I’m sharing this verse of the day commentary borrowed from YouVersion, one of my favorite Bible apps. The app has Bible reading plans, easy to use verse look-up, and even images you can add verses to and then share with others. There’s so much more like prayer options and videos. If you don’t have the app yet be sure to give it a try. It’s also a great way to keep the Bible with you everywhere you go. Oh, and if you do check it out – or if you already have it, be sure and find the friend tab and add me. 💕
The Sea of Galilee in Israel is known for violent, sudden storms. Strong winds can create huge waves that threaten seafarers, like we see in the book of Mark.
The night the disciples and Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee, a storm set in. Violent. Sudden. Terrifying. And while the disciples frantically worked to keep the vessel afloat, there was Jesus, asleep in the boat. The disciples woke him and asked: “Teacher, do you not care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38 NIV)
That question might read a little differently for you today:
“Jesus, do you not care that my health is falling apart?”
“Jesus, do you not care that my finances are draining out?”
“Jesus, do you not care that my relationship is in tatters?”
But there is more to the story.
“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 NIV
Jesus didn’t join them in their fear. Instead, He looked right at the storm and brought calm. Then, He asked His disciples why they were so afraid: “Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).
Have you ever faced a challenge so massive, it threatened to overwhelm you? It can be disorienting, terrifying, heartbreaking, even, when the storm sets in and everything suddenly feels bleak in the face of such a strong force against us.
But God went with the disciples because He cared about them. He goes with you because He cares about you.
What storm are you facing today? Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine Jesus, unafraid of the storm, bringing everything to a calm. He is with you. You are not alone in this storm.
Sometimes, I hesitate to use or write about this verse, which has been a crutch and saving grace for almost fifty years of my life. I’ve shared it often as a testimony of how I came to know it when I was in my teens and the many ways He has used it in my life since that day in the little farmhouse in Texas. Yet, really, can God’s Word ever be shared too much? I don’t think so … plus it is the verse that came to mind when I watched the video that I am sharing with you today.
The video is a beautiful reminder of what a difference it makes to give all of our worries and cares to God. I have seen it time and time again in my own life. I’ve seen what happens when I try to handle the worries and cares on my own and what happens when I lay them at His feet or raise my hands in urgency and sometimes tears – saying, “Here, God – please take ‘this’ I can’t carry ‘it’ alone.” I’ve given Him everything from a daughter’s cancer to my sore knees. Yep, He even cares about sore knees and parking places – well, the truth of the matter is He cares for us, so if our concern is a parking place, then He has invited us to give that concern to Him. Before you laugh too hard or perhaps scoff at giving such a seemingly trivial concern to such a great and mighty God – let me share this brief story/example.
I have bad knees, and for the past year, I have been getting injections to help manage the pain. The doctor I see is in a building with limited “close” parking. There is plenty of parking, but you may have to walk a city block or two—or more, depending on the day and time. I learned very quickly to make it my mission to give God the concern – both for a parking place and/or strength to walk as far as I had to. Time after time, I saw a place open right as I pulled in or when I circled for the third time. There have also been days when I found nothing close and ended up in the three-story garage. Disappointed, yes? But not for long, because in spite of the pain, every time I had to walk further than was comfortable, I knew His strength or saw the greater need for another, whom He allowed me to encourage or the one I was able to share Him with along the pain-filled walk.
You see, it wasn’t that I prayed for a parking place; it was that I prayed. I talked to the One who cares for me and placed my care/needs in His hands and then watched to see what He was going to do.
Today’s pathway takes us to Psalm 100 and comes through a sermon my Pastor preached this past Sunday. The sermon features teaching on “how to give thanks” and how thanksgiving can turn into worship. May our hearts be moved to give thanks to the Lord daily and to take up the challenge Pastor Lemming shares at the end of the sermon to read Psalm 100 every day through Thanksgiving Day.
Shout out praises to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Worship the Lord with joy. Enter his presence with joyful singing. 3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us and we belong to him, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give him thanks. Praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good. His loyal love endures, and he is faithful through all generations.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
After reading my morning verse recently, I found myself journaling these words: “Father, You are good. How long ago did You show me this verse? How many years since I sat at my kitchen table reading and rereading it and the verses that followed? How many times and ways since then have you shown me the truth of those verses?”
Sometime in the early nineties, I sat at the table of our newly built home, enjoying the quiet moments of my baby’s nap time. Sometimes, when she slept, I would rest or clean, but most often, I would spend some alone time with God in His Word. As a newly “revived” believer, I was hungry for the Word and eager to build/rebuild a relationship with God.
Today’s verse brought that table and time to mind, as it was there that I first remember beginning to study Philippians 4:4-7, specifically – Paul’s words, “Rejoice in the Lord always. (I will say it again: Rejoice!) 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7Andthe peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – note: while verse eight wasn’t included in my early study, it soon followed and has rescued me from more than one battle.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8
God seemed to embed those words in my mind that day. Through the three decades that have followed, He has continued to faithfully ingrain them and use the words to help me through many turbulent days/years of this life/world. These words … have taught me to fix my eyes on God and His will … to ‘rejoice’ even when the days are hard, sad, or downright scary. The words helped me develop a relationship with God, teaching me to spend time in prayer, talking to God, not just at Him. From there, I began learning to trust Him, to fix my thoughts on Him, and to experience the promised peace.
To this day, these words of Paul remind me that God is near, that His return is imminent, and that in and with God, I can have, know, and be filled with peace even in the tumultuous storms of this life! God’s peace is truly a peace that surpasses all understanding. It is a peace that gives strength and hope in both the good and challenging seasons; this strength and hope have led me to “re-joy-cing” in God for more than thirty years of my life.
As I read the words again this morning, they were not new to me but they caused my mind to stop and remember God’s goodness so many years ago and every day since to change my life from the inside-out!
“Joy is the flag flying high above the castle of the hear, announcing that the King is in residence there.”
~Unknown
Loving Heavenly Father, my strength and hope are from You and through Christ in me. Your grace and power fill me with the confident JOY to keep going when hope seems far away and sorrows weigh me down. When I am weak, You are strong! So in my sorrow for this world and despite my concerns – please continue to help me KEEP my eyes and thoughts fixed on You – and let the flag of JOY fly high above the castle of my heart – where You rule and reign – announcing to all that You – my God and King – are in residence here!💜 – And to borrow from today’s devotion from “Our Daily Verse,” “May my life be a testament to the unshakable joy found in a relationship with You. Let this joy be my strength, a light to others, and a reflection of Your constant grace in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Observations and Applications
Much like the confession of the Israelites that we read in our previous day’s journey, what Paul writes in Ephesians chapter two reminds us that, like Israel, the Ephesians and believers throughout the ages—including us—have sinned against God. Paul’s list is explicit – and points to the beautiful truth that God’s grace is greater than all our sin.
We weredead in our sins. (1)
We wereunder Satan’s rule. (2-3)
BUT GOD… being rich in mercy, love, and grace...(4-5)
raised us up to demonstrate the boundless and free measure of grace in Christ (6-7)
By this grace, we are saved (through faith), which is a gift of God (8)
It is a free gift, not related to or requiring any work so that no one can boast (9)
We are God’s creation – created with a purpose – in Christ – to do good works, which God prepared for us to do (10)
Take hope in these words from the LGG Journal entry today:
In our study of the book of Daniel, we first saw that God fulfilled His words to remove the people of Judah from their land if they didn’t return to Him. The people had become prideful and were convinced that God would never remove them from Jerusalem. Yet, what they had not thought possible became true.
The people of Judah were taken to Babylon, a place famous for evil and sin. The 70 years of exile were tough for the people of God. Yet, while God humbled them, he also transformed and restored them.
As God provided for the people of Judah, He has provided in incredible ways for believers. God has given us the gift of faith. We can’t boast as we didn’t earn it and don’t deserve it. There is no place for pride. God has a plan and a purpose for our lives; therefore, we should listen and obey Him.
You can be sure that you are exactly where God wants you to be. Even if, like Daniel, you may be somewhere you wouldn’t have chosen to be, know that God is at work. He is interested in your character and how you choose to live in all circumstances.
Ask God to lead you to the good works He has planned for you. Look for the new opportunities God is now leading you into.
God is at work. His plans and purposes will be fulfilled throughout every season of your life. He can be trusted with your today, your tomorrow, and your eternal home. You are saved by His wonderful grace! Your future is sure. So go and live transformed by God’s amazing love, which saves even people like us!
Prayer of Response to the Journey
Father, thank You for saving us by Your grace and not according to our works. You have created us on purpose and for a purpose; help us fulfill that purpose to Your glory. Thank You to Your Spirit, who empowers us to do the good works that we were created to do. Thank You that we are no longer under Satan’s authority, no longer dead in our sins – and that we never have to worry about losing our salvation! What a joy to know that it is a free gift from You that no one can take away! Rejoicing in the power and depth of Your grace – in Jesus’ name and Your glory!💜
based on the Love God Greatly Study, Living Faithfully in a Faithless Land / w6d4
Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Nehemiah 9:32-28
“So now, our God—the great, powerful, and awesome God, who keeps covenant fidelity—do not regard as inconsequential all the hardship that has befallen us—our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people—from the days of the kings of Assyria until this very day.
Nehemiah 9:32-38
Friends, I invite you to read beyond the prescribed passage for today, and by reading beyond, I mean reading what came before in this chapter of Nehemiah. While there is much to be seen in verses 32-38, those words come alive with a richer beauty and meaning when read with verse 1-31. The words that come before verse 32 actually give a wealth of understanding to our passage. They help us to see the visible truth of God’s unfailing love and infinite grace and mercy. The verses also help us to understand that our suffering has a purpose … It gives a beautiful picture and example of what true confession looks like – how it begins with acknowledging God is right and proceeds to confessing that we are wrong … It’s a wonderful reminder of how far away from God we can be even when things are going well …
Today’s Love God Greatly Journal entry is a perfect addition to our passage, as it breaks down the return of Ezra, Zechariah, and Nehemiah and the work God did through them, as well as how He transformed the people’s hearts, which led to “an increased faithfulness in God’s people at this time.” It has been an inspiration to me, and I hope it will be one for you as well.
“You are righteous with regard to all that has happened to us, for you have acted faithfully. It is we who have been in the wrong!”
INTO THE TEXT (borrowed and shared from Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / p186
God was faithful. After 70 years in exile were complete, God’s people were restored to the land. Things weren’t exactly as they had been before. They didn’t have their own king. But God allowed them to live in the land, rebuild Jerusalem, and have everything they needed to resettle back in Judah.
Ezra led the first set of people back to Judah. They were relatively small in number, and the task they had seemed overwhelming to rebuild Jerusalem, the city walls, their homes, and the temple. But God continued again and again to faithfully provide for His people.
Zechariah had also returned to Jerusalem in one of the first groups. God gave him an important message for His people worried about the task ahead. The task would not be accomplished by their power, nor might, but by the Spirit of the Lord (See Zechariah 4:6-7)!
Nehemiah came back from Babylon in a later group, about 13 years after Ezra had arrived. He helped to encourage and reignite the rebuilding of Jerusalem, particularly the temple and walls. The work on these structures had stalled due to constant opposition by their enemies and the resulting weariness of his people.
What about the people’s hearts? Has God transformed them? The people were ready to obey the Lord. They even wanted to sign a covenant! While they would be tempted and fall into sin again, we saw an increased faithfulness in the attitude of God’s people at this time.
God is still transforming hearts from death to life and has been doing so especially since Jesus returned to heaven and poured out the Holy Spirit.
God is the great promise keeper. We can be sure any promises He has made will happen. But He doesn’t always fulfill His promises in the way we might expect or want Him to. We can trust His ways are best. He is righteous and acts faithfully in all He does. His love drives all that He does, which provides us with grace after grace.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, you are righteous and faithful in all you do. Often when I have questioned your faithfulness, it is because you didn’t do what I wanted. O Lord, forgive me. I pray – not my will but yours be done.I thank you that I can trust and rely on your Word. Amen.
The More We Know
You can purchase the LGG Journals at lovegodgreatly.com; they are a great addition to our studies.
For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Jeremiah 29:11 is used to congratulate graduates, comfort those whose lives aren’t going the way they hoped, or encourage those who are facing some of life’s big decisions – but it is important to keep in mind that the verse was initially given to God’s people whose world had just been turned upside down. By God’s own hand, they were living as exiles in Babylon, which I can only imagine seemed like the furthest thing from hope and a future of any kind, but that is precisely the message God sent through Jeremiah, one of “hope and a future” and the reminder that God did not plan to harm them. He wanted them to remember “whose” they were and that He was in control, even when it didn’t seem like it.
It may not have seemed to the Israelites that God even remembered them, but He did, and as today’s journal entry points out, “God was working out His plan of salvation amongst all people, in all places, throughout all time. It wasn’t just for those in exile. God was at work to restore and rebuild what was broken when sin entered this world. From the returned exiles, a descendant would come who would be the Savior of the world!”
As we have seen throughout our journey, the faithless Kings and people of Babylon saw evidence of Israel’s true and living God—who protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace and shut the lions’ mouths to protect Daniel. When Israel’s restoration comes, it will be for all nations to know that He is the Sovereign LORD.
We may not always get what we want, and our plans may not work out the way we envisioned, but this promise of hope and a future is for us as well. Today’s journal entry says it best: “God’s plans involve you! His plans are to use you to encourage other believers and be a light to those who don’t yet know Him. You are the carrier of His hope to the world around you, which is often so hopeless.”
Prayer of Response to the Journey
Heavenly Father, you bring hope to me and this whole world. Help me to trust you, Lord, when my days are in turmoil, and I cannot understand. May I know you as the author and perfecter of my faith. Use me to bring You hope to someone in this hopeless world. – Amen
borrowed from Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, p189
Encouragement for the journey –
Friends, this group is not a place for political conversations, but it is a place for encouragement and hope between sisters and brothers in Christ – which is why I am sharing this verse and the story behind it … The day before the election, when my anxiety started rising again, God reminded me of this verse which we recently read in our Daniel study,
“…the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever HE chooses.” — Daniel 5:21
Regardless of how we voted or the outcome of the votes, we all need to remember that our God, the true and living God, is in perfect control! He rules and reigns over Kings and dominions. He is sovereign over all.
The More We Know
For More Insight, be sure to check out today’s LGG Blog
I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.27 I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative, and you will obey my statutes and carefully observe my regulations. Ezekiel 36:26-27
Observations and Applications
Sometimes, God’s Word leaves us wondering why certain things happen, or – as we have seen in the book of Daniel – there are visions recorded that we can’t quite understand because some things are meant to stay hidden from us. As we see in the journal page below, this is not the case with today’s passage and the unfolding events in the life of Israel, the people of God. Clearly, God was very open with what was going to happen and why –
– God was very open with what was going to happen and why –
Through Ezekiel, God makes it crystal clear to the people that His anger had been poured out on them because they had defiled their land with their “evil way of living.” It was detestable to Him, and because of this, God scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they chose to live. One would think this would have awakened them and caused them to change their lifestyles, yet, from there, it seems to have escalated, as even in the faithless lands where they were exiled, they brought shame to God’s name – to the point that He was concerned about His reputation.
God uses Israel to reveal Himself to the nations – and the same is true of believers in Christ today. God not only uses us but He has called us to be His light to the world. 🦋
The people had failed God, falling short of His glory despite the teachings they were to remember and obey, as well as the warnings God sent them along the way. So, “for the sake of His holy reputation,” God moved to magnify His great name by restoring Israel and making the nations know that He was the LORD. However, we must not miss this vital truth: God did not restore Israel for their sake but for His own. He uses Israel to reveal Himself to the nations – and the same is true of believers in Christ today. God not only uses us to make Him known but He has called us to be His light to the world.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:14-16
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God created man and that He created him for His glory. Therefore, the ultimate purpose of man, according to the Bible, is simply to glorify God. – Gotquestions.org
One of the ways we glorify God is by walking faithfully in a relationship with Him. Apart from God, it is impossible to glorify His name. As we saw with the Israelites, sin separates us from God (Isa 29:2), not only hindering His glory through us but jeopardizing His reputation. Be encouraged by these words from gotquestions.org: while “sin separates us from God and makes it impossible to glorify Him on our own. – through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, our relationship with God is reconciled—our sin is forgiven and no longer creates a barrier between God and us (Romans 3:23–24).”
Since God created man in His image (Genesis 1:26–27), man’s purpose cannot be fulfilled apart from Him. King Solomon tried living for his own pleasure, yet at the end of his life he concluded that the only worthwhile life is one of honor and obedience to God (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).
Gotquestions.org
Prayer Response to the Journey
Father, thank You for the reminder that this life You have given us and all that You do in and through us, and the callings You have placed on our lives are not about us – but are meant to be all for Your glory. Help us never to bring shame to Your reputation but to live as lights in this dark world— Let us heed the words of Jesus and not let our light be hidden. Help us to walk with You and talk with You and to live and speak in such a way that radiates Your love and grace to the world around us so that everyone will give You the praise and the honor due Your holy name. – In the name of Jesus – Amen.
The More We Know
Why did our journey lead us to Ezekiel? (borrowed and shared from got questions.org)
Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. By means of his prophetic ministry he attempted to bring them to immediate repentance and to confidence in the distant future. He taught that: (1) God works through human messengers; (2) Even in defeat and despair God’s people need to affirm God’s sovereignty; (3) God’s Word never fails; (4) God is present and can be worshiped anywhere; (5) People must obey God if they expect to receive blessings; and (6) God’s Kingdom will come.
Key Verses:
Ezekiel 2:3-6, “He said: ‘son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says.” And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.'”
based on the Love God Greatly study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land/w6d1
Scripture: Our Road Map for God’s Journey / Daniel 11:31-36 (35)
Even some of the wise will stumble, resulting in their refinement, purification, and cleansing until the time of the end, for it is still for the appointed time.
Daniel 11:35
Today’s journey wraps up our time in Daniel as we look at another vision concerning the end of time. We will spend the rest of our quest receiving further wisdom and encouragement to live faithfully in a faithless land. Because of the complexity of the vision and my previously confessed difficulty in this area of Scripture, I am sharing the bulk of today’s Love God Greatly journal entry, which I believe is a helpful guide and encouragement for this passage.
As with the other visions, questions are raised both in Daniel’s mind and our own. The journal points out that: “while many of these “go unanswered both for Daniel and ourselves, he was told to ‘close up these words and seal the book until the times of the end'” (Daniel 12:14).
“But as for that day and hour no one knows it – not even the angels in heaven – except the Father alone.”
Matthew 24:36
“Many people have spent a lot of time and energy trying to figure out the exact historical events and even dates for the end of time.” But as the journal warns us to remember, “we are specifically told we won’t know.”
Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / p 181
Encouragement From Today’s Journey
How you live matters to God, whether you are living in a peaceful season or a challenging one.
LGG Journal / Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / p181
We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, but through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have been forgiven and have this eternal hope: “We are being refined, purified, and cleansed by God.” So, let’s embrace His forgiveness and allow Him to change us from the inside out. 🦋
Prayer Response for Today’s Journey
Father, it is so easy to get caught up in thoughts of our past mistakes/sins/choices. When this happens, it is easy to be tricked by the enemy into thinking that how we live no longer matters. The truth is the enemy doesn’t want us to remember we have been forgiven because he doesn’t want us to walk in the freedom that Christ died to give us. Help us to walk in the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. This side of Heaven, we will stumble, but when we do, You have promised forgiveness – through the blood of Jesus! May Your Refining fire become our sole desire – that we may be purged and cleansed and purified so that You will be glorified in and through us. – Amen, in the name of our Savior – who is Jesus!
based on the Love God Greatly Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / w5d5
Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Daniel 10:5-19 (11-12)
Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words – Daniel 10:11-12 NET
Daniel’s prayers had seemed to go unheard or, at the very least, unanswered – but that was not the case, and the Lord made sure that Daniel knew it. The truth is God always hears the prayers of His people who humble themselves before Him to pray. (Hebrews 4:16 and Matthew 7:7)
As can be imagined, Daniel’s vision was alarming both in content and delivery and challenging to understand. He describes his strength as being drained and his vigor as disappearing – to the point that he was without energy. Bibleref.com gives a little perspective to help us understand the effect the vision(s) have had on Daniel.
So, What does Daniel 10:19 mean?
In an earlier encounter, an angelic messenger referred to Daniel as “greatly loved” (Daniel 9:23). That assurance was repeated by Daniel’s current visitor (Daniel 10:11) and is echoed here, as well. Daniel’s experiences have been overwhelming (Daniel 10:1–2, 9, 15). Yet they are not meant to cause him fear, or to make him despair. Instead, Daniel is being given the awesome responsibility of seeing and recording these experiences. Bolstered by the angel’s help, Daniel wanted to hear the message. His desire to hear what the angel would say is reminiscent of the boy Samuel’s words, “Speak, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10).
Believers can be encouraged knowing the Lord greatly loves them. The apostle John writes in 1 John 3:1, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” The angel also wishes Daniel peace. Knowing that God is in control of every situation gives believers a peaceful mind and a peaceful heart (Philippians 4:6–7; 1 Peter 5:7). Just as the Lord had told Joshua to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9), so the angel tells Daniel to be brave. – Bibleref.com
Prayer of response to today’s Journey
Father, we don’t always know exactly what Your Word means, but we do know it is truth and wisdom. It can fill us with peace and guard us in all our ways. Thank You for loving us and for faithfully working in our lives—point blank and/or behind the scenes. Thank You for the encouragement that you love, value, and listen to my/our prayers. We are forever grateful and in Your debt. Help us now to heed the angel’s words and not be afraid but to remember that we are very precious to You, our God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong! – In Jesus’ Name – Amen💜
Me From the Inside Out 