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The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched XI Week 3

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The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched XI Week 3

Rebecca Adams

July 8, 2023

Faith,Identity,Old Testament,Prophecy,Protection,Sketched

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

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Tuesday
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Thursday
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Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Isaiah 45:4-6

“I call you by your name, for the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know me.

5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know me, 6 so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other.”
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Lord Jesus Christ, what sweetness is experienced and known by learning Your name, by dwelling on your truth, by discovering who You truly are as You faithfully walk beside me. You didn’t choose Elijah because he maintained perfect faith, he clearly didn’t.

You didn’t choose him as Your mouthpiece because of his courage, which he lacked at certain points. Stunningly, You chose Elijah because You wanted him to know You, and You desired to be known through him to both Jew and Gentile. I’m so emboldened and comforted to sit with this reality, Abba.

Like Elijah, like the nation of Israel, I don’t follow You perfectly. I show lack-luster courage and faith that looks a lot more like doubt than trust, still You have placed Your hand upon me (Psalm 139:5), You continue drawing me close to You, strengthening me and making Yourself known to me and through me. Lord, may it ever be so! Such sweetness to know You more and more until Eternity begins and the knowing continues forever!

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Sometimes, well, often, our expectations do us an incredibly big disservice. Whether it’s a marriage, a friendship, or work, when expectations aren’t met, something happens inside. We can lose trust in someone, we feel varying levels of disappointment, we grieve for loss, or we can become angry and take out our frustration on others.

Sometimes expectations are benign and morally neutral. Usually, they sneak in without us even being aware they are powerfully stirring in us. Sometimes, however, when we courageously hold expectations up to the light of Scripture, we realize they are sinful.

We expect God to have worked in a certain way or time because we deserved it or we believe our understanding of what is good is superior to the Lord’s. Nearly always, expectations are fertile ground for nourishing idolatry in our hearts. If we love our expectation more than we love the truths of Scripture and the God who wrote them, we will fall prey, not only to disappointment, but to sin.

Elijah expected his life to be better, to not be on the run to stay alive, and to have more supporting prophets who worshipped God. When his expectations weren’t met, his faith corroded and desperation ruled.

What expectations do you need to re-examine in the Light of Christ? Are you willing to open your hand and remove the idol-power they hold?

JOURNAL TWO

Elijah and Elisha waited for God’s justice. They saw the horrible leadership of Israel’s King Ahab and they compassionately saw the people who were being led astray by Ahab’s evil. Where can you relate with similar scenarios?

Watching wickedness prosper is painful. Perhaps you’ve witnessed a loved one make continuous foolish choices, or you’ve watched a nation erode over time, or perhaps a beloved pastor fell into sin and loved it instead of turning from it.

The psalmist and king, David, cried out regarding the Lord’s waiting justice, “How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1) David brought the pains of injustice to the Lord with an attitude of worshipful surrender, which increased His trust. He confidently knew the Lord’s faithful love could be trusted to do what was right, in the right time, even if he couldn’t see it yet. (Psalm 13:5-6)

The Lord brought justice to Ahab, and it was gruesome because of his active sinful rebellion. The Lord will bring His justice, we can be sure of that. If we desire His mercy, we must surrender in waiting trust for the Lord to move.

In what area of justice do you need to unclench your hands in surrender to the Lord?

JOURNAL THREE

Becoming narrow focused and putting on blinders is so easy! Zooming out for a broad picture view requires consistent practice and prayerful pleas for help to adjust our perspective.

When challenges arise, learning to consider others’ feelings or experiences of the same event stretches us. Remembering that the Lord is sovereign and rules over all of time and space is absolutely essential to properly re-aligning our viewpoint on our triumph or pain, but holding onto this vantage point is slippery!

Where can you recognize in recent days that you’ve had a difficult time remembering the Lord is the Ruler and Author and He can be trusted?

The full weight of trusting God’s goodness and Love and Perfect Justice provides the benefit of peace that surpasses all understanding as we rest in knowing His character and His ability to bring good from all things for His glory.

Getting to this place of trust takes practice. It requires moment-by-moment surrender and a determined heart that says, “I will keep on following the Lord’s ways by trusting Him instead of me.”

How would you like to remind yourself to keep on following and trusting Jesus this week? Maybe it’s a sticky note on your mirror, or alarms set on your phone throughout the day with the simple message “trust” or “follow”. Or maybe you’ll scroll one of those words on your forearm with a marker to remind you to remain determined in trusting Christ alone! Share what you’re choosing for a reminder in the comments!
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disciple,faith,future,hope,teach,trust,Truth
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Sketched XI Day 15 Faith Made Sight

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Sketched XI Day 15 Faith Made Sight

Katelyn Palmer

July 7, 2023

Power,Promises,Relationship,Sketched,Spirit,Trust,Truth,Yahweh

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 17:8-24
2 Kings 2
Ephesians 2:1-10

“It’s been a long journey,” I spoke into the emotionally heavy space between us.
He offered a curt nod but kept his eyes downcast, gently kicking at pebbles with sandaled toes. The heat of the sun and cawing of birds settled into silence as we recalled days past.

“Are you…scared?” he hesitantly queried. I think for a moment. I’ve known fear; I’ve experienced doubt; I’ve faced the threat of death. This time, though, it’s different. I feel…peace. Inexplicable peace laced with expectant joy as I consider the faithfulness of my God.

“I have faced fear and doubt often in my time walking with the Lord, but I have learned that when Yahweh says He will provide, He provides.” His eyes are on mine now, and I notice his shoulders straighten, as though my testimony bolstered him.

My eyes sweep over the arid landscape as I organize my thoughts.

“Before I found you, Yahweh called me to prophesy before King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. The stories paint me with courage and bravery, but my legs were shaking! In fact, after I defeated the last prophet who stood against Yahweh at Mount Carmel, escalating queen Jezebel to the point of ordering my own death, I ran away in utter defeat.” I scoff, pausing briefly for a drink of water and wipe the sweat from my brow. (1 Kings 18:20-46, 1 Kings 19)

“I had just called fire down from heaven in the Lord’s name and watched from the hilltop as Yahweh sent rain to end a three year drought, yet I was hollowed out in an instant by fear of queen Jezebel’s words delivered through a messenger.”

Shaking my head, I continued, “That fear seems silly now, but the enemy is crafty and will try to convince us Yahweh is small, powerless, or distant. But if you remain devoted to Yahweh, you will come to know Him as I have, for
He alone is sovereign,
He is enough,
He is omnipotent,
He is truth,
He is jealous,
He is revealed,
He is sustaining,
and He is just.”

Elijah
We continue on in silence as each step brings me closer to Yahweh. My body tingles at the prospect of witnessing His glory! Who am I that the great I AM guided my heart and my step in tandem with His will? Who am I that the great I AM held my precious life in His hands, protecting me from enemies who sought me in the flesh and the spirit alike? I am no one, but He…He is unlike any other and I long to rest in His presence. 

“Teacher?” Elisha interrupts my thoughts.

“Yes?”

“We are here,” Elisha gestures with a sweep of his hand at the valley of Jericho.

“Elisha, there is still a final piece to my journey. Stay here; the Lord is sending me to the Jordan.”

“As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” (2 Kings 2:6)

We leave Jericho for the Jordan River, the very place Joshua led our people as they entered the Promised Land. (Joshua 3:14-17) Though we tainted this land with idolatry, I know the God of Abraham, the God of Jacob, my God is faithful. Just as He left seven thousand believers before me in a show of His mercy (1 Kings 19:18), and just as he breathed life into the son of the widow who fed me during the famine (1 Kings 17:8-24), He is faithful to save His people.

“When Yahweh calls you to do His work, Elisha, you will falter at times, but God will be faithful to you. Our God has a plan for you; embrace it. Though it may be difficult, like living in the wilderness, and though there may be pain, like losing a teacher,” I say as I rest my hand on his shoulder, “trust that Yahweh is good and He will carry you forward, as He carried me.”  

As we reach the Jordan River, I can feel the eyes of the sons of the prophets at our backs, waiting to see what happens next.

I gesture for Elisha to stand back as I remove the mantle from my shoulders. Like Moses at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22), I strike the water with my mantle and watch as God parts the river, leaving a dry bed for us to cross.

“Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you,” I ask, once we’ve reached the far shore. (2 Kings 2:9)

“Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.” (2 Kings 2:9)

“You have asked for something difficult,” I muse. “If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won’t.” (2 Kings 2:10) I say a silent prayer, asking Yahweh to fulfill the request of my appointed successor according to His will. 

Give Elisha the portion of a first born son as he inherits a ministry in You, Yahweh. Let him experience Your blessing and guidance as he lives and prophesies in Your name, as I have for so many years. Fulfill Your calling on his life, my Lord, as You call me home. I am ready, Yahweh.

As we walk on, I can feel a warmth spread through my bones and peace wash over my heart. It is time. 

As if on cue, a chariot of fire pulled by horses of the same separates myself from Elisha, and the winds of Yahweh surround me. (2 Kings 2:11)

Elisha
“My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” I cry out as I tear my clothes in two. (2 Kings 2:12) Through my tears, I gather up my teacher’s mantle and strike the Jordan. 

“Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” I shout, courage flooding my spirit. Once again the water parts and I cross the dry bed. (2 Kings 2:13-14)

I am greeted by the sons of the prophets of Jericho, who bow at my feet. God of Elijah, Yahweh, I am Your servant. Guide my steps and let me walk a righteous path as my teacher did.

A Note About Sketched

In Sketched themes, we imaginatively step 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 viewed God, themselves, and the world around them.

Perhaps we will find parts of our story reflected in theirs!

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assurance,belief,faith,future,hope,power,Sight,Truth
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Sketched XI, Day 15
Digging Deeper

Elijah was a foreshadowing of Jesus in many ways. His life was used as a beacon to not only point people to God who lived in his timeline, but, generations later, we too can look at Elijah’s life and see Jesus.

What do other people think when they spend time in relationship with you in your timeline? Do they see Jesus?!
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Sketched XI Day 7 What Do You Have Against Me?: Digging Deeper

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Sketched XI Day 7 What Do You Have Against Me?: Digging Deeper

Marietta Taylor

June 27, 2023

Believe,Community,Enough,Faith,Restored,Truth,Yahweh

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 "What Do You Have Against Me?"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 17:17-24

17 After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness got worse until he stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “Man of God, what do you have against me? Have you come to call attention to my iniquity so that my son is put to death?” 19 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, brought him up to the upstairs room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, have you also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son?”

21 Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times.ad He cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again!” 22 So the Lord listened to Elijah, and the boy’s life came into him again, and he lived.

23 Then Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upstairs room into the house, and gave him to his mother. Elijah said, “Look, your son is alive.” 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you are a man of God and the Lord’s word from your mouth is true.”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why did the widow ask Elijah if he was calling attention to her sin? (verse 18)

Elijah had lived in the widow’s home for a period of time (1 Kings 17:8-16) and she had experienced the miraculous power of God sustain her and her son in a devastating drought; by this, the widow knew God was with Elijah.

When her son fell ill, she likely expected God to again display His miraculous power. Instead, her son died. Maybe Elijah’s God was not the giver of life after all. In her grief, she began the age-old game of blaming. (Genesis 3:11-13) First, she blamed Elijah, then she blamed her own, unspecified sin for her son’s death. According to David Guzik, “Whatever her sin was, the guilty memory of it was always close to her.” (Enduring Word)

Now that the one closest to her was gone, all she could see was her sin and her grief. Self-loathing and Shame are horrible places to dwell, but this is exactly where this grief-ridden mama found herself. 

Another likely reason for her self-shaming guilt was her cultural and spiritual background. Baal worshipers were taught that their sins would be met with anger and fury from Baal. (Cornerstone Church Kingston) Since this was what she believed of Baal, seeing her son die in the presence of the “Man of God”, caused her to naturally assume Elijah’s God operated the same as Baal.

Again, the question of, “Is it true that Elijah’s God is the giver of life” is up for debate in her heart and mind; she chooses her answer based on her spiritual background and not on her most recent experience with God. 

The Everyday Application

1) Why did the widow ask Elijah if he was calling attention to her sin? (verse 18)

Many years ago, my husband and I went through a rough patch. He was in a car accident and had some minor injuries and resulting back pain. A week later, I had a car accident and had to be transported to the ER for observation. A couple weeks later, he started having trouble at his job, and on and on it went for a time. We had some professing Christians say to our faces that we needed to get rid of our sin so God would start blessing us and quit punishing us.

This is wrong theology! John 16:33 says, “You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” This world is a hard place and trouble will come. We cannot avoid it, but we have no fear because God is with us and will help us through it all. (John 14:18-21) God allows the sun to rise and the rain to fall on both the evil and the good. (Matthew 5:45)

Haven’t we all witnessed someone enjoying what looks like a blessing, but turns out to be an ill-gotten gain? Can hard things be the result of sin? Yes. Are we the ones who can absolutely determine that every time? No.

If we think something might be the result of a specific sin, we can ask the Lord to reveal it to us and convict us by His Spirit, allowing us to confess and repent. If He does not show us anything, then we can know this is most likely a growth opportunity as it was for the widow.

I like how Sermon Notebook phrases it, “God’s method for growing us isn’t always pleasant, nor is it fun. However, it is essential that we pass through the growing process so that we can be better used of the Lord. As God takes us through the battles, and we see Him win them all by His power, we are enabled, by faith, to trust Him for even greater victories.”

The Original Intent

2) Why did Elijah ask the Lord if He killed the widow’s son? (verse 20)

Elijah, and indirectly, God, had been blamed for the death of the widow’s son. Rain had not fallen, therefore, according to God’s promise in 1 Kings 17:13-14, flour and oil should still be plentiful, allowing everyone in the home to still be living.

That would be true, if flour and oil, if bread alone, were the Source of life. But Scripture teaches differently. (Colossians 1:17) In fact, Christ taught differently by saying, “Man should not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) Perhaps the Lord took the boy’s life, proving His authority over life and death, that the woman’s heart might learn to lean on Truth instead of her own understanding.

Elijah could not make sense of this turn of events. Surely, it was very discouraging after all the life-giving things he had seen God do in his own life and the widow’s. So, he took his crisis of faith to the True Source, Yahweh. This is very reminiscent of King Hezekiah who took his concerns about his enemies’ death threats and even his failing health to the Lord, expecting God to handle it, regardless of Hezekiah’s personal confidence level. (Got Questions)

This was Elijah’s way of drawing near to God at a time when his faith was rattled, yet believing God could do the impossible, just like we see so many times on the Psalms. Elijah had learned a lesson the widow had not yet owned for herself, within God’s sustenance, Truth lived, regardless of circumstance, and He was worthy of Elijah’s worship. 

The Everyday Application

2) Why did Elijah ask the Lord if He killed the widow’s son? (verse 20)

It’s so easy to have faith when things are going well. So easy to not doubt. But when things get really tough, does our faith flourish or does it wither? Elijah prayed such an honest prayer, bringing his confusion and doubt to the Lord, but then he immediately demonstrated his faith in God’s character.

If you read through even just a few psalms, you’ll see this rhythm played out over and over in the raw honesty of the psalmists. Another great example of a “Why God?! But I trust You, God” prayer is found in Daniel. Jami helps us understand these depths well in her Journey Study, “Why God?”. She beautifully offers us this encouragement, “God doesn’t require us to have all of the answers, and we can rest knowing we don’t need them. He simply welcomes us, right now, as we are, to trust Him for the Journey.”

Rest in the knowledge that if He did not chastise Moses (Exodus 33:12-26), or the man whose son was demon-possessed (Mark 9:23-24), or even doubting Thomas, His own disciple (John 20:25-29), He will not chastise us for our moments of doubt, unbelief or lack of faith either. 

The Original Intent

3) What does the resurrection of the widow’s son teach us about truth? (verse 21)

The widow had decided God was not trustworthy. Meanwhile, Elijah was depending on God to be truthful and faithful to His character, which was why he was confident in asking God to resurrect the widow’s son. Elijah knew that nothing he specifically did would bring the boy back, But God…with God, nothing was impossible! (Luke 1:37)

The Sermon Notebook says, “God honored the faith of the prophet and raised the child to life again. Why? Because Elijah trusted God by faith!” If by faith we believe, God is ABLE to do the impossible, we have laid the necessary groundwork for coming before the Father who is “able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20) The widow, seeing her son brought back to life, realized that everything Elijah had ever spoken about his God was true. God was indeed both giver and sustainer of life.

“Elijah’s miraculous, never-ending oil jar hints at such life-giving power, but it is the widow’s witnessing of her child’s renewed life that convinces her.” (Working Preacher) She realizes that Yahweh is NOT like Baal. It is true that He is compassionate and does not cause harm just for harm’s sake. Everything He does is intentionally for good. (Genesis 50:20) And the truth is, it took suffering to get her to this place of firm belief. I believe in the end, that was okay with her. 

The Everyday Application

3) What does the resurrection of the widow’s son teach us about truth? (verse 21)

There are so many promises in the Bible, but one that is commonly quoted and is among my favorites is Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you or abandon you”, which was first given in Deuteronomy 31:6.

God never changes, His character is always the same, and His promises never fail. Just read through Hebrews 11, listing out all the heroes of the faith. They all trusted God, but not all saw His final promise. What made them heroes in spite of this? They trusted that God’s Word was Truth.

We don’t even need to wing it, stretching beyond all reason that what God says is trustworthy, for He has provided His Word, His testimony in His people, and His Spirit to teach us all truth. In John 17:17, Jesus asks God the Father, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” 

Every good thing that happens. Every hardship we endure. Every stronghold that is broken. Every wound that is bound and healed. Everything comes back to the character of God.

Can we trust Him? Resoundingly, Yes!

“God is not a man, that He might lie, or a son of man, that He might change His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19)

Our God is Truth so we can always trust that no matter how the landscape of our lives appears, He is in control and He will keep His promises. 

Tags :
comfort,doubt,faith,rest,trust,Truth
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Sketched XI, Day 6
Journey Study

My son lives! Elijah has done this!

No; my heart pulls back at those words. It is his God, his Yahweh.

Recognition and realization of truth washes over me as my heart and voice affirm what my eyes have seen, “Now I know you are a man of God and the LORD’s word from your mouth is true.
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Worship XI Day 13 Qof & Resh

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Worship XI Day 13 Qof & Resh

Sara Cissell

June 14, 2023

Deep,Enough,Forgiven,Freedom,Fruitfulness,Fullness,Holy Spirit

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:145-160
Isaiah 43:1-4
Romans 8:28-29

“I think earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been, all along, only a region in Hell; and earth, if put second to Heaven, to have been from the beginning a part of Heaven itself.”  –C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

This quote from C.S. Lewis brings to mind my last year of college. Praise God that Heaven awaits me, and my eternity will not carry the pain of that year. To this day, I reflect on the thoughts and emotions of that season, and my stomach rolls. 

The vividness of my memories has not diminished, but the lens of truth through which I view them has shifted, thank the Lord! 

What would a personal hell on earth look like for you? 

For me, during my senior year pursuing an elementary education degree, I was told by authority figures I would never be a good teacher. Miscommunications, spiritual warfare, my lack of confidence, and personality differences all were at play. For years, I’d worked toward my degree, and as the journey neared the finish line, I received deep criticism rather than encouragement. 

For a people-pleasing perfectionist with a strong desire to be part of a team, the slow and bitter rejection and injustice of my senior year created physical, mental, and social torture. I lost weight. I battled fear. I understood how the devil could make the lie of suicide solving all problems so very palatable when life clenched a stranglehold on hope. I cried myself to sleep most nights. 

I was miserable. 
I was also desperate for the Lord in ways I had never been before. 

Many nights, as tears streamed down my face, I clutched my Bible to my chest. John 1:1 says the Word was with God and the Word was God. In those moments, I was literally holding Him close.

During that year, I was devoted to reading the Word and expecting the Lord to speak to me. Countless times, I started my Bible reading time begging for the Lord to bring His Word to life. I knew how desperately I needed His voice of authority covering me.

My heart-cry echoed the psalmist’s words:

Qof
“I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD.
I will obey your statutes.
I call to you; save me,
and I will keep your decrees.
I rise before dawn and cry out for help;
I put my hope in your word.
I am awake through each watch of the night
To meditate on your promise. 
In keeping with your faithful love, hear my voice.
LORD, give me life in keeping with your justice.”
(Psalm 119:145-149)

He proved faithful. He provided His manna for the day, and I left nothing behind for the next day. (Exodus 16:31-35)

By the time I graduated and became a certified teacher, I was no longer the same person. Much healing still needed to take place, but I walked away from my college years with much more than a degree. 

It has been years (*cough* decades) since that year of struggle, and in preparation for this Journey Study, I pulled out my journals from that long-ago season. 

What I found made me weep and fall face down before my King. 

10/22/03 “Lord, I am struggling. I feel weighed down, overwhelmed, and lost. I cannot carry this burden. I can’t. I lay my stress, concern, anger, hurt, shame, and defeat at Your feet. I want Your peace and Your joy. I need Your strength alone, Lord. My strength is so weak, unbelievably weak, and yet I still try to do it on my own. Forgive me.” 

11/8/03 “God, I need You desperately. I want You to use me, grow me, keep me humble. Lord, I do not know how to deal with this year. What is its purpose, Lord? Please help me obey and remove my pride. Please, Holy Spirit, teach me. Turn this struggle into a growing and refining time.”

11/12/03 “Lord God, You are awesome. This has been the hardest week thus far of this semester. I praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and amazing grace.”

12/10/03 “Lord, increase my faith that You are in control. Turn this negative experience into a positive one. God, use this experience to make me a better teacher, person, and Christian. Thank you, Father, for the growth I have experienced this semester. I have learned how to cling to You in a new way. Glory be unto Your name!!”

As I read through countless journal entries, prayers of thankfulness filled my heart. The Lord has faithfully answered those prayers. Clinging to His Word, His promises and His precepts, have brought about good fruit in my life. 

Resh
“Consider how I love Your precepts;
Lord, give me life according to Your faithful love.
The entirety of Your word is truth,
each of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”
(Psalm 119:159-160)

He used that prolonged, hard season to uproot what could not remain in my life. He provided time for my heart and mind to begin to consistently search for Him and His perspective, to bring about a humility resulting in fertile heart ground, and to teach me to trust His voice of authority over all others. 

In essence, He took a year that felt like hell and planted seeds that drew me closer to Heaven.

I declare with the psalmist,
Your compassions are many, Lord;
give me life according to Your judgments.
(Psalm 119:156)

For indeed, He HAS!

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Worship XI Day 14
Digging Deeper

But God doesn’t connect to humanity because He needs something from us. He draws near out of the abundance of who HE is.

The psalmist understood something important: he had an ongoing relationship with His creator because of God’s coming near! The psalmist continually called out to God from his heart. Through the day and the night, he walked with God by obeying His word, putting hope in His word and meditating on His word.
Dig Deeper!

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May 29 - June 16, 2023 - Journey Theme #119

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Worship XI Day 9 Kaf, Lamed, & Mem: Digging Deeper

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Worship XI Day 9 Kaf, Lamed, & Mem: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

June 8, 2023

Character,Christ,Grace,Hope,Meaning,Peace

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 "Kaf, Lamed, & Mem"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:81-104

כ Kaf
81 I long for your salvation; I put my hope in your word. 82 My eyes grow weary looking for what you have promised; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” 83 Though I have become like a wineskin dried by smoke, I do not forget your statutes. 84 How many days must your servant wait? When will you execute judgment on my persecutors? 85 The arrogant have dug pits for me; they violate your instruction. 86 All your commands are true; people persecute me with lies—help me! 87 They almost ended my life on earth, but I did not abandon your precepts. 88 Give me life in accordance with your faithful love, and I will obey the decree you have spoken.

ל Lamed
89 LORD, your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness is for all generations; you established the earth, and it stands firm. 91 Your judgments stand firm today, for all things are your servants. 92 If your instruction had not been my delight, I would have died in my affliction. 93 I will never forget your precepts, for you have given me life through them. 94 I am yours; save me, for I have studied your precepts. 95 The wicked hope to destroy me, but I contemplate your decrees. 96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your command is without limit.

מ Mem
97 How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long. 98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers because your decrees are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the elders because I obey your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path to follow your word. 102 I have not turned from your judgments, for you yourself have instructed me. 103 How sweet your word is to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth. 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why would the psalmist compare himself to a “wineskin dried by smoke” to emphasize his faithfulness to God’s statutes? (verse 83)

In Psalm 119:82-83, the composer cries out to God, “My eyes grow weary looking for what you have promised; I ask, ‘When will you comfort me?’ Though I have become like a wineskin dried by smoke, I do not forget your statutes.” He is intensely distressed by the trials he is facing, waiting for God’s deliverance.

He compares himself to a dried wineskin, referencing how “The skins used for containing wine, when emptied, were hung up in the tent, and when the place reeked with smoke the skins grew black and sooty, and in the heat they became wrinkled and worn.” (Charles Spurgeon) The psalmist feels weak, useless, and drained of physical and spiritual energy and life like a sooty old wineskin. Even so, he reminds God that no matter how defeated he feels, he never forgets His statutes.

David Guzik explains that the Hebrew word for statutes is “derived from the root verb engrave or inscribe; the idea is the written word of God and the authority of His written word.” The psalmist knows that God is watching over him to perform His Word and keep His promises. (Jeremiah 1:12) He understands his help comes from trusting in the authority of the Maker of Heaven and Earth. (Psalm 121:2)

John Calvin notes that “In whatever ways he was afflicted, his mind had not been distracted by various devices, because, trusting in the word of God, he never doubted of his assistance.” The psalmist implores God to comfort and rescue him, reminding the Lord of His statutes and how completely he relies on them for life and peace.

May we be as reliant on God and the promises in His Word when we face troubles in our own lives. His Word is as effective and trustworthy today (Isaiah 40:8) as it was when the author of Psalm 119 clung to God’s statutes for his life.

The Everyday Application

1) Why would the psalmist compare himself to a “wineskin dried by smoke” to emphasize his faithfulness to God’s statutes? (verse 83)

Erica is a relatively new Christian whose reliance on God constantly encourages me. She is healing from addictions, abuse, and the trauma associated with her difficult past. She also manages the daily challenges of health issues, financial difficulties and parenting special needs children, not to mention the stressors of marriage, work, and relationships.

I have seen her question God, plead with Him, and even scream and shake her fists at the sky in frustration. Some days, her physical pain is so intense and her emotional trauma so relentless she appears to feel like the author of Psalm 119:83, who described himself as a “wineskin dried by smoke.” She also feels worn out, devastated, and purposeless, but no matter how weary Erica feels, she follows the psalmist’s example by clinging to God’s Word, “I do not forget Your statutes.” (Psalm 119:8)

Like the psalmist, she trusts God and relies on His Word to keep her from despair (2 Corinthians 4:8) and lead her on the path of life (Psalm 16:11). Author Charles Spurgeon suggests, “Our trials are smoke, but not fire; they are very uncomfortable, but they do not consume us.”

My friend relies on God to keep the trials from consuming her. She reads the Bible, studies verses, and prays Scripture to practice clinging to truth. Her conversations and even her media consumption focus on the life-giving properties of God’s Word.

Randy Alcorn proposes, “If we are to face suffering well, if we are not to waste our suffering, we must let it take us to God’s Word. If we don’t, our loss will be incalculable. If we do, our gain will be abundant and eternal.”

I rejoice for the work of God in Erica’s life, and I purpose to embrace God’s statutes as faithfully as she and the author of Psalm 119 have done.

The Original Intent

2) How is God’s Word “firmly fixed in Heaven”? (verse 89)

Psalm 119:89-90 declares, “Lord, your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven. Your faithfulness is for all generations; you established the earth, and it stands firm.” Author David Guzik explains how these verses discuss “the unchanging nature of God’s Word. Because it is settled in heaven, it will not change on earth. The word is settled in heaven, not merely settled in the heart or mind of the psalmist. It is objectively settled in heaven, whether the psalmist or anyone else believes it to be or not to be.”

These verses tell us that God’s Word is unchangeable and immovable. It doesn’t fluctuate with the shifting views of people or culture. It is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Isaiah 40:8) God created everything (Colossians 1:16) and He knows every future action (1 John 3:20). He does not need to change with the times (Malachi 3:6) because He holds time in His hands (Daniel 2:21).

No matter what the world may say, the truth about God is firmly fixed in Heaven and has been since before time began. (Psalm 90:2) Like a lonely sojourner relies on a fixed star in the sky to guide his travels, people require the fixed point of God’s unchanging Word to guide their journey and give them a strong foundation on which to build their lives. (Luke 6:48)

When lines of right and wrong get blurred and everyone is following her own version of truth, having the constant, eternal Word of God to cling to brings peace to our lives and calm to the chaos surrounding us. Following God’s Word makes us like a light shining in the darkness drawing others out of calamity and into the clarity of God’s Truth. (Matthew 5:16)

The Everyday Application

2) How is God’s Word “firmly fixed in Heaven”? (verse 89)

A favorite movie is Danny Kaye’s “The Court Jester” because of a scene when the plot to poison the bad guy changes abruptly. At first, the plan is to poison the enemy while he drinks a toast before a joust. The jester is told, “The vessel with the pestle has the pellet that is poison, but the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true.” When the chalice from the palace breaks, then the “the flagon with the dragon has the pellet that is poison and the vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true.” Inevitably, the jester jumbles the rhymes about the potion, and hilarity ensues.

Whenever there is uncertainty, things easily spiral out of control, but not always with such a humorous outcome. Usually, the absence of absolutes causes mayhem. Scripture addresses this in Psalm 119:89-90, “Lord, your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven. Your faithfulness is for all generations; you established the earth, and it stands firm.”

We can fully rely on the constancy of God’s abiding. We can trust that “The promises of God are as sure and unchanging as the cycle of the heavenly bodies, as sure as the rising and setting of the sun and moon as well as the arrival of rain clouds to water the earth . . . We rightly expect tomorrow to come, so we can rightly expect the promises of God to endure as well.” (Ligonier.org) We know God’s Word is true, and that we can trust what the Scriptures say. (Psalm 33:4)

In a world where the rules are constantly changing and what was deemed moral yesterday is considered immoral today, having God’s Word forever settled in Heaven keeps believers off the merry-go-round of confusion and ambivalence regarding Truth.

The Original Intent

3) Why does the psalmist say God’s Word is “sweet” to his taste? (verse 103)

The psalmist describes his love for God’s Word in a way most people can relate to and appreciate in verse 103, when he writes, “How sweet your word is to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth.” This appreciation for God’s Word is also reflected in Psalm 19:9-10, which tells us that God’s ordinances are sweeter than honey.

When Ezekiel ate the scroll containing God’s words, they tasted sweet like honey (Ezekiel 3:3), as did the scroll John ate. (Revelation 10:9-10) God makes it clear that those who love His Word will find it sweet and satisfying. The psalmist found God’s Word even sweeter than honey because it gave him life and sustained him during times of trouble. (Jeremiah 15:16) John Piper asserts, “To have holy taste buds on the tongue of the heart is a gift of God. No one naturally hungers for, and delights in, God and his wisdom.”

Without God’s grace and help, we indulge in selfish, sinful behaviors that go against God’s Word and keep us from tasting how sweet it is. As Thomas Watson observed, “Til’ sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.” It is not unlike how a chocolate bar tastes bitter if eaten too soon after drinking orange juice or brushing your teeth. The chocolate is still sweet, but you aren’t able to taste it because of what you have just eaten.

For the psalmist, God’s Word is sweet because He is devoted to reading, learning, singing, and meditating on the Scriptures. Jared C. Wilson asserts that we find the Scripture “tasty like honey by moving beyond what God requires of us and seeing what He has accomplished Himself.”

When we understand the love and grace found in God’s Word, nothing will seem sweeter.

The Everyday Application

3) Why does the psalmist say God’s Word is “sweet” to his taste? (verse 103)

I love watching online videos of little babies having their first taste of something sweet, like ice cream. Their eyes open wide, they smile, and then they dive deep into the sugary goodness until their parents pry it from their clutches. It is clearly an experience the youngsters want to continue!

In Psalm 119:103, the author describes his own deep dive into the goodness of God’s Word when he marvels, “How sweet your word is to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth.” The author of this verse has experienced the sweetness of God’s sustaining Word, and he finds the goodness better than sweet honey in his mouth. Andrew Wilson writes that Scripture “doesn’t need any flavorings or preservatives to make it taste better, and you cannot add to it or take away from it. It lasts through the centuries and never goes out of date. . . In a world filled with processed products and hybrid wisdom, the words of God are pure, golden, and luxuriously sweet.”

It can be difficult to recognize the sweetness of God’s Word when you have a steady diet of “junk” from the world that fills you with subtle lies and blatant heresies. It may seem good for a while, but eventually it kills you. (Proverbs 14:12) The pure, sweet Word of God does just the opposite; it brings life and sustains life. (James 1:18, Hebrews 1:3)

When you deeply know the Living Word of God (1 Peter 1:23), you comprehend that you can persevere in any situation because you can trust Him to see you through.

Experiencing God’s love through His Word is sweeter than anything this world offers. He is the only True Source of full satisfaction! (John 6:35)

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Worship XI Day 8
Journey Study

True confession:
I sometimes spend more time dreaming, wondering, fretting, and catastrophizing, rather than seeking answers in God’s Word. (Maybe you can relate?)

It’s easier to be upset; it’s also exhausting.

As I reflected on this verse, I felt God drawing me to relinquish worry, instead quiet myself as I prayerfully read the Word and listen for His voice.
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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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Worship XI Day 5
Journey Study

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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May 29 - June 16, 2023 - Journey Theme #119

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Mission Day 10 The Light Of Mission

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Mission Day 10 The Light Of Mission

Reflection, Rescue, Restored, Together, Truth

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 28:16-20
Psalm 1
John 15:1-5
1 Peter 4:8-11
2 Corinthians 5:14-15

I wonder, what comes to mind when you think about mission? 

Maybe your thoughts turn to events and activities. These are certainly a part of a mission. Over the years, I’ve been involved in many missional activities like work in schools, youth camps, community meals and outreach events with my church, which have often been effective.

However, these activities are only one aspect of Christ’s mission. At its heart, the mission is fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples, baptise them, and teach them to obey His commands. (Matthew 28:16-20)

I’ve learned how important it is to keep a correct focus as we attempt to reach others with the Hope of Christ. It can be easy to get caught up in practicalities, planning, and programmes, or become overly-concerned with how much of a success our activities seem to be. The danger is becoming so focused on the activities, we forget the heart of the mission, or our experience makes us so competent in ourselves we end up relying on our own strength and wisdom instead of looking to God.

To correct course, we must remember this is not our mission, but God’s. As Tommy MacNeil expresses it in his book Sleeping Giant, “The mission of the Church is God’s mission, and we are His partners in that cause. Mission flows from the heart of God, through the people of God, to the world. This means that mission must shift in our thinking from being an activity the Church engages in (or not) to being the core of who we are as God’s people.” (pg 58)

When we recognise it is God’s work which we have the privilege of participating in, we realize we cannot accomplish it in our own strength. 

We must do it His way, in His strength, motivated by His love, and there are a few practical steps we can take to do that.

One is to look to Jesus.
When we consider His example of mission, it is striking that He genuinely cared about others. He was never motivated by a desire to prove Himself. He had real compassion for those who were struggling and lost. (Matthew 9:36) As we look to Him, we can embrace His compassion for us, which allows His compassion for others to flow through us, reaching the point where, as early preacher and teacher Paul puts it, “the love of Christ compels us.” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

Motivation matters.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes that whatever good deeds we may do for God, and no matter how gifted we may be, if we fail to love, our work counts for nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Paul’s fellow apostle, Peter, writes we should seek to maintain constant love “above all.” (1 Peter 4:8)

One must spend time in God’s Word.
Meditating on Scripture allows His light to shine on our hearts and our motivations before we attempt to share Him with others. The writer of Hebrews points out that God’s Word penetrates to the depth of our souls; “It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

A desire to see God glorified.
Psalm 1 describes those who delight in the Lord and meditate on His Word as being like “a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1:3) 
Jesus used similar imagery when describing Himself as the vine and His disciples as the branches. Just as the branches can only bear fruit if they remain joined to the vine, we can only be fruitful if we remain in Him. (John 15:4-5)

Prayerful Participation
A key component of Christ’s mission involves the essential step of prayer. 
We must pray for ourselves and our heart motivations, for God to be glorified,
for His Spirit to make our work effective for His mission, and for those to whom we hope to witness, that their eyes would be opened to God that they might call on Him, know Him, and walk in His light.

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Mission Day 10
Digging Deeper

Most of us would probably say that we want to love Christ (Matthew 22:36-40), but how many of us would say that we are compelled by love like Paul?

If we are really honest with ourselves, our answer might be that we want to love Christ like that, but… there is a lot going on.
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May 8 - May 26, 2023 - Journey Theme #118

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Confidence Day 13 Confidence In Love

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Confidence Day 13 Confidence In Love

Christine Wood

May 3, 2023

Beloved,bride,church,Faith,Family,Joy,Love

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 4:1–16
1 John 4:7–21
1 Corinthians 13
John 8:1–11

“Love is in the air, everywhere I look around,” croons musician John Paul Young. 

Sigh.

There have been more songs sung, poetry recited, novels written, and movies made about love than any other topic. We love a good love story. We love going to weddings, when two people in love promise to keep loving each other forever. We love hearing our children declare, “I love you, Mommy.”

I remember falling in love—the way I spontaneously smiled when our eyes met across the room, the way time stood still when we were together. My heart beat faster, my skin tingled, I dreamed about our future together. I felt alive.

We long to love, we long to be loved, and when love is lost, our hearts feel the pain deeply.

We also know what a lack of love looks like. We see it on the news every day. There is hate and division, war and oppression, selfishness and the pain it produces everywhere we dare to look. Without love, evil thrives.

We witness this dynamic at play between the very first siblings at the beginning of time. Adam and Eve, the first family God created, had two very different sons. (Genesis 4:1-16) One (Abel) was full of love, and the other (Cain) rejected God. Cain, jealous of God’s favour on his brother, murdered Abel. And the human condition hasn’t changed.

When Adam and Eve chose to trust in themselves rather than God, sin and death entered the world (Romans 5:12) and infiltrated every part of God’s perfect creation. We are surrounded by it and feel the weight of it every day. “The one who does not love remains in death.” (1 John 3:14) This death results in eternal separation from God, the author of love.

Although we may not have physically murdered our brother, each of us are also ruled by sin and death when we live outside of God’s love. We react to those who hurt us with anger and revenge. We pursue our own pleasure and advancement. We live for today, because we have no certain hope for our future.

Life without God, without love, is death. 
There is no life outside of love, just fear and pain. 
There is no life outside of love, because there is no God apart from love.
“The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

But there is hope for us, because God overcame sin and death with the gift of His love.
“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9)

We can have eternal life because of God’s love for us. When we accept Jesus’ gift of forgiveness for our sins, our lives are transformed by His love. Everything changes. Sin and death are overcome by life and love. 

In relationship with God, we are ruled by love. Not just the kind of love we write songs and books and poems about, but the kind of love that changes everything about our lives. It’s the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13, love that is patient and kind, doesn’t envy or boast, a love that always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. A love that reflects the very nature of God.

This love is not just for ourselves. This love overflows.
“Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.” (1 John 4:11)

Because God loves us, and our lives are ruled by His love, we have the capacity to love others, even when they seem unlovable. Because that is what God did for us; He loved us when we were unlovable. (Romans 5:6)

When we have God’s heart of love, we respond to a hurting and broken world with love rather than our old sinful nature. We see the pain behind the anger, we see the fear behind the hate, and we can respond with the love of God rather than our own insecurity and fear.

This is illustrated beautifully when the religious leaders paraded a woman caught in the act of adultery before Jesus, hungry for the punishment of death to be carried out. (John 8:1–11) This woman, the victim of poor choices and complicated circumstances, had no legal recourse; she was guilty. Rather than demanding the death penalty she deserved under the law, Jesus responded in love. He paused, bending to draw in the dusty ground at His feet, reminding the accusers of their own shortcomings, and allowing the anger in the crowd to subside.

Rather than condemn this woman, Jesus gave her a chance to be transformed by His love. Jesus offers us the same second chance, and invites us to respond in kind to those around us who are still caught in the trap of their sin.

We are no longer condemned by our sin. We are forgiven and free, fully loved and assured of our hope for all of eternity. This love and hope overflows through us and spreads to the hurting world around us as we continue to be transformed daily by His power.

We can respond to sin and death with confident love
by loving one another the way God first loved us.

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But, God’s selfless, unconditional, perfect love is not like human love.
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The GT Weekend! ~ Confidence Week 1

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The GT Weekend! ~ Confidence Week 1

Carol Graft

April 22, 2023

Called,Christ,church,Community,Family,Fellowship

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!

1 John 2:2

He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

My atoning sacrifice is you Lord.
That you would take on my sins; You, who were perfect.
You could have turned your back on mankind, on me.
Even now you could.

But you don’t.

You still show immense grace and mercy. You overwhelm me with unconditional love.
But I know this unconditional love isn’t just for me.
You gave your life for all.

Everyone who is willing to turn from their old life can have eternal life with You.
Thank You for shining Your light and hiding my life in Yours.
Give me words and divine appointments that I may declare Your truths to others.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Confidence in anything can be hard to come by. There are some who exude confidence 24/7. That is not me. I dare say, it’s not most of us.

Confidently sharing our faith story, which is so precious to every Christ-follower, can feel intimidating and terrifying. We often wonder, “What will this person think of me? Of God? What if I don’t share well?”

Lesley’s Journey Study brings such encouragement for us as we consider talking about Jesus! She pointed to the apostle John who urged believers to share our personal accounts of witnessing God at work in us. Lesley described three witnesses from Scripture that grow our courage to share Christ. (1 John 5:5-13)

Water. Jesus showed us His humanity through submitting to baptism by water while the affirming voice of Father God provides testimony to Christ’s divinity.

Blood. Christ bled on the cross as the curse of sin for all time was broken when Christ gave His perfect life for each of us. The Divine nature of Jesus was again abundantly clear.

Spirit. God is Spirit and He poured out Himself to dwell within all believers. His Spirit encourages, comforts, and convicts as we share in community with Father and Son through the Spirit.

Sharing our testimony, anchored in the beautiful wholeness of the Trinity gives us courage to speak with boldness!

JOURNAL TWO

When we hear the word “fellowship” we most often think of connecting with friends. As believers the first thought could be the church community or your small group that you worship with. There is another more important aspect of the word fellowship. That is fellowship with Christ himself.

Marietta explains the difference between walking in the light of fellowship with Christ and walking in darkness outside of that relationship with Christ. You can’t have both complete darkness and the life and light of Christ. She shares practically what it means to walk in the light, and what it doesn’t mean.

In the Digging Deeper Study, Rachel explains how we must not think that walking in the Light equates to never making sinful choices. Since the fall of man, we are sinful creatures, but by choosing to walk in the light in fellowship with Christ, we are free to fellowship with God and brothers and sisters in the church.

Walking freely in the light means we are continually confessing, repenting, and being aware of our sin nature as we seek to surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ and encouraging our fellow believers to do the same.

JOURNAL THREE

Sara opened her Journey Study with a prevalent catch phrase of our day. It’s actually been a popular mindset for generations evidenced in different forms.

The idea that we are our own version of truth; whatever we think is right in our own lives is true, at least for us. But this is a horrible lie from the enemy!

The key word is “our,” we could trade this word for “self.” Even the Old Testament records humanity consistently doing what was right in their own eyes. (Judges 21:25) This phrase is always followed by mass chaos of people choosing their own truth.

If “our” truth is not rooted in Christ, it is a foundation made of shifting sand. (Matthew 7:24-27) We must build our lives, our mindsets, on Christ who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the light.” (John 14:6)

Sara encourages us with great reminders from Scripture about heeding the voice of the Lord and confidently following Him. Still, it’s not always 100% easy though, is it?

Sara urges us to read and memorize God’s Word so we can be ready to follow His ways by knowing His heart. When we declare the truths found in Scripture over ourselves, truth directs our hearts, minds, bodies, and tongues. Spend time memorizing His Word this weekend!  

Tags :
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