Answers – Me From the Inside Out

based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ/w3d3

Read: Ephesians 3:10-13 and Hebrews 4:14-16

The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. ¹¹This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and confident access to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness. ¹³For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Ephesians 3:10-13

Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.
Hebrews 4:14-16

For me, the highlight of today’s readings was the portions on the bold and confident access we have to the throne of God, through Christ Jesus. I love that we do not have to worry about coming into His presence. We do not have to wonder if He will hear us or not. The throne room does not close; we have 24/7 access. As today’s journal entry points out, “We enter into His presence through prayer. Prayer is speaking and listening to God. The writer of Hebrews tells us to confidently approach the throne of grace because it is where we will be met with mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16).”

Through the blood of Jesus, we have unlimited access to God, the God who created the world and all that is on it, and the seas and all that is in them. We are not limited to morning prayers or evening prayers. We can come before Him 24/7, 365 days a year! To be clear, unlimited access doesn’t mean we will always get what we ask for. I have learned, perhaps I should say – I am constantly learning or being reminded – that we aren’t told to have bold confidence in the answer we seek, but in the true and living God, to whom we pray. This means we must trust He knows best and answers according to His perfect plan and purpose for our lives.

Friends, we are most blessed. Prayer like this is not just a gift; it is an immeasurable privilege and an opportunity for a close and intimate relationship with God. If you want to strengthen your faith and your relationship with God, start making prayer – not just part of your day but a way of life.

The More We Know

The revelation of God’s multifaceted wisdom wasn’t displayed to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms on a whim. It was not a secondary plan but was set in place from the beginning of time. The phrase “multifaceted wisdom” caught my attention and sent me chasing Scripture squirrels to understand what it really means. I hope you’ll take a minute to follow the link to Gotquestions.org for some wonderful insight and encouragement.

https://www.gotquestions.org/manifold-wisdom-of-God.html

For even more insight read today’s LGG BLOG

Inspired by “The Importance of Prayer”, An LGG Study – w4d3

Scripture Reading: Lamentations 3:19-26; SOAP: 25-26

The Lord is good to those who trust in him,

to the one who seeks him.

²⁶It is good to wait patiently

for deliverance from the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25-26

Reviewing the Situation

Like with so much of Scripture it is easy to zoom in on the verses of hope and joy and the “good parts” of God’s story – but we can’t fully understand or appreciate these verses if we don’t know why the hope or joy or deliverance taste so sweet. Take for instance, Jeremiah’s words in verse 19 – he remembers the afflictions and wanderings, the bitterness and the awful conditions he had endured – the taste of it all was still fresh in his mind – but why? What had been happening that was so bitter and brought so much depression? We could go back through the history of God’s people to fully see and comprehend how things were as Jeremiah records, but for the purpose of today’s passage it will suffice to simply look back to the first of Lamentations. You see, the book of Lamentations begins with Jeremiah mourning over Jerusalem’s destruction – The Temple was destroyed, the people were defeated and taken captive and his sorrow ran deep. So deep was his sorrow that the entire book is saturated with it. Even chapter three still finds him expressing words of lament but with one difference – a glimmer of HOPE! So where did his hope come from in the midst of all the sorrow and devastation? Why, when God’s people were still waiting for deliverance, did he find reason to HOPE? This is what we must not miss in order to truly share in the hope Jeremiah speaks of as we find ourselves waiting for the Lord and His deliverance. Read what he writes in verses 19-21, notice the depth of his despair and then it’s like a light bulb goes on – and he declares, “But this I call to mind; therefore I have hope:

[I] Remember my impoverished and homeless condition,
which is a bitter poison.
²⁰ I continually think about this,
and I am depressed.
²¹But this I call to mind;
therefore I have hope:
Lamentations 3:19-21

What Does He Call to Mind? Why Does He Have Hope?

We don’t have to look far to find out. It happened just after remembering the days of his own impoverished and homeless condition – which could just as easily have led him away from the Lord. Instead, he purposefully “called to mind” the goodness of God which led him to HOPE in the LORD. He chose to remember God’s kindness, compassion, and faithfulness – and then he once again declares his hope in the LORD.

The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases;
his compassions never end.
²³They are fresh every morning;
your faithfulness is abundant!
²⁴“My portion [security, hope] is the Lord,” I have said to myself,
so I will put my hope in him.
Lamentations 3:22-24 NET

You see, what Jeremiah realized, and what we would be wise to learn from him, is that by remembering the “goodness of God” we will be led to hope and hope will move our heart, as it did his, from despair to ‘trusting in God, seeking Him, and waiting patiently for His deliverance.” It seems to me the key was in a change of focus – he went from “continually thinking about” his past and problems or misery to choosing to remember God’s goodness.

So, what are you waiting on today? Provision for a need? Wisdom for a decision? Healing? Whatever it is, fix your thoughts on the goodness of the Lord, determine to “call to mind” what He has done for you already and let those truths move you to HOPE, and from that hope may you ‘trust in him, seek him and wait patiently for His deliverance. In the meantime, rest and delight in knowing that His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is great!

Want more? Be sure and visit Love God Greatly for the Wednesday blog.

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