestling through?
What are your hardships?
Where are you asking, “Why, God?”

Let’s bring these struggles to the Lord. Let’s experience His grace and mercy flooding our hearts as we confess our sins and dive deeper into relationship with Him. Let’s embrace the only One who is enough. He’s already waiting for us!

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

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Kneel Day 9 Believing The Best Of God: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Believing The Best Of God!

The Questions

1) To whom should the believer demonstrate graciousness (gentleness)? (verse 5)

2) Why should the believer demonstrate graciousness? (verse 5)

3) What does Paul encourage believers to use as a defense against worry? (verse 6)

4) What will be the result of our obedience to pray about everything? (verse 7)

Philippians 4:5-7

5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. the Lord.

Original Intent

1) To whom should the believer demonstrate graciousness (gentleness)? (verse 5)
This isn’t a trick question! But it is a weighty one, isn’t it? Most of us want some sort of clarification for the commanding statement in Paul’s letter. Maybe the original readers did too. Anytime we read a word as inclusive as “everyone”, we typically begin to look for parentheses to offer some sort of exception. Much to our chagrin, there is no clause excluding certain people or situations. The believer is to let our “graciousness be known to everyone.” The Greek word (epieikes) used in this verse conveys that our attitude toward others, all the others, is to be gentle, equitable and patient. Digging into the context of the verse helps us understand Paul’s instructions regarding relationships. In verses 2-3, he encourages two women in the church to strive toward unity, implying there are far-reaching gospel implications in their pursuit of reconciliation. Their discord could drastically affect how others are hearing and receiving the peace of Christ. He writes that these women had “contended for the gospel at my side”. (verse 3) They were faithful servants with Paul in the work of sharing Jesus. Whatever had caused the disagreement wasn’t nearly as important as the commonality they shared in Christ and their goal of telling others about the freedom and peace He brings. It was essential that the gospel (What is the gospel?) they proclaimed not be hindered by their disunity. This message regarding unity and humility wasn’t only for these two women. It was for all believers at the church in Philippi. Graciousness was to be demonstrated by every believer and toward everyone who witnessed their interactions.

2) Why should the believer demonstrate graciousness? (verse 5)
The graciousness we are to show to all people is painted with a broad brush. Our human tendency may be to flinch at the command to treat everyone with grace. It means that our kindness and patience is not just toward those we love or find desirable. Our heart-motivation is key to genuineness! We do this because “the Lord is near.” (verse 5) Sandwiched between the more well-known and oft-quoted “rejoice-in-the-Lord-always” and “be-anxious-for-nothing” verses is this treasure. “Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” When the believer lives with the awareness of Jesus’ daily presence and His pending return (Hebrews 9:27-28), it becomes easier and more significant to rejoice in the Lord and show gentleness to all people. Since we know Jesus will settle every wrong when He returns, we carry our personal struggles and conflicts to Him because we can trust Him to make things right in our sin-stricken world. James tells us that receiving God’s grace and giving His grace are linked. (James 1:19-27) Our time with Jesus in prayer and in the Word is evidenced by our graciousness. When we exhibit the humility of Christ, we season the gospel in a way that adds flavor. We adorn it. Our graciousness gives credibility to our gospel message of grace. When Paul wrote to his disciple Titus, he reminded him to encourage all the believers in sound doctrine and motivate them toward gracious living. (Titus 2:1-14) The Lord is near. He is with us now through His Spirit and His bodily return is forthcoming. Therefore, we live in such a way as to preach the gospel with our lives as well as our words.

3) What does Paul encourage believers to use as a defense against worry? (verse 6)
Paul tells the believers at Philippi to reject worry and instead “present your requests to God.” Though we may never fully grasp how our prayers and God’s will work together, the Bible makes it clear we are to pray. The Greek gnōrizesthō means “to make known, declare, know, discover.” We are to make known to God our worries. Yes, He does know everything, but Scripture repeatedly tells us to confess our sins, to confess our needs, and to confess our desires. We do this by bending our hearts in prayer and taking a humble posture toward God’s purposes. We do not come to Him asking humbly because God is reluctant to answer, but because He is the sovereign Lord of all. He deserves our humble hearted response. (2 Corinthians 9:7-15) We make our requests known to God because He commands us to do so. Had a Syrian woman with a demon-influenced daughter not been bold enough to approach Christ with her request, she would have missed the opportunity to demonstrate her faith in His power to heal. (Mark 7:24-30) Had a blind beggar not cried out to Jesus for mercy, those in the crowd wouldn’t have witnessed Jesus’ power to give sight to the blind. (Luke 18:35-43) God says we often go through life without answers to our prayers because we do not ask, or we ask with the wrong motives. (James 4:2-3) Prayer is the means of defeating the enemy of our souls who constantly presses against our peace. (Ephesians 6:18-19) We can take our thoughts captive by replacing big fears and little worries with pleas to our good Father. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) We acknowledge the presence of our great high priest, and are then able to approach God boldly with our requests. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

4) What will be the result of our obedience to pray about everything? (verse 7)
This promise is AMAZING! Who would not desire to have this kind of peace? “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Praying from a thankful heart is the key to unlocking the door of peace. If something completely fills a space, the only way another item can fully fit is to switch the items. Paul wanted his readers to understand they could not simply sideline worry without making an adjustment in their minds. Replacing worry with its antidote was imperative! Praying about everything serves as a kind of guard in our hearts. It fills the space that worry might occupy. Nothing that produces angst can get past the guard of peace. Colossians 3:15 tells us the peace of Christ is to serve as a ruling umpire in our hearts and minds. The way we fill up on peace is by praying for it. As we pray, God provides peace to us that we are unable to fully explain. I love how Bethany wrote, “Paul assumed God was good at giving good things. If what he was praying about was a good gift, he assumed it came from God…If Paul was petitioning God for something, he assumed what God had already given and was going to give was good, too…In everything, God’s good provision meant that prayer could coincide with thankfulness.” God takes our obedience of replacing worry with prayer and provides the good gift of peace to us. A supernatural peace only He can give.

Everyday Application

1) To whom should the believer demonstrate graciousness (gentleness)? (verse 5)
We read in the New Testament that the apostle Paul was a mentor to several young men in the faith. I’m especially struck by some of his final instructions to his dear “son” Timothy. He told him to pursue, among other things, gentleness! (1 Timothy 1:2 6:11) He mentions this along with “righteousness, godliness, faith, love and endurance.” My sweet sister, even those of us who may have studied these verses many times, let’s not miss this. Our gentle disposition is an integral part of demonstrating the power of God in our lives. We find the strength to radiate this beautiful grace only through the power of the Spirit. Galatians 5 tells us the fruit of the Spirit include the characteristic of gentleness. (Galatians 5:22-23) Oh that I would exude graciousness when everyone is expecting fretfulness! I long to get up from my knees with an energy to conquer my worry and fears evidenced by a gentleness that mimics Christ. In the power of our Lord and Savior, I have the provision I need to do exactly this.

2) Why should the believer demonstrate graciousness? (verse 5)
We demonstrate graciousness because God is good and full of grace! I believe one of the greatest testimonies of a woman of prayer is her Spirit-induced ability to maintain kindness to everyone in the midst of conflict. What a beautiful gospel picture we are proclaiming when a peaceful spirit oozes from us. I love picturing Jesus’ dear friend, Mary, sitting at His feet, enthralled in His presence. (Luke 10:38-42) Why was her sister Martha fretting? Because she hadn’t learned where rest comes from. She had missed the way to be at her absolute best. I don’t think Jesus was scolding her for attempting to check off her To Do list. Rather, I think He was reminding her there is only one authentic way to peace – remembering Jesus’ nearness and presenting our worries to Him. I think if Mary were here today, she would joyfully join singing with us:
Come find what this world cannot offer.
Come and find your joy here complete.
Taste the living water, never thirst again,
rest here in His wondrous peace.
Come and find your hope now in Jesus.
He is all He said He would be.
Grace is overflowing from the Savior’s heart.
Rest here in His wondrous peace.
Oh the goodness, the goodness of Jesus!
Satisfied, He is all that I need.
May it be, come what may, that I rest all my days in the goodness of Jesus.
(The Goodness of Jesus by CityAlight)

3) What does Paul encourage believers to use as a defense against worry? (verse 6)
Paul’s instruction here is more than a soft word of encouragement. It’s possible that in our attempts to not offend others, we sometimes don’t emphasize the wealth that is found in our obedience to this command, “Don’t worry about anything.” Let’s face it, sweet friends, this isn’t written like a suggestion, is it? Paul is urging his Philippian friends to live at peace with another and within themselves through the command of rejecting worry. I’m so thankful he does not leave us hanging though; Paul continues by telling them to pray about everything. Well, my goodness. We are to be gracious to everyone, not worry about anything and pray about everything. I’m beginning to feel my skepticism rise within me. This feels impossible! And you probably know what’s coming next. It IS impossible! When Jesus used hyperbole in Matthew 19:23-26 to teach His disciples that riches were a hurdle for some to enter God’s kingdom, they were astonished. But He looked at them and stated a dramatic reality: “With God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) We are able to graciously interact with others. We are able to face difficulties and conflict with inner peace. We are able to maintain a thankful heart. We are able to do these because God has given us access to Himself through prayer. It doesn’t even need to be eloquent or long. It just needs to be sincere.
Lord, I believe You are who You say You are. You are able to do anything. But in my humanity, I’m weak and frail. I fret and flounder. Lord, help my unbelief and replace my worry with worship. Amen.

4) What will be the result of our obedience to pray about everything? (verse 7)
We pray because Jesus taught us and showed us it was essential to pray. It would seem to us if anyone did not need to pray, it would have been Jesus. After all, He was God in flesh. But as Bethany reminded us in her Journey Study, “Paul assumed God wanted to hear it all.” This assumption was borne out of hours spent in prayer to God for His glory to be shown through himself and others. Jesus prayed not only for something, but out of something. He prayed because of His already-established relationship with the Father. He came to His Father through prayer as an obedient, faithful, and loving Son. For the believer, prayer should be like breathing, easier to do than to not do. Yet we know many things keep us from approaching God. Unconfessed sin, distractions, doubt, and even plain old forgetfulness crowd out our intimacy with God. Friend, I’m committing anew to let “everything” mean “everything.” I’m expectant and hopeful to watch my powerful, faithful, and loving Father work in ways that will astound me and bring me unexplainable peace. “For this reason, I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that he may grant you [and me], according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19)

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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