love

Alive Day 11 For The Good

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 8:28-30
Psalm 138:1-8
Genesis 50:16-21

Alive, Day 11

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30)

What is your definition of good?

I asked myself this question and, after consideration, felt I had a pretty solid answer.

Then the Lord brought several scenarios to my mind, asking me if they fit my definition of good.

And my definition began to shift, based on the circumstances of those situations. What I originally categorized as good suddenly lost some of its positive qualities as more details emerged. Conversely, some terrible scenarios began to show silver linings as the bigger picture appeared.

For example, periodically a post about the morning of 9/11 pops up on my social media feed. The astounding post tells the story of why some employees in the World Trade Center weren’t at work the day the towers fell. There were many good reasons: dropping a kiddo off at daycare or picking up donuts for coworkers. Yet, some were reasons we wouldn’t normally categorize as good like the frustration of breaking a shoelace and hunting for a new one, oversleeping the alarm, a flat tire, a car accident, or even sickness.

What seemed like an inconvenience at 7:30 am might be viewed, quite literally, as a lifesaving good by 5 pm on that horrendous day.

While I have never experienced such an extreme example, I am aware that in many situations, my definition of good for me changes vastly with time and perspective.

I would not be married to my husband, had I given up when the wait definitely did not feel good. I probably would have missed several of my life experiences and oh, the lessons they have taught me. I would be much more self-centered (and I’ve still got a long way to go). I would have avoided the very pain in one season that enabled the life-giving growth in another. 

I can’t trust my definition of good, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one. I know for sure there are others throughout history whose lives panned out differently than expected; in fact, the Bible is filled with such people.

Joseph is a prime example. His story started out “good” as the deeply loved child and prophetic dreamer in a large family. While these may seem great, were they actually helping Joseph grow and mature?

His story shifted, and few would describe the next several years of Joseph’s life as good as he was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused of sexual assault, spent years in jail, and finally served as second in command for a country whose religious structure directly  conflicted with his own. (Genesis 39, 40, 41)

When we look back on Joseph’s life after reading his full story in Genesis, the beauty of his family’s final reconciliation brings purpose and redemption to all of the preceding hard. Genesis 50:20 encapsulates his story perfectly:

“You planned evil against me; God planned it for good, to bring about the present result–the survival of many people.”

I’ve heard that verse described as the Romans 8:28-29 of the Old Testament. At the very minimum, Joseph’s life is an Old Testament example of the Lord bringing about good according to His purposes.

Can you imagine the conversations Joseph had with the Lord throughout the years? He may have carried bitterness and deep emotional wounds from his suffering. These specific details are not captured directly in Scripture, but we are shown Joseph’s perseverance and commitment to excellence. He continued to hope, both for the future and in the Lord’s consistent character as faithful, good, and sovereign.

The same is true in our lives. Romans 8:28-30 is not permission to only expect our best imagined life on this earth. It’s not wrong to want happiness, but we must embrace the realities of this broken world and our finite understanding of good.
But let’s also fall into the arms of the One who calls us by name (Isaiah 43:1-4). 

He has plans and purposes for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11-14), a promise given to the Israelites while entering exile.
He is capable and sufficient to walk through hard seasons with us (Psalm 23:1-6).
He is the Alpha and the Omega and knows the beginning from the end (Revelation 21:6-7).

The Lord will always bring about good from our experiences. It may not be the good we are expecting, but it is a good that grows us, changes us, humbles and delights us.

His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and His timing may span decades, not simply hours or days. His long game is to help us become more like Christ–our ultimate good–and He has the patience to fine tune that process, individually, and intricately. Often, this includes using His definition of good rather than our own.

So today, dear sister, may we surrender our circumstances into His tender hand and allow Him to bring about His good in the midst of them.

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

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Alive Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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

The GT Weekend! ~ Alive Week 1

Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) God grants a wonderfully freeing, fully permanent declaration in the opening words of Romans 8. No more shame. No fear of condemnation. Both are radically erased because the One we have offended with our sin has freely forgiven us! The sticking point is two-fold. First, this gift of freedom remains entirely inaccessible if we have not recognized our own sin to the Holy God, repented of it, and chosen to trust Christ to rescue us from permanent death and separation from God. Second, if we have indeed been made free in Christ, the temptation to believe a lie seems to follow us like our shadow. The lie? That we aren’t really freed from shame, that we still, somehow, owe God and should therefore beat ourselves up for our past sin. Can you relate like I can?! Let’s refuse to let our enemy continue to have a foothold here! Name that place where you most often find yourself falling into the trap of shame and guilt from sins you’ve already been forgiven from and pray persistently over these. Lay hold of truth and carry it with you in place of shame! “If the Son sets you free, you really will be free!” (John 8:36)

2) Either we live according to flesh or according to Spirit. We cannot please both simultaneously; it is impossible. On Wednesday, Marietta helped us understand we must all make a personal decision to follow Jesus for ourselves. Our default position before God is not goodness, but an inherited sin nature that rejects God and rebels against Him. Thankfully, what is impossible for us and our natural sin nature, is possible with God when He puts His new nature inside of us! All believers, those who have been made new in Christ, have certain areas of life where we struggle more than others to surrender to God’s nature over our own. In the span of 3 verses in Romans 8, we find the phrase “mindset” used five times! The key to overcoming our areas of struggle is to surrender to the Spirit’s activity in us, and take up His mindset, which is entirely renewed and different from our sin-nature mindset. Think about the character of God, really pause to do this! Look up some passages to help like Philippians 4:8-9, Psalm 86:5, 15, and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. As you consider His heart, His “mindset”, turn your thoughts to your areas of struggle and your old mindset of approaching them. See the difference?! Ask the Lord to renew your mind! (Romans 12:1-2)

3) I once heard a story of an orphan child who had lived for most of his young life in severe poverty and food insecurity. This child was adopted into a loving and secure family, where there was no question about the source of the child’s next meal. He was fully provided for. However, he would often take food from the kitchen and hide it in his room, keeping it secure for himself. Even though his entire situation had changed, his attitudes and behaviors were still in accordance with his previous insecurity. For those of us who have come to the place of belief in Christ, repenting of our sins, and trusting in Him to give us new life, we are like that adopted orphan. We no longer need to worry about our security, but we often act like we are still in spiritual poverty. When we sin, we are living according to our old manner of life, but when we walk by the Spirit and set our minds on things above, we are operating in our new identity as children of God. Colossians 3:12-17 give us one picture of what our new life in Christ can look like. Write out these verses and post them somewhere you will see them frequently. Set your mind on things above by reading and contemplating these verses and by applying them to situations in your daily life.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Romans 5:6-11 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by His blood, will we be saved through
Him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Prayer Journal
Oh Lord, our God, thank You for the great work You have done by setting us free from our old ways of life. Once we were dead in our sins, without hope, striving to make ourselves better. But You, oh God, being rich in mercy, because of Your great love, made us alive together with Christ. (Ephesians 2:4-6) You weren’t forced to save us, but You did. And now, we can walk in freedom with no more shame, no more condemnation, and no more fear. Forgive me, Father, for the times I revert to my old way of living. I am acutely aware of my tendency to live as though I need to save myself or make myself better. But You are the one who transforms and makes me new. Enable me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, shifting my mindset to focus on the truth of the new life that You have given me. (Romans 12:2) Help me live my life as one who has been changed by You, sharing the joy and freedom that comes with new life in Your family.

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

Worship VIII Day 7 Our Beautiful Jealous God: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Our Beautiful Jealous God!

The Questions

1) What does it mean for God to be a jealous God? (verse 5)

2) What is idol worship? (verse 4)

3) How does God bring the consequences of iniquity on the generations? (verse 5)

Exodus 20:3-5

3 Do not have other gods besides me. 4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me

Original Intent

1) What does it mean for God to be a jealous God? (verse 5)
The Hebrew word for jealous, qanna, “combines the ideas of zeal and jealousy.” (Preceptaustion.org) When used to describe Jehovah in the Old Testament, qanna “reflects zero tolerance for the worship of other so-called gods. (Preceptaustion.org) God’s jealousy is not like human jealousy, which can be selfish and ugly. Author, David Guzik, explains that “God is jealous in the sense that He will not accept being merely added to the life; He insists on being supreme and does this out of love.” God is jealous because He is above all.  He is “God of gods, Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God.” (Deuteronomy 10:17) Author Richard Strauss argues that since God is the “highest and greatest being there is, infinitely holy and glorious, He must be passionately committed to preserving His honor and supremacy.” His great love for us makes Him jealous for us, wanting us to have all the benefits and protections of following Him and serving Him. When we worship idols, or turn to other gods, He is jealous for us and what we are missing by being outside the will of the only true God. He alone deserves praise, and He longs to reside in the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3)

2) What is idol worship? (verse 4)
In Exodus 20 God gave His people the Ten Commandments to follow. God Himself spoke the words, engraving them with His finger (Deuteronomy 9:10) saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.” (Exodus 20:1-4) The Israelites lived among people who worshipped many gods, so the admonition in the 2nd commandment was necessary. Author David Guzik explains, “In the days of ancient Israel, there was great temptation to worship the gods of materialism (such as Baal, the god of weather and financial success) and sex (such as Ashtoreth, the goddess of sex, romance, and reproduction), or any number of other local deities.” Idol worship is seen primarily in eastern cultures today (like statues of Buddha or Mary). Though it is less common in the western hemisphere to see carved idols in homes or people worshipping physical idols at a temple, the practice of idolatry is still prevalent across the globe no matter where you live. John Currid explains, “For us to trust in anything more than the Lord is to make that thing a god. And idolatry can take many different forms, whether it be riches, glory, wisdom, or one’s physical appetites—it is giving homage to anything but Yahweh!“ When we promote anything or anyone above God in our lives, we are practicing idolatry. Even if they are good and positive people, pastimes, or possessions, when they reign above God in our hearts they are idols and must come down if we are to be obedient to God.

3) How does God bring the consequences of iniquity on the generations? (verse 5)
When God gave Ten Commandments to the Israelites, He warned them not to worship other gods or make idols to worship, “for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.” (Exodus 20:3-5) He equated idolatry with hating God; He warns that the consequences of idol worship would fall on the sinners and their ensuing generations. Far from being a generational curse from God, this is a warning that actions have consequences. God is not condemning generation after generation to punishment, rather He is cautioning them not to continue in the sinful ways of their ancestors. Author Rod Mattoon explains, “Even though children are not responsible or guilty for their father’s iniquity, they are influenced and affected by it. Sons and remote descendants inherit the consequences of their fathers’ sins, in disease, poverty, captivity, with all the influences of bad example and evil communications.” The consequences will not fall on children who do not hate God. Frequently, the sinful practices of one generation influence the lives of the next generation; this is what God is warning about. If people love God and turn away from the sin of the previous generation, they will not receive the wrath God saves for those who hate Him.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean for God to be a jealous God? (verse 5)
It is odd to think of God as jealous, because jealousy is such a negative human emotion. It is easier to think of the word zealous, which author Richard Strauss describes as being synonymous for jealousy in the Bible when referring to God. He argues that “God is zealous—eager about protecting what is precious to Him.” I think about it in terms of how I feel for my daughter as she is choosing colleges. She has a scholarship to a good school, but she keeps looking at other schools that will cost more and require her to take on debt. I am zealous in my promotion of the choice that will give her a quality education and keep her from owing lots of money for many years to come. I know the harm that could come, and the good she might miss, if she chooses to go into debt for her education, so I advocate for her to make the choice that will save her future problems. This is how I see God in His jealousy, or zeal, for us. He promises that choosing to obey His commands and follow His ways will bless us. (Psalm 128) He warns that turning from Him will bring destruction. (Romans 6:23) He longs for us to worship Him and commune with Him, and He is jealous for us to make the right choice and avoid calamity. When you consider your everyday life choices and circumstances, how can you begin worshipping the One worthy of all your worship?

2) What is idol worship? (verse 4)
If you know me at all you are not surprised that I am a fan of all things Jane Austen, but you might not suspect me to be an old school Star Wars fan. I also collect vintage valentines, love old Hollywood movies, enjoy copious amounts of cinnamon tea and slim volumes of British poetry. As much as I love my eclectic pastimes, I could give any of them up if needed. While it’s true they are important to me, God is number one in my heart and though I occasionally spend too much time or energy indulging other things, the Lord’s Spirit draws me back to Himself and I am quick to return. Idolatry, in its many forms, is still a source of temptation for me. D.L Moody defined it this way, “Whatever you make most of is your god. Whatever you love more than God is your idol.” For me that temptation is to put my own will above God’s will. Sometimes when I see what God is asking of me, I rebelliously assert that I know better. I fear uncertainty and I selfishly cling to my own plans, loving my own way more than God’s. I haven’t considered this idolatry before, but it boils down to worshipping my own will and wisdom over God’s, and that definitely fits the definition. So my prayer is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” I know He is trustworthy and true (Deuteronomy 7:9), so I purpose to choose His will over mine, breaking down my false idols.

3) How does God bring the consequences of iniquity on the generations? (verse 5)
I love watching programs about ancestry that help people create a family tree. It’s interesting to discover how families stay for generations in one place or pursue one occupation. Occasionally one enterprising person will pull up stakes and move across the country, starting a new family line for generations in a new location. Many people live in the same area where their 5th great-grandfather settled without even realizing his decision impacted their present situation. God describes a similar situation in the Bible, but with dire consequences. He tells the Israelites in Exodus 20:5 not to worship other gods, “Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.” The decisions we make impact those around us, especially our families. Children learn what we teach them, and when we model hating God by worshipping other “gods” like wealth, entertainment, materialism, or comfort, we are impacting their lives in significantly negative ways. If they don’t change and turn towards God, then we have also impacted their children. God not only warns us what can happen if we teach our children the wrong way, but He also tells us the positive consequences of teaching them to follow Him. Proverbs 22:6 gives us a wise principle; if we teach our kids to love God and follow His ways, even when they grow old they won’t digress. If we love God, even the mistakes we make can be worked out for our good and God’s glory in our lives. (Romans 8:28) We aren’t expected to be perfect, just to offer ourselves wholly to love and worship God alone. Our families will catch what we model!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Our Beautiful Jealous God!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Worship VIII Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

The GT Weekend ~ Beloved Week 2

Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) God delights to give good gifts to His children. We know “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17) Marriage, as we saw in Monday’s Journey Study, is a delightful gift from the Lord. God’s plan for marriage was for a man and woman to delight in one another and to reflect His love to the world. Married woman, are you delighting in your husband, or are you focusing on where he is lacking? Are you trusting in God’s plan for your marriage and finding ways to show your husband that you enjoy him, or are you focusing on pleasing yourself? Write down one way you will show your husband you desire him AND one way you can grow in your desire for God. Unmarried sister, have you entrusted the Lord with your desires? Are you living each day to the glory of God, trusting that His timing is perfect? Write down any area in your life that you have believed God is holding back a good gift from you, and ask Him to reveal His heart toward you in that area.

2) In Wednesday’s Journey, we read about the beauty of intimacy between lovers. Merry listed four traits the intimate couple in Song of Solomon display for one another. They are transparent, honest, vulnerable, and purposeful. Transparency, honesty, vulnerability, and intentioned purpose can each help us grow in relationship with our spouse and with our God. These traits also require trust and courage to live out in real life because they open us up to the possibility of being hurt. To the married woman, where are you holding back in your marriage for fear of being hurt? Marriage relationships are complicated and messy when it comes to trust and vulnerability. Neither are easy. As wives, we can only be responsible for ourselves, not the actions and heart attitudes of our husbands. As far as it depends on you, list specific ways you can move deeper into vulnerability and intimacy with your spouse. Consider if there are sins on your side that may be hindering your relationship and pray through these and share with your spouse. Write down specific areas or actionable ways you can begin increasing vulnerability with your husband. Ask God to give you courage and to enable you to take steps to love your husband well. To all sisters, how are you pursuing intimacy with your Heavenly Father? Take time today to verbalize or write down ways you have been holding back from trusting the Lord; ask Him to help you seek intimacy with Him.

3) Before marriage, we can build up expectations for how married life will be, but because we live in a broken world, and we marry broken people, marriage often falls short of our grand expectations. Personally, I thought my husband would always know exactly what to say or do to make me feel better, but surprise! He can’t read my mind. Women, what are you asking from the men in your life (whether implicitly or directly) that only God can provide? Are you hoping for your husband (current or future) to make you secure with his words and actions, or to heal your broken places? Are you demanding he provide you with stability and peace in a tumultuous situation? Look to Jesus. Only Jesus can heal and provide us with true satisfaction. Confess where you have fallen short, and ask the Lord to help you find your satisfaction in Him. For wives, this frees your husband to be the man he is able to be, rather than burden him with unrealistic expectations.  For single women, this allows you to find satisfaction in your current season. If God provides a husband for you, you will be setting a course for a healthy relationship, loosed from the chains of unrealistic expectations.

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 Proverbs 31:10-12 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Who can find a wife of noble character?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.

Prayer Journal
Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth. You alone can satisfy the deepest longings of my heart. You alone can heal my broken places and pursue me with perfect love. Oh that I would find my satisfaction in You! Forgive me for the idols of my heart, for my worship of lesser loves. Help me to identify and eliminate all distractions that would keep me from loving You rightly. Help me to honor my husband by following You as Lord and not asking him to do a job he was never intended to do. Show me where I have sinned against my husband, and help me to humbly seek restoration with him. I ask You to continue to bless my marriage with joy and satisfaction and desire. Thank You that Your design for marriage is good. Remind me that my marriage is a picture to a broken world of the love You have for Your church and of her desire to follow You. Finally, I pray for my sisters who are longing to be married. Help them to find their satisfaction in You. Help them to pursue a life-giving relationship with You, and to be content in every situation, trusting that Your timing and Your plans are best.

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! ~ Beloved Week 1

Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Our Journey from Monday closes with the challenge, “Regardless of your marital status, draw close to the Lord and risk being unmasked before Him. The love, passion, and connection experienced there is well worth the being seen.” As a single woman, I often longed for a husband with whom I could share my deepest longings and my truest self. As a married woman, I have encountered the truth of a broken world that no human relationship is perfect. While my husband and I have a secure relationship, we still need to work to be vulnerable and open with one another. Marriage will not, and cannot, solve all our problems. Sit down this week and have an honest conversation with the Lord. Read 2 Corinthians 3 again and consider what it would look like for you to approach the presence of God with an “unveiled face.” Beloved, the Father knows your weaknesses. Do not be ashamed to approach Him and ask for His favor. He is delighted to be with you; delight in His presence. To take it a step further, consider sharing with your spouse or a close friend what you are learning from God, either in this area or another area of growth. As you connect with others, you are helping one another grow in intimacy with the Lord!

2) Sarah attests that our God-crafted differences give us cause to celebrate rather than be divisive in our closest relationships. Can you imagine how beautiful our marriages, and relationships with other believers would be, if we saw each role as uniquely crafted and desperately needed? The imagery God uses of a head and body give us a picture of oneness. The head cannot be separated from the body and still function, and the same is true for the body. How can you intentionally celebrate your spouse’s differences this week? Often, the longer we are married, those idiosyncrasies that annoy us most give us insight into how God created our spouse as wonderfully different than ourselves. Instead of jumping to frustration, and our own perspective this weekend, celebrate how God made your husband different! Whether you’re single or married, learning to assess your own uniqueness, while allowing another person to be different without detracting from you is a huge milestone in relational maturity! Take time this week to encourage the differences you see in the people who are closest to you, and praise God His creativity in crafting us as unique beings.

3) The woman in Song of Solomon adamantly pursues her lover until she finds him.  She does not waiver in her pursuit, and she is rewarded with love and acceptance when she finds him. The world tells us that to get love, we have to play “hard to get,” but this is a power play aimed at manipulation and gaining an upper hand. In God’s kingdom, we are called to lay down our power and be authentic with one another. We all long to be pursued, but are we willing to take the steps toward pursing another? Wives, where are you struggling in your marriage? What are some steps you can take to pursue your husband and rekindle intimacy? Where do you need God’s healing hand to cover your marriage and enable you and your husband to reconnect? Write a prayer asking God for His help, understanding that there is no topic that is off-limits to God. He knows your desires and He knows where you need help. Single sisters, are you pursing God as your highest good? Are you pursing deep friendships with other women in your circle? Are you practicing authentic intimacy with the people God has placed in your life? Write some ways that you can faithfully serve and pursue God in your singleness and commit to practicing those steps.

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 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Prayer Journal
“Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout triumphantly to Him in song.” (Psalm 95:2). Lord, You are so good to us! You have made a way for Your children to enter into your presence, to have real and intimate relationship with You, and to have deep relationships with others. I confess I have hidden myself from You. Like Adam in the garden, I have attempted to hide my sin in my shame. As I hide from You, I hide from the people I love the most, shunning your gift of grace and pushing away those who love me. I have not pursued intimate relationships with the dedication and faithfulness You have freed me to experience. Thank You that I do not need to live in shame! Thank You for making a way for us to be reconciled to You and one another. Help me live with an unveiled face before You. Help me to pursue and build intimate and life-giving relationships with others. Empower my relationships to reflect the unity and oneness befitting children of the Most High God. You said the world around us would know Your people by their love for one another. (John 13:35) Help me to live my life honoring You and showing others Your great love.

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! ~ Calling Week 3

Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Merry took us really deep, really fast in Monday’s Journey Study. Paul is calling Christians to be people of light who speak truth in love. He is challenging Jesus-followers to not be blinded by lies and darkness, but to call out evil and walk in truth. Merry asked a series of questions that bears repeating, “Beloved, what drives you? Are you ruled by your feelings, or by your Father? Are you more vested in the things the world holds dear, or the things of your Father’s Kingdom?” Every day we hear messages from the world about what we should value and believe. Do those messages line up with Scripture? Could these messages be clouding your vision and darkening your eyes to the truth? Make a list of ways you hear messages from the world that don’t reflect God’s truth. (think Instagram, Netflix, the news, romance novels, etc.) Make plans to fast for a period of time from one or more of those sources of information, and intentionally repurpose your time to seek out God’s truth. Set a specific time frame for your fast (one day, one weekend, a whole week), and then at the close of your time, reflect on the truths you have gained from the Lord.

2) What comes to your mind, when you first hear the word submission? Our culture sees submission as a dirty word as it seemingly goes against some of our deepest and oldest values of liberty and independence. In Ephesians, Paul says those who follow Jesus ought to submit to the authorities in their lives and to one another in love. As people who seek to honor God, we should look different from the rest of the world. Does your spirit push back on this idea like mine does? Submission is uncomfortable and leaves us open to vulnerability, but biblical submission born of love is one aspect of the Christian life we are invited to rest in. Take some time to evaluate your life. Where do you need to practice submission? Do you have a boss who really grinds your gears? Or maybe you are struggling to make a decision with your husband? What about a family member or friend whom you are butting heads with as you each want your own way? Write down one specific, actionable step you can take this week to mend a damaged relationship by submitting your will to another. Ask God to give you courage and humility to take the first step in faith.

3) The full armor of God is our toolkit to help Christians in our battle against darkness. As people who follow Jesus, we are told first to “be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.” Only then are we to put on the full armor of God. Without the power and strength of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, our efforts to make ourselves faithful will fall flat. We need to be “plugged into Jesus” as we were told in yesterday’s journey. How can we do that? The spiritual disciplines of Bible reading and meditation along with prayer are a great place to start. Ephesians 6:18 tells believers to “pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request…” As you go through your day, problems arise. You will experience difficulties and discouraging circumstances. Pray about them. You will also experience joyful times and blessings. Thank God for them! You don’t need to wait until you have your journal and a cup of coffee to talk to God. Slip your conversation with Him into every spare moment of your day. Make a list of concerns you are praying about right now. Post them in a place you will see them like above your kitchen sink, as the background of your phone, on your bathroom mirror, or on your steering wheel. Watch expectantly to see how Jesus strengthens you for each task you set your mind to.

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 138:3,7-8 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

On the day I called, You answered me;
You increased strength within me.
If I walk into the thick of danger,
You will preserve my life
from the anger of my enemies.
You will extend your hand;
Your right hand will save me.
The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.
Lord, Your faithful love endures forever;
do not abandon the work of Your hands.

Prayer Journal
To you, oh God, I lift up my voice. Father, Son, and Spirit, Three in One. You are the source of all good things. You are the One who answers prayers and provides Your people with all strength and sustenance. Remind me of my need for You. Remind me of my need for Your goodness and grace. Help me to submit, in spite of my own stubborn will, to the authority and needs of those around me. As I remember my need for You, help me to be drawn into conversation with You. Let my prayers to You be as natural to me as the very breath I breath. I confess I am easily distracted by the cares and values of the world. I often desire my own will and my own way. Help me to be so delighted by you, I cannot help but worship. Thank You for Your consistent and assuring presence in my life and for Your answers to my prayers. Let me be ever more aware of Your desires. Help me turn away from the false stories and messages the world is so quick to offer and listen instead to Your Word of truth.

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

Calling Day 15 Undying Love

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 6:10-24
Psalm 138:1-8
Colossians 1:1-29

Calling, Day 15

For my birthday, my sister gave me an Amazon gift card. With that e-card, she placed a vast array of options at my fingertips and whatever I chose could be on my doorstep in two days. Any guesses as to what I selected?

A charging station for all my electronics. 

All #adulting jokes aside, I have happily used the charging station daily since it arrived. Gone are the days of plugging items in to charge all around the room since no outlet had enough space for all my chargers. No longer am I searching for various cords and adaptors and successfully pair them accurately with devices, which were often threatening to die at any moment. Now a small bamboo box, containing a charging hub, hosts all my charging electronics.

So now that I’ve given you far more insight into my life than you ever wanted, let me share how the Lord used this ordinary charger to provide a new perspective on a portion of His Word.

Our study on Ephesians is drawing to a close, but the rich depth of its application continues on if we embrace the challenge presented to us in the final verses of this letter from Paul. This challenge produces fruit and the abundant life Christ died to bring us. (John 10:10) In verse 10, Paul begins to walk through the armor of God.

If you grew up in the church, you may remember learning this concept in Sunday school; I distinctly remember something akin to an “armor of God” paper doll. (For those in a younger generation, they were like paper doll apps but–gasp–made of real paper!)

If you’re not familiar with the concept, the armor of God describes how believers can prepare for, and successfully fight, in the spiritual battles we face on our journeys of faith.

Unfortunately, I sometimes equate putting on the armor of God with the dressing up of a paper doll. I can “dress” myself with the correct words, thoughts, and outlooks from head to toe, but am I truly drawing my strength from the Lord . . . or just putting on a good show?

So as I read through Ephesians 6, I asked myself if I am truly “plugging in” to the Lord as my source as I seek to live out the life described in verses 10-18? As I pondered that question, the Lord brought to mind my charging station. I would not set my phone on the wooden base and assume it would charge without plugging in the base.

Similarly, putting on the armor of God is about drawing close to Christ and His Word, and listening to the Holy Spirit as we pray. It is not about looking the part; it is about living the part.

For example, when verse 14 challenges us to stand with truth like a belt around our waists, it is not exhorting us to assume a certain physical posture, or pull ourselves up by our bootstraps emotionally.

Instead, Paul encourages us to embrace truth, both through immersion in Scripture and prayerful pursuit of discernment and wisdom in the Holy Spirit. Then, just as a literal belt was the foundational piece of armor to which all else was attached, God’s truth will be the launchpad from which the rest of our spiritual armor springs.

What passage of Scripture or words of the Spirit speak to your heart in this moment and remind you the God who has overcome the world is for you? Stand on His words of truth, dear sister; stand with the authority Christ died to give you.

As we read through the armor of God, let’s envision each piece as a charger for an electronic device.
What would it look like to “plug ourselves into Christ” for each piece of armor?
Let’s invest the time to intentionally seek interaction with the Lord and discover His strength.

The key component in my charging station is electricity, and the key component of the armor of God is God. Long before electricity ever made its mark on planet earth, Paul understood the reality of being plugged into Christ, and the significance of this vital connection is still felt today as we read his letters.

Paul wrote about the armor of God as a tested and tried warrior, not as a child playing with paper dolls. He put on the armor of God in order to fulfill the purpose the Lord had for him. Paul sought to declare the gospel and he worked with the Lord to spread the good news about Christ. He has modeled what it looks like to live fully alive in Christ and fully alive for Christ. 

Paul ended his letter to the church in Ephesus (and to all of us eavesdropping on the conversation) with a prayer for grace to all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear sister, may we plug in to the Lord and be counted among those with an undying love.

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 Calling Week Three! 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 Calling!

Calling Day 13 One To Another

1 Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 5:15-6:9
Mark 12:28-34
Psalm 133:1-3

Calling, Day 13

I saw the picture.
I bet you did, too.

George Floyd’s body on the ground, a police officer’s knee to his neck.

I. Can’t. Breathe.

And the Church began to move.

While racial injustice has soared for the United States’ entire existence and slavery built the understructure of our nation, we’ve been quiet.

Excuses.

“If only…”
“Well, if they hadn’t…”
“They should’ve…”

Until the injustice was so blatantly obvious we couldn’t ignore it any longer.

I’m ashamed it took the dying words of a lynched man to wake us up.

Our call to love, to submit, to live in unity within the Church is as old as mankind
because our God is a God of unity.

All throughout Scripture, God tells us to love. He shows us He is a listening and hearing God and since we were made in His image, we should be listening and hearing, too.

Yet.

We have women in abusive marriages begging for help.
While the Church looks away. 

We have children crying for parents to love and care for them.
While the Church looks away. 

We have Black neighbors decrying injustice and racism of all kinds.
While the Church looks away. 

Or, at least, it did.

In Ephesians, Paul calls the Church to action, disputing the idea we were ever given permission to turn a blind eye to the many dark injustices in the world.

First, he calls us to unity, instructing us to be wise and clear-minded. He exhorts us to speak to one another with the music of heaven threaded through our words and to worship together, offer our thanks to the Lord, and …
submit to one another in reverent awe of Christ. 

Did you catch the lack of distinction?

Submit.
Every. Single. Believer.

The world tries to put the Bible within the context of its own darkened, limited, sin-stained understanding. Unfortunately, many Christians believe the world, instead of reading the Bible and commentaries and seeking the perfect understanding of the Holy Spirit. (Example: the world likes to say, “Only God can judge me.” But we know from Scripture, that is a misrepresentation to excuse sin.)

So, it’s no surprise we’ve believed the world’s pronouncement that submission is archaic, antifeminist, and oppressive. The idea of submission can leave us with a bad aftertaste if we refuse to learn what the Lord truly means by the beautiful dance of submission.

The Lord’s desire for us to submit, each to the other, whoever the “other” is, regardless of gender, heritage, race, position, or ethnicity, is born out of how God holds submission within Himself as a triune God. Each member of the trinity actively submits to the other to bring about whole oneness and perfect unity.
A lovely, holy dance of submission, one to another.

If we, as Christians, submitted “one to the other”, we would look a lot more like Jesus than we do right now.

Biblical submission is not archaic, antifeminist, or oppressive.
It isn’t abusive, it’s beautiful.

Submitting means putting others before ourselves.

In fact, the idea of biblical submission is closely related to meekness. Before you start thinking this means weakness, here’s the definition Jesus referenced for the Greek word for meek:

“Intentionally choosing to lovingly, gently defer in order to esteem and value another.”

Meek submission requires strength of character, complete reliance on God to supply our needs, and a tender, compassionate willingness to pause and listen to others’ words and respond to their needs. Meek submission lovingly and intentionally lays aside our own arrogant need to be right and instead, elevates the other person.

In order to live this way in our everyday lives, we must first submit to God by fully grasping His will for the Church to live as one unified Body.

Now here’s the thing… when I say the Church looks away when injustice reigns, I don’t mean every church or every person in the Church, but shouldn’t we be unified in opposition to injustice?

When People of Color within the Church speak up on division, shouldn’t the whole Church hold each other up?
That’s unity.
That’s submission.
That’s meekness.

Paul goes on to explain wives are to submit to their husbands, children are to honor and respect their parents, and slaves are to obey their masters (or employees to employers), all of which looks like a big, heaping spoonful of beautiful, godly, strong and gentle, meek submission.

Before Paul really gets into details, he first instructs us to speak to one another in love, give thanks, and submission to one another.

No distinction. No qualification. No excuse.

All of us are to submit to one another. 

And all are to submit to Christ.

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
–Jesus

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

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Calling Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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

Pause IV Day 3 Coming Justice

Leave a Comment

Pause IV, Day 3

Contrary to what Habakkuk felt, the Lord God did indeed see every single violent act, every rebellious exploitation, and every painful fallout from yet another sinful decision. He saw, and He cared. He cared enough to cut to the heart of the issue, Israel’s idolatry.

They had long since traded walking in sweet communion with the Lord for continuing down a pathway of setting up themselves as their own god. They lusted in their hearts for everything under the sun. They traded worshipping the Creator God for mere things He had lovingly created. Worshipping things instead of God feels nicer for a while. It gives us a sense of control, and oh how we love that!

But the Lord knew Israel would ruin themselves as long as they worshipped themselves.
So, after decade upon decade of their hardened rebellion, and watching the heartbreak of people like Habakkuk, He chose, at just the right time in history, to send His justice. He wanted to break Israel’s prideful trust in themselves, so they could properly worship the only One deserving worship, Yahweh.

Make no mistake, God sent a just punishment to Israel, because He loved her.

The army who would carry out His justice was another nation hell-bent on rebelling against God. Their atrocities against the Lord’s holiness, made even Israel look good in comparison. But, to God, there is no sliding scale for sin. The gossiping tongue, the hateful thought, and the vile murderer are all equally guilty of marring the standard of holiness. God would use an evil nation to bring just punishment upon His chosen nation because He loved her and wanted her heart to return to Him.

Grab your Bible, a journal and pen,
and open your heart to bask in the presence of the Almighty!

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 every word of Habakkuk 1:9-11 today. 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, consider the heart position of both the Chaldeans and Israelis. Both had hearts that snubbed the Lord of All, trusting themselves and their ways over Yahweh. Ask the Holy Spirit to humble your heart as you pour over His Words.

2) Choose one of these options to live boldly with authentic honesty in biblical community. As we grow deeper in God’s Word, the Lord designed us to share and grow with others walking alongside us.
            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! 

Join the GT Community on Facebook!

Habakkuk 1:5-11

5 Look at the nations and observe—
be utterly astounded!
For I am doing something in your days
that you will not believe
when you hear about it.
6 Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,
that bitter, impetuous nation
that marches across the earth’s open spaces
to seize territories not its own.
7 They are fierce and terrifying;
their views of justice and sovereignty
stem from themselves.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards
and more fierce than wolves of the night.
Their horsemen charge ahead;
their horsemen come from distant lands.
They fly like eagles, swooping to devour.
9 All of them come to do violence;
their faces are set in determination.
They gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings,
and rulers are a joke to them.
They laugh at every fortress
and build siege ramps to capture it.
11 Then they sweep by like the wind
and pass through.
They are guilty; their strength is their god.

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