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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XI, Week 2

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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XI, Week 2

Katelyn Palmer

June 10, 2023

Adoration,Design,Glory,Heart,Mercy,Scripture

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Proverbs 2:1-6

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, this week I have seen transformation in my perspective and mindset. I see the power of Your wisdom and pray You would “deal with your servant based on Your faithful love; teach me Your statutes!” (Psalm 119:124)

Lord, I long to run back to Your arms when I stumble, “hurrying, not hesitating” (Psalm 119:60) as I seek Your forgiveness, grace, love, and wisdom. Make my spirit like a new wineskin, ready to accept the life-giving wine of the gospel. (Luke 5:37-39) Teach me, God, to praise you in the storm and “sing about Your faithful love forever.” (Psalm 89:1)

I know Your ways are above my own (Isaiah 55:8) and there is purpose in Your every move. El Shaddai, You are enough! You have created this world with its mountaintops and flourishing valleys, its myriad grains of sand in all the deserts, its vast oceans and beautiful waterfalls. Lord, there is none like You! Your Word is honey (Psalm 119:103) and Your faithfulness is for all generations (Psalm 119:90).

You, my Lord, are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! (Revelation 19:16) It is in Your name that I pray, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Psalm 119 beautifully illustrates the joy we receive from God’s wisdom, His instruction, and His character, but its length can be quite intimidating. A simple tactic to ensure we get the most out of our studying is to break the psalm into smaller chunks and meditate deeply.

In our first study of the week, we looked at sections Khet, Tet, & Yod (verses 57-80), where the psalmist touches on confession (verses 59, 67, 71, 75), worship (verses 57, 62, 64, 68, 72, 74), prayer (verses 58, 66, 78-80), and delight (verses 70, 72, 77). As we see how to confess our sins and the perspective we should have as we handle their consequences, we must also note the psalmist’s urgency in returning to the Lord, “I hurried, not hesitating to keep your commands.” (verse 60)

The longer we continue in our sin or hide our faces in shame, the more time we allow the enemy to put greater distance between us and God, making our fight back to the righteous path increasingly more difficult. After the psalmist is delivered from his afflictions, he genuinely worships the Lord for being true to His word and for His wise and just handling of the psalmist’s sin.

We must seek to maintain the same perspective when we face our own afflictions, knowing there is purpose in what God chooses to allow in our lives. (verse 71)

JOURNAL TWO

The second section of Psalm 119 we covered this week was Kaph, Lamed, & Mem in verses 81-104. Immediately, the psalmist speaks of his exhaustion in waiting for the Lord to answer his prayers.

It is easy to grow weary in trusting and waiting as God operates on His own time and in His own way, which requires two things from us: patience (Psalm 27:14) and faith (Hebrews 11:1). In the waiting, God will renew our spirit and increase our wisdom (verses 92-93, verses 97-100). In leaning into faith, we tear down the limits we place on God’s power and become more adept at discerning His answers to our prayers. (Romans 12:2)

Upon reading further, we see the psalmist is still in trouble, feeling surrounded by the wicked and deceitful. (verses 85-87) We may feel this way right now in our lives. When the arrogant and deceitful appear to have the upper hand and we feel them closing in on our lives, perhaps spreading lies about us just as the psalmist experienced, we are not left defenseless.

We are to follow his example and center ourselves on the promises of the Lord. (verses 94-95) If we practice leaning into the Lord in the midst of our storms, He will bring true understanding to our hearts; there is no greater gift than the Lord’s wisdom, which straightens our paths and brings blessings to not only ourselves, but those around us. 

JOURNAL THREE

We ended our week studying Nun, Samek, & Ayin in verses 105-128. These sections highlight the essence of the book of Psalms. I delight in how quickly the psalmist shifts from lamenting to praising to rejoicing and back again.

How accurately this reflects real life! In every cycle of trials, praise, and deliverance the Lord is ready to patiently and kindle teach us wisdom. As we embrace this gift, He draws us closer to His heart and molds us more closely into the image of Christ in preparation for His return.

The book of Psalms teaches us how to pray, how to see God’s light in our struggle, and that it’s okay not to have it all together. Life is messy, complex, painful, and challenging; God asks us to bring it all to Him.

In Psalm 119 we discover God as our light (verse 105), our source of life (verses 107 and 116), our shield and hope (verse 114),  our protector (verse 119), our source of wisdom (verse 125), and ever-faithful God (verse 124). When this broken world becomes too much, center yourself on His truth and rest in the knowledge that He is enough (Psalm 46:1-2) and we are safe in Him (Isaiah 41:10).

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Worship XI Day 7 Khet, Tet, & Yod: Digging Deeper

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Worship XI Day 7 Khet, Tet, & Yod: Digging Deeper

Lois Robbins

June 6, 2023

Adoring,Comfort,Confession,Faith,Glory,Hope

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Khet, Tet, & Yod"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:57-80

ח Khet
57 The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep your words. 58 I have sought your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. 59 I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to your decrees. 60 I hurried, not hesitating to keep your commands. 61 Though the ropes of the wicked were wrapped around me, I did not forget your instruction. 62 I rise at midnight to thank you for your righteous judgments. 63 I am a friend to all who fear you, to those who keep your precepts. 64 LORD, the earth is filled with your faithful love; teach me your statutes.

ט Tet
65 LORD, you have treated your servant well, just as you promised. 66 Teach me good judgment and discernment, for I rely on your commands. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. 68 You are good, and you do what is good; teach me your statutes. 69 The arrogant have smeared me with lies, but I obey your precepts with all my heart 70 Their hearts are hard and insensitive, but I delight in your instruction. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes. 72 Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

י Yod
73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding so that I can learn your commands. 74 Those who fear you will see me and rejoice, for I put my hope in your word. 75 I know, LORD, that your judgments are just and that you have afflicted me fairly. 76 May your faithful love comfort me as you promised your servant. 77 May your compassion come to me so that I may live, for your instruction is my delight. 78 Let the arrogant be put to shame for slandering me with lies; I will meditate on your precepts. 79 Let those who fear you, those who know your decrees, turn to me. 80 May my heart be blameless regarding your statutes so that I will not be put to shame.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What is the psalmist’s response to affliction? (verses 57-64)

In verses 59-61 we observe the psalmist allowing his affliction to push him to the Scriptures to seek help from God. “I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to your decrees. I hurried, not hesitating to keep Your commands. Though the ropes of the wicked were wrapped around me, I did not forget Your instruction.”

The psalmist took delight in the comfort and renewal provided by the truths of Scripture. The evidence of his renewal by God’s Word is his heart reflecting praise and an awareness of the goodness of the Lord around him, “Lord, the earth is filled with Your faithful love; teach me Your statutes.” (verse 64)

Everything about Psalm 119 is intentional. When he started the section of Khet, he started from a place of knowing the Source of his abundance, “The Lord is my portion…” (verse 57) The Hebrew word for “portion” has its roots in the Levitical priesthood, which was instituted by God when He gave the Ten Commandments.

The household of Levi was set apart from the other 11 tribes of Israel to serve the Lord in the temple. Levites were given no land, no portion of the Promised Land “flowing of milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8) as the other tribes. (Deuteronomy 18:1) INSTEAD God Himself was to be their “lot of land” or “portion”. (Deuteronomy 18:2)

The Promised Land represented blessing, prosperity, and God’s favor upon His people, but for the Levites, their treasure was to be God himself as they were set apart wholly for Him. Though the author of Psalm 119 was likely not a Levite, He still wrote “The Lord is my portion” to alert the reader that he recognized God to be his ultimate treasure, his all-sufficient portion, and sustaining grace despite his hardships.

The Everyday Application

1) What is the psalmist’s response to affliction? (verses 57-64)

One day, Jesus would come as baby, live a perfect life, and die a criminal’s death in order to take the place of death and punishment we deserve because of our sin against God. He died so we could be welcomed into relationship with Him. A relationship where He is our portion and we are His people. (Jeremiah 32:38) A relationship where our sin is forgiven and paid for by Him, and He gives us His righteousness when we trust Him with the whole of our lives. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

When He gave the Ten Commandments, the Lord also said that if His people kept His covenant they “…will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6) Israel failed to keep God’s covenant, but God gave the world Jesus who gave us His righteousness through our faith so that, by Christ, every believer in Jesus would become part of the kingdom of priests, set apart as God’s Holy People. (1 Peter 2:9)

In this relationship, He constantly calls us to be satisfied in Him alone with all our hearts. (verse 58) Inside this satisfaction, we obey His commands out of great love for Him who is our delighted portion.

When affliction comes, either we can battle against our circumstances, fighting our way back to a life of ease and comfort, OR we can come near to the Lord, delighted that He is our steadfast Portion.

As we sit in relationship with Him with thankfulness for Who He Is despite our circumstances, we will find our hearts are peaceful as we accept His plan from His hand. His heart is indeed good as He makes us more like Jesus. (Romans 8:29) As we walk through affliction, let’s choose to allow the Lord to use our pain for His glory and our good as we trust Him!

The Original Intent

2) According to verses 65-72 what is the purpose of affliction?

First off, let’s remember and acknowledge that God has sovereign purposes for everything. Whatever God is doing or allowing in our lives, it is better for us to ask submissively, “Lord, what do you want me to know about You? How would you have me respond so I reflect You to others?”

God’s purpose for affliction is to refine the relationship with His children, making it more intimate, sweet, and trusting. This is for our good prospering! Deuteronomy 8:16) The psalmist when so far as to say it was good to be afflicted, so that he may learn God’s statutes all the more! (verse 71)

Were it not for the intensity of his afflictions that pressed the psalmist toward the Lord and His ways, and the psalmist’s choice to surrender to Lord’s ways, he would have perished in his affliction. (Psalm 119:92)

For Christ-followers today, affliction is still a call to persevere in faith of the Steadfast God. In the place of his deepest need, the psalmist knows God is still with him, caring about him, because of his faithful character and unfailing love. Affliction should deepen our relationship with God, so we find amazing joy that surpasses what we’ve known before.

When this joy in the delight of the Lord is discovered, it is evidenced by praise so intense it takes precedence even over sleep, “At midnight I will rise to thank you for your righteous judgements”. (verse 62) Being afflicted no matter the pain, agony, or distress, peace with God is available when we have faith in His good character. If He is for us, who could be against us?! (Romans 8:31) 

The Everyday Application

2) According to verses 65-72 what is the purpose of affliction?

Not just in the Psalms, but throughout the entire Bible, it is revealed how the Lord uses affliction as a catalyst to purify us from sin, open our eyes to the idols we worship, and the path of destruction we are walking away from Him.

Nothing gets our full attention like the pain of suffering. If we surrender to the Lord’s way in it, He will bring us to a place of delighting in knowing Him more fully than ever precisely because we have walked through suffering. In the hands of a fully loving God, affliction weans us from a love for the world and a fixation upon ourselves and our own desires.

Affliction provides the opportunity for us to realize the depths of our vanity, our love for self, and the hopelessness of life apart from God and His ways of true life! Because of His great love for us, and His grand desire for us to experience Him and know Him as our Portion, the Lord will use the pain of affliction to refine us as silver. (Psalm 66:10)

Mysteriously, the merciful Lord can use even the pain of affliction to open our eyes to God’s goodness, which pushes us to a deeper commitment to obey God’s Word out of delight in Him. Even if the Lord delays His redemption of our pain and permits affliction into our lives to triumph for a while, we can remain loyal to Him, never forget the Lord’s ways because we trust He IS good and He DOES good. (verse 68)

Faith in Yahweh’s goodness frees us, as it did the psalmist, from the ropes of affliction. Peace and joy are still available, even in our sorrow and pain!

The Original Intent

3) How does affliction affect our commitment to the Lord? (verses 73-80)

The yearnings of the author in Psalm 119 is broken into two main sections, 1) What God has done for us and 2) What the psalmist longs to do for God. Both must be understood as a result of a heart motivated by deep love. Our yearning to serve the Lord comes as a result of understanding what God has done for us.

His love is grander than any experience, relationship, or achievement. He is the greatest Portion. If His delight is over us, we respond with delight back to Him. This is worship!

God’s hands have fashioned us (verse 73), giving us the opportunity to know Him as good through His commands. It is the Lord who gives us worth, making us in His image to do His work, all of which will bring us the sweetest of delights as we give ourselves to Him. The psalmist recognizes this truth and has learned to cling to it. The psalmist’s cry to the Lord is to assist him in staying true to the Word in his heart and his daily life actions.

It is one thing to have tasted the sweetness of God, and yearn to follow Him, but another to daily choose Him. Scripture teaches that the chief commitment of our lives is to adoringly love (worship) God alone.

Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind; this is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) When we begin in adoration for how the Lord has called us to be His own, everything else in life falls into order

The Everyday Application

3) How does affliction affect our commitment to the Lord? (verses 73-80)

What brings you joy? There is no doubt we are creatures of desire; there is no end to the list of things we want. When these rise in passion and power, dictating our desires, we have made idols to worship out of the things or people we want.

We have effectively traded all hope of joy for disappointing loss. Whether it is greater economic stability, deeper friendships, less loneliness, or lighter afflictions, we all want something. We may want our children to be more attentive, or to simply get away from the rush of life, but regardless of the shape of our idol, we are all typically chasing a steadfast supply of delight.

The psalmist points us to the Perfect Supply of endless joy, found in the Portion of the Lord God within the covenantal love and faithfulness shared between Himself and His people. This relationship exemplifies a life of obedience and a personal resolution to obey God’s Word.

When it comes to God’s Word we don’t take a quick look as if it is a textbook, financial statement, or a social media page. Reading God’s word is not an impersonal activity. We are to come to Scripture to meet with God personally, desiring to know Him better, deeper, more richly.

We must be keenly aware that our joy and satisfaction in him should also be the fuel that fans the flame of our obedience. “The Lord is our portion, I promise to keep His Word.” (verse 57) 

Faith in the goodness of the Lord that motivates us to follow His ways out of delight in knowing Him is an act of beautiful worship to the Almighty One who was, is, and ever more shall be. This is our story! This is our song as we love the Holy One!

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Worship XI Day 6
Journey Study

We are quick to conjure up dreams and definitions for life, then spend our existence chasing that illusion with exasperation under the delusion we have rightly defined the true goodness of life.

Home. Family. Career. Laughter. Trophies. Vacations. Relationships.

Gradually, over time, one by one, flaws become pronounced in every dream. We try all the harder, spend all the more exasperation, anxiety, and frenetic energy to achieve what we have no power to build, Khet Tet, a good life.
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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XI Week 1

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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XI Week 1

Carol Graft

June 3, 2023

Adoration,Comfort,Daughter,Fruitfulness,Hope,Worship

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Psalm 37:23-24

A person’s steps are established by the LORD, and he takes pleasure in His way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the LORD supports him with His hand.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Lord, I delight in knowing Your hand is on my life!
Even when I was trapped in muck and mire of struggle, grief, or even the mundane, Your hand has always been upon me! Looking back, I know I haven’t always recognized Your loving kindness toward me or the constancy of Your presence, yet You have remained steadfast.
I praise You for Your faithfulness!

I confess how easily I turn to doubting questions, dismay, or even anger and perplexity when my current situation doesn’t line up with how I view Your plans for me should be according to me. Help me hold fast to the truth that You are always good, kind, and loving. Teach my heart to respond in faith when I anchor into this truth.

In every season, whether waiting, hard, thrilling, or peaceable, You have known my pathways before time began and Your steadfast loving goodness guides me, giving me cause for genuine worship.

In every step I’ve taken, whether stumbling and falling, running and rebelling, or skipping with delightful obedience, You have been constantly present. You have always held me fast, always been ready to teach my heart Your ways. You never leave or forsake Your own; I’m so very grateful, Lord! Bless Your Holy Name!

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Sometimes reading the Bible can feel tedious and we aren’t sure what to do with its words. If you feel this way about Psalm 119, visit Deborah’s Journey Study from Monday as she walks us through each line and provides practical application and solid heart-motivation.

The Lord’s instruction is for each of us, offering to stabilize our path with perfect wisdom. The obedience and willingness to follow is on us!

How have you struggled in reading Scripture in the past? What heart-motivations do you sense when you think about reading your Bible? Take time to journal these out and bring them to the Lord in curiosity of where He will lead you!

Then take a quick read of Alef & Bet with Merry as she helps us unpack some of the rich depths of Psalm 119:1-16 and helps us understand the original culture and audience. The more we know the Lord, the more we love Him, and the more we hunger for His ways!

How have you seen this truth play out in your own spiritual journey? Looking for personal encouragement on heeding Scripture?

Deborah’s testimony reminds us of the value of steadfast following of Christ while rejecting the temptations to sin!

Wondering how to increase your delight in the Lord? Begin with prayer, worship, and regular reading of God’s Word!

JOURNAL TWO

Sarah provided us a treasured peek into her personal time with the Lord in what she shared with us on Wednesday’s “Gimel & Dalet” from Psalm 119:17-32. If you haven’t read these 16 verses, do it now!

While you read, write down a few words that stick out as curious. What is interesting about those? Have you ever experienced those “fear of falling” moments Rachel described in her Digging Deeper Study on Thursday?

She encourages us to trust the Lord’s wise ways because His faithfulness will never leave us flailing and abandoned; He is always available to steady us.

When have You experienced the faithful hands of the God who never abandons? When have you wished for something more stable and secure? What does it mean for your heart to know the Lord’s steadfast ways and kind voice are always present for you?  

Sarah shared transparently of her rebellion against God and her confession of sin that brought her near to Him again. She returned boldly because she knew the deep truth that she was always welcome because God is perpetually gracious and forgiving.

Think of one instance when you experienced grace and forgiveness. Verbally give God praise for His love for you!

These women journaled their prayers of joy, confession, and worship; let’s follow their example and practice doing the same!

JOURNAL THREE

It’s hard to write your testimony, but it’s a joy to share of what the Lord has done to bring His Light into your darkness! The more we practice sharing, and declaring God’s work in our lives, the easier it becomes!

An easy way to start sharing is by writing your story. Share it with us by joining our Faces of Grace women who boldly tell of God’s work in their lives! Reading another’s story of transformation by Jesus can greatly encourage us as we see how pieces of our story connect with hers. Flee the temptation to discount your hard places, thinking others are “farther ahead” than you because their story is different. Rejoice in what the Lord is doing in you!

Repentance from sin, finding the freedom of forgiveness, and growing in our knowledge of Jesus’ love radically makes us new as Amy’s story so beautifully reminds us. Turn to Psalm 119:33-56 and pick up your pen to journal your experiences in either walking with the Lord and delighting in Him or your longing for something richer and deeper.

Digging Deeper, Stacy guides us in exploring the heart motives and easy applications for worship and prayer we can make from He, Vav, & Zayin starting right now! Take 10 minutes and sit with the Faithful One whose commands for life are overflowing with love and freedom; far away from cold and legalistic, He longs for you to truly know Him!
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May 29 - June 16, 2023 - Journey Theme #119
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Worship XI Day 5 He, Vav, Zayin: Digging Deeper

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Worship XI Day 5 He, Vav, Zayin: Digging Deeper

Stacy Winkler

June 2, 2023

Adoring,Confession,gentle,Gospel,Grace,Scripture

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "He, Vav, Zayin"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:33-56

ה He
33 Teach me, LORD, the meaning of your statutes, and I will always keep them. 34 Help me understand your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart, 35 Help me stay on the path of your commands, for I take pleasure in it. 36 Turn my heart to your decrees and not to dishonest profit.e 37 Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in your ways. 38 Confirm what you said to your servant, for it produces reverence for you. 39 Turn away the disgrace I dread; indeed, your judgments are good. 40 How I long for your precepts! Give me life through your righteousness.

ו Vav
41 Let your faithful love come to me, LORD, your salvation, as you promised. 42 Then I can answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 43 Never take the word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in your judgments. 44 I will always obey your instruction, forever and ever. 45 I will walk freely in an open place because I study your precepts. 46 I will speak of your decrees before kings and not be ashamed. 47 I delight in your commands, which I love. 48 I will lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and will meditate on your statutes.

ז Zayin
49 Remember your word to your servant; you have given me hope through it. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction; Your promise has given me life. 51 The arrogant constantly ridicule me, but I do not turn away from your instruction. 52 LORD, I remember your judgments from long ago and find comfort. 53 Fury seizes me because of the wicked who reject your instruction. 54 Your statutes are the theme of my song during my earthly life. 55 LORD, I remember your name in the night, and I obey your instruction. 56 This is my practice: I obey your precepts.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How does the psalmist develop the structure of the “He” section? (verses 33-40)

Psalm 119 is a beautifully structured poem focused on God’s law and His Word. It is poetically architected into 22 eight-verse sections, each section titled with a letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The verses in every eight-verse section begin with the Hebrew letter that the section is titled.

Thus, in the section He, each verse begins with the Hebraic letter He. It is also categorized as a Law Psalm. According to the in-house study at The Village Church in Texas led by Jen Wilkin*, the Law Psalms “teach us to celebrate the gift of the Word of God…. They also call for obedience. God’s law is beautiful to the believer because it is a reflection of God’s character…. The Law psalms give us language for delighting in the Word of God, the Bible.”

In the He section, seven of the eight verses are prayers asking God to act, followed by how the psalmist will respond. When the psalmist makes a request of God, God’s response will help him in doing what he has said is his responsibility. He asks God to teach him the meaning of His statutes and help him understand the Lord’s instruction. Why? So that he will be obedient to God’s word both in his heart and actions. (verses 33-34)

He asks for help to “stay on the path of His commands.” Why? Because “He takes pleasure in it.” (verse 35) Can you imagine praying such prayers? These are bold requests for a deep understanding of God’s words.

The psalmist knows the blessing that flows from God’s answers will help him obey and delight in God’s word and will give him life. (verse 40)

*“Psalms: The Prayers of God’s People” written by Jen Wilkin, Elizabeth Woodson, Jenni Hamm, Nathan Campbell, and Krystall Brummitt (not currently available)

The Everyday Application

1) How does the psalmist develop the structure of the “He” section? (verses 33-40)

Psalm 119 gives us language to pray using God’s own words. There are eight basic words used in the full psalm to reference Scripture: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, word, God’s ways/path, and rules/judgements/ordinance. Thus, when the psalmist declares that God’s judgments are good, he is proclaiming the goodness of God’s word. (verse 39)

When he says he longs for God’s precepts, he is saying that he desires and clings to God’s word. (verse 40) These are statements of worship and faithfulness to God. Why not try using God’s words as your prayer to Him? “Teach me, Lord, the meaning of Your Scriptures. As I learn about Your words and more fully understand them, I will keep them because I know You more.” (based on verse 33)

“Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in Your ways and, ultimately, in You.” (based on verse 37)

Take a closer look at verse 40. Could this be a small peek into the gospel? As Christians we know that life only comes through our acceptance of God’s Son, Jesus, as our Lord and Savior. Jesus’ righteousness is given to us and, thus, Life is given to us. (verse 40)

Praise God for the life we receive through Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and righteousness!

The Original Intent

2) How does the “Vav” section reveal the psalmist’s heart? (verses 41-48)

Dr. Jim Hamilton, Elder and Senior Pastor of Kenwood Baptist Church preached through Psalm 119 in 2017. During his sermon entitled, “You Afflicted Me in Faithfulness”, he summarized sections Gimel, Dalet, He, and Vav as the psalmist’s three-fold cry.

He pleads for 1) God to keep His promise that one day a King from David’s line would reign forever, 2) God’s enemies to be defeated, 3) God’s people to freely live in righteousness without taunts, jeers, or persecution. Has your heart felt like that?

Of course, the psalmist could only look to the future knowing the Messianic King would come according to God’s faithfulness. (verse 38) We have the beautiful advantage of knowing the Messiah King is Jesus, but just like the psalmist, we also look forward with confident assurance to His return and reign as King. In many ways, the prayers in the Vav section reveal our hearts, too, as we await His coming again.

The psalmist prayed for God’s faithful love to be revealed in this future salvation He had already promised. (verse 41) The psalmist longs for the future King, but while he waits for and puts his hope in the future King, he tells God that He will study, delight in, love, and meditate on God’s words because those words reveal God Himself to the psalmist. (verses 45, 47, 48)

The Everyday Application

2) How does the “Vav” section reveal the psalmist’s heart? (verses 41-48)

In the Vav section we see the psalmist’s hope in, delight in, and love for God’s word. (verses 43, 47, 48) He recognized that flowing from his hope, delight, and love will be obedience. (verse 44)

As God reveals Himself to us through the Bible, we grow in our love for Him. Sustaining obedience as a habit of life is a response to what God reveals to us in His word. This response is both supernatural from God and a choice made by us. The psalmist said he studied God’s precepts and meditated on his statutes. (verses 45 and 48)

The more we know God, the more we love Him. We get to know Him more through the study and meditation of His word.

Pray this portion of the psalm to our faithful God. Dig deeply into His word. If you are not actively studying the Bible, do so on your own or with a group of believers. Pray. Study. His word is life-giving, life-changing, and God-breathed. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Allow God to work in your heart and mind as He changes you from the inside out.

The Original Intent

3) How are we to handle affliction according to the “Zayin” section? (verses 49-56)

In the He and Vav sections of Psalm 119, we see hope and trust in God and His promise in the future He holds for His people. However, the psalmist was realistic about the times in which he lived. He believed in the future coming King, but he lived in a world of pain and affliction where arrogant people ridiculed him and wicked people rejected the one true God. (verses 50, 51, 53)

Yet, in reading the Zayin section, we see hope, comfort, life, and remembrance. Note the first two verses and the continuation of the promise of the reign of the coming King from the previous verses. (verses 49-50)

Indeed, the promise of the King, whom we now know to be Jesus Himself, gave the psalmist hope and life in the midst of earthly affliction. (verses 51, 53) The psalmist was resolved, he would not turn away from God’s word but found life in it. (verse 50) He also declared God’s word as the theme of the song of his earthly life, because he knew God’s word intimately, therefore knowing God Himself. (verse 54)

The New Testament expresses this idea using the terminology of walking in a manner worthy of God. (Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, Philippians 1:27, Ephesians 4:1) Thus, in spite of the afflictions around him, he hopes in and obeys God’s word as the habit of his life. (verse 56) 

The Everyday Application

3) How are we to handle affliction according to the “Zayin” section? (verses 49-56)

As I shared earlier we know the psalmist’s hope in a Messianic King is Jesus Christ, God’s only Son. Although He is King, the earthly reign we look forward to is the hope we have of things to come. (Titus 2:13) We live in the “now but not yet”, where people reject God and the Bible as well as reject us for believing in the one true God and His Son, Jesus.

Praying the Zayin section would be a way of bringing our afflictions to God while recognizing His sovereignty in both our present and our future. Remember, take hope, and be comforted in the promise of the coming King! A time will come when evil and affliction will no longer exist, and we will live free from the presence of sin, even though we currently experience afflictions and trials. (verses 49-50, 1 Peter 1:3-7)

Pray you will not turn away from God’s instructions. (verse 51) Make God the theme of your life through His Word. (verse 54) When you are frightened and anxious, as we often are during sleepless nights, remember the name of the Lord and all of His promises, they are assuredly yea and amen. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Pray that obedience becomes the practiced pattern of your life. Worship God through His Word in the here and now. “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

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I was told God loved me, but only when I perfectly obeyed Him.

I was told God’s Word contained guidance and instruction for my life, but one mistake could ruin my life and relationship with God.

I was told God longed for relationship with me, but only as long as I dressed the “right” way, acted the “right” way, spoke the “right” way . . . and I quickly learned shame and condemnation were the punishment for stumbling into the “wrong” way.
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Confidence Day 11 Confidence In Truth

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Confidence Day 11 Confidence In Truth

Meribeth Schierbeek

May 1, 2023

Scripture,Testify,Treasure,Truth

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 John 2:20-27
1 John 3:19-24
Romans 10:14-17
Romans 12:1-2
1 Samuel 16:1-13

My children and I attended a Bible class when they were little. When we gathered the class for the Bible story, we encouraged the children to see and touch the Bible before reading, while saying, “This is God’s true Word.” What a gift to see the marvel in the children’s eyes as their little hands touched the pages of the true story! These children grew to understand, tangibly, the existence of God’s true Word. 

Is this where confidence in God’s truth begins? 
How does knowing the truth result in transformation in the trajectory of our lives? 
Could confidence come when we understand Who the truth is?

Learning to recognize God as our ultimate truth and abide in His care has brought me peace, rest, and confidence in Him. 1 John 2:24-5 encourages us to abide, or remain in, God.

“What you have heard from the beginning is to remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.” 

Knowing God deeply, remaining in Him, brings me safety and protection, giving me confidence.   
Logically, our next question might be, “How can I remain in Him and be confident in His truth?”

1 John 2:20 answers, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.”

This verse begs the question, “What is an anointing, and how does it relate to confidence in truth?”
Anointing is to set someone apart for the Lord.
1 Samuel 16:1-13 speaks of Samuel, a prophet (someone sent by God to bring His word to His people), anointing a young shepherd named David to be king over Israel. Samuel, himself, received a call from the Lord as a young boy. (1 Samuel 3) I love his story and his reply, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10) 

As Samuel was called, so are all believers in Jesus.

“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; that is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

…A child in Bible class touches the word, sees and hears the word. Will he/she gain anointing by this?

…A young teen is exposed to the love of Christ via a neighbor’s invitation to church week after week. Does his/her attendance provide anointing?

…An adult hears the Word of God on the radio while surfing channels, or perhaps while sitting in the church building year after year, hearing the Word preached. Does hearing or being in church result in anointing?

Where do we find this transformative anointing resulting in confident faith?
Don’t we each yearn for such confident knowing, unshaken by lies or deceit?
Don’t we ache for our loved ones to be deeply rooted in confident truth? 

Perhaps we have seen, touched, and heard the truth, but how does transformation leading to confidence happen? It is through belief in the Word by faith. 

Romans 10:8b-9 assures us, “This is the message of faith we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Genuine faith in God ushers in transformative anointing for the “set apart life” offered to God. Since Jesus’ propitiatory death and resurrection, we no longer rely on prophets to communicate God’s call or anointing. His own Spirit anoints us with faith to receive His forgiveness and grace. It is this connection to Himself, Who Is Truth, that radically transforms our lives, our prayers, and how we love others as we align ourselves with His purposes.

The confidence we seek is found in Jesus Himself.  
Will you choose today by faith to believe, receiving Him as your Savior and be anointed into the calling and work God has for you?  

Then what?
In a world where autonomy, independence, and isolation are growing, we must begin cultivating this confidence by connecting with a local body of believers: Church. We must surround ourselves with Christ-followers who understand that the “anointed set apart life” is about God rather than self.
In fact, 1 John 3:18-19, 23-24 speaks of our confidence increasing as we demonstrate God’s love to others.

“Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and will reassure our hearts [. . .] Now this is His command: that we believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commands remains in Him, and He in him.”

How will you show God’s love for others in action and truth? 
Begin with prayer, perhaps using Samuel’s example,  “Speak, Lord, I am listening.” 
Ask to stay in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), and make a plan to share His love, as one who has been anointed to do His will.

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I often worry that I might deny Christ when my life depends on it. I’m concerned especially in today’s culture; mass shootings in churches, imprisonment of those that stand up for their faith. I have prayed often about this fear.

Then I am reminded that the power of the Holy Spirit will show up when we need Him. Isaiah declared from God, “And I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely in my hand.” and again in the Luke 12:11-12. “For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”
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Sketched X Day 6 Without A Voice

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 39:21-40:23
Exodus 2:23-25
Exodus 3:7-12
Isaiah 53:10-12
Matthew 27:45-46

Sketched X, Day 6

As I sit here in my prison room pondering the irony of life, many memories play in my mind.

I clearly recall that fateful day how I pleaded with my brothers when they were about to sell me to the Midianite traders, but they would not listen.

I also recall the day when my Egyptian master’s wife tried to force me to sleep with her, and I escaped from her grip, leaving my shirt behind. (Genesis 39:10-20) On coming home, my master’s wife turned the whole thing against me, and my master, Potiphar, refused to hear my defense..

Like my brothers, my master turned a deaf ear to my plea, and I’ve been in prison since. Innocent, yet condemned as a criminal because I do not have a voice.

But I am comforted by God’s presence. He has been with me before I even knew the depths of the suffering I would experience. I may not understand why He allowed me to pass through all these difficulties, but I am confident He has not abandoned me.

In His mercy, He has granted me favour before the captain of the prison guards. The captain has committed all prisoners to my care to oversee. He does not bother to check my work, because he has found me faithful, and God is prospering the work of my hands..

More recently, I encountered two of Pharaoh’s officers here in the prison. They were his chief cupbearer and chief baker. One day as I checked on them, they were both upset, and I asked them, “Why do you look so sad today?”

They responded, “We had dreams, but there is no one to interpret them.” So I told them interpretation belongs to God, and offered to listen to their dreams.

The cupbearer began:

“In my dream there was a vine in front of me. On the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms came out and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

God revealed the meaning of the dream to me, and I told him within three days Pharaoh would restore him to work.

Encouraged by my words, the chief baker also narrated his dream:

“I also had a dream. Three baskets of white bread were on my head. In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

God also gave me the interpretation, and I told him within three days Pharaoh would hang him. Indeed, within three days, God’s messages came to pass as the chief cupbearer was returned to work while the chief baker was hanged.

Meanwhile, I had told the chief cupbearer my unjust ordeal and how I landed in prison. I pleaded with him to remember me, and mention me before Pharaoh when he was restored. But since then I have not heard anything from him. It appears he too, has ignored my plea, and forgotten about me.

Oh, how it feels to be without a voice!

In my despair, I cry out to the only One who has not forgotten about me, “How long, O Lord? Can You hear my cries for help? Will You rescue me?”

Israel: God remembered, heard, and rescued Joseph, making him the voice of his people in Egypt. Later, generations of Israelites found themselves in a similar situation to Joseph as they were enslaved by a new pharaoh, engaged in severe hard labour with no one to speak for them. For over 400 years they cried to God for relief and deliverance, but it seemed they had been forgotten. Yet “God heard their groaning [. . .] God saw the Israelites, and God knew.” (Exodus 2:23-25)

Moses: God heard Israel’s cry and asked Moses to be His mouthpiece to them, just as Joseph asked the cupbearer to be his voice. Moses balked, but God equipped him, and in His kindness provided Aaron to speak for Moses. He ensured His work was accomplished, just as He freed Joseph that His work might continue. (Exodus 3:7-12)

Jesus: He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. The God-man whose word could have stopped His own crucifixion chose to remain silent . . . voiceless. Like Joseph, Jesus was innocent but condemned as a criminal. He only cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:45-46) But in His kindness, God was willing to sacrifice Jesus for our sin. (Isaiah 53:10-12)

Even when God appears silent, He is working out His plans in wondrous ways. Joseph became the instrument God used to save Israel from famine, and later, He used Moses to deliver them from slavery. In a similar way, God allowed Jesus to suffer unjustly to bring salvation to humankind.

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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Sacrifice Day 12 The Price Of Forgiveness: 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 The Price Of Forgiveness!

The Questions

 1) What does Paul’s call for remembrance in verse 11 reveal about the heart of God toward humanity? (verse 12)

2) The words “but now” in verses 14-15 are hinge words. What did Jesus do for those far from Him?

3) Verses 16-18 give us the reason behind Jesus’ actions (note Question #2). Why did He do it?

Ephesians 2:11-18

11 So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Original Intent

1) What does Paul’s call for remembrance in verse 11 reveal about the heart of God toward humanity? (verse 12)
“Remember that at one time …” (verse 11) Ephesians is a letter from Paul written to the Christian believers in Jesus in a city which had a considerable population of Gentile (non-Jew) believers. These believers needed to be reminded of their spiritual condition before Christ’s grace rescued them. In chapter 1, Paul shared the good news with the saints by rehearsing for them what they have in Christ through faith. He told the believers they had been chosen and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God, and he prayed for them to deeply comprehend the glorious salvation which God had provided for them in the Lord Jesus. Verses 1-2 of chapter 2 begin with the stark contrast from what they have in Christ to who they once were without Christ. Paul’s words strike a solemn tone, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. (Ephesians 2:1-2) Paul proceeds to offer examples of just how far from God they were before they surrendered in faith to Jesus: uncircumcised, without Christ, excluded, foreigners, without hope, and without God. Circumcision was a sign of covenant that Jews had with God as a sign of His covenant with them. (Circumcision and the Covenant) Those who were not of Jewish decent would have been excluded from this special covenant had it not been for Christ! But exclusion was never the heart of God. (Galatians 3:7-9) Though He had worked in specific ways through His people, Israel, He is a God of salvation to all!

2) The words “but now” in verses 14-15 are hinge words. What did Jesus do for those who are spiritually far from Him?
Since there is no bold lettering or underlined words in Scripture, we are forced to intently read the passage for the author’s intended highlights. After studying these verses, I believe Paul would have designated verse 13 as a key point with an asterisk or underline. The two-word phrase “but now” coupled with the two-word phrase “brought near” in verse 13 give us the crux and the beauty of the gospel message. It is the good news factor! Whenever there is bad news connected with the word “but”, the listener is meant to take note. Harsh words like “excluded” and “without God” are now replaced with glorious words and phrases, “…you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility …” (verses 13-14) The gracious of plan of God from the beginning was for Jesus came to earth to bring everyone near to God, including Gentiles. (Romans 15:7-13) This news was challenging and liberating to the reader. The old way of life was to no longer exist in everyday living. In its place, there was a new life of abundance to be lived out because of their acceptance of forgiveness and freedom offered only in Christ. Remembering their old life was not meant to keep them trapped in condemnation, but to remind them of who God is as their Savior and how He has set them free by His grand rescue and gift of new life.

3) Verses 16-18 give us the reason behind Jesus’ actions (note Question #2). Why did He choose this?
Verse 16 says Jesus “did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which He put the hostility to death.” Redemption and reconciliation were why He came. We’ve heard it said about Him: He was born to die. But there’s more! He was born to die to unite us with each other and with God. Jesus lived and died and rose again to offer all those who believe in Him a new identity. In this passage, Paul is referring to all believers as a singular group of people. Jews and Gentiles are joined as one in the one body of Jesus. Though we are each born individually into Christ at salvation (Ephesians 4:20-24), believers  are also joined with other believers, whatever  their origin, to make us all one new person in Christ. This isn’t simply us being changed into a new person; this is two groups of people becoming one Whole Body, the Church. “Early Christians called themselves a ‘third race’ or a ‘new race.’ Early Christians recognized that they were not Jews, not Gentiles, but one new man embracing all who are in Jesus.” (Enduringword.com) What a wonderful and glorious gospel Paul shares with the Ephesians and us. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord for mercy is moved from “you were” to “but God” to “so then”! (Ephesians 2:19-20)

Everyday Application

1) What does Paul’s call for remembrance in verse 11 reveal about the heart of God toward humanity? (verse 12)
Remembering who we were, and/or would be, without Christ is essential to our daily understanding of the gospel message. Some confess Christ as their Savior and Lord as a child because their parents taught them who Jesus is and offered them an opportunity to put their faith in Him. Others come to Him because a missionary shared the truth of the gospel with them they’d never heard. Still others come from backgrounds of long-time sinful behaviors and blatant rebellion. A few even confess Christ at the very end of their lives, sincerely seeing their need for a Savior. But all of these souls are in the same predicament. And sweet sister, so are we! We all find ourselves far away from Christ because of our sin. The Bible says not one of us was born sinless. (Romans 3:22-24) We remember where we were because we want to understand the heart of God toward us. He rescued us only because of His grace. We were far away. He came to us to draw us near to God, paying the debt we were hopeless to repay, and offering us His righteousness in place of our sinfulness. And that’s the gospel! (Colossians 1:13, 2 Timothy 1:9)

2) The words “but now” in verses 14-15 are hinge words. What did Jesus do for those who are spiritually far from Him?
“There is nothing we can do to make God loves us more, and there is nothing we can do to make God loves us less.” I’d heard that statement many times, even sung similar sentiments, but honestly, I didn’t really believe it because I didn’t fully grasp the work of Christ on my behalf. Although I would never have admitted it, I subtly carried the belief that my goodness somehow added to God’s favor toward me. I was a born “rule follower”; this belief in earning God’s love blinded me to my desperate need for God’s grace. I knew I sinned sometimes and needed God’s forgiveness and grace. I also understood that only one sin would keep me from God because I am a sinner. (James 2:10) But I had this sneaky suspicion God loved me most when I was good. Oh, sweet friend, how wrong I was for years! I simply couldn’t comprehend that goodness was not mine to offer to God. Being a circumcised Jew wasn’t what made Jews accepted by God and being Gentiles didn’t keep them from being accepted by God. Christ was all they needed! We need to be reminded that it is God’s work in creation and in salvation. A little boy made a boat he floated downstream, billowing way beyond his reach and out of sight. One day he saw his boat in a store window and explained to the man about his boat. As he walked out the door of the store with his boat he purchased, he declared, “Little boat, you are twice mine. First I made you, now I bought you!” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19) So it is with us as Christ made us, then paid for us, freeing us from the prison of sin and death!

3) Verses 16-18 give us the reason behind Jesus’ actions (note Question #2). Why did He choose this?
Jesus brought peace by bringing Himself to us. He IS our peace. It is Jesus Himself, God in the flesh, who brought reconciliation to humanity. We were God’s enemies. He still loved us and desired to rescue us from ourselves and Satan’s power. The resurrection of Jesus we celebrate at Easter is the event that disrupted the world forever. Its power was known from Heaven to Hell, and what was accomplished on the cross was timeless. Jesus’ work of salvation through His death was sufficient for all who had lived before Him and believed, for all who lived at the time of His death and believed, and for all who would believe through all time! It is Christ who draws us, Christ who saves us, and Christ who keeps our souls for eternity! (Ephesians 2:4-10)
Upon the cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One who suffered there for me.
And from my stricken heart with tears, two wonders I confess:
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.
(Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane)

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Build Day 10 Building Restoration

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Nehemiah 8
Romans 3:21-24
John 1:1-18

Build, Day 10

Before Nehemiah began his quest to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, his friend Ezra was on the scene to bring the Israelite community back together after years of exile in Babylon. (Ezra 7) Ezra gathered exiled Israelites from Babylon, uniting them with those already in Jerusalem to bring spiritual restoration as a community to the nation.

As Nehemiah governs God’s people in Jerusalem and works to rebuild the wall, he finds a partner in the spiritual leader, Ezra. When the wall is finally rebuilt, Ezra and Nehemiah join forces to point their people back to God. (Nehemiah 8) What a refreshing view of spiritual and governing leaders coming together for the benefit of their people and the glory of God!

For seven days, Ezra and other spiritual leaders read the Torah and taught its meaning to the people.

And the people began responding.

After years of being unable to hear God’s word and celebrate their religious holidays, the Israelites began repenting. They listened and followed instructions to build the same festival shelters their forefathers had built; they began celebrating God through feasting together, and they began worshiping the Lord with JOY.

Joy was restored.

Can you imagine, after 70 years of slavery and exile, doing anything but grumbling and throwing yourself a pity party? I don’t know about you, but I’d be attending that pity party, table for one!

But this is the power of God’s Holy Word: to build back up what has been torn down, to transform us and restore us to the beautiful, joyful creation He intended us to be.

It’s easy to read this story on the other side, thousands of years later, and quickly pinpoint where the Israelites made mistakes. Yet, we are in need of the same restoration God graciously offered them in their renewed city, for we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23-24)

Just as the Israelites were exiled from Jerusalem, so in our sin, we were exiled from a relationship with our Creator and Father.

But then God’s Word was made flesh in the form of Jesus, and a whole new era of restoration began. (John 1:1-18) Just as Ezra and Nehemiah made space for the Word of God to be heard, taught, and practiced, Jesus was God’s Word incarnate, dwelling among us, teaching us how to live and turn back to God.

Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus was the way for restoration.

Now, as we live on the other side of restoration, in relationship with God, we wait for the second coming of Jesus and the restoration of the world as we know it.
Don’t we see it around us?
Don’t we see it in ourselves?
We’re living in “the now and the not yet” of restoration.

So, what do we do as we wait for our final restoration?
Where do we find our joy in the meantime?

We remember the dedication of Ezra and Nehemiah and we turn to God’s Word. We seek it, and we allow others to teach us. We learn and practice what it says. We gather together as brothers and sisters in Christ and we celebrate all God has done.

Here, we find joy.
We find daily renewal and restoration.
We find hope when it seems all is lost, and we feel like we’ve endured 70 years of exile.

Will you join me in continuing to dig into God’s word? (Look at you, doing that right now!)
Will you seek understanding?
Will you do what His Word says?
Will you gather your friends and family to delight in God together?
Will you remember to find Joy?

Because you, my friend, have been Restored.

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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 Build Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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The GT Weekend ~ Calling Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

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

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

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

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Ephesians 3:20-21 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

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

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

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music