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preparation

Pause V Day 11 Preparation

November 8, 2021 by Marietta Taylor 1 Comment

Pause V, Day 11

Servant.
That’s not the role the Israelites expected their long-awaited Messiah to play.
Conqueror, sure, but definitely not a servant.
Yet this was the role and purpose of Jesus.

Jesus showed us how to serve when He washed the feet of His disciples. This was usually a task for the household servants. Imagine Jesus kneeling before you, washing and drying your feet. If anything, this is the posture the disciples should have had to Him.

The heartbeat of His intention was to gently show us how to humbly serve others. He was preparing His disciples, and us, for the same servanthood He exhibited.
We may not wash physical feet, but there are plenty of opportunities to serve.

“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.” (John 13:15)

Not surprisingly, Jesus was also preparing us for something that would help us live out the role of servant. There is no way we could do it on our own. 

In John 14:6, Jesus spoke one of my favorite verses, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” This is important because it sets the stage for identifying the coming “Helper”.

For the disciples, after Jesus fulfilled His earthly ministry, He would return to the Father, Who would then send the Counselor, or Holy Spirit, to indwell His people. The Spirit, co-equal with God the Father and God the Son, would teach them what to do in everyday life and remind them of Jesus’ instructions.

For us, when we accept Jesus as Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. He then teaches us of God, reminds us of truth, and transforms us into the people God intends us to be as we mirror His love. He is the gift Who empowers us to live as servants of the Most High God.

Today's Invitation

1) Read John 13 and 14, then circle back and re-read verses John 14:15-31 a few times through.
Answer these 3 questions in your journal from verses 15-31:

  1. a) What do these verses tell me about God and His character?
  2. b) What do these verses tell me about others and the world around me?
  3. c) What do these verses tell me about me and my heart?

2) Close your time by praying for these truths to take root in your heart and for the Holy Spirit to remind you and teach you more about these things today. Be sure to write out any questions you have as you read! If you’d like to send your questions to us, we’d love to study with you!

3) Memorize John 17:23

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John 13

Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. 4 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. 5 Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”

8 “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said.

Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

10 “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you?

13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.

16 “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

18 “I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me. 19 I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he. 20 Truly I tell you, whoever receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives him who sent me.”

21 When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

22 The disciples started looking at one another—uncertain which one he was speaking about. 23 One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was he was talking about. 25 So he leaned back against Jesus and asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. 27 After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”

28 None of those reclining at the table knew why He said this to him. 29 Since Judas kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 After receiving the piece of bread, he immediately left. And it was night.

31 When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so now I tell you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

36 “Lord,” Simon Peter said to him, “where are you going?”

Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.”

37 “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly I tell you, a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.

John 14

Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.”

5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip?
The one who has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.

12 “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me.
Because I live, you will live too.

20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.
21 The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.
And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father.
I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it you’re going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.
My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24 The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.

25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

28 You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’
If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father,
because the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. 31 On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me.

“Get up; let’s leave this place.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause V 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 Pause V!

Posted in: Gift, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Purpose Tagged: father, Fulfilled, helper, Humbly, Messiah, Most High, preparation, servant, serve

Shielded Day 8 Summer Ready Feet

February 5, 2020 by Sara Cissell 1 Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 6:10-20
Romans 10:8-15
1 Peter 3:14-19

Shielded, Day 8

At the first glimmers of spring, my toes begin to long for the freedom of my summer sandals. All winter long they have been safely guarded by the socks and shoes the cold temperatures my Midwest climate require. The hope of warmer days to come reminds me it’s time to prepare for the adventures that await.

You see, I have summer feet and winter feet. During the winter months, color does not grace my toes and tan lines from my sandals fade away. I fully admit to forgetting about my feet somewhat in the winter other than ensuring they stay warm and dry.

But in the summer, I prepare for them to be seen.
I prepare for them to carry me to both new and beloved old places.  I intentionally select the color I paint my toenails (does anyone else pick the color based on the name of the color? No, just me. Noted.) and consistently apply lotion to moisturize my feet.

As I ponder the reality of my investment in summer feet, I am convicted about the level of investment I place in my spiritual feet as well. In Ephesians 6, the Armor of God is listed as head to toe wisdom for living our daily lives with the Lord. A true warrior would never approach a battle ill-prepared and un-protected, so why do I so willingly walk out my days without seeking the presence and protection of the Lord?

Ephesians 6:15 focuses on the feet element of the Armor of God. In order to understand just what this verse might be conveying, I looked at it in a variety of translations.

NIV: “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
NASB: “and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”
AMPC: “and having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.”
CSB: “and your feet sandaled with the readiness for the gospel of peace.”
KJV: “and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

As I looked at all the versions, two consistent things (besides the obvious element of feet) stood out to me: shod and preparation related to gospel of peace.

Shod speaks to the reality that we absolutely must put on this piece of the armor. Think back to the last time you went shoe shopping. You didn’t simply look at the shoes and assumed they fit. Pairs were tried on and steps were taken. You put them on with intentionality, looking for a fit that would support you in the manner required for whatever setting you wore them.

So it is with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Jesus came to save all who were lost and He did so by way of the cross. He took our sin and, in place of its shame and weight, traded us His blameless righteousness. He came to bring us peace with the Lord.
He is our Prince of Peace.

Through His sacrifice, we are invited to become partakers of the gospel and allow Him to shape us to become more like Christ. The Holy Spirit dwelling within us produces fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), especially when we actively submit our will to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to grow it within us. This fruit enables us to live this life for His glory and with His joy. It is through our relationship with the triune God we are prepared to take the gospel of peace to those around us. It is through that relationship we are prepared to face everything that comes our way.

My mind drifts to the last time I had a professional pedicure. How I loved the feeling of soaking my feet in the warm water and feeling the water bubbling around my toes. The heat and moisture prepared my feet for their beautification. The pumice stone removed the rough edges of my heels, and the nail polish brought a pop of color to my toes. My feet were summer ready and prepared to journey through the coming months.

As delightful as that sounds to experience right now, I am more drawn to spending time with the Lord in order to prepare my spiritual feet.

Lord, would you soften my heart to hear Your voice?
Would you use the truth of Your Word to remove the rough edges still so evident in my life? Would you breathe upon the fruit of the Spirit within me to add beauty that draws others to You?

Today I’m choosing to shod my feet with the preparation of Your gospel of peace.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
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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 Shielded Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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

Posted in: God, Gospel, Peace, Sacrifice, Shielded Tagged: Armor of God, Feet, preparation, Summer Ready, warmer days

Worship VI Day 3 Streams In The Wilderness

November 27, 2019 by Audra Watson 2 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Mark 1:9-15
Isaiah 43
Jeremiah 31:2-3
John 16:25-33
Psalm 30:1-12

Worship VI, Day 3

Wilderness.
When most people think of wilderness, dark, foreboding, stagnant, and lonely thoughts come to mind. It is a place no one willingly volunteers to go, it’s even somewhere believers pray we won’t walk through.

While we often associate “wilderness” with a dark time in life, without hope, and full of fear, over the past few months, God has been slowly revealing the purpose of the wilderness to me.

Jesus Himself walked in a literal wilderness, testing Him spiritually, mentally, and physically immediately before He entered full-time ministry.

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. (Mark 1:12-13)

Immediately following Christ’s baptism, the Spirit sent Jesus to the wilderness. God knew He was sending His Son straight into a dry, lonely place to be tempted, yet He still sent Him.
For me, the timing of Jesus’ wilderness season is the most interesting part.
It is placed between Jesus’ baptism and His active, earthly ministry.

God intended the wilderness to be a place of preparation for higher calling. Similar to an athlete training intensely before competing, pushing themselves as far as possible so the muscle will stretch, grow, and strengthen, this is God’s intention for wilderness seasons for believers.

In my own personal journey, I have been in a wilderness season.
Questioning God.
Challenged by my circumstances.
Drawn to prayer.

Like Jesus was tempted to bow to Satan and selfish desires, I’ve experienced my own lures…
I’ve been tempted to walk away from things I know God called me into.
I’ve questioned if God was worthy of my trust.
I’ve been challenged to cling to the truth of who God says I am and what He has called me to do, despite how I feel.

While this season has undoubtedly been the hardest of my life, it has also been rewarding.
It has been a season of immense pain, sadness, brokenness and desperation.
But it has also been filled with so much HOPE.

Hope because God is faithful.
Hope because God is working it out for my good and His glory.
Hope because He is preparing me for whatever comes next.
During this time, Streams in the Wilderness, a song written by two amazing women in my church family, has been close to my heart.
Because in every wilderness, God is faithful, and hope is sure.

In this barren place
Where I can’t see Your face
I’m holding onto You
You say You’ll never leave
You have good plans for me
I’m holding onto You

You make streams in the wilderness
As You pour Your Spirit out, rain living water down
I will see Your presence here
Your glory all around, Your glory all around
This holy ground

It is in the wilderness where God pours His living water on us, fueling us moment by moment. We can experience the life-giving gift of His presence in these dry lands. Not only is He making Streams in the Wilderness, but this barren ground provides the opportunity to experience His glory and presence all over us.

In the space between
Your promise and what’s seen
I’m holding onto You
Even as I wait
Wrapped up in Your grace
I’m holding onto You

Sisters, many of us are walking through hard places in life right now.
Marriages on the rocks.
Sick children.
Death of people close to us.

Our hearts are breaking.
Our nights are filled with tear drenched pillowcases.
Our smiles are painted on to mask the hurt we really feel.

We wonder if this is what God intended for our lives.
We question why we experience such hardship.
(Psalm 77:7-9)

But if we claim the name of Christ,
then we can view our wilderness journey through the lens of Hope.

We can walk through the fire and temptation knowing God is allowing it for His greater purpose and glory, and our good. (Romans 8:18, 24-28)
No wilderness wandering is wasted!

The key to victoriously surviving wilderness seasons is to remain deeply rooted in the Word of God, just as Jesus did in His time of temptation by the enemy. He pointed to God when His own, human strength, was surely ended. Here, in the lowest of times, trusting God is the ultimate form of genuine praise.

Even here I will praise you
Even now You’re now my confidence
Jesus You’ve already overcome

I will see You move


Sisters, let’s remember God has allowed this wilderness for a reason.
So, let’s link arms, put our minds and hearts into God’s Word, and trust God is doing something eternally amazing in our lives!

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 Worship VI 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 Worship VI!

Posted in: Deep, Faithfulness, God, Hope, Jesus, Praise, Prayer, Strength, Trust, Worship Tagged: grow, Living Water, place, preparation, revealing, Streams, wilderness, worthy

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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14