Category: Quiet Time

Posted in From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

A Faith that Moves Mountains

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James says it like this, Dear brothers and sisters, whenever you face troubles consider them an opportunity for great joy, for you can trust that when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow, so let it grow – because when your endurance is fully developed you will be perfect and complete needing nothing, James 1:2-4. The Psalmist said it like this, I have set the Lord always before me and because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken, Psalm 16:8. And, as a Holocaust survivor, Corrie ten Boom said, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” I believe we will all face, have faced, or even now are facing ‘troubles’ in our lives. I am learning the truth of James’ statement, the troubles of this life -whether big or small – help deepen our faith.

Faith may not change our ‘situation’ but fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our Faith certainly changes our perspective.

Fears are turned to peace, comfort replaces sorrow, where there are desperate needs we witness gracious provision; and when the thing needed is not provided – it is through faith we wait or through faith that we learn to do without. Through the eyes of faith, we witness miracles or walk in hope where none seems possible. Through faith we love the unlovable, forgive the unforgivable, and we cling to what is good rather than turning to the wrong we may desire. In faith, we turn to God when a doctor delivers unwanted or unexpected news. Through faith, we sit by the bed of a loved one or walk the halls of the hospital. With faith, we rise out of bed in His strength – even when we feel too week, sad, or lonely to go on, and in faith, we say good-bye to those God calls home. As John wrote in 1 John 5:4, and the old hymn repeats … “Faith is the victory that has overcome the world.” Faith doesn’t just move mountains it moves hearts closer to God. We lean on Him through our troubles and we find that He is trustworthy and true – and so when the next trouble comes we run to Him – through this habit the roots of our faith are deepened and we are made stronger – until God’s love runs deeper than the deepest pit of hatred and death … and we are able to consider the hardest of situations a joy because we know that God is with us … and the very knowledge of His presence keeps us from being shaken. This, my friends, is a Faith that moves mountains. Me – From the Insideout

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Quiet Time

Whatever We Do …

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 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.  He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”  Then David ...

2 Samuel 11:1-4

It isn’t clear why, but in this story, David had stayed behind in Jerusalem. Perhaps there was nothing particularly wrong with this action. Maybe there wasn’t really a need for him to go out to war with his officers – but what happens because he chose to stay behind is something we must not miss.

  • “from the roof, he saw her“
  • “David sent someone to inquire about her”
  • “Sent some messengers to get her“
  • “he went to bed with her“
  • … he murdered

For whatever reason David “stayed behind”, for whatever reason he got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace – I am certain adultery … pregnancy …. and murder were surely not on the King’s agenda. However, they are exactly the events that transpired, and I believe we would be remiss to not ask ourselves why?

How could a nighttime stroll – which I imagine took place because he was home and couldn’t sleep knowing his men were out at war – end so tragically?

The answer is profoundly simple – but one that isn’t pleasant to face. Much like Eve, and all-to-sadly human beings throughout the centuries – including myself, David saw something he wanted and without any apparent thought or hesitation, he acted on his desire. To be clear, the first two actions – appreciating beauty and sending someone to inquire of that object – weren’t in themselves wrong. However, from there if we follow the story we read that the messenger reported to David not just her name but also that she was the “wife of Uriah”. Following this answer, David’s actions were clearly sinful. He took what belonged to someone else, used it for his pleasure, and set about covering up the evidence through deception and murder.

While you may not fall prey to adultery or murder what happened to David can happen to you – it can happen to anyone. We are, after all, all sinners. God’s Word is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword – and It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. We must wield it as such here or we will miss the underlying message of impulsive actions and their consequences. We will miss how God is training us to not act impulsively but to think about what we do. and not just gratify the desires of the eye/flesh. We must make sure that what we do won’t hurt someone else … make sure it is loving and kind … make sure that it is a faithful act or a gentle and encouraging word … and make sure it will not cause someone else to stumble into sin. Above all, we must make sure that it brings glory and honor to God.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)

Clearly, David fell short of God’s glory here. Clearly, he thought of his desires alone. So then what? He was confronted, convicted, and repented and The rest of the story tells us that while David and others in the narrative suffered great consequences, David was forgiven by God and did not receive the punishment that his sins deserved. We have this same hope in Jesus Christ, whom God sent to take our punishment so that we are not punished as our sins deserve – but loved with unfailing love. Me-From the Insideout

He does not punish us for all our sins;

    He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him

    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

Psalm 103:10-11 a Psalm of David

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Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Quiet Time

East and West Never Meet

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Our finite minds do not work like God’s infinite mind does. I believe in general – human beings – have a difficult time forgiving someone that wrongs them let alone forgetting that ‘wrong’. But, when God says as far “as the East is from the West” He means forever removed! East and West never meet. As one Bible reference stated, “If we were to search for the sins the Lord has removed from us, we would never find them, because Jesus, the Lamb of God, has taken them far away (John 1:29) from those who come to Him in faith (John 3:16–18). To say that God separates our sins “as far as the east is from the west” speaks of the absolute, irrevocable measure by which God forgives us”( BibleRef.com). So, while yesterday’s passage impressed upon us how shame is associated with sin – this passage brings great hope to anyone who has ever sinned – which Romans 3:23 says is all of us.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 3:23

The hope comes in the fact that God’s forgiveness is absolute. The next part of David’s statement sheds light on the reason for the action of removing the sins so drastically – His tenderhearted, Fatherly compassion – a Hebrew root that implies action – moves Him to not just the sin (that’s love), but to demonstrates that love by removing – or more literally – doing away with them. As Hebrews 8:12 says – He remembers our sins against us no more.

Posted in Bible study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Malachi 4:2-3 … Leaping for Joy

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The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.

2 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. 3 On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Malachi 4:1-3

The Coming Day of Judgment

Have you ever read a passage of Scripture and then read it again only to say – huh? Sometimes you just have to use a commentary or call someone smarter than you. I opted for a commentary with today’s passage from Malachi, and before I finish this I won’t be surprised if I need to call someone. .

Reading through several trusted commentaries I learned that the phrase – “The sun of Righteousness” in verse 1 typically refers to the coming Messiah. I reread that first verse and the phrase “healing in His wings” jumped off the page, revealing, yet again, the HOPE that comes from being in Christ – belonging to God. Reading on through verse 2 with this fresh awareness I found myself smiling at the scene – where, in stark contrast to the wicked, described in verse 1 as being consumed — roots, branches, and all – we, who fear His name, are set free – “leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture”. As I mulled this one over – I was reminded of one of my favorite verses “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free …” Now, I don’t know if a Bible scholar would put these two verses together in any way, but for me, one highlights the other – for I am no longer bound or held captive by the law of sin and death instead, I live in freedom because the Messiah came to set me free. Oh, how I love when the Old Testament meets the New Testament, or visa versus, and defines its or at least shines a light on it.

The next part is still puzzling to me, but what I did notice was the description of God as – “the LORD of Heaven’s Armies” is the same reference of hope that the Psalmist used in our reading from Psalm 46 on Friday. Remember? He was referenced as being “on our side”. This picture goes with the commentary I found in my NIV study Bible for Malachi, that says –

“These last verses of the Old Testament are filled with hope. Regardless of how life looks now, God controls the future, and everything will be made right. We who have loved and served God look forward to a joyful celebration. This hope for the future becomes ours when we have trusted God with our lives.”

NIV Study Bible Note on Malachi 4:2-3

Some 400 plus years after these words from Malachi, the Messiah was indeed born, and with Him came the deliverance that had been promised and long-awaited. As believers today, we revel in the freedom received through Faith in the One who was born of a virgin, suffered, bled, and died for our sins, and rose again from the grave – delivering us from the bondage of sin and death. He is our Hope, the Anchor for our soul, and the reason we can proclaim with confidence – God is in control! I have nothing to fear! Christ, “the Sun of Righteousness,” is the reason we wait with confidence and not dread of the coming day of judgment when we will stand before God in the Righteousness and freedom of Christ and we will echo the words of the Psalmist and of Malachi – The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is on our side!

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Quiet Time

“For Such a Time As This”

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God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble. 2 For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, 3 when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea. (Selah) 4 The river’s channels bring joy to the city of God, the special, holy dwelling place of the Most High. 5 God lives within it, it cannot be moved. God rescues it at the break of dawn. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are overthrown. God gives a shout, the earth dissolves. 7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Selah) 8 Come, Witness the exploits of the Lord, who brings devastation to the earth. 9 He brings an end to wars throughout the earth.
He shatters the bow and breaks the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God. I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!” 11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our stronghold!  (Selah)

Psalm 46

How appropriately timed is this passage for the current events and conditions of our nation? An unprecedented time of great proportions – with the ongoing pandemic and its ensuing rivalries and the unprecedented political unrest – both amid the growing social unrest of riots and killings. When I read today’s passage I couldn’t help but think of Mordecai’s words, “For such a time as this”, in the book of Esther.

Embattled in a seemingly, unending pandemic that continues to claim lives and somehow disrupt unity – and the political and social unrest that disrupts peace it seems fitting to be reminded to “Stop striving”. I find it good and comforting to be reminded – “For such a time as this”, to recognize that HE IS GOD! He declared, “I WILL BE EXALTED over the nations! I WILL BE EXALTED over the earth!” If I believe this declaration, and I do – should I not also live in peace KNOWING that He truly is my helper in these unprecedented times of trouble? Should I not rest in the TRUTH that The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on my side and the God of Jacob is my stronghold? Should I not rise up with the Psalmist and say – “For this reason I do not fear because my God WILL BE EXALTED?” He wins, and He alone will bring peace in His perfect timing over this pandemic and racism and brutality and political unrest! For He is God!

“For such a time as this” – in the midst of the turmoil of our day let us remember to take comfort and strength and find courage and joy in knowing that He is on our side! He is our stronghold!

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. It was tempting for the nation of Israel to align with foreign powers, and God reminds them that ultimately He is exalted! God wins, and He will bring peace. During Isaiah’s time, Judah looked for help from the Egyptians, even though God warned against it. Judah did not need Egyptian might; they needed reliance on the Lord: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

When we are still and surrendered to God, we find peace even when the earth gives way, the mountains fall (verse 2), or the nations go into an uproar and kingdoms fall (verse 6). When life gets overwhelming and busyness takes precedence, remember Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Run to Him, lay down your weapons and fall into His arms. Acknowledge that He is God and that He is exalted in the earth. Be still and know that He is God.

GotQuestions.org
Psalm 46 Reference

Posted in Bible study, Quiet Time

Psalm 40:11-17

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O Lord, you do not withhold your compassion from me. May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me! 12 For innumerable dangers surround me. My sins overtake me
so I am unable to see; they outnumber the hairs of my head so my strength fails me. 13 Please be willing, O Lord, to rescue me! O Lord, hurry and help me! 14 May those who are trying to snatch away my life be totally embarrassed and ashamed. May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed. 15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be humiliated and disgraced. 16 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you. May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, “May the Lord be praised!” 17 I am oppressed and needy. May the Lord pay attention to me. You are my helper and my deliverer. O my God, do not delay.

Psalm 40:11-17

Have you ever heard of “Praying God’s Word back to Him”? It’s where you take what You know of God, His character, His Words, His actions, His expressed thoughts and will, what pleases and displeases Him … and you let this knowledge guide your prayers. In some situations it may be praying His exact Words back to Him. Take for example a prayer of repentance/forgiveness – Father, You have said “Do not lie”, please forgive me for lying. However, praying God’s Word back to Him can also flow – not as a direct quote – but rather out of what we have learned from His Word or our experiences with God. I believe, this Psalm is a wonderful example – not only of this type of prayer but of the benefit that comes from it.

We only have to look back at the preceding verses of this Psalm to know that the Psalmist obviously knew God was compassionate and that His love and faithfulness were unfailing – and – he prayed accordingly. How was this beneficial? Because –

  • In his desperation he knew He could depend on God (11)
  • Depending on God’s compassion, love and faithfulness, kept him from losing hope in the midst of a frighteningly overwhelming situation (12-15)
  • It set his eyes on God and even turned His thoughts and prayers to the needs of others (16)
  • Finally, it gave him resolve to trust completely, the One he knew as his helper and deliverer (17)

As one who has suffered from panic attacks, and has watched others in the throes of them, I see the Psalmist overtaken by distress that leads to panic – that leads to desperate thoughts – but who survived. Because, for every thought of panic and distress he called out to God based on knowledge and experience of who He was and what He could do. Doing this didn’t change the fact that he was “oppressed and needy” nor did it give him an assurance of when God would act – but it did offer him an inner-calm and confidence to say –

… You are my helper and my deliverer –

Psalm 40:17

Posted in Bible study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Psalm 40 – The Rescue

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I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help. 2 He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing.

Psalm 40:1-2

God is good! I know I can completely rely on Him – because He is Trustworthy. This isn’t just book knowledge for me. I have tasted and seen His goodness for myself. Even as the Psalmist said, I have turned to Him – I have cried out to Him and He heard my cry. I have been in the watery pit, sinking in the slimy mud – with no vision of hope or proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” – BUT He rescued me! He sat my feet on the Rock and gave me secure footing. He pointed me to Jesus, the Anchor of my soul.

I am forever grateful for His goodness, mercy, and love. I am thankful that He rescued me and is always teaching me to TRUST. I can look back over the course of my life and see that He has been training me to not give into the doubts that inevitably come with pain and suffering, or disappointments, or the unknown factors of this life. He has led me often to the teachings of Paul to ‘put off” what doesn’t belong in the believer’s life and to “put on” what pleases Him – that which is good and right and honoring to Him … Trust over doubt … peace over fear … kindness and forgiveness over anger and bitterness … love over hate … godly desires over fleshly ones – and the list goes on. I have learned that just as salvation is dependent on God, so to is the practice of putting off and putting on. I can’t do it in my own strength, but the One who knows my heart and mind, the One who wants me to be safe and secure has placed His Spirit in me, giving me all that I need to live a godly life.

His divine power has given us everything we ne3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4

Prayer: Father, I am thankful to know that You will never leave me or forsake me. I know I can depend on You come what may. May this confidence be reflected not only in my words but in my actions and countenance as well – so that others may see and know You – the true, living, and TRUSTWORTHY God – In the name and power of Jesus – Amen!

Posted in Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Psalm 97

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For You, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth: You are elevated above all gods.

Psalm 97:9

This verse by itself is a wonderful reminder that God, our God, is not just the Most High God over all the earth but that He is over all other gods. However, when we read it in the fuller context of what the Psalmist wrote we find descriptions in verses 1 through 7 – word pictures of His greatness and power not only over His creation but carved images and those who worship them. We see Him reigning, the earth having cause to rejoice. We get a glimpse of His throne made of righteousness and justice and when we look closely we will see His saving power as He is victorious over His enemies and His glory is revealed!

The light of His glory brings shame to those who create and/or worship other gods; and it reveals not only His power but the lack of power in all other gods, who themselves are subjected to worship Him, as the Most High God. It is this picture that leads us to understand the depth of the Psalmist’s words that acknowledge the LORD as the Most High, and assigning to Him preeminence over the earth and all other gods.

It is also this verse that sheds light on the words that follow and gives us cause to heed them –

You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of His faithful followers; He delivers them from the power of the wicked. The godly bask in the light; the morally upright experience joy. You godly ones, rejoice in the Lord. Give thanks to His holy name.

Psalm 97:10-12

Because God, our God, is the Most High God we are called to a higher standard. A standard that not only recognizes evil and avoids it but one that sees it as an offense to God and hates it. Our realization that He is the Most High God should equally spur us on to live faithfully for Him. We cannot just avoid and hate evil but we must choose righteousness – living and loving like Jesus. He faithfully loved God above everything else, He loved us more than self – even to the point of death, He served God and others, and did good so that others would see and glorify His Father in heaven. When we live and love like this we will know freedom from the power of sin, we will know protection from our enemies, and we will experience the joy that comes from walking in His light and we will rejoice – giving thanks to His holy name.

Posted in Quiet Time

Romans 8:1-11

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Today’s Scripture: Romans 8:1-11 (S.O.A.P. Romans 8:1-2)

Question of the Day: What is condemnation and how are believers free from it?

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of the life-giving Spirit[b] in Christ Jesus has set you[c] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For God achieved what the law could not do because[d] it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by[e] the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. 6 For the outlook[f] of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in[g] the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but[h] the Spirit is your life[i] because of righteousness. 11 Moreover if the Spirit of the one[j] who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ[k] from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you.[l]

After Thoughts
Posted in Quiet Time

John 13:31-35

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Today’s Scripture: John 13:31-35 (S.O.A.P. John 13:34-35)

Question of the Day: How can we love one another like Christ loved us?

31 When[a] Judas[b] had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[c] God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him right away.[d] 33 Children, I am still with you for a little while. You will look for me,[e] and just as I said to the Jewish religious leaders,[f] ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’[g] now I tell you the same.[h]

34 “I give you a new commandment—to love[i] one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.[j] 35 Everyone[k] will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.”

After Thought