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Kneel Day 8 Believing The Best Of God

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 4:5-7
Psalm 139
Colossians 1:3-14
Ephesians 3:14-21

Kneel, Day 8

Have you ever told someone a story, only to have them remind you they were there? Sometimes, while we’re talking, we forget to whom we are speaking: of course we remember their identity at a basic level, but we might also assume something of them inaccurately . . . like their presence or absence on a particular occasion!

The same thing happens in prayer.

We might pray, “Father,” and then speak, assuming God is distant, cold, and uninvolved. There are times when we tell Him all about a problem and how to solve it, grateful He knows every detail, but forgetting He also has power over every detail.

While there are many powerful insights to glean from the apostle Paul’s many prayers as recorded in the Bible, I am most often struck by Paul’s assumptions, or beliefs, about God as he prays.

“[I]n everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6, emphasis mine)

Everything.

Paul believed God wants to hear it all. In Psalm 139, the psalmist reveals God knows us intimately, even knowing our thoughts before they reach our tongues. If He’s aware of everything anyway, why not share everything with Him?

Paul’s prayer life demonstrates this reality. A quick perusal of all prayers recorded by Paul in the Bible show his prayers cover a wide variety of topics. Similarly, all the spheres of our lives – physical, social, emotional, work, etc – are fair game for prayer.

For example:
Paul prayed for healing and relief from suffering. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
He prayed for God to make him fit for his work and to enable him to share the gospel well. (Ephesians 6:19-20)
He thanked God for the fellow believers God placed in his life. (Philippians 1:3-6)
He prayed for others’ spiritual lives. (Colossians 1:3-14)

When we read Paul’s prayers for other believers, we also find Paul believed God wants us to know Him better. 

To the Ephesians, Paul wrote, “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 3:17-19)

Similar words are echoed throughout his letters, as Paul prayed for other believers to be filled with ever-increasing knowledge of Christ, to be one in the Lord, to keep growing in God. Through his prayers, we learn Paul fervently believed God delights in filling us with His fullness, and He wants us to know His love.

Another hallmark of Paul’s recorded prayers is thanksgiving; gratitude is closely tied to the Biblical command to pray.
For example, let’s revisit Philippians 4:6 (emphasis mine): “[I]n everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Paul believed God was good at giving good things. If Paul was praying about a good gift, he assumed it came from God, which he lived out time and again, in thanking God for the very people to whom he was writing. If Paul was petitioning God for something, he believed God’s answer would be for his good. He thanked Jesus for strengthening him and working through him, even though Paul was a sinner. (1 Timothy 1:12-14) In everything, God’s good provision meant prayer could coincide with thankfulness.

I don’t know about you, but reading Paul’s prayers convicts me that too often, I believe less of God than I should when I pray. Afraid of being demanding, or getting it wrong, I don’t pray about everything. Concerned with things of the world or not being spiritual enough, I pray as if I should already know God thoroughly, and not as though He wants me to know Him more and more. And it’s easy to fall into the trap of praying, especially petitioning, without thanks!

But one of Paul’s go-to prayers, which marks many introductions and conclusions in his letters, offers encouragement, “Grace and peace to you.“ (1 Corinthians 1:3)
Today, as we engage with God in prayer, believing the best of God, we can also pray assuming we will experience His grace and peace as we learn.
Thanks be to God!

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Worship IX Day 6 Acceptable Worship

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 12:1-2
Isaiah 58:3-10
John 4:23-24
James 1:22-25

Worship IX, Day 6

In the days before COVID, there were 350,000 congregations in the United States  and  less than 24% of members attended worship service on a weekly basis.
I wonder, has our worship become ritualistic?
What does worship mean to us, and is it acceptable to God?

The word worship comes from an Old English word, “weorpscip,” which means “to give worth to.” In a biblical context, the Hebrew word for worship is shachah, which means to depress, to fall down, or to lay prostrate before a deity; these are the physical manifestations of holding God in reverence, honor, and esteem. A right understanding of how God is infinitely greater and forever worthy of our humble adoration is the place to begin true worship.

When God imparted the Ten Commandments to Moses, He rightly began by mandating He alone would be the focus of Israel’s worship. (Exodus 20:1-3) The Israelites began to worship, in part, through offering sacrifices; the sacrifices were looking ahead to when the Messiah would come as the ultimate sacrifice.

Today, we worship by honoring God and presenting our lives
as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him.
(Romans 12:1)

As early as the second generation of humankind, God emphasized the importance of acceptable worship. Cain and Abel brought offerings before the Lord, but Cain’s offering was rejected, while Abel’s was received. (Genesis 4:3-7) How we worship matters!

During the time of the prophet Isaiah, God made clear the worship the Israelites offered to Him was not acceptable. He knew they were in a spiritual stupor, with hearts blind and deaf to God’s leading. (Isaiah 29:9-16) With elaborate public demonstrations of worship, they appeared to be receiving the word of God, but the true content of what they received had no impact on them.

Their lives were unchanged, and their worship was meaningless. (Isaiah 58:3-10)

In Hosea 6:6, God explains,
“For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

Yet, even in Jesus’ day, the Pharisees (religious leaders) displayed the same affinity for empty rituals. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus states, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.”

Over time, rituals have been built into modern Christian faith; even in denominations without explicit rituals, many churches follow a format categorized as “ritualistic.” To be clear, the problem doesn’t usually lie in rituals or traditions themselves; the problem lies in our hearts, when we check a “religious duty” box, but our spirits remain far from God and our day-to-day lives reflect nothing of Him. Our fallen natures crave the explicit simplicity of performance over the messy, slow change inherent in responding to God’s transforming work in our spirits.

Yet worship in spirit, and in truth, is the acceptable worship God desires.
John 4:23-24 reveals, “But an hour is coming, and now is here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

Are we focusing on the message and truth of Jesus Christ?
Are we engaging, with both our hearts and our heads, in preparation for worship?
Do we have strong affections for God, rooted in truth?

Consider Isaiah’s response to encountering the Living God in Isaiah 6:5:
“Then I said, ‘Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies.’” 

Having seen God in holiness, Isaiah confessed his own sin and was cleansed.
Repentance is a necessary part of acceptable worship.

Peter had a similar reaction in Luke 5:8 when he encountered Christ, falling to his knees and crying, “Go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord!” Our sins are ugly when compared to God’s beauty and righteousness.
Acceptable worship includes confession and mourning of sin,
and bold declaration of our desperate need for God’s grace and mercy.

Sisters, let’s evaluate our hearts with honesty and vulnerability.
Like the Israelites of Isaiah’s time, of Hosea’s time, of Jesus’ time, have we become locked into the well-trod and self-deceiving way of empty talk and performance?
Are we hearing and responding to the word of God?

James 1:22 exhorts us, “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

In what ways is God challenging us to offer acceptable worship to Him?

Is He calling us to confession and repentance?

Is He asking us to come away from distractions and turn our hearts to Him, so we can hear His voice?

Is He waiting for us to respond to His leading, partnering with His transforming Spirit to make change in the small, daily spaces of our lives?

For here, in the Spirit-empowered daily rejection of sin’s pull and embrace of the way of Jesus, acceptable worship is discovered.

Be encouraged, sisters, for though the work is hard, the worshiper who strives to live a life that truly glorifies and honors God will uncover an inexhaustible resource of power and purpose God reserves for His true worshipers.

“For those who honor Me I will honor.” (1 Samuel 2:30)

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Worship IX Day 3 Trust & Obedience

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Daniel 1:1-8
Daniel 6:1-28
Romans 12:1-2
1 Peter 2:11-12

Worship IX, Day 3

When you think of worship, what comes to mind?

For many, including myself, the first thing is probably music or singing. It’s a common way to express our worship, and it is certainly something often featured in the Bible, but it’s not the full picture.

Scripture speaks of worship as a response to God that goes far beyond the words we sing. We are called to worship not only with our voices, but with our lives.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” (Romans 12:1)

One great example of living worship is Daniel.

Exiled to Babylon, far from Israel’s home, in a place where everything was different from food to language, to culture, to his new name, and the false gods they worshipped, “Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank.” (Daniel 1:8)

From the beginning of his time as a captive in a foreign land, Daniel is intentional about honouring God. As his story unfolds, his commitment is demonstrated both in his small everyday choices and in his response to major, even life-threatening, situations.

In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar has a puzzling dream and insists his astrologers tell him not only the meaning of the dream, but also its content. It’s an impossible task, which leads him to order the execution of all his wise men until Daniel steps in.

Responding “with tact and discretion” (Daniel 2:14), Daniel asks for more time and immediately turns to God. On receiving the answer he needs, he is careful to honour God as he stands before the king.

“No wise man, medium, magician, or diviner is able to make known to the king the mystery he asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last days.” (Daniel 2:27-28)

As Daniel’s story continues, we see his first allegiance is always to God. He is respectful to each of the kings of Babylon, but he is unwilling to compromise on matters of faith, and he is bold in speaking truth even when it isn’t what the king wants to hear.

Perhaps Daniel’s biggest challenge comes many years into his time in Babylon. By this time, his life of worship to God has won him a great deal of respect. He is viewed as trustworthy and highly capable, and when King Darius takes the throne, Daniel is promoted. However, his success has also stirred up jealousy and resentment among others who serve the king.

Recognizing his faith is the only way to accuse Daniel, they persuade the king to make a law stating that for 30 days, all who pray to any god or person other than the king must be thrown into the lions’ den. It is a huge test of Daniel’s faith and obedience, but it doesn’t appear to take Daniel long to work out how to respond.

“When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” (Daniel 6:10)

Daniel’s obedience worships God by expressing trust in His sovereignty. He knows the consequences of his actions could be severe, but he chooses to honour God by continuing to pray as he has always done, leaving the outcome in God’s hands.

In this case, God miraculously rescues Daniel, but his faith does not depend on a miracle; it is firmly rooted in God’s character. His attitude is the same as that expressed by three of his fellow-Jews on facing a similar threat:

“If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” (Daniel 3:17)

Their determination, and Daniel’s, is to worship God and honour Him no matter what, and we see this expressed in their faithful obedience.

While we may not face a lions’ den or a blazing furnace, we are, in a sense, “strangers and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11) here on earth, and we will face challenges as we live out our faith among unbelievers. Daniel’s example shows the importance of faithful, everyday worship in preparing us for those moments when we may have to take a stand, and it also illustrates the impact our actions can have in glorifying God and drawing others to worship Him!

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Word Day 13 Chosen, Appointed, Loved, Persecuted

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 15:9-25
Luke 7:17-30
John 17:13-26
Isaiah 42:1-9

Word, Day 13

The heady scent of roasted lamb mingled with melting wax as the disciples gathered around the low table with Jesus for another Passover feast. Though familiar, something entirely other stirred as Jesus prayed, broke bread, and passed the cup.

They ate, He served them, then, in sweet intimacy, Jesus prayed words of life over His brothers, these chosen ones…

You did not choose me, but I chose you. (John 15:16)

Chosen
When I was eight, a recurring nightmare haunted me for 3 consecutive nights. In vivid detail, I watched a gunman murder me, but then, after multiple nights, I saw Jesus stand in the gap, dying the death intended for me. Jesus chose me to be His. He invited me to believe that, though my sin separated me from the holiness of God, He still chose to rescue me and pay for my sin.

Scripture is bursting with biographies of those God has chosen for Himself. He delights in transforming the ordinary and broken, the shame-filled and forgotten, into lives brimming with hope and purpose.

Abraham, who waited decades for God’s promise to be fulfilled, was chosen.
Isaiah, the most well-known prophet to Israel, was chosen.
Mary, the mother who carried the very Son of God, was chosen.

Each was called out, away from the life they’d once lived, awakened to a new existence and ushered in by the delightful choice of the God who longs for all to call Him Father.

I appointed you to go and produce fruit. (John 15:16)

Appointed
Those who sit with me in conversation long enough to hear my heart know I’ve repeated, “I just want my life to matter.” Maybe it’s that I’m racking up the birthdays, or because my oldest is leaving home. The scenes of my life keep shifting and I wonder over and over, “Does this matter?”

The same love that motivated the heart of God to choose me, also appointed me, and all who accept His invitation. He smiles with pleasure as He intentionally floods each chosen life with purposed appointing. He appointed me to school my kids, gather women to study Scripture, make yummy meals (and some that set off the smoke alarm), and walk alongside my husband.

Here’s the incredibly beautiful thing about being appointed by God. It’s as variegated as African dresses and yet as uniformly connected as the constant elements of our universe.
Your appointment looks different from mine.

Zacchaeus was appointed to give away his possessions.
Levi was appointed to invite his friends to dinner, so he could introduce them to Jesus.
John was appointed to preach a message of repentance in the wilderness.

All who answer God’s calling of being chosen are lovingly appointed to bear fruit for His kingdom. Every fruit, regardless of shape or color, is seeded with love.

This is what I command you: Love one another. (John 15:17)

Loved
We’d been married for seven years and were tanking fast. My husband was pursuing his dream of seminary, and I was fighting demons from my abusive past. In the midst of my self-hatred and spurning of God, my husband announced he was leaving seminary to fight for me. He said he had no plans to return; that I was more important. What manner of love didn’t expect my perfection, but just loved?

No disciple of Jesus escapes His mighty call to allow love to color every aspect of life. Pouring the cereal, changing the diaper, shopping for groceries, arguing with your spouse, listening to a friend, going to church, making coffee.
All of it has been designed as an act of worship, of love.

When Jesus overturned tables, pleading others to know the heart of God, He loved.
When Paul surrendered his position to become an itinerant preacher, he loved.
When Lydia opened her home to missionaries, she loved.

Every one of Christ’s disciples were chosen and appointed to lead lives of lavish love.

If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. (John 15:18)

Persecuted
It’s not popular, this dying to self. Strange, isn’t it, that true, authentic, in-the-dirt-with-you love also carries the risk of ridicule. When we stand for the unjustly treated, when we invest in friendships with those of a different skin color, when we invite the trans-gender to dinner, when we sit at the bar with the promiscuous and hear their story, mainstream Christianity pulls back their religious garments in “righteous” outrage.

To follow Jesus is to fling wide the door of persecution, and understand that being chosen, appointed, and loved, means that suffering is worth it.

The faithful eleven who sat around Jesus that Passover night would all be persecuted for their faith. As they championed the kingdom work of spreading the news that God chooses, appoints, and loves, they would feel the knife of persecution.

But none felt it as deeply as Christ Himself.
All who follow Jesus with their whole lives are each chosen, appointed, loved, and persecuted, because Jesus was first.

This (Jesus) is my servant; I (God the Father) strengthen Him,
this is my chosen one; I delight (love) in Him. (Isaiah 42:1)
I will appoint You to be a covenant for the people. (Isaiah 42:6)
He (Jesus) was pierced (persecuted) because of our (humanity’s) rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5)

Sister, you, are chosen by the Christ who sacrificed Himself for you.
The God who crafted the color of your eyes has appointed you for good kingdom work.
The Jesus who sat at the Passover feast, sits with you now in the middle of your mess to say you are loved.
This same God knows that following Him results in persecution because it isn’t popular to love like Him. But He promises to fill you with His Spirit, strengthen you, and sing over you, “Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)

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Worship VIII Day 6 Our Beautiful Jealous God

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 34:10-14
Exodus 20:1-6
Isaiah 42:5-8
Jeremiah 10:6-7

Worship VIII, Day 6

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” ― A.W. Tozer

Our Creator God is a jealous God?? In what human relationships is jealousy known to be a good thing? Have you ever experienced the benefits of jealousy?

Upon first consideration, this idea of God as holy AND jealous seems confusing or contradictory, right? Yet, it’s clearly communicated throughout Scripture. So let’s dig into this concept together, asking God to enlighten our spirits.

As you read my words, and more importantly, the words of Scripture, I pray you will recall Isaiah 55:8-9, which reminds us our thoughts are not God’s thoughts nor our ways, God’s ways.

While we are made in God’s image, some aspects of God are wholly “other,” with no human or creature reference at all. For example, His omniscience. Is there any reference point we, in our limited human understanding, have to grasp an ALL-knowing Being? No.

I would urge you to understand the Holy Jealousy of God in this light. It is a perfect jealousy; it is not tainted by insecurity, capriciousness, rage, or malice. 

It is rooted fully in the perfect and sacrificial love of God.

One has only to go to the foot of the cross to see undeniable and compelling evidence for how much God loves us; there, we understand God’s jealousy for our worship of Him alone in the light of His LOVE for us and His zealous desire for our highest good.

Let’s turn to God’s Word to wade into the deep waters of understanding God as other and God as jealous.

“No god was formed before Me, and there will be none after Me.  I—I am the Lord. Besides Me, there is no Savior. I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—and not some foreign god among you.” (Isaiah 43:10-12)

“I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but Me.” (Isaiah 45:5)

“Look, I am the Lord, the God over every creature. Is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)

“The God who made the world and everything in it—He is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.” (Acts 17:24-25)

“He is the blessed and only  Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal power. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)

And finally, Isaiah 53:10 reveals the will of God the Father to crush His Son, Jesus, for our FREEDOM.

When we consider God’s jealousy for our worship is birthed out of His love and passion for us to experience only the highest good, we can rightly frame God’s jealousy as holy. Our worship of God alone brings wholeness and peace, rightly ordering our affections and pursuits.

I have seen this truth within my own life. By the time I reached college, I had an inward sense that I was born a worshiper. (I know now that we are ALL born to worship something.)

For most of my life, I worshipped my own image with greatest devotion. By college, I finally became aware of my self-absorption. I longed for others to think well of me.

I also longed for a boyfriend who would one day become my spouse and (in my Disney-inspired, imagined sense of reality) make all my dreams come true, fulfilling my longings for love and acceptance.

Long story, short, I did marry . . . but not the first man who caught my eye. My husband wasn’t even the second or third man who swept me off my feet and stole my heart. Three times over, I watched my idol of a life partner burn to the ground, its ashes left to demonstrate the hollow and fleeting nature of the object of my worship.

Now, after nearly 2 decades of marriage, I understand no earthly spouse can hold the weight of my needs and expectations to be loved and accepted.
Only God could do this.
Only the God who numbers the hairs on my head (Matthew 10:30) could also be my ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
Only God, who knows the words I will speak before they even come out of my mouth, could also demand my whole-hearted affection, devotion, and thanksgiving like no other.

He is jealous for our worship.
Not to satisfy His own need, but to satisfy our hearts in His sufficiency.

He is a worthy, jealous God. 

For further study:
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/god-is-jealous-for-your-joy
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-jealousy-of-god/
https://www.christianpost.com/voices/is-god-a-jealous-god.html
https://gracequotes.org/topic/god-jealousy/

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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!

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

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Fervent Day 5 Character Counts

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 3:16-21
Acts 9:1-26
Psalm 111:1-10

Fervent, Day 5

I have been blessed with amazing parents. The Lord has used them and their examples to shape me in innumerable ways throughout my life.

Sitting down to prepare for this study helped me see another such way they impacted me.

Recently, a friend of mine had unexpected car trouble and needed a ride. As it was the middle of a work day, I could not leave to help. However, I knew my parents might be available. I texted them and quickly got a response they could come to the rescue.

In this scenario, I confidently knew if my parents were not in the middle of another commitment, they would be willing to help. Over the years, they’ve shown their hearts are to serve and demonstrate the love of the Lord in tangible ways.
This pattern enabled me to ask with humble expectation. 

Just as I had confidence to ask my parents for help, Paul had confidence to pray according to the proven character of the Lord. His rich history with the Father enabled him to pray with faith and fervency.

That history began when Paul, formerly known as Saul, hunted those who loved Christ. His first encounters with the Lord involved witnessing the faith of those he persecuted. How must Saul have been impacted by the faithfulness of the Lord shown to someone literally suffering for believing in Him?

The road to Damascus encounter shifted Paul’s world, and he became as those he’d once hunted. His knowledge of the law became a foundation for freedom as he learned to walk with the Truth. The fervency with which Saul once attacked Christians became the fervency with which Paul sought to spread the Gospel.

Paul did not lead an easy life. He experienced great persecution throughout his missionary journeys. Beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonments are only a few of his documented trials. I have no doubt Paul’s understanding of the Lord’s character carried him through every struggle. Because Paul boldly walked with the Lord in his private life, he was able to carry that boldness into his public life. The God he knew first in intimate prayer, was the God he depended on in persecution and trial. Prayer was the undercurrent weaving both together with integrity. Paul captured his encounters, both public and private, in writing so we have powerful examples of perseverance, humility, and faithfulness.

While I haven’t experienced the degree of challenges Paul did, the Lord has revealed His character to me by faithfully walking me through every season of my life. For instance, I waited for my husband for decades (for the record, I did not start counting at birth!). I relied heavily on the Lord and Scripture throughout those years. I believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13-14), that He would never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5-6), and many other promises in the Word. He poured into me sustaining contentment because I knew He is faithful.

Ironically, but probably not surprisingly, the arrival of my husband presented new and intense opportunities to lean heavily on the Lord’s character and deepen my prayer life. We married as the pandemic shut down the world, and I stepped into an overwhelming whirlwind of change.

In the midst of a season when almost all of my identity markers have shifted, I have rooted myself in who the Lord says I am and trusted He would remain true to His character, bringing to pass what He desired in me. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

I am deeply thankful for the answered prayer of my husband and all the growth my marriage has already evoked in me. I am even more appreciative that, as my world tumbles into a new normal, the Lord faithfully remains the same. Knowing I can call on Him and will surely find Him enables me to pray with confidence and purpose.

Trust His character and pray with confidence. He is faithful!

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Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Fervent Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Fervent!

Worship VII Day 14 One Day: 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 One Day!

The Questions

1) What is worship and how does Paul encourage believers to worship?

2) What are the causes of our worship?

3) How does worshipping God change us and impact our daily life?

Romans 5:6-11

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Original Intent

1) What is worship and how does Paul encourage believers to worship?
The original word for worship in Greek is proskyneō. It means submission to a higher authority, often accompanied with a bowing to the ground. The image given to demonstrate this kind of submission is a dog licking his master’s hand in a token of reverence and adoration. This is a picture of whole-hearted devotion and loyalty. Worship, at its heart, is humble submission, which is why Paul writes in Romans 12:1 that we, as Christ’s Body, are to offer ourselves together as a living sacrifice. Paul says, “This is our true worship”. Worship is a lifestyle characterized by a giving of self in whole-hearted surrender and whole-minded submission to the goodness and greatness of God. It isn’t only something felt or acknowledged, but something lived through attitudes of our heart and sacrifices of ourselves and our resources in everyday life. Paul’s words in Romans 5 speak specifically of God’s magnificent grace towards us in offering Himself as the ransom for our sin-wrecked souls. He concludes in verse 11 by stating, “we boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”. Paul exhorts his audience, and clearly models for them, that true worship is anchored in reverent humility to God for the vast love He has lavished upon us, sinners that we are!

2) What are the causes of our worship?
In the Romans 5 passage we discover how worship is rooted in awareness of what we have been given and how we have been loved. 1 John 4:19 says we love because He first loved us. In like fashion, we worship because we have experienced God’s goodness. In Psalm 150 we are reminded to praise Him for His deeds (what He has done), the greatest of these being our salvation and restoration to relationship with Him (Romans 5:10). The “hymn book of the Jews” (Psalms) is replete with specific reasons to worship the God in whom alone is found salvation. (Romans 5:11) Psalm 115:1 instructs our hearts to praise God for His steadfast love and faithfulness while Psalm 103 recounts “His benefits” including forgiveness, rescue, and redemption. Psalm 100:1-5 says we praise Him for making us and Ephesians 1:3 says we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing because of Christ, and therefore we bless God. Worship wasn’t something that began after Jesus died to rescue our souls, neither is it something Jewish people did in the Old Testament when circumstances were wonderful. Regardless of feelings or situation, there are always reasons to worship because we need not look any farther than God and His character to discover a reason to worship Him!

3) How does worshipping God change us and impact our daily life?
We are talking about worship being a lifestyle of humility and honor toward God. In 1 Samuel 15:22, God says (through Samuel) “to obey is better than sacrifice.” To worship God is a sacrifice, but it is best carried out through obedience. God’s Word is filled with examples of His people choosing to worship in faith and obedience, which then resulted in God showing favor and victory. (2 Chronicles 20:22) Worship brought physical victory in battle to Israel. Their decision to worship out of obedience removed themselves as an idol in their hearts and gave room for God to move in the way He had willed. Scripture teaches us to give thanks to the LORD with all our heart. (Psalm 9:1) When we are truly thankful, our hearts are engaged. Worshipping God brings us to a place of full engagement with Him. God invites us to lift our eyes over the things of this earth and focus on the place where He sits at the right hand of God; here, our real life is hidden. (Colossians 3:2) Because Paul’s life modeled consistent, humble worship, the Lord worked through His life in incredible ways. Paul recognized his life was nothing compared to knowing and experiencing God. (Philippians 3:8-9)

Everyday Application

1) What is worship and how does Paul encourage believers to worship?
God created us to live out worship in everyday lives, but we often are tempted to worship anything but the Only One Worthy of worship. As we come to understand worship as humble surrender and loyal submission to the Lord, amazingly, we see a connection of humility to God Himself, the sole worthy object of our worship. Though God had every right to never lower Himself, He did exactly this by coming to earth in human form to become our Reconciler and Salvation. (Romans 5:8-11, Philippians 2:6-8) Our great God is a humble God! When He calls Himself the Helper of Israel (the word “ezer” in Hebrew refers to Helper and the name of God JEHOVAH ‘EZER emphasizes it). These terms reflect the heart of God as He calls Himself one who concerns Himself to stoop down. (Psalm 113:4-6) As we worship, we stoop in response to how the Savior God has already bent for us. Worship, at its heart, is grateful submission. It’s a bowing and acknowledgement that someone is greater and worthier than ourselves. Yet, we serve and love a God who stoops to bless us; Who came to a cruel cross to die for us; Who takes on a lowly life for us. God is lofty, yet He tells us His way of greatness is not one that holds Lordship high over others’ heads (Matthew 20:25-28), but instead stoops to bless us. (John 13:3-5) Worship is both a response and a fully engaged bending as we answer the One who bent for us and continues to bend humbly for us out of love.

2) What are the causes of our worship?
Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, “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 3:17-19) As we practice living our everyday lives rooted and grounded in love, we become motivated to love God responsively. This creates a heart of true worship. As we fix our minds on what is good, true, noble, and praiseworthy, our minds are lifted to remember the goodness of God and genuine worship overflows. (Philippians 4:8) As we consider His character and His names (which reflect His character) we are drawn to recall the truth of who He is. This creates a mind of worship. As we humble ourselves in the sight of God, surrendering self to the Savior, we receive the will to worship. Here in this sacred space, we truly begin loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Matthew 22:37) This is the picture of lifestyle worship, wholly engaged with our Creator, Redeemer, and Lover of Our Soul.

3) How does worshipping God change us and impact our daily life?
We know God wants us to take on a heart of obedient worship that consistently permeates our everyday lives. What does this look like? In Micah 6:8 He says, “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” This is a picture of lived-out worship. Even though we will have trials in life, He will use them to shape us. Along the way, He calls us to worship Him through the storms, as this anchors our hearts in truth despite changing circumstance and feelings. This is how He develops our dependence and strengthens our endurance in faith as He reinforces our hope. In Romans 5:3-4 Paul writes, “…we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Worship gives us perspective in every circumstance, the capacity to be joyful in the face of affliction, and the means to be filled with strength when we are at our weakest. Like a faithful dog leans on his master, giving his life in devotion, we can give our lives to God. He takes that sacrifice and multiplies it for our good. We cannot out-give God. Our life of sacrificial worship always fills us more than any other thing we seek on earth. When we offer true worship, we lift our eyes and gain perspective.

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

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Pause IV Day 9 No Sin Unseen

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Pause IV, Day 9

Today’s reading in Habakkuk sounds strange to our ears and can be difficult to follow, understand, and make sense of in today’s culture, which is why it’s imperative to first read it through the lens of then-current-day culture.

Go ahead and read verses 6-14 to gain an initial footing in the passage!

As we’ve already studied, Israel was rebellious against God. As consequence, the Lord was using the wicked Chaldeans (or Babylonians) to overtake Israel, taking them into captivity in Babylon. Habakkuk struggled with this consequence of using an evil nation to overtake God’s people who were supposed to be set apart as His holy and chosen people.

In today’s passage, God addresses this tension as He speaks in detail about the sinfulness of the Chaldeans. Their sin was not hidden from God any more so than Israel’s sin, and their day of experiencing the righteous justice of God would also come.

In verse 5, “He” is the arrogant one we read about in yesterday’s Journey. His appetite to fuel himself and his own pride is insatiable; this person is always thinking about more of himself and his own pleasure and desires while also justifying himself to be in the right.

Still sitting in arrogance and a resistance to God’s promised word that consequence would come, the arrogant one feels confident in himself. He believes God would surely never punish him because he feels justified in self-righteousness before God. From this position of self-security, he arrogantly “looks down” upon the evil Babylonian Empire.

From his place of pride, the self-righteous one feels he can securely mock the Chaldeans/Babylonians because he judges himself as far superior to them; surely, God would never judge him. (verse 6) These arrogant ones in Israel are “they” in verse 6.

To help you have greater understanding in reading verses 6-14, you can replace “him” and “you” with “Chaldeans” or “Babylonians Empire”.

The Chaldeans were a wicked people, violent, dishonest, and murderous. Even the stone walls cried out, testifying against their atrocities. (verse 11) Their greatest sin, however, was just as evil as Israel’s. Arrogance and pride were rooted deep in their hearts, as they thumbed their nose at God, “(Babylon) place(s) his nest on high.” (verse 9) Like the very first inhabitants of Babylon (Genesis 11:4), this nation was still reaching for equal status with God, high and lofty above all others.

Babylon’s sin. Israel’s sin. My sin, and yours, are all on equal footing. When we seek our ways over God’s we usurp His authority and crown ourselves as our own little god.
This is the arrogance that brought on Israel’s captivity, Babylon’s ruin, and our own eternal death and separation from God.

The word of the Lord closes out today’s reading with a powerful reminder of the Only True God. Just as water fills the seas, so the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory! (verse 14) One Lord of all. One just King. His glory supersedes all things.

Today's Invitation

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down Habakkuk 2:6-14. As you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, think of the incredible gift it is to be invited into God’s presence through His word!

2) Choose one of these options to radiate Jesus’ love to others as you hold tightly to the anchoring truth of the eternal confidence we have only through Christ!

  1. a) Pitch in to do something extra at church. Whether it’s helping with cleanup, opening doors, trimming weeds, or offering to help in a child’s classroom, step up to loving deeper by serving in a new way.
                b) A note of genuine kindness and specific encouragement goes a long way in showing love and support to your pastor. Consider sending your pastor(s) an email or card!
                c) Check out some local ministries in your area and make plans to serve with them for an afternoon. Maybe it’s organizing school donations, serving soup, or stuffing backpacks for kids. Even better, get some friends to join you!
                d) Prayer walking is a simple way to begin shifting the eyes of your heart to truly see others. Walk around your neighborhood, some city streets, the aisles of your grocery store, or intentionally sit at a local coffee shop and pray, pray, pray. Pray for the people around you, pray for hearts to turn towards Jesus, pray for your own heart to be ready to share the full gospel if given the chance. Don’t worry about seeing results, that’s God’s job!
                e) Strike up a conversation with a random stranger. It may move to spiritual topics, it may not, but showing love to those outside our immediate circles always begins with a simple conversation. “What have you been doing today?” “Do you live nearby?” “Where do you go to church?” “What are your favorite local restaurants?” “What a cute handbag! Where did you get it?” These open-ended questions work well!

3) Share the exciting, bold ways you are living out your eternal confidence today with the rest of the GT Community! Our Facebook community page is always open! Or snap a photo and tag us on Instagram @gracefully_truthful

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Habakkuk 2:6-14

Won’t all of these take up a taunt against him,
with mockery and riddles about him?
They will say,
“Woe to him who amasses what is not his—
how much longer?—
and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.”
7 Won’t your creditors suddenly arise,
and those who disturb you wake up?
Then you will become spoil for them.
8 Since you have plundered many nations,
all the peoples who remain will plunder you—
because of human bloodshed
and violence against lands, cities,
and all who live in them.

9 Woe to him who dishonestly makes
wealth for his house
to place his nest on high,
to escape the grasp of disaster!
10 You have planned shame for your house
by wiping out many peoples
and sinning against your own self.
11 For the stones will cry out from the wall,
and the rafters will answer them
from the woodwork.

12 Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed
and founds a town with injustice!
13 Is it not from the Lord of Armies
that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire
and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?
14 For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory,
as the water covers the sea.

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 Week IV Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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

Blessed Day 9 Blessed Are The Merciful: 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 Blessed Are The Merciful!

The Questions

1) How did faith in Christ’s goodness translate into the giving of mercy?

2) Why does our faith make Christ turn towards us?

3) What made Jesus turn around and see the woman hidden in the crowd?

Matthew 9:18-22

While He spoke these things to them, behold a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live. So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well. But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well. And the woman was made well from that hour.

Original Intent

1) How did faith in Christ’s goodness translate into the giving of mercy?
The law was the basis for Israelite society and was a blueprint for mankind to approach a holy God. The law is holy, its commandments are holy, righteous, and good. (Romans 7:12) Knowing the commandment declared a woman like her unclean, she took her life in her hands and made a gamble. The command says, “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, that goes beyond her customary impurity she shall be unclean. Everything she touches and sits on is unclean. Any person that touches her or an object that came in contact with her shall be unclean until evening.” The woman with the issue of blood was a living breathing scarlet letter. The commandment which was to bring life brought death to her relationships and her standing among God’s people. But the goodness of God embodied in the Son of God brought life that day. The laws of uncleanness declared that no one could approach the temple of God and defile it, the penalty was divine retribution or death. Thankfully, we serve a God full of mercy, and God’s mercy is rooted in His goodness. It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. (Romans 2:4) The word had spread that Jesus was near and the woman reached out on the chance that His goodness and mercy would heal even a woman like her. Instead of divine retribution for touching the living temple of God, she received grace, mercy, and healing.

2) Why does our faith make Christ turn towards us?
During Jesus’ day, the Pharisees taught the people a purity code. This purity and holiness code were based on being untouched or undefiled by unclean things or people. “If the holy or unclean came into contact, one or the other ceased to exist: the holy became unholy or it destroyed the unclean thing”. In this culture, the holy is kept away from unclean things lest either one is destroyed. But what is the most important thing to a God that has confined all under sin? (Romans 11:32) The reason all have been confined to sin is so He might have mercy on all! The path of mercy is laid by the stones of faith. For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) The righteousness which is of faith is not based on outward appearance. It is not based on a set of rules and regulations that keep the marginalized out and away from sight. The righteousness of faith gives us peace with God through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1) Jesus made sure to tell the woman in front of the crowd it was her faith that moved the hand and heart of God that day.

3) What made Jesus turn around and see the woman hidden in the crowd?
In Mark’s version of this story there are a couple more details that give additional context. The first is that a multitude is pressing against Jesus and the disciples. Imagine if the Rock decided to take a stroll through town and word got out he was giving out autographs. As the Rock is making his way to a friend’s house the crowd presses to get a chance to see him. However, the Rock has some bodyguards around him, trying and failing, to keep the crowd under control. In the midst of the chaos, a woman pushes through crawling and getting stepped on for a chance to touch the cuff of his pants. The Rock feels something tugging at the bottom of his pants and suddenly stops and demands to know who touched him? When this happened with Jesus, of course the disciples’ reaction was, “Are you kidding me right now?!” I know you see this crowd of people and you’re asking “Who touched my clothes”? In Mark’s version, the woman knew immediately she was healed and Jesus knew immediately He had intentionally healed. I don’t know what made the woman shrink back into the crowd after receiving her healing, perhaps it was fear or shame at being on public display. Thankfully, Jesus stopped everything and everyone from moving, in order to acknowledge her miracle and call her Daughter. If Jesus did not publicly acknowledge it, the society around her would have still treated the woman as an outcast. I’m glad our Savior didn’t let the woman shrink back into the shadows. That day, she received her healing for her body and soul.

Everyday Application

1) How did faith in Christ’s goodness translate into the giving of mercy?
Many times in life, we have received a message of promise from our God, that defies belief. God has given us a word of healing and restoration, but the circumstances shout a different reality. A marriage that has no hope of reconciliation, a wayward child that has abandoned the faith, or a sick and tired body bound with pain. It can be a struggle to see the goodness of God in the midst of life’s circumstances. Especially if the circumstances have lasted for years, like the woman with the issue of blood; goodness, hope, and mercy can seem like alien concepts. One day Moses had a meeting with the Lord God and asked to see His glory. Instead, the Lord God decided to give Moses a revelation of His goodness, “I will make all My goodness pass before you.” (Exodus 33:19) “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” (Exodus 34:6-7) Goodness and mercy walk hand in hand. In fact, the roots of mercy are found in the goodness of God. Because we know that God is good, He will have mercy to those that call on His name. One, long ago day, the woman encountered the goodness of God passing before her just like Moses and trusting in Christ’s goodness her faith made her whole. I would implore you to ask God for a fresh revelation of His goodness towards you. Like the psalmist says His goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life (Psalm 23:6), and I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

2) Why does our faith make Christ turn towards us?
In Hebrews 11:6 it says, “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”. Have you ever stopped to wonder what did the author of Hebrews mean by the phrase, “He is”? He is what exactly? It doesn’t say it’s almost like a fill in the blank scenario He is ___. It reminds me of when Moses asked God “If they ask for your name what should I say to them? God replies tell them I AM has sent you.” (Exodus 3:13-14) Most gods then and now are known primarily for one thing. In Hinduism if you need help with love or fertility, you would pray to Gauri. In Buddhist teachings, you would pray to Chana Dorje for power. Because Yahweh is all-encompassing, He is everything you need. When approaching the I AM, and the HE IS you must remember that because of Christ’s sacrifice, He has forever proven He is good and He hears you. Once you realize the goodness which leads you to repentance, you know He hears your requests. You can be confident in your position in Christ. “Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14) That confidence is your faith in Christ, just like the woman with the issue of blood had confidence in Christ’s ability to heal. You have confident faith that He is whatever your situation needs at the moment. The great I AM is good. The great I AM is loving, and the great I AM is the author and finisher of your faith. That confidence in God Himself is what causes Him to turn towards you.

3) What made Jesus turn around and see the woman hidden in the crowd?
One thing I have noticed as I’ve grown older, is that people are really good at hiding hurt and shame. There is a good reason for hiding because life can be cruel, especially when we are most vulnerable. Over time we put on masks to hide the hurt, shame, and pain of life. Like the woman with the issue of blood, we can become so good at hiding, that those around us can’t see and we get trampled underfoot by the crowd. Part of the process of restoration involves revealing those hidden parts we like to hide and bringing them into the light. Because God looks at the inward heart of man, He is more than capable of healing wounds the eye cannot see. The beautiful part of the story of the woman with the issue of blood and Jesus is that He ended her days of hiding from the crowd. Jesus purposely called her out and, instead of shaming her, gave her double honor. During these lockdowns, protests, and pandemics it can be easy to get lost in the midst of so many social issues, but even in the midst of all these things, you are still the apple of His eye. You are hidden no more.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Blessed Are The Merciful!

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 Blessed 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.