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Waiting Day 11 Victorious Patience

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 20:19-23
John 19:28-30
Genesis 50:19-21

Waiting, Day 11

Waiting.
It’s something most, if not all, of us hate doing.
Whether we are waiting for a partner in life, a baby, a job, a house, or something else entirely, waiting rubs against our self-made plans, itineraries, and desires.

I’ve never been an incredibly patient person, and I tend to hold tightly to my wishes. But God has graciously been working in my heart over the past few years, showing me that even though waiting is hard and oftentimes painful, it truly is best for us in the end.
God’s timing is perfect. (Psalm 18:30-32)

When it comes to waiting, we tend to have one of three primary responses: fear, arrogance, or victorious patience.

Interestingly, these three responses are exemplified in the disciples, the Pharisees, and Jesus, respectively, when we examine the days between Jesus’ death and His resurrection. This three-day waiting period elicited very different responses from each.

The disciples largely lived in fear during these days of waiting. They were emotionally distraught, fearing for their lives, as everything they’d believed seemed to come to a sudden, horrific end. They were not living from a place of faith and trust in what Jesus had told them. Instead, they were hiding from Jewish authorities and cowering in confusion and fear. (John 20:19)

The Pharisees, Jewish religious leaders who felt threatened by Jesus and helped engineer His death, were rather happy with themselves in the days following His crucifixion. They were full of arrogance and pride, believing they’d rid themselves of a troublemaker in their religious community. (again, see John 20:19)

But what about Jesus? During those three days of waiting, He embodied victorious patience. His final words on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), reveal He confidently knew He had won the victory He’d procured for sinners through His death on the cross. Yet, I can also imagine the feelings of excitement He must have also felt in those days prior to His resurrection. I can picture His anticipation at the thought of rising in victory and comforting His disciples with His resurrected presence. What an exciting moment it would be! Still, He waited with such patience, knowing His victory for us was secure.

I wonder about us, dear readers. How do we usually approach seasons of waiting?
Do we experience feelings of fear and trepidation, anxious about the future?
Do we feel arrogant, relying upon ourselves to get through those seasons?
Or do we rest in the goodness of God, able to live with a sense of victorious patience, even in the midst of a long wait with no clear end in sight?

I don’t know about you, but I find myself tending to alternate between each of these three responses, depending on the waiting season and my willingness to actually surrender daily to the Spirit’s work in me. Truly, I have found meditating on the character of God as we walk by the Spirit to be key for experiencing inner peace and waiting patiently, with victory.

It’s impossible to wait patiently, contentedly, and joyfully unless we are trusting God in our waiting. It’s equally impossible to fully trust God in those challenging seasons when we do not know how things will end, unless we know God’s character.
We simply cannot trust Someone we do not know.

This, my friends, has been the game-changer for me in recent years. Through studying God’s Word, walking by His Spirit, and being encouraged and sharpened by fellow members of His church, I have come to know Him in a far deeper way than ever before. This has naturally led to a deeper trust in His plans and faith in His goodness, even in the midst of waiting.

When I need encouragement, I consider the life story of Joseph. (Genesis 39-50) With one hardship after another, one terrible turn of events after another, and one season of waiting after another, we never read of Joseph’s despair. Why? He knew his God and trusted His character. He confidently proclaimed to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good, to bring about the present result–the survival of many people.”

May we carry this truth with us into the days ahead, meditating on it as our personal reminder that no matter our experiences while we wait, God is trustworthy, and He is working for our good and His glory! (Romans 8:28)

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Waiting Day 10 Once Upon God’s Kairos

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Waiting Day 10 Once Upon God’s Kairos

Sarah Young

October 15, 2021

God,Holy Spirit,Jesus,Life,Perfect,Promises,Redemption,Rescue,Sacrifice,Salvation,Scripture,Waiting

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
1 Peter 1:13-25
1 John 3:1-3
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Isaiah 40

Almost a decade ago, I was introduced to the concept of KAIROS time.
Did you know ancient Greeks used two words, chronos and kairos to describe time?

Chronos time is linear and sequential, the timeline in which we live.

Kairos is a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action; the opportune and decisive moment. Throughout Scripture, kairos describes the time in which God exists and moves.

I was profoundly impacted by the reality that God is not limited by chronos time, yet He created a world functioning within it. From the very beginning, He established minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. (Genesis 1) But we are told in 2 Peter 3:8, “With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.” God sees the past, present, and future simultaneously. He has orchestrated how ALLLLL the millions of puzzle pieces of history will come together; He is weaving a beautiful tapestry, a breathtaking masterpiece.

WE, however, see the back of the tapestry with strings tangled and knotted. WE get confused and frustrated, not understanding what is happening or why. Meanwhile, God confidently weaves away, working in His KAIROS time, to bring about plans He established BEFORE the creation of the world. (Titus 1:3)

Today, we have the advantage of looking BACK through the Bible and see all the clues God was providing as people looked FORWARD to Jesus, who would ONE DAY deliver us ALL from sin and death.

One of the most beautiful pictures of this promised redemption was when God rescued His people from Egypt after 400 years of slavery! Leading up to their miraculous exit, God sent 9 plagues to convince Pharaoh to free the Israelites; in the midst of the chaos and confusion of the final plague, the death of the firstborn sons, God foreshadowed what JESUS would one day do as the FINAL Passover Lamb. You see, God had told His people to sacrifice their best lambs and put the blood on the top and sides of their doors (forming a CROSS). As the angel of death went throughout the land, God would PASS OVER those covered in lamb’s blood. The sacrificed lamb would die in their place, and they would be saved. (Exodus 11-13)

Fast forward hundreds of years to another Passover festival. That night, Jesus was arrested and beaten, and mocked. (Luke 22:1-23:25) Yet, He remained silent, like a lamb led to slaughter. Jesus, the SACRIFICIAL LAMB, was nailed to a cross, dying in OUR place and paying the price for OUR sins. (Luke 23:26-56) Jesus’ death, precisely on Passover, was no coincidence. God was fulfilling generations of prophecies and orchestrating the tiniest of details at just the right time, His kairos time.

Right before Jesus breathed His last on the cross, He cried, “It is finished!”. (John 19:30) At that moment in the temple, the centerplace of Jewish worship, the curtain separating delineating the inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies where God’s presence dwelled, split from TOP to bottom. (Luke 23:44-49) No longer was there a separation between God and people. Anyone could now enter God’s presence, because of JESUS.

For thousands of years, ONLY the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and ONLY on the Day of Atonement. On that day, Israel gathered together and the High Priest offered a sacrifice to pay for the sins of the entire nation. (Leviticus 16) On THIS Day of Atonement, Jesus became the FINAL sacrifice, paying for ALL sins for ALL time. (Hebrews 10:11-12)

Looking back through history all the way to the Old Testament Tabernacle (check out the Tabernacle Journey Theme!)God was giving us glimpses of His Son and the relationship we can now have with Him because of Jesus.

The tabernacle had ONE entrance, where people accessed an Outer Courtyard.
Jesus is THE DOOR, the ONLY way to God.
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.”  (John 14:6)

In the Outer Courtyard was the bronze basin, where priests would wash before approaching God’s presence.
Jesus declared He is the Living Water (John 7:37-39); His blood cleanses us from sin. (1 John 1:7-9)

Within the tabernacle was a smaller tent divided into two sections, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Only priests could enter the Holy Place, which housed 3 items made of pure gold: a table, a lampstand, and incense altar.

On the table was the Bread of Presence.
During His ministry, Jesus revealed He was the Bread of Life. (John 6:35)
During the Passover meal with His disciples on the night of His arrest, Jesus broke bread and announced, “This is My body, which is given for you.” (Luke 22:19)

The lampstand lit the Holy Place.
Jesus is the LIGHT of the world. (John 8:12)
He has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:9-10)

Incense was to be continually burning, symbolizing the prayers of the priest, on behalf of God’s people, rising to the Lord.
Today, we have direct access to God, while Jesus, and the Holy Spirit within us, intercede for us! (Romans 8:26-27; Romans 8:34)

Every aspect of the tabernacle points to Jesus.
Glimpses of Jesus are revealed through the ENTIRE Old Testament.
Even during His silence from Malachi to the birth of Jesus, He was STILL working out His purposes in His KAIROS time.

Finally, “When the time came to completion, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5, emphasis mine)

God’s timing was PERFECT in sending Jesus to be born in Bethlehem.
His timing was PERFECT in having Him crucified in Jerusalem.

His timing WILL BE perfect once more when He sends Jesus to establish His eternal kingdom. He will make all things new again, restoring the perfection that was broken and lost when sin entered the world in the Garden. (Revelation 21:5)

We may feel God is slow in answering prayers, be it physical healing, adoption paperwork, financial provision, or His final return.

We may grow impatient as we wait.
When waiting seems too much to bear, we can look back through the Bible and see God at work, masterfully weaving a beautiful tapestry to bring about His plans at JUST THE RIGHT TIME.

Maybe not according to OUR chronos way of thinking, but rather in His sovereign, divine, PERFECT kairos timing!

So, as we watch and wait, may we trust and confidently declare with the Apostle John, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

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Follow Day 7 A Time To Act: 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 A Time To Act!

The Questions

1) Why is Nehemiah in Susa and who is the remnant? (verses 1-3)

2) Why does the unbuilt wall cause Nehemiah to weep and what did he do with his grief? (verses 4 and following)

3) In 2:2 Nehemiah is clearly afraid. What does he do with his fear?

Nehemiah 1:1-2:5

The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:

During the month of Chislev in the twentieth year, when I was in the fortress city of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile. 3 They said to me, “The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned.”

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of the heavens. 5 I said,

Lord, the God of the heavens, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands, 6 let your eyes be open and your ears be attentive to hear your servant’s prayer that I now pray to you day and night for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we have committed against you. Both I and my father’s family have sinned. 7 We have acted corruptly toward you and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances you gave your servant Moses. 8 Please remember what you commanded your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. 9 But if you return to me and carefully observe my commands, even though your exiles were banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have my name dwell.” 10 They are your servants and your people. You redeemed them by your great power and strong hand. 11 Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to that of your servants who delight to revere your name. Give your servant success today, and grant him compassion in the presence of this man.
At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.

2 During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, 2 so the king said to me, “Why do you look so sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was overwhelmed with fear 3 and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4 Then the king asked me, “What is your request?”

So I prayed to the God of the heavens 5 and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it.”

Original Intent

1) Why is Nehemiah in Susa and who is the remnant? (verses 1-3)
As the book of Nehemiah opens we find him in the city of Susa, one of the Persian Empire capitals. Jerusalem had been overtaken in 586 BC by the Babylonians, who were later overtaken by the Persian Empire, and many of the residents dispersed into the existing empire. With this takeover and captivity, the city of Jerusalem was destroyed. This destruction included Solomon’s Temple and the city walls. However, a remnant of Israel, God’s chosen people, was left behind in Jerusalem. This remnant was extremely poor and represented a significantly small fraction of the total Jewish population that had once lived in Jerusalem. God was working behind the scenes both in Jerusalem and in Susa as He stirred hearts to serve and follow Him as only He could. He was preparing to use Nehemiah in his perfect placement in Susa for His glory and for the benefit of the remnant.

2) Why does the unbuilt wall cause Nehemiah to weep and what did he do with his grief? (verses 4 and following)
Before Nehemiah asked permission from the king to personally return to Jerusalem, there had been two other waves of Israelites who had gone home and left Susa. These Jews had restored the Temple in their time there, but not the city wall. Nehemiah receives word of this destruction and is broken by the news. He knew the city wall was vitally important because without a fortified wall, the city was defenseless against any attack. The city would have also held no value in the ancient world without a wall. A wall also meant a gate for entry. These gates served as a meeting place and a city council type place to conduct business affairs. Without a wall and gates, the prominence of the city would have been obsolete. Nehemiah is broken for his homeland, even though he had actually never lived there. Nehemiah allows himself to feel his grief, but then he moves into action. Nehemiah 1:4 tells how he fasted and prayed, acknowledging the sin of his people and asking God for favor. His action doesn’t stop there, however, this was not simply an emotional response. Nehemiah asked the king for permission to return to Jerusalem with the plan to rebuild the walls. Nehemiah leads the charge to rebuild the city walls in 52 days; an absurd impossibility! What an incredible testimony of what God did through Nehemiah because he was willing to put his grief into action.

3) In 2:2 Nehemiah is clearly afraid. What does he do with his fear?
Nehemiah does not ignore his fear. Instead, he owns his fear. However, Nehemiah doesn’t get stuck in his fear. He chooses to turn to the “God of heaven” and pray. While earlier in chapter 1 Nehemiah shares his specific prayer with his audience in Nehemiah 2:5 we are not privy to what he said. His exact words are unimportant in the grand scheme of the situation. What is important however, is he took his fear to the God of the universe trusting him with what would come next in the conversation with the king. Nehemiah knew who was really in control and acknowledged that through his actions.

Everyday Application

1) Why is Nehemiah in Susa and who is the remnant? (verses 1-3)
Nehemiah had been born in exile and lived his entire life in the Persian Empire. Foreign lands were all he knew as home. He had risen to a position which placed him in direct contact with the king as the king’s cupbearer all while there was a small number of Israelites who had been allowed to stay in Jerusalem and continue living there. Nehemiah’s book opens with Nehemiah in a city in the Persian Empire hearing of what is taking place in Jerusalem with the remnant, or small number, still there. We see the stage being set for God to use Nehemiah right where he was even though he wasn’t in Jerusalem. As believers, we can be encouraged when we are surrendering our desire to control our life over to God. He will use us exactly where we are. Our circumstances, or even geographical location, may not always make sense to us, but God is able to use even these ordinary things for His glory when we allow Him to be our Lord over all.

2) Why does the unbuilt wall cause Nehemiah to weep and what did he do with his grief? (verses 4 and following)
Jerusalem is in ruins, no longer a place of prominence in the ancient world. While the Temple has been rebuilt much of the city wall remained in shambles. The city was no longer the place of prominence it had once been and if left unrepaired likely would have become a city to never be heard about again. Nehemiah is broken by the news of his home. He chooses to feel his grief and mourn but he does not stay there. Instead, he chooses to move forward, using his position, to lead the way for change. Nehemiah was a cupbearer, a servant for the king, but that allowed him to be in audience of the king. He sees the opportunity he has and after spending time in fasting and prayer asks God to “give him success”. Nehemiah allowed himself to be used by God even as a servant. We too can be used by God regardless of where we are, what we do, or the grief we may be walking in. God used 1 man to change Jerusalem for the better and God can use us exactly where we are. We don’t have to be pastors to make a Kingdom impact we simply have to be willing to be used and leave the rest up to God. Nehemiah led a charge to rebuild an entire city wall in 52 days… a feat which seems impossible! This willingness to step into action shows us that while we need to feel our grief and take time to mourn we cannot stay there. We too must choose to step into action and God can do what seems impossible through our lives as well. The question we must ask ourselves is are we willing?

3) In 2:2 Nehemiah is clearly afraid. What does he do with his fear?
When standing before the king being given the opportunity to speak, Nehemiah was afraid. I imagine if faced with the same situation, I too would be afraid. In Nehemiah’s days you didn’t speak boldly to the king. Nehemiah could have chosen to become stuck in his fear, but instead he chooses to turn to the God of heaven. In that split moment we see Nehemiah acknowledge his weakness and turn it over to the One who is ultimately in control. Sisters, I don’t know about you but for me this year has been filled with fear, disappointment, frustration, and so many other emotions. We have lost loved ones, been asked to stay home, watched people suffer physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually and there are moments everything has felt completely overwhelming. At times, I have been tempted to give in to the fleshly emotions but these verses in Nehemiah remind me my God is bigger than my emotions. I can choose, just as Nehemiah did, to turn them over to God trusting that He knows what is best and is in control. When I do I find the same boldness Nehemiah found as he addressed the king. I urge you in those moments to make the same choice as Nehemiah and trust the God of the heavens. He is trustworthy!

The book of Nehemiah shows us the kind of significant impact one individual can have on a nation. Nehemiah served in secular offices, using his position to bring back to the Jews order, stability, and proper focus on God.

God uses all manner of people in all manner of places doing all manner of work. Do you feel you must be “in ministry” in order to serve God? Be encouraged; He is not limited by your vocation. In fact, God has placed you where you are for a purpose. Have this attitude about your work: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father”

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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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The GT Weekend! Bride Week 1

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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) Take time to process where you are with the Lord.
Are you in a season of running away from Him? What has brought you to this place? Lay those at the feet of Jesus, He welcomes you with open arms.
Are you walking in step with Him? What has brought you to this place? Ask Him to protect you from the snares of the evil one.  

2) In 2 Corinthians 5:16-20, Paul paints a beautiful picture of what happens when we surrender to His will. Our hearts are completely changed; made new. Our previous identity is completely gone, not simply tweaked. God reconciles us back to Himself and then asks us to draw others into reconciliation with Him as well. Read through this passage and mark the cause/effect situations. Leave your previous identity behind and be made new!  

3) God is jealous after you, dear sister. He wants your time, your devotion, your praise to be His and His alone. Make several lists of how you are using your time, who you worship, and who you give the glory to. Pray over these lists and see where you can adjust your eyes even more carefully to God.  

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 Isaiah 40:6b-8 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.” 

Prayer Journal
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and
light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all
our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou
wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save
us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see
light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious
favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our
works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify
thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting
life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From the Book of Common Prayers https://www.bcponline.org/  

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The GT Weekend! Chase 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!

Journal With Us!

Journal Prompts

1) How has a change of plans brought anger in your life? After that anger wells up, we have two options; to move forward in that anger or choose to give thanks that God is sovereign over all (even the chaos!). Pray today for the Holy Spirit to help you choose thankfulness!

2) God forgave an entire city because of their immediate repentance. God’s forgiveness does not stop being offered because of your sin; that’s just the beginning! While there may still be physical consequences of our sin, God will always extend His gracious hand of forgiveness to the response of genuine repentance.

3) At the end of Jonah 2, we see Jonah was given so much grace. His response was to “sing a song of thanksgiving”. He made a resolution to move forward and share that grace but ended up being sidetracked. We’ve also been given an abundance of grace, how are we using it? Are we passing it on to others freely? Or holding onto it tightly?

Worship In Song

Music Video: Forgiveness 

Pour Out Your Heart

Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I let my selfishness and pride give way to anger in my life. Lord, I get so stuck on my schedules, my lists, and my time. All of that focus leaves very little margin for You to do any work in my life; it’s no surprise I get all worked up that I don’t witness You working. I haven’t left You any space to do so! Let me lay ALL my life at your feet and leave it there as I watch Your hand at work in my life!

I don’t deserve Your lavish love and forgiveness. As You pour out those in my life, encourage me to be a good steward of them. Out of the outpouring of Your love at work in me, let me love others deeply and freely as You do. For Your glory, Lord!

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Battle Day 10 Feasting On Truth

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 4:1-11
Psalm 119: 9-11
John 4:31-35
Ephesians 6:10-18
Psalm 119:36-37

Up until about two years ago, regularly memorizing Scripture was a wonderful, admirable, beautiful idea in my mind.  I was reading God’s Word, growing in Him and had a few basic verses memorized, but for the most part, intentionally putting Scripture to memory seemed optional.  However, as my battle with anxiety and depression increased, clinging to the promises in God’s Word became a life-line.

I found myself glued to my verse notecards in the check-out lane at the grocery store, in moments of despair with my kids, and at night before falling asleep. I was preaching truth to my soul, despite my feelings, just like the Psalmist did in Psalm 42.
I learned that God’s Word quite literally protects me from choosing evil (Psalm 119:9-11, 133-35).
His Word became a deeper hope and comfort (Psalm 119: 49-50).
I accepted that even when I didn’t want God’s Word, I needed to humble myself and ask Him to make me want it (Psalm 119:36-37).
I experienced a deeper need to “live… by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

The Promise of Battle
Scripture tells us to expect trials in this life (John 16:33). As believers, we are not to think it is strange or that something unique is happening to us when we go through difficulties of any kind (I Peter 4:12).  We live in a fallen world, which means sin has infected, not only every person’s heart, but also every institution, each system, and all of creation.
This should cause us to expect battle.

Yet these battles are not against our neighbor, our spouse, our child, that other mom in the carpool lane, the co-worker we can’t seem to see eye-to-eye with, the family member who has hurt us, or any other element of flesh and blood.  The Bible is clear that all battles boil down to us against Satan (Ephesians 6:12). He is behind them, poking and prodding and pushing all of his desperate buttons in an attempt to devour our faith (I Peter 5:8).

The Pattern of Attack
Satan uses our own desires against us in his battle for our faith. I John 2:16 explains, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” He will use both external circumstances and internal temptation to weaken us in the battle of faith.  Satan is a professional tempter and liar and his methods have been the same through the ages.

When Satan tempted Eve in the garden, he showed us his cards. First he aimed at her physical appetite, (Genesis 3:1-3) then at her desire for personal gain (3:4-5), then he offered Eve an easy path to power and glory (3:5-6). He pulled the same attack on Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).  Yet Jesus fought off Satan’s lies with responses of obedience rooted in the truth of God’s Word.

Consider that we are most vulnerable to temptation when the following are true:
1) Our physical body and appetites are in need
2) We see things we want or need and do not have them
3) We lack power or glory (think control and recognition) 

Feast for Focus in the Battle
How do we fight against Satan’s lies and temptation? God has not left us alone in the battle! Jesus told Satan in the wilderness, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4), showing us that knowing and living by the Word of God is more soul-critical than even real, human needs. It’s no wonder then, that during his ministry years Jesus had a laser sharp focus on His mission. He told His disciples in John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

What is the will of God, and how does it become our food? God’s will is revealed through His Word, giving us wisdom, direction and knowledge of His heart.  We feast on it by treasuring it, seeking it, reading it, and memorizing it.

But this isn’t simply about getting more knowledge.  Knowledge alone does not transform or equip us for battle. Scripture tells us to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2), and that remarkable work is accomplished by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) as we feast. This is a life-long process for the believer!  As our mind is renewed by the Word of God, we are prepared to rightly discern in every battle.

So, we must make a choice to come and live by the Word of God, submitting to the Holy Spirit, and entrusting the work of mind-renewal to be done by Him. This process of being transformed strengthens us to lay aside the things that so easily distract us (Hebrews 12:1), that we may keep doing the good works God planned in advance for us, according to the perfect will God which He will accomplish in us (Ephesians 2:10, I Thessalonians 5:24).

Come away, feast, and be victorious against the true Enemy!

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

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Resting Day 15
Called Out Of Chaos

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 3:14-25
Mark 6:30-32
Ephesians 5:15-21

Is organizing and planning something you look forward to?
Is it something you dread?
Is it maybe a little bit of both, depending on the day?

For many of us, when we hear the words “organize” or “plan”, we may think of busy schedules, time management, or a tidy home.
But did you know that God calls us out of chaos and busyness into organization and intentionality?

Busy lives are practically inevitable in today’s world, but God calls us out of this busyness, desiring us to seek His help on how to live fully and love others well.
God is the master planner!

From the beginning of time, He planned the world, our lives, and all of creation. Then when God sent Jesus to walk the Earth, He too was a master planner and coordinator of time. Jesus took time to love, serve, and heal people, yet He also took the time to rest.

In Mark 6:30-31, Jesus commanded the apostles to go and rest after a long day of work and teaching.
Jesus wants us to organize our lives so that we can do the same!

God planned to redeem us from sin.
God planned our lives out before the beginning of time.
God planned a day of rest after six days of creation.
And God’s plan for us is to bring the Kingdom here to earth, living for Him and loving others at full capacity.

When we are busy, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the wrong mindset. For example, look at Martha. She had the right intentions, but she was missing the point! She was so busy preparing things around the house, when Jesus simply wanted her to be at His feet. There’s nothing wrong with wanting everything to be planned out and well-prepared,
but we cannot put our schedules before serving the Lord!
A big part of organizing our time wisely is learning
to have priorities that mirror God’s.

We must identify what is most important, and then plan accordingly, doing each and every task to honor the Lord. Colossians 3:23 reminds us that no matter what we are doing – homework, dishes, driving, or working – to do it as if working for the Lord!
Though it might be hard, we have to plan time for God, family, friends, work, health, learning, AND rest.
It seems impossible to juggle them all, but when we seek God’s plan and priorities, we can better organize our lives.
To carry out all of these things, we must be motivated, focused,
and persistent in choosing what is wise and important rather than just the urgent things that need to be done.

Our lives are composed of time, so how we spend it is crucial.
Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise but wise, making the most of every opportunity…”
God created time to be a tool, to teach us lessons, and develop the character of God in us. This means we must learn to use our time how God would want us to. Opportunities are constantly coming our way, and often times they are time consuming.
Maybe you’re asked to take on a new task at work, or you’ve been asked to volunteer in a ministry at church. So how do we choose “the best yes”?
By making choices motivated by love and wisdom.

When we don’t do this, we often end up with an “I have to do this” attitude, rather than a heart that is wholly serving the Lord and others.
When our choices are made out of obligation
rather than heavenly motivation, we miss the point.

Is this “yes” going to further my spiritual growth?
Is this “yes” going to hinder me from doing my quiet time?
Is this “yes” going to allow me to pour into others?

Contrary to popular belief and personal guilt, it is OK to say no sometimes! If you are bombarded by an overwhelming amount of opportunities and you say “Yes” to all of them, the time and energy for personal growth and serving others may be compromised in a negative way.
THAT busy, isn’t healthy!

Say “yes” to being in the Word first.
Say “yes” to deeply conversing in prayer.
Say “yes” to loving others well.

God will lead us to the right choice if we simply seek Him and His priorities. But remember, we must allow ourselves to rest so that we can re-cooperate and make these wise decisions, motivated by love and the Lord.

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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 Resting Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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The GT Weekend – Resting Week One

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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!

Journal With Us!

Journal Prompts

1) Take a look at your schedule. Where can you build rest into your routine? It takes an intentional choice to carve out space for rest. Take the challenge and make time for it today!

2) Often, it’s in a quiet moment that we hear a gentle whisper from the Holy Spirit. What have you experienced when you spend time with God in sweet rest with Him? What benefits have you noticed?

3) It’s easy to keep busy for a variety of reasons. It’s also much easier for us to stop after we’ve identified our excuse. What is yours? To make you look/feel important? To push away pain? To protect walls that were built long ago?

Worship In Song

Music Video: City Harbor’s “I Will Rest”

Pour Out Your Heart

Lord, this topic of rest makes me uncomfortable. I’m bad at rest. I feel the pressure to look productive and stay busy. I push my husband away when he asks to rest together. My children get pushed to the side so I can cross off one more thing from my to-do list. Worst of all, Lord, spending time with You gets neglected in the name of doing more ministry. Forgive me Father. Draw me deeper in with You. I long to hear the gentle whisper from You, Spirit. I want to know Your kind of love to better share it with others. To experience the fullness of You sounds amazing, I want more of that in my life Father, pour out on me so that I might focus on staying in close communion with You.

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In everything, with praise and thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God!
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Space Day 3
Space For Love

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 10:25-37
Luke 10:38-42
Psalm 46:10-11
Mark 6:30-32

“Being a mama is your most important job right now. It is your great calling and it is a wonderful calling with amazing rewards. It is alright to let other things go and focus on your little girls, it really is.”

With everything in me, I wanted to protest that I knew that and I was able to do that while serving at the same time. But I couldn’t even protest, because I knew it was true. I am walking in a season of saying “no” and of letting go. This is a hard season.

I’ve let go of potential job opportunities, I’ve said no to other opportunities. I’ve let go of ministries I’ve served in, and said no to serving in other capacities. For a woman who loves to say “yes” and loves to go, go, go, this season is a hard one.

So, when an older, wiser mama spoke those words to me, I allowed them to wash over me and settle on my soul, and I cleared another day on my schedule.

As I reread the parable of the Good Samaritan for what felt like the umpteenth time, I was stricken with a resemblance between my life and the lives of two of the characters… and not the ones I would want to resemble either.

Have I been like the Priest and the Levite who were so busy traveling that they couldn’t even stop to help the beaten, dying man on the side of the road? They saw that he was physically broken, and yet they completely avoided him because they were too busy.
They missed out.
And so did the man.
My entire life has been filled with event after appointment after assignment.
I can’t help but wonder how many opportunities I’ve missed because of that full calendar.
Was I too busy rushing from place to place that I missed a chance to love someone?

In that same story, we read of one man, who may have been in a hurry himself, but wasn’t too busy to actually stop. This man, a Samaritan, an outcast from the elite “chosen people of God”, stopped in the middle of his travels, completely halted his plans, and loved a total stranger.

Right after that parable, we read about Martha and Mary, two women who loved the Lord but showed their love in different ways. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, scampering to and fro, preparing food for Jesus, making sure His water cup was full, attending to all of His needs and serving Him. Her sister, Mary, however, sat near to Jesus, listening intently to everything He had to say. She was so enthralled with Him, that she wouldn’t miss a moment.

Unsurprisingly, Martha got rather annoyed with her sister, who wasn’t helping at all. It was almost as if Mary just expected Martha to serve her! Martha was working hard for Jesus! She was busy and tired from that busyness. So she asked Him if He cared that Mary left her to serve alone. I imagine Jesus answering her in the way men often answer women- we ask a man to fix our problem and he looks at us with amusement and gives us the obvious solution to our problem. Jesus’ answer seems so obvious we almost can’t accept it. Jesus looked at Martha, His eyes slightly bewildered, but full of compassion because He knew her so well. Then He said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary…” going on to tell her it was more important for Mary to sit and spend time with Him, learning and listening, than it was for Martha to serve Him.

Let’s stop there for just a moment.

Jesus said it was more important for Mary to spend time with Him than it was for Martha to serve Him.

Sucker punch.

So many times I allow myself to believe that I need a schedule jam-packed and full of serving in order to prove my love for the Lord.
That isn’t what He asks.
He asks for a schedule with space enough to love.
Space enough to not miss out.
Space enough for sitting with Him.

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

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