wonder

The GT Weekend! ~ Advent Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) When I think of an anchor, I think of boats. But buildings have anchors too, otherwise known as the “cornerstone”. It orients the building in a specific direction and provides the necessary stability to support the structure. In Monday’s Journey, Rebekah taught us about the immoveable anchor, Jesus. When we recognize Him as our Cornerstone, He orients us toward salvation, obedience, peace, and His presence. In what ways do you daily orient yourself towards Jesus? How do you see yourself being directed toward His Presence? How does the story of Anna motivate you to further allow Jesus to shape your life? When we don’t acknowledge Christ as our cornerstone we orient ourselves toward rebellion, temptation, and destruction. Have you ever found yourself oriented away from Jesus? If so, was your course corrected and how? After reading one or more Journeys from Justice, journal how fixing our eyes on anything other than Jesus leads to depravity, destruction, and injustice. Pray that you will always stand on Jesus, the Cornerstone, for your own salvation and the glory of God in everyday living.

2) Sacrifice. It’s not something we put on our bucket lists. Yet in Wednesday’s Journey Study, Sarah asks a poignant question, “He (Jesus) sacrificed His life for us. What have we sacrificed for His sake?” Ponder this question for a few moments. Jesus came from Heaven to live in a perishable body amongst sinful people. He was criticized, despised, and eventually crucified, all for our sinful selves. How does reflecting on this change your perception of sacrifice? How can you sacrifice for the One who has sacrificed so much for you? (If you need help with this prompt, check out this journey from Repurposed) One would think that after Jesus’ great and unthinkable sacrifice, we would do better in regards to Him. But no. We continually turn from Him and do our own thing. Yet He still lovingly helps, protects, and provides for us. Would you want to stay in a relationship where you were always doing the heavy lifting? Yet this is what God does for us. Write a prayer of surrender and love to Him, expressing your gratitude for His sacrifice and faithful love.

3) Friday’s Journey Study offered us a challenge, “Consider Jesus”. What does this mean? Glad you asked! It means meditating on the perfect Priest who was the perfect Sacrifice because He was perfectly sinless even as He bore the payment for our sins on the cross. But why? So we could “live for righteousness”. Do you ever consider Jesus’ righteousness on our behalf? If so, journal some thoughts on what that means. How do you live for righteousness? Even though we don’t like the term “sinner”, this is what we all are. We sin pretty much every day because we’re not fully free of our sin nature until Heaven. We only gain Heaven through our Rescuer, Jesus. If you were to fully embrace your identity as sinner in need of a Rescuer, what thoughts or feelings would you wrestle with? How can you make the most of the gift of salvation Jesus provided? One way to do this is sharing the Good News, a gift too good not to share. Who can you share it with? Write down their names. Write a prayer asking the Lord to create sharing opportunities for you. Ask Him to prompt you when it’s time to speak of Him, and ask Him to give you the right words.

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 53:5-6 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

But He was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.

Prayer Journal
Dear Sweet Jesus, You have loved me so well. Just thinking of You in that manger as a helpless infant when you are the King of Kings does me in. Even more than that, knowing You were there so thirty three years later You could die for me is even more sobering. I must ask myself, have I honored His extravagant gift? I wish I did more often and more fervently. So Lord, this is my prayer today. Help me consider You. Let me meditate on Your sacrifice and Your never-ending love for me. Then spur me on to good deeds and the planting of good seeds of the Gospel. I love You, Jesus! Thank You for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6) Amen

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

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Share how God spoke to you today!
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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

The GT Weekend Worship IX Week 3

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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) Jesus said, “…True worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23) Does that make you wonder if there are “fake” worshippers? Looking at Scripture, I would say yes. In Monday’s Journey Study we saw that worshipping in spirit means we are tuned into and obeying the Holy Spirit living within us. Worshipping in truth means our adoration flows out of knowing His Word and His identity as the unchanging One True God.  Consider some ways you can sharpen your ears to hear from the Holy Spirit? How might you begin putting these into practice starting this weekend? Another side to truth is intention. Worship cannot be like a cloak, used to cover the stain of our sin. We must truly be cleansed to be considered true worshippers. Have there been times when you were a “fake” worshipper? What steps did you take to return to the heart of true worship? What are some ways you can move worship from just “Sunday mornings during church” to the everyday moments of your life? Revisit the Journey Theme Character to remind yourself of the character of the God we serve and worship. Journal something new you learn about God, or are especially thankful for, each day this next week!

2) Did you know that many worship songs are based on Scripture? Does anyone else besides me pause at a passage or verse and start singing the associated song? Brenda taught us that even though songs can tug at our emotions, the most powerful songs are those which sing Scripture back to God. What better way to worship Him than to echo His words? Journal the names of some songs that are based on Scripture, adding the passage or verse and why it resonates with you. A beautiful aspect of worship is how it boasts about God. Who better to boast about?! King David even realized this when he wrote in Psalm 5:11, “…may those who love Your name boast about You”. Spend time this weekend looking up some of God’s promises. How do they spur you on to boast about Him? Recall some hard situations God has seen you through. If you haven’t boasted about His goodness and faithfulness to you during those times, use this weekend to do just that.

3) In Friday’s journey, Paula took us on a stunning journey through the Old Testament, pointing out “I AM” in many chapters and stories. We’re then transported to the New Testament where I AM came to dwell among us in the person of Jesus Christ. If we worship Him for nothing else, this would be a sufficient reason. But even more so, He not only dwelt among us, but also redeemed us by taking our place as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. Revelation 5 tells us all of Heaven will worship the Lamb. Can you think of anything better than focusing your worship on God? Revisit Worship VII, which focuses on God’s wondrous glory! Pick one day from each week of Worship VII (or more if you’re feeling ambitious!) and journal your thoughts on that day’s topic.

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 Colossians 1:15-17 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

Prayer Journal
Father God, I think of the song that talks about “going back to the heart of worship”. I confess the times I’ve made worship about me and my preferences. Only true worship focuses on You because it’s about You in every aspect. I pray I can focus on Your unchanging character so I’m always mindful of how holy, great, and deserving You are of all my worship. May I remember Your faithfulness toward me even in the face of my unfaithfulness. As I live my daily life, I want others to see me worshipping You by the things I do and say, in the small choices and the big ones. Let my internal thoughts also contribute to a lifestyle of worship for You desire truth in every inmost place. (Psalm 51:6) You, God, are the One True God who has redeemed me from all my rebellious sin. I will worship You in spirit and truth because only You are worthy of that kind of whole-life praise.

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sketched IX Day 15 On This Rock

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Peter 1:12-15
1 Peter 3:14-18
Luke 22:54-62

Sketched IX, Day 15

In the pale half-light of early morning, softly growing light glows in the east. The speckled rooster slumbers still. I know he’ll rise to remind me of my failure. Crowing roosters and early mornings like these could forever taunt me, but they now proclaim His holy calling upon me, a fallen man. Because of His calling, I shepherd His flock of those who believe.

The menacing specter of evil looms, yet we remain His glowing lampstand in this idolatrous place. In recent days, dear brothers have fallen beneath the brutal blade of martyrdom. Our Lord Christ has made plain the path before me; I too will soon lay aside this earthly tent. The brothers can no longer depend upon me for nourishment and guidance. My focus now must be transferring the baton of faith to the brothers, so they will remain steadfast in my absence.

False teachers prowl among the flock, confusing and deceiving the sheep with their insidious half-truths. These babes in faith need the pure milk of truth taught by reliable brothers, so they can grow strong, able to teach and lead others. Remaining in the Scriptures, craving and continuously feeding upon the truth, is the only way to remain steadfast and not be led astray.

My earnest desire is that they will not simply know the truth, but be seized with wonder by this precious faith. We’ve been given the riches of the Law and Prophets, all anticipating and announcing beforehand the coming of our Messiah. I’ve not only seen Him, but I’ve known Him as my Friend and Brother.

However, even while He was among us as Friend and Brother, He was clearly not of us, but from a high and holy place, discharged here on a sacred mission. The same dove-like Spirit present at creation was Him. All the truth of the Law and Prophets came to fruition in Him. I was privileged to see His eternal glory on the sacred mountain. This Friend and Brother among us is Elohim—I AM before creation. My Brother visited Father Abraham in his tent. Our Friend called Moses from the burning bush, decimated Egypt, and delivered our fathers through the Red Sea.

He is the true Lamb to which the Law and Prophets pointed. Our redemption was purchased by His human-yet-holy blood. Direct access was torn open by His blood; now within reach are all the divine resources we will ever need for this life of godliness.

The Holy Spirit is the key to this door of access. The Holy Spirit enables us to live such holy lives among the pagans that they will have no plausible grounds for accusation. Our faith must be expressed through virtuous lives in every facet, from our work to our citizenship, and especially in our relationships.

In these evil days, we can still live with steadfast and stalwart spirits. Trusting His sovereign plan is paramount, I believe. His plan spanned the epochs, has been in motion since before Eden, and plays out even now. His incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension were all key points of this sweeping drama of mankind’s redemption. Our Lord and Master—my Friend, is seated in ethereal glory now, as completely in control now as the day the stars spilled from His nail-pierced hands.

Because our Friend is also “I AM,” we have no cause for fear. While this brutal persecution will likely grow increasingly worse, our suffering is not in vain. It purifies and strengthens us, provided we are trained by it; as our dross is burned away, we emerge as pure gold, reflecting the character of our Lord Christ! Even though it is painful now, it is only temporary. Our sufferings here are “light and momentary” (2 Corinthians 4:17) compared with the glory to come.

Christ is our model in this. Though He existed in ethereal glory before His incarnation, He stepped into this narrow slice of time and space for a season and endured the brutality of a Roman crucifixion on our behalf.

However, now He’s seated in Heaven at God’s right hand!
Our salvation has been secured and death and hell, forever defeated!

Like Him, we shall endure suffering for a little while and then receive the glories of heaven. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, Death, our final enemy, is now simply a doorway into eternal glory where Jesus awaits just across the threshold! I must soon cross that threshold; the path stretches plainly before me. He has lit the way well by His example. For the joy set before Him, He endured the brutality of the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)
As He calls me, I shall follow. 

When the brothers come today, I will dictate a letter. Time is short; truth must be imparted.

Ah, the rooster crows now! He mocks me! However, the truth remains that my Lord Christ has redeemed me as His called and chosen child, and placed upon me this mantle of shepherd. Therefore, I shall faithfully discharge my duties until I cross that threshold into eternal glory.

“Mock on, rooster, your crows no longer taunt me, for I am His called and chosen, the shepherd of His flock, and will soon run into His embrace as I cross that blessed threshold!”

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

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 Sketched IX Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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

Reveal Day 6 Filling The Empty

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1:1-5
Romans 15:8-13
John 1:1-13
Luke 2:8-11

Reveal, Day 6

When I was growing up, Christmas was always my very favorite time of year. It was also my Daddy’s favorite season, and his excitement automatically spilled on us all. Christmas is still magical to me, even at the age of 28. Now, I also experience it through the eyes of my children, witnessing their wonder and curiosity, which increases my own anticipation.

While my love for Christmas hasn’t abated, my childhood naivety has. With my own aging has come the subsequent aging, and then passing, of so many with whom I celebrated Christmas as a child. The loss of these special people creates an undercurrent of grief and sadness when I think on Christmas. Add to this, the reality of being a mother of two and often falling prey to the lie I must be all things to all people in December. Here in the wake of hurry and loss, Christmas joy quickly wanes. What was once so tangible and easy as a child is complex and difficult to grasp as an adult.

Maybe you feel this way, too? Perhaps you’re grieving a loved one this Christmas. Or maybe, like many of your fellow sisters-in-Christ, you feel hurried and harried, busy and overwhelmed by all you feel you must do to make Christmas special.

You’re not alone!
Amazingly, in studying the first Christmas, we find a beautiful mystery experienced by all who welcomed the Savior.
Great joy.

And yet, it’s important to remember that those who welcomed Christ at the first Christmas battled their own churning chaos.

Jewish persecution ran high. Rome increasingly took more and more control of land, of taxes, of daughters as sex slaves, of food, and of morale, as Jews were pressed on all sides to serve the wealthy.

After 400 years of silence from any prophetic voice from Yahweh, the Lord God, it was easy for Jews to look around in fear at the swirl of chaos, wondering if joy had slipped away forever.

And finally, there were those who stood in direct opposition to a Messiah. King Herod certainly was not interested in welcoming a Newborn King, and so for him, there was no joy. Herod was bent on destroying Him so he could continue relying solely on himself, his own capabilities, and his own glory. Herod rejected the Savior, and the result was a complete lack of joy. He found only death, fear, and a reliance on self that never satisfied, but instead destroyed himself and others.

Do you find yourself reflecting Herod’s harried attempt to protect self and somehow attain happiness? Instead, does it feel like stress and hurry persistently steal away any elusive joy that might be found? What if our lack of joy reveals something about the focus of our hearts?

It’s shockingly easy to rely on ourselves to be the savior of the season as we purpose in our hearts to bake all the cookies,
watch all the Christmas movies,
attend all the parties,
complete all the shopping,
do all the crafts,
send out all the Christmas cards,
say “yes” to all the requests,
and decorate our home to the Pinterest max.

The chaos beckons with glitter and lights and peppermint drizzle,
while joy quietly waits to be delighted in.

If Christmas is feeling a bit more chaotic than cheery, is it time to consider that maybe self is the idol we’re trusting? Is it any wonder joy feels out of reach?

Scrolling all the way back to the beginning of time, when God spoke His voice into the mass of nothing, bringing forth all of everything, we find a God who delights in bringing His joyful presence into the chaos of emptiness.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Now the earth was formless and empty (…).”
(Genesis 1:1-2)

From nothing, His voice filled the chaos, bringing forth a creation He delightedly declared “Good!”

“Then God said,’Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good (…)”.
(Genesis 1:3-4, emphasis mine)

As darkness drew nigh that first Christmas and one girl’s laboring screams filled the night, followed by the shrill cry of a newborn babe, delight was filling the dark once more.  The very same Word was going forth from the Father once again.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

“I came from the Father and have come into the world.” (John 16:28)

His light was shining in the darkness as He Himself took on human flesh.

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:9)
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (…).” (John 1:14)

The Joy of Jesus had come to rescue His people,
drawing them out of eternal night into eternal day. 

If your Christmas season is feeling heavy with sorrow and rising stress, cling to the same Living Hope around Whom angels and shepherds hovered as they welcomed the light of the world, and the Joy whose presence promised unending delight.

Our emptiness, our longings, our stress, and our sadness all point to our need for the fullness of God and our souls’ longing for Immanuel, God with us. As C.S. Lewis once said, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

Focus your eyes on that other world this Christmas, friend. With eyes of faith, see the One Who came to offer His life for you, His light in exchange for your darkness, and watch your Christmas joy surge and swell!

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

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

Pause IV Day 1 The Outcry

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It’s difficult to read Habakkuk’s words and not feel an inward groan,
an ache of knowing that so much is deeply broken.

Pause IV, Day 1

Certainly, each of us, have echoed Habakkuk’s cries.

Everywhere I look, I see brokenness, God!
Fighting in the streets.
Marriages dissolving.
Children being abandoned.
Babies murdered.
People groups oppressed because of the shade of their skin.
Justice doesn’t even have a chance of prospering because the governing systems are so broken.

And we wonder where God is.
Does He see?
Can He not hear?
Doesn’t God care?!

Strange, isn’t it? To read ancient writings and watch them fit so perfectly in our own time as if they flowed from our pen.

Habakkuk had watched the slow degradation of his beloved nation for years. He had studied Israel’s history and traced her moral decline. He waited for God to move. He cried out for God to hear, and see, and do something!

Even as he threw his angry fists at the sky, tossing up his big, audacious questions, he also knew in his core, that God was real. He was present. He did see. He had not forgotten His people and walked away. Habakkuk knew truth.

This reality of God’s unchanging character both soothed and irked him. He knew God saw all the brokenness, yet Habakkuk was angry that God had not yet chosen to act as Habakkuk felt He, the Lord God, should act.

That’s a painful glimpse in the mirror for me, Sister.
Because Habakkuk is me.

Sit still with me here in the tension of an unchanging, always present, always loving God and the sinful, rebellious world we live in.

Consider the message the Lord had for Habakkuk, and ask what He has for you.
Choose to limit your words, and read His words before ours.

Grab your Bible, a journal and pen,
and open your heart to bask in the presence of the Almighty!

Today's Challenge

Today’s Challenge
1) Read Habakkuk 1, then circle back and re-read verses 1-4 a few times through.
Answer these 3 questions in your journal from verses 1-4:
a) What do these verses tell me about God and His character?
b) What do these verses tell me about others and the world around me?
c) What do these verses tell me about me and my heart?

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

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Habakkuk 1

The pronouncement that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

2 How long, Lord, must I call for help
and you do not listen
or cry out to you about violence
and you do not save?
3 Why do you force me to look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Oppression and violence are right in front of me.
Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.
4 This is why the law is ineffective
and justice never emerges.
For the wicked restrict the righteous;
therefore, justice comes out perverted.

God’s First Answer
5 Look at the nations and observe—
be utterly astounded!
For I am doing something in your days
that you will not believe
when you hear about it.
6 Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,
that bitter, impetuous nation
that marches across the earth’s open spaces
to seize territories not its own.
7 They are fierce and terrifying;
their views of justice and sovereignty
stem from themselves.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards
and more fierce than wolves of the night.
Their horsemen charge ahead;
their horsemen come from distant lands.
They fly like eagles, swooping to devour.
9 All of them come to do violence;
their faces are set in determination.
They gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings,
and rulers are a joke to them.
They laugh at every fortress
and build siege ramps to capture it.
11 Then they sweep by like the wind
and pass through.
They are guilty; their strength is their god.


Habakkuk’s Second Prayer
12 Are you not from eternity, Lord my God?
My Holy One, you will not die.
Lord, you appointed them to execute judgment;
my Rock, you destined them to punish us.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil,
and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous?
Why are you silent
while one who is wicked swallows up
one who is more righteous than himself?
14 You have made mankind
like the fish of the sea,
like marine creatures that have no ruler.
15 The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook,
catch them in their dragnet,
and gather them in their fishing net;
that is why they are glad and rejoice.
16 That is why they sacrifice to their dragnet
and burn incense to their fishing net,
for by these things their portion is rich
and their food plentiful.
17 Will they therefore empty their net
and continually slaughter nations without mercy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sketched VIII Day 15 Mephibosheth

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Samuel 4:1-4
2 Samuel 9:1-13
Matthew 22:8-10

Sketched VIII, Day 15

Fire crackled in the enormous fireplace as heat poured from it, taking the chill from the stone room, and my body. The inviting scent of roasting meat mingled deliciously with the burning embers.

A table was laid before us, plates and goblets arrayed with royal flare awaiting the bounty of fastidious delicacies. My mouth watered expectantly, though I was keenly aware of my unworthiness to be seated here. Self-consciously, I tucked my twisted hand closer to my abdomen. My ratty cloak stank of body odor as it served for my pillow, blanket, and sole protection against wind, rain, and chill.

“I was five years old,” began the man, interrupting my thoughts. He wore bristly whiskers and wispy white hair. His arms were strong and his chest wide. Images of my own deformity leapt to mind in sharp contrast, and I sank into myself.

“Why did this man send slaves into the rain to bring me inside today?”, I wondered. We were strangers and I certainly had nothing to offer.

One moment, I was huddled in the downpour, my poor cloak shielding my eyes, as my one good hand held out my bowl, begging for alms.

The next, I was picked up, literally carried, by two strong men who wrapped me in a warm blanket.

I was ushered into this ornate hall, flooded with warmth, and seated at this fine table. Flabbergasted at this strange turn of events, I wrestled with the idea of opening my mouth to apologize. Surely, this kind, wealthy man, had mistaken me for someone else. But the smell of hot food overwhelmed my conscious, so I sat still, waiting for the food, or for the man to find me out.

“It was the age of wooden swords and giants and gleeful discoveries at every turn,” continued the man. His eyes danced with boyish wonder, as if he was looking at the belly of a bug again for the very first time. “Most of my afternoons were spent wandering the royal gardens or teasing the kitchen servants so they would give me extra snacks.”

The man laughed with delight, and the sound of it warmed my insides as I felt my body relaxing and a faint smile lifting my cracked lips.

A servant arrived, bowing slightly, “Lord Mephibosheth, the meal is ready.”
With a kind nod from the man, the servant departed, and Mephibosheth lifted twinkling eyes to me again. “I hope you are famished!”

Words failed me, at the wonder of it all, but I managed a nod, realizing my reticence reflected me as a fool. Mephibosheth, however, returned to his story, as if I was a devoted friend. He told of his beloved father, how tall and brave and kind he was, how they wrestled playfully in the evenings, and of their hunting trips.

Then he told me of the dark day his father died on the battlefield; the same day his grandfather was killed. Though he’d surely told this story often, deep emotion saturated Mephibosheth’s voice. The depth of tragic loss was like dark waters. How well I, too, knew those waters.

Servants continued piling food onto my plate no matter how much I ate, and my goblet was never dry. As food and wine poured from the kitchen, Mephibosheth’s story continued pouring from his heart. There was bad blood between his grandfather, King Saul, and the next anointed king, David. So when his nursemaid learned of both the deaths of Mephibosheth’s father and grandfather, she feared for his life and literally ran from the palace, carrying five-year-old Mephibosheth.

The royal grandson was now on the run, finding shelter in Lo-Debar, literally meaning “no pasture land”. In the span of a single day, the young boy had lost his home, his father, his grandfather, and, shockingly, his mobility. The nurse had fallen as she ran with the little boy, crushing his feet.

With sudden awareness, I clutched my handicapped hand closely as I watched this stately man of strength and honor push back from the table, revealing twisted feet attached to lifeless legs. My jaw fell slack.

What had happened between the events of that tragic day and now to transform a broken little boy into this giant of a man, full of kindness instead of bitterness?!

Mephibosheth, his gaze lingering over my own deformity, asked the question I couldn’t. His gray eyebrows furrowed, “You want to know why I’m not bitter and angry, don’t you?’”

I dipped my head. Hatred was a heavy burden; I knew, because I carried it.
Mephibosheth extended his hand towards me as if to offer an embrace, were it not for his mangled feet keeping him at his seat. “Undeserved mercy. That’s what happened, my friend.”

My head lifted and my confused eyes met his gentle gaze. “David became king in my grandfather’s place as he was already anointed by God, and he ruled Israel well. I continued hiding in Lo-Debar, keeping my distance, accepting my reality as an outcast.”

I rubbed my arm as Mephibosheth momentarily looked down at his feet, but his voice carried on with vitality, “I married a beautiful woman and after little Micah was born, a royal messenger came from King David. One of my clearest memories of my father, Jonathon, is how much he loved David. Always his stories were of their adventures together. David was closer than a brother to my father, and on the day the King’s servants found me in Lo-Debar, it was to bring me, the outcast, back home.”

Tears streamed down my face as I saw them glistening in Mephibosheth’s gray eyes;
the outcast had been brought home.

“More than that, my friend,” Mephibosheth continued as he cast his arm across the display of rich food, “David brought me to his table and declared I would always have a seat with him as long as I lived. I was deformed and living in a place of defeat, but I was shown mercy. This is why you are here tonight. Mercy is not for the keeping,” Mephibosheth explained with a wide smile, “it’s for the giving!”

In the same way Mephibosheth experienced the kind mercy of King David, so Jesus Christ demonstrates His kindness to each of us. He sends out His own servants to the streets of the world, inviting one and all to come and eat with Him so we might all experience the fullness of life. Come to His table, then extend mercy to others. We are all undeserving!

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

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 Sketched VIII Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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

The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched VIII Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Lazarus had a story to tell. Back from the dead! Talk about the very best come-back-story! The truly radical part of Lazarus’ story, however, wasn’t found in his silent heart beginning to beat again, it was in how Jesus had changed his heart his sisters forever. One day, Lazarus’ body stopped working again, and it didn’t start back up, but his soul was safe forever in the presence of the Lord. Because Lazarus had trusted Jesus with much more than his body, the radical part of his story was that one day, Lazarus would live forever with Jesus Christ in fullness and sweetness. You and I weren’t buried in a tomb and brought back to life, but this picture is the same for our souls. Before trusting Jesus with our everything, our souls were chained up in sin and death. After Jesus, we are free, alive, radically made new! Is this you?! Made new? Tell your radical story!! Pick one person to share with this week! If you aren’t absolutely certain you have a “death-to-life” story with Jesus, send us an email (contact@gracefullytruthful.com) or connect with a friend who loves Jesus. Don’t wait another day!!

2)  Naaman’s skin disease was miraculously healed, but the greater healing was his prideful heart being dramatically humbled before God. It’s easy for us, as human beings, to only focus on the physical instead of the spiritual. We pray for bodies to be healed. We pray for hurts to be made whole. We pray for financial pitfalls to be reversed. We pray for many physical or relational things, and while we are invited by the Lord to pray about all things, the Lord is most interested in our spiritual condition. How He loves to use the physical realm to point us toward the spiritual one! As we come to the Lord this weekend, let’s ask Him to heal our hearts, to root out our sin, to teach us to worship Him in fullness, and for our minds to be renewed by His gentle, Shepherd hand! Expect Him to heal!

3) Disappointment. Loss. Grief. We’ve all walked these roads and felt the depth of emotion associated with these struggles. For Tamar, her disappointment seeped through her entire life. One by one, those who were supposed to protect her and stand up for her, not only let her down, but put her down. They demoralized her. They cheated her. They used her. They abused her. They mocked her. Yet, the Lord heard her, He saw her, and He moved on her behalf to bring about His wonderous glory! While few of us have experienced the severity of circumstance like Tamar, we each walk our own difficulties. Sister, if the Lord used the extreme brokenness of Tamar, grafting her story into the very lineage of Jesus Christ, who extended radical grace to all peoples through His sacrifice on the cross, how greatly will He work in your brokenness?! Sit for a few minutes in total quiet (or as much quiet as you can manage to ascertain!), hold open your hands, and speak to the Lord as you surrender your broken places and sharp, cutting edges. Ask for redemption and wait as He moves!

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 63:7 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

I will make known the Lord’s faithful love
and the Lord’s praiseworthy acts,
because of all the Lord has done for us—
even the many good things
he has done for the house of Israel,
which he did for them based on his compassion
and the abundance of his faithful love.

Prayer Journal
Lord God, You have done unfathomable things! My tongue can testify endlessly of Your mighty power and I will never tire of sharing the incredible things You have done in my life, Lord! “You have made me rejoice, Lord, by what You have done! I will shout for joy because of the works of Your hand! How magnificent are Your works, Lord! How profound Your thoughts!” (Psalm 92:4-5) Lord, give me more opportunities to share what You have personally done in my life, for none can argue with my personal experience with You. Take my story of redemption and bring others near to Your heart through it! Give me courage, Abba. Courage to share, wisdom to follow Your leading, and tenderness toward those hearts who are utterly lost and condemned without hope in You. Stir my heart to tell of Your healing in my life!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sketched VIII Day 7 Lazarus: 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 Lazarus!

The Questions

1)  How can we bless God on a daily basis? (verse 2)

2) What does David mean with the words ‘His greatness is unsearchable’? (verse 3)

3) How can we declare God’s greatness to others and why is this important? (verses 4-7)

Psalm 145:1-7

1 I exalt you, my God the King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 I will bless you every day; I will praise your name forever and ever. 3 The Lord is great and is highly praised; His greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts. 5 I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works. 6 They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They will give a testimony of your great goodness and will joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Original Intent

1)  How can we bless God on a daily basis? (verse 2)
Although David was Israel’s king, he knew Who had given him this position, and he acknowledged God as his King when he proclaimed, “I exalt you, my God the King”. (verse 1) His view of God was so high that he couldn’t stop himself from praising and blessing Him. In studying the book of Psalms, we find a lovely collection of songs where David is actively blessing God. Very quickly, we see how blessing God goes hand in hand with praising Him. For example, Psalm 34:1 reads, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.” He continues by telling the people to join him in proclaiming the Lord’s greatness and exalting His name. (Psalm 34:3). In Psalm 104, the psalmist blesses God for the Creator He is. He begins and ends his psalm with, “My soul, bless the Lord!”. (Psalm 104:1; 35). Between these verses, we hear David praising God for His creation and the wonderful things He’s done. In 1 Chronicles 29:10 we read how David “blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly. David said, ‘May you be blessed, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity.’”  He continues again with praising and exalting God’s name and His character. It’s clear that David blessed God through praises and exaltation from his heart.

2) What does David mean with the words ‘His greatness is unsearchable’? (verse 3)
Since David only used this exact statement in this particular verse, I looked at some other references found in the Bible to understand its meaning in full. Interestingly, I discovered that Job proclaimed similar words. Twice he stated, “[God] does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.” (Job 5:9; 9:10) Just as David proclaimed the greatness of the Lord, so also Job says the same thing (which is incredible, since Job walked through a season of deep suffering and loss). For emphasis, Job adds that God is so great, His wonders cannot be numbered. With this statement, we’re simply told that, no matter how hard we try, we won’t be able to fully understand the greatness of our Father in heaven. This includes the plans He has for us. That’s how amazingly great He really is!

3) How can we declare God’s greatness to others and why is this important? (verses 4-7)
David answers this question within this same passage. He tells us to speak of the Lord’s splendor and glorious majesty, His wondrous works, and awe-inspiring acts. (Psalm 145:5-6) These acts give testimony of God’s greatness and righteousness. (Psalm 145:7) David adds, “speak of the glory of [His] kingdom… informing all people of [His] mighty acts and of the glorious splendor of [His] kingdom.” (Psalm 145:11-12) Later, David writes, “Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded, and they were created. He set them in position forever and ever; he gave an order that will never pass away.” (Psalm 148:5-6) Here, he shows us why we should praise Him and bless Him… because He spoke, and everything was created, including us!

Everyday Application

1)  How can we bless God on a daily basis? (verse 2)
At first, it might sound strange to bless God when He’s mainly the One blessing us, but we can bless Him by exalting Him and praising His name. David knew this and praised His name often, daily in fact! He wrote a beautiful psalm that teaches us exactly how to praise God and thus bless Him every day. In Psalm 150, we discover we can praise the Lord

  • In His sanctuary
  • In His vastness
  • For His powerful acts
  • For His abundant greatness
  • With music and dance

David blessed the Lord despite his own feelings or his circumstances. Blessing God was anchored in God’s unchanging character. We can do the same! The Lord is always good, kind, gracious, loving, merciful, tender, gentle, and much more! For which portion of His character will you praise Him today? Let your blessing become a pattern in your everyday life!

2) What does David mean with the words ‘His greatness is unsearchable’? (verse 3)
As we already saw, David used these words to show the enormous magnitude of God’s greatness. Benson’s commentary adds some extra light to this verse by writing, “[God’s] presence is infinite, His power irresistible, His majesty awful, His sovereignty incontestable, His dominion illimitable, His glory insupportable”. In other words, God is so great, it’s impossible for us to fully understand the extent of His greatness. God is so great, He knows the very number of our hairs (Luke 12:7), He knew all of us before we were even formed in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5). His eyes could see us when we were formless, and all our days were already written and planned in His book before a single one began. (Psalm 139:16) How great and marvelous He truly is! Take time to jot down a few things you see around you that magnificent (like, a child’s eyes, the pattern on your skin, the flight of a honeybee, or the silkiness of a flower petal), and let those remind you of the greatness of God!

3) How can we declare God’s greatness to others and why is this important?
In today’s society, we often forget God is the One who blesses and provides for us. He gives us both common grace of our planet, air, and water, and His providential grace to all who trust Him for salvation by shaping them to become more like Jesus. How many times do we take credit for His work? God is the giver of all wisdom (Proverbs 2:6), truth (John 14:6), and strength (2 Corinthians 12:9); they come from the Lord, not ourselves. Yet, we are all guilty of not giving credit to Him, instead keeping it for ourselves. Remember the Old Testament prophet, Daniel (Daniel 2:27-28), and going farther back to Joseph (Genesis 41:15-16)? At the ruler’s request, both men were asked to interpret dreams. Interestingly, both men responded by saying, “No.” They couldn’t accomplish this feat, not on their own power, but God could reveal it to them. Before even stating the dream interpretations, they both gave credit to the One who gave them the wisdom to understand the dreams because God Himself was the giver of both the dream and the interpretation. Similarly, if we want to declare God’s greatness to others, we need to acknowledge His work and power, both in the Bible as well as in our own lives. Our testimonies of what God has done for us will boldly declare of His greatness in powerful and impactful ways to others! Only God is worthy of praise and because of our public praise, people who have yet to know God, may encounter His love and righteousness in personal ways! So, “let our mouths be filled with God’s praise and His honor all day long!” (Psalm 71:8)

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sketched VIII Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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Hallel Day 9 Finding Him Faithful: 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 Finding Him Faithful!

The Questions

1) What does it mean to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life?

2) How do I seek God’s face?

3) How can I be certain I will see the goodness of the Lord?

Psalm 27:1-14

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh,
my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army deploys against me,
my heart will not be afraid;
though a war breaks out against me,
I will still be confident.

4 I have asked one thing from the Lord;
it is what I desire:
to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
gazing on the beauty of the Lord
and seeking him in his temple.
5 For he will conceal me in his shelter
in the day of adversity;
he will hide me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Then my head will be high
above my enemies around me;
I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7 Lord, hear my voice when I call;
be gracious to me and answer me.
8 My heart says this about you:
“Seek His face.”
Lord, I will seek your face.
9 Do not hide your face from me;
do not turn your servant away in anger.
You have been my helper;
do not leave me or abandon me,
God of my salvation.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord cares for me.

11 Because of my adversaries,
show me your way, Lord,
and lead me on a level path.
12 Do not give me over to the will of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing violence.

13 I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
Wait for the Lord.

Original Intent

1) What does it mean to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life?
In Psalm 27:4, King David declares, “I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking Him in His temple.” The Hebrew word for dwell is “yashab”, which means “to sit down (specifically in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.” (Biblehub.com.) Author Skip Moen asserts that David does not want to take up residence in God’s temple because in reality, “The Temple didn’t exist when David lived. His dream might be to spend his days in the Temple yet to be constructed, but God made it plain that David was not the one to build it. With that in mind, why does David desire to be in the “house of the Lord”? David desires to be in the presence of God, to experience life enclosed by the Divine.”  Author Jon Bloom concurs, declaring that “David’s deepest desire — his one thing — is not for safety, military dominance, or prosperity. David wants God — to be near God, to see and be satisfied with God’s glory, and to live by God’s wisdom and guidance.”  We want to make David’s one desire ours as well, to spend time in the presence of our beautiful and wondrous God.  We don’t need to live at our local church to do this.  We can praise Him (Psalm 22:3) and seek His presence (Matthew 7:7) to find Him and dwell with Him.

2) How do I seek God’s face?
In Psalm 27:8, David writes, “My heart says this about you: ‘Seek his face.’ Lord, I will seek your face.“  Chaim Bentorah tells us “Jewish literature and ancient Jewish scholars often render the word Pani, which we translate as face, as “the presence of God.”  He goes on to explain that “the word in Hebrew for “seek” is “bakash” which means to seek, search, beg, demand, inquire or investigate.”  So, David is vowing to follow his heart’s prompting to seek the presence of God.  Author  A. Maclaren describes David’s seeking as “the turning of the direction of our desires to Him, the recognition of the fact that His face is more than all else to men.” We seek God’s face by desiring to be in His presence above all else.  Author Albert Barnes notes that David “immediately complied with that command, as it was a principle of his life – one of the steady promptings of his heart – that he would do this. The heart asked no excuse; pleaded for no delay; desired no reason for not complying with the command, but at once assented to the propriety of the law, and resolved to obey.”  May we all immediately answer God’s call to seek His presence by turning our hearts and minds to Him (Psalm 119:10).

3) How can I be certain I will see the goodness of the Lord?
The exact circumstances of the writing of Psalm 27 are not definitively known.  According to Matthew Henry, “Some think David penned this psalm before his coming to the throne, when he was in the midst of his troubles, and perhaps upon the death of his parents; but the Jews think he penned it when he was old.” Whenever it was written, it shows that David had hope in the Lord and His goodness, no matter his troubles or distress.  He writes in Psalm 27:13, “I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.”  Author David Guzik writes that “David’s seeking after God, and his knowledge of the Lord, led him to this triumphant statement.” David declared God to be the stronghold of his life (Psalm 27:1) and he believed God would conceal him, hide him, and set him safely high upon a rock when troubles came. (Psalm 27:5) Matthew Henry explains that “Those that walk by faith in the goodness of the Lord shall in due time walk in the sight of that goodness.” David could hope to see the goodness of the Lord, even when there was cause to despair, because He knew God is good and faithful and could be trusted.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life?
When I read Psalm 27:4, where David states he only wants to dwell in God’s house and gaze on His beauty, I wonder what a typical day must have been like for David. He was a warrior, a King, a writer, a husband, and a father, so he probably did not have a lot of free time on his hands, not to mention that everything from transportation to meals took much longer in his day than in ours. Even with all that on his plate, his number one wish was to be in the presence of the Lord. David must have known that joy, renewal, and strength come from spending time with God (Psalm 16:11), gazing on His beauty, and soaking in His presence.  It makes my excuses for not spending time with the Lord seem pretty pitiful.  I let my errands and to-do lists and binge watching get in the way of my time with the Lord, while King David longed for time in God’s presence, even while he was waging wars, writing songs, and running a kingdom. My prayer is to seek the Lord fervently and diligently like David did.  In Psalm 42:1, the psalmist cries out, “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.”  I want to dwell with God, and spend my time in His presence, for all my days!

2) How do I seek God’s face?
I was at the end of my college career before e-mail was a thing, so I had to call people on the phone, write them a note or see them in person to communicate with them.  As an introverted person, I daily celebrate the invention of the electronic message allowing me to avoid in-person or voice-to-voice contact! But there are some people in my life with whom e-mail contact alone is not enough.  I long to see their faces!  I want to look in their eyes, see their smile, and hear the inflection in their voice.  For them, only face to face communication will do.  In Psalm 27:8,, David expresses something like this when he tells the Lord, “My heart says this about you: ‘Seek his face.’ Lord, I will seek your face.“ David just wants to be with the Lord. He wants to be in His presence.  One way David sought the Lord’s face was by worshipping Him. In Psalm 27:7, just before declaring he will seek God’s face, David professes, “I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.  I will sing and make music to the Lord.  Lord, hear my voice when I call.” In Psalm 95:2, David says, “Let us enter his presence with thanksgiving.” According to Psalm 119:10, David sought the Lord “with his whole heart.” We can seek God’s presence by praising Him and focusing on Him, putting Him above all the other things that clamor for our attention.

3) How can I be certain I will see the goodness of the Lord?
I have always loved the poem “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson.  In the first stanza she declares: “Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all.  This stanza makes me think of the psalmist, David, pouring out his heart in song, often declaring the hope he has in God. Even when things were dire for him, he never stopped hoping in the Lord.  He declared that “I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13) He was so certain God would come through for him that he urged patience by writing in Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord.” He said it twice, wait for the Lord.  I don’t do “wait” very well, especially when I am in distress.  But David had seen God’s deliverance from physical harm like wild animals attacking his sheep (1 Samuel 17:37), enemies seeking to kill him (I Samuel 19:1), and the violence of battle in war time (2 Samuel 8). God also rescued him from anxiety and despair. (Psalm 13) David had frequent need of immediate deliverance, and yet he could pen the words “wait for the Lord.”  His hope in God was so strong and his belief in His deliverance so certain, he knew he could trust in God’s timing.  That is the prayer of my heart; that I believe in God’s goodness and trust in His perfect plan, no matter what my circumstance are telling me.  I can be certain I will see the goodness of the Lord because the truth is He is good.  I want to cry out with David, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.  How happy is the person who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Finding Him Faithful!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Hallel Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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