Tag: Enduring Hope

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Contentment in God or …?

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based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w4d3

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10 / SOAP – 1:15-16

But Hannah replied, “Not so, my lord! I am a woman under a great deal of stress. I haven’t drunk wine or beer. But I have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman. It’s just that, to this point, I have spoken from my deep pain and anguish.”

1 Samuel 1:15-16

If you’ve known me long, heard me teach, or read many of my blogs you have likely heard or read my story of being childless for the first eight years of marriage. It is tempting to apologize for the repetitiveness, but I don’t, for it is the testimony of God’s work in my life. It was a time when He revealed my lack of contentment in Him. My desire for a child had become so much greater than my desire for God that my trust and hope in Him were barely visible at times. I was hurt when I saw or heard about others who were pregnant; and I was disappointed, even angry, with God every month when I realized, yet again, that I wasn’t pregnant.

In the beginning, I would cry out to God in prayer – much like Hannah, but as the years went on I would “act out”, so to speak. I would chase after other things that I believed could satisfy – for somewhere in my mind I had traded hope in God for hope in my circumstances. My hope had been shaken and shaken hard. I was a good “church girl”, so on Sundays and Wednesdays glimpses of faith and hope would shine light into the wilderness I was trapped in. I was miserable, my marriage was on shaky ground, my friends were having babies so my friendships were threatened – some were even ruined, and I found myself just going through the motions of life … until I found myself spilling my anguish out to my mother one afternoon as we sat on the front porch of her home. While we had a good relationship it was not one where we talked about personal issues like this, so trust me when I say it was a God thing, His perfect timing. I whined about not being pregnant and told her how miserable I was in every area of life and she said, something to the effect of – maybe you just need to learn to be content – which was followed up with some Scripture her Pastor had recently shared in a message. Her response perturbed me at first but I listened to her talk, dried my tears and eventually went home – and poured myself out to God like never before. In the days that followed God began working on my heart and mind and changing me from the inside-out. And, much like with Rachel and Leah in our previous post and Hannah from today, God ‘remembered’ me and within a very short time I learned I was pregnant.

… for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

1 Corinthians 4:11-13

In today’s story, Hannah poured herself out before the LORD. She was so caught up in her prayer, she didn’t realize that Eli, the priest, was watching her; nor did Eli realize that Hannah was praying in her mind to God – instead he thought she was drunk and encouraged her to put away her wine. Of course, Hannah replies that she isn’t drunk but rather under a great deal of stress and pouring out her “soul before the LORD.” She doesn’t elaborate on the source of stress but does request that Eli not consider her a wicked woman but rather to understand that she was pouring herself out before the LORD. She wasn’t speaking from drunkenness but rather from deep pain and anguish.

Scripture says that Eli told Hannah to, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:17) Following her encounter with Eli and his encouraging blessing, Hannah “went her way and got something to eat. Her face no longer looked sad.” She had been refreshed by the prayer of Eli and the next day her mind and heart were occupied with God in worship before returning home. Scripture tells us that soon after this Hannah learned she was pregnant.

The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her plea, 20 and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”

1 Samuel 1:19b-20

Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for allowing us to pour our “souls” out to You. We are a people who need You and You have made it clear from Old Testament to New that we can bring You our fears, our desires like ‘childlessness”, our finances, our concerns, worries, and needs. Help us to trust in You even when we cannot see Your hand. You are a good and faithful father. – Amen!

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

When God Remembers

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 based on the Love God Greatly Study, Enduring Hope / w4d2

Today’s Reading: Genesis 29:31-30:24 / SOAP 30:22-24

Then Leah said, “God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will honor me because I have given him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.

21 After that she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

22 Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Then she said, “God has taken away my shame.” 24 She named him Joseph, saying, “May the Lord give me yet another son.”

Genesis 30:22-24
The Back Story

Jacob’s story with Leah and Rachel is best understood by going back to the day his father, Isaac, sent him on a journey. “You must not marry a Canaanite woman!  Leave immediately for Paddan Aram! Go to the house of Bethuel, your mother’s father, and find yourself a wife there, among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.  May the Sovereign God bless you! May he make you fruitful and give you a multitude of descendants! Then you will become a large nation.  May he give you and your descendants the blessing he gave to Abraham so that you may possess the land God gave to Abraham, the land where you have been living as a temporary resident.” 

After Isaac had spoken these words , he sent Jacob on his way, and Jacob went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean and brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau. Along the wayJacob falls asleep and has a dream, in which he hears God say, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the ground you are lying on. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. And so all the families of the earth may receive blessings through you and through your descendants. I am with you! I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you!”

Following this, Jacob made a vow, saying: “If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear,  and I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will become my God. Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.” Afterwards, Jacob moved on and came to the land of the eastern people.

And So It Began

This is where the ‘today’s story’ begins. For it is here that Jacob met and fell in love with Rachel, It is also here that Jacob was deceived by Laban, his mother’s brother. It is because of that deception that we find the two sisters, Rachel and Leah, both married to Jacob, one loved and the other unloved, one betrayed by her father and the other used in the deception of Jacob. While the events and desires or plans of Jacob’s life had become disrupted by man’s schemes, God was (and is) in perfect and complete control. He was not working only in and for Jacob – but for Leah and Rachel and the children they would bear and when they would bear them

Leah had given Jacob four sons but Rachel was unable to give Jacob children. Jealous of Leah and desperate for children, rather than trust God she schemes and manipulates the situation by giving her servant to Jacob so that she could conceive for her. Perhaps culturally acceptable in that day, this decision and manipulation never ceases to amaze me. However, I’m even more amazed and have learned much from the fact that she gives God the credit and the glory for something she manipulated.

“God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer and given me a son.”

Genesis 30:6

The manipulation and the competitive actions of the sisters continue. Leah longing for Jacob to love her and Rachel longing to give her husband a son. The women seem to be pawns in Laban’s schemes and obviously manipulative themselves, but God did not forget them, (Genesis 30:17 and 22). Because God did not forget them, because He is in complete and perfect control of all things, Leah was able to conceive two more sons and a daughter. Rachel also became pregnant and gave Jacob two sons, Joseph and Benjamin, (Genesis 35:24). Because God’s love and power are seen in His Word I can endure the times of waiting and unfulfilled desires with Hope.

Response to God’s Word

Father, how often in the past have I not been patient for You to answer or trusted that You would answer according to my desires. In my impatience and self-consumed desires I have often pushed ahead and manipulated people and situations to attain my wants and my goals. I look back with regret on many of these things and yet I also see Your power to work all these things together for the good of those who love you, who have been called according to Your purpose. Thank You for the lessons of Scripture and for those You have taught me through life’s experiences. Thank You for forgiveness of sin and for Your perfect and complete control in all things. Thank You for remembering me when I was childless and desperate and for letting me look back now and see how you opened my womb when the time was just as You desired and knew it should be, for both Your will and my benefit, in the years to come! Blessed be Your name and power – O LORD, my God and Father.

Going Deeper

The Back Story

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Unwavering Faith

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based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope, w4d1

Today’s Reading: Romans 4:13-25; SOAP / 20-21

 He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do.

Romans 4:20-21
The Bigger Picture

Romans chapter 4 is an illustration of justification. I believe it is good to read/review the book of Romans often and particularly this chapter – which was instrumental in my late 20s and early 30s to understanding God’s grace and being able to stand firm in my salvation. It is a beautiful word picture of the TRUTH of our salvation.

So while we are only given verses 20 and 21 to SOAP, I would encourage you to look at the whole passage (13-25). It’s in these verses you will see that the promise of eternal life is not by keeping the law – but – by “the righteousness that comes by faith,” and even this is by God’s grace to all who believe. This may seem redundant information – as our studies touch on this a lot – which is because it is the crux of the Gospel message. Salvation is not by works that we have done or ever can/will do; it is solely by the grace of God, through the blood of His only begotten Son, and our faith in that truth.

For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified.

Romans 4:14

Abraham’s life is one unknown after another it seems. He followed God out of his comfort zone into the unknown and was forever waiting for the fulfillment of the promise(s),specifically those mentioned in Genesis 12:1-3. It’s here we read of God calling Abraham to “go from his country to another land.” If he went, God promised to make Abraham a great nation, to bless him, to make his name great, to bless those who blessed him and curse those who dishonored him, and to bless all of the families of the earth through Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3). Some of these He saw answered and rejoiced, others were never realized in His lifetime but according to our SOAP passage today, he did not waiver in unbelief about the promise of God that he would inherit the world, which is apparently Paul’s summation of the promises from Genesis. Because of this, his faith was strengthened and this gave glory to God.

Fully Convinced

How about you? Is your faith full and firm in God’s promise or is it empty and the promise nullified? It is a daunting question for sure but one we would be wise to occasionally examine so that we are not found wavering in our faith in the promises of God that are ours through Christ. Wavering may seem normal with such a promise as the Gospel presents but it is vital that we come to a place that we are fully convinced that what God has promised He is also able to do. As we continue in this belief our faith will grow stronger and God will be glorified.

The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind –

James 1:6 (see also Ephesians chapter 4, specifically v.14)
Response to God’s Word

Father, You are a promise maker and a faithful promise keeper. Your Word is yes and amen in Jesus Christ and we are blessed by You. The world is full of challenges and obstacles and we have an enemy who is the father of lies, so help us to stand firm in our beliefs, unwavering, like Abraham and strengthened in our faith, giving glory to You. Where there is doubt quickly speak Truth over us. Help us to faithfully be in Your Word and let us be fully convinced that what you have promised You have done and are also able to do. For only when we are fully convinced will we live in unwavering belief of the Gospel message … only then will we see the beauty of Your amazing grace, unending mercies, and abounding and abiding love. It is in these truths we will be able to press on in enduring hope through all of life.

Going Deeper

The LGG Blog Post

Romans Chapter 4

Worship through the Song
Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

A Faith that Presses On

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Based on an LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w3d5

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 11:13-16 / SOAP verse 16

But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 11:16
Who are “They”?

When studying Scripture, it is important to look back to the previous verse(s), exploring the people and things talked about, in order to understand the pronouns in the current verse. For instance in our SOAP verse today, we must know who was “aspiring to a better land” in order to understand who God “is not ashamed” of or who “He has prepared a city for.”

In this case, looking back, we find that the writer is referring to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob – and others like them; they are the “heroes of the faith.” They were the ones who remained faithful, not turning back even though they never received the things they were promised. They believed the promise that there was a better “homeland” and did not return to the one they, by faith, had left behind. Instead, they “trusted God’s ability to bring about His promises out of things unseen.”

Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. –

Hebrews 11:1
Made Right With God

“They realized that God’s promises aren’t necessarily tied to some physical earthly benefit. Instead, God is working all things for good, from a heavenly eternal plan.” So, because they lived out their faith – not wavering in their trust in God – God was not ashamed of them. “It was their faith leading to obedience, not the actions themselves, which made them acceptable to God.” [quotes borrowed from bibleref.com, Hebrews 11:16]

The same is true for us today, for when we walk by faith and not by sight, placing our trust in Jesus, we are made right with God – no longer His enemies but the children He, by grace, adopts as His own.

The grace and goodness of God are on full display in Christian reconciliation. “You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault”

(Colossians 1:21–22, NLT).
Response to God’s Word

Father, thank you that though we were once Your enemies, You – by grace – made a way for us to have a relationship with You. By grace, the work of Christ on the cross, and our faith in Him we stand before You unashamed – no longer condemned because we are in Christ Jesus, in whom You are well pleased! Thank you for the examples of those who have gone before us, who by faith did not turn back from following You, though they did not see Your promises come true in their lifetime. Like them we are strangers and foreigners on this earth – waiting for our heavenly homeland. Though we may grow weary in the wait Father, help us to stand firm – fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross – scorning its shame. Help us not to turn away from His commands but to press on to the mark of the Your high calling in Christ our Lord and Savior. Help us to endure in the hope we have in Christ and in Your promises – Amen and amen in Jesus’ name amen!

Going Deeper

Today’s LGG Blog will give you more insight on today’s passage

What does Hebrews 11:16 mean?

Unashamed

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Confident Expectation

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Based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope, w3,d4

Today’s Reading: Titus 3:3-8 / SOAP: Titus 3:7

And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”

Titus 3:7

Because Jesus made us right with God – who saved us by His grace – we have become co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Because of this, our hope is secure in the eternal life God promised through our faith in Jesus Christ.

We were all once enemies of God. We disobeyed His commands, ignored His wisdom, and hated one another. We were hopeless without God and hopeless of ever being saved. But God did not let us stay there. –

LGG Team Member / Enduring Hope w3d4
An Amazing Love and Confident Expectations

In the Enduring Hope journal the LGG Team of writers share devotions for each day’s Scripture references. They are all wonderful but some stand out to me more than others. Today’s was one of those. I share it in part here that those who read this blog might not miss the hope that comes from these words that so beautifully describe the love of our God and Savior.

“We were all once enemies of God. We disobeyed His commands, ignored His wisdom, and hated one another. We were hopeless without God and hopeless of ever being saved. But God did not let us stay there.

Our God is kind. He is loving. He is merciful. He poured out His kindness, love, and mercy on us when we were still His enemies. Instead of letting us remain in darkness. He rescued us and gave us new life.”

The writer goes on to explain, “We’ve done nothing to deserve the kindness of God, nor could we possibly have made restitution for our sins on our own. We sinned against God, but His mercy was poured out on us; He held nothing back. He has fully and completely justified us.” She explains, “This means we are fully pardoned from sin, fully free of the punishment of death.” Oh what beautiful love this is!

“He has welcomed us as heirs, as recipients of all the promises of God. We have a confident expectation of eternal life.”

LGG Team Member / Enduring Hope

Perhaps the best part of the author’s words is her commentary on our justification and eternal inheritance. Remember it’s an inheritance that would have never been ours apart from the grace and love of God, and the complete surrender of His “only begotten son”, as John described Him (John 3:16). She puts to rest every consideration we may have ever given to how Christ, the only son and rightful, sole heir feels about sharing the inheritance with us, who were enemies of His Father. With the reminder of Christ’s own words that He has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven, she writes, “He has welcomed us as heirs, as recipients of all the promises of God. We have a confident expectation of eternal life.”

Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for the confidence that is ours through Christ Jesus and for the eternal life He secured for us on the cross. + We are forever in His debt and Yours, for He surrendered His life for mine and You accepted it as payment in-full for my sin debt! Mercy and grace flow into hope and we are forever changed – from hopelessly lost to eternally secure in Christ! I praise You God, my God – from Whom all blessings flow! – In Jesus’ name – Amen!

Worship Through Song

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=M7cD9kAjrXg&feature=share

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

The Salvation of Your Souls

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Based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope, w3d2
Today’s Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9 / SOAP: 1 Peter 1:8-9

You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, because you are attaining the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9
LIVING HOPE

Peter’s letter is meant to be a praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, it also serves to encourage the Christians who had been scattered because of persecution. What a cheerleader Peter was for these believers. He urges them to not give up even though they may be suffering, the suffering will enhance their faith and reveal its proven character – which Peter says is much more valuable than gold. He cheers them on with the reminder that they have, by faith, been reborn into a living hope, that they can trust in this hope because Jesus is ALIVE! I can just hear Peter cheering – ‘Alive! Alive! / A-L-I-V-E / Jesus is ALIVE! – This is the foundation of our salvation and it is indeed our living hope! It is, as Peter described, our imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance kept in heaven for us until that day!

What exactly does Peter mean when he speaks of “a living hope”?

Peter states that it is the “new birth” that provides our living hope, affirming that salvation is a gift from God. Just as an infant does nothing to be born, we experience rebirth not because of who we are or anything we have done. We are born of God (John 1:13) through Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Salvation changes who we are (2 Corinthians 5:17), making us dead to sin and alive to righteousness in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:5). This new birth serves as our reason for hope—the assurance of salvation. –  Jesus Christ is our Savior, our salvation, our Living Hope.

Gotquestions.org /on what is Living Hope
BLIND LOVE

Like those Peter wrote to in his day – we have not yet seen Jesus, but we love Him and we believe in Him, and indeed, we rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy! Why? Because we are achieving, or realizing, the goal of our faith – which is – the salvation of our souls! Can’t you just hear the crowd responding to Peter’s cheer with a thunderous shout of “Hallelujah! / HALLELUJAH! / HAL-LE-LU-JAH!?”

Response To The Word

Father, Hallelujah! You have given us a spectacular and living hope through a faith that is attaining for us the salvation of our souls. You have given us Jesus, and even though we haven’t yet seen Him we have believed in Him and we have loved Him. This belief and love are ongoing and bring with them an indescribable and glorious joy – to which we say glory hallelujah and amen!

Go Deeper

What is the living hope in 1 Peter 1:3?

Visit today’s LGG Blog for more thoughts on today’s passage

Biblereference.com / commentary on 1 Peter 1:8

The Salvation of our Souls / commentary on 1 Peter 1:9

Song of Worship

Living Hope

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

When Hope Is No Hope At All

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Based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope, w3d1

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 / SOAP verses 16-19

And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.  In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

1 Corinthians 15:16-19

The Gospel Paul preached was: Christ crucified, dead and buried, and raised from the dead. It is this Gospel that has the power to save (Romans 1:16) – and it is through our faith in Jesus, the focus of the Gospel that God’s grace has saved us! (Ephesians 2:8) However, if Christ really hasn’t been resurrected, as some were suggesting in Paul’s day, and some still doubt today – then Paul’s preaching was a waste of time and our faith is worthless.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty

1 Corinthians 15:14

The bottom line is that we either believe in life after death or we don’t. For if Christ was not resurrected then no one else will be, and we are without HOPE. This means:

To place our hope in this life – is to have no hope at all!

Response to God’s Word

Father, I believe Your Word and I stand firm in the faith of the Gospel message that Christ Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried – and that on the third day he rose from the grave! I believe that after revealing Himself, in His resurrected body, to His disciples – for a period of days – He then ascended into Heaven where He is now seated at Your right hand – where, among other things, He intercedes for us in accordance with Your will. I believe that He will one day return to claim His bride, the church, that we might forever live with You! In this is my hope and strength for each new day – without this there is no hope at all. Let us not become cynical in this world of chaos and hopelessness but rather help us to stand firm in Your truth and to be lights and voices of the promised Hope of Jesus’ return and the promise of eternity with You – and this that others might come to share in our HOPE – In the name of Jesus I pray – Amen and Amen!

song of Worship

Going Deeper

Don’t forget you can get more out of today’s passage by reading the Love God Greatly Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Comfort in Trouble

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Enduring Hope, An LGG Study / Week 2 Hope In God’s Character
Today’s Reading /Psalm 119:49-64 / SOAP Psalm 119:49-50

Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
50 This is what comforts me in my trouble,
for your promise revives me.

Psalm 119:49-50
Notes:
Verse 49:
  • God does not forget His Word
  • God’s faithfulness is known and not doubted
  • God’s Word give the Psalmist/us HOPE
  • The Psalmist honors God with and through a servant’s attitude
Verse 50:
  • God’s Word is powerful – it comforts and revives us when we need it
    • consider this: revive means to regain life, consciousness, or strength
    • give new strength or energy to.
  • We can/should use it to comfort and revive others

It is obvious that the Psalmist puts much weight into God’s Word. He has a personal relationship with God since he alludes to the fact that God has spoken to him before. He not only calls God to remember the words He had spoken to His servant, but the Psalmist declares that the words have brought him hope. When he has faced troubles, God’ hope-filled words have brought the Psalmist comfort, because he considers God’s Word to be trustworthy promises that can fill him with strength and life.

Response to God’s Word

Father, Your hope-filled words comfort me when I’m in trouble – I trust in Your Words – I consider them gold, pure gold, sure and TRUE – so they revive me when I’m weak or “fainting” from fear, trouble, doubt , worry, and the like. For this I am most thankful. Help me to use Your Word to comfort others, to help them regain strength and life in times of trouble. – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

His Loyal Love Endures

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Enduring Hope, An LGG Study / Week 2 Hope In GOd’s Character
Today’s Reading /Psalm 136 / SOAP Psalm 136:23-26

to the one who remembered us when we were down,
for his loyal love endures,
24 and snatched us away from our enemies,
for his loyal love endures,
25 to the one who gives food to all living things,
for his loyal love endures.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his loyal love endures!

Psalm 136:23-26

How sweet and comforting it is to know God’s love is loyal and it endures. I can’t help but think how beneficial it would be for us to imitate the Psalmist and make a list of reasons to thank Him and to follow each reason with the phrase – for His loyal love endures – if for no other reason than to rehearse it in our minds so that when there doesn’t seem to be any miraculous deeds or creation seems to be crumbling rather than ‘awing’ us. Or when chaos and our needs are overwhelming us, or we find ourselves wandering in a desert or walking into battle, even then may we say – to God belongs all thanks and praise because His loyal love endures!

To endure is to abide … to last … to remain … to continue …
in other words … God’s love is forever

Me – from the Inside out 🦋

It’s also a healthy exercise to reverse the order of the Psalmist’s wording. For instance,

  • ‘Because your loyal love endures, God remembers us when we are down -‘
  • ‘Because His loyal love endures, God saved us from our enemies’ – or
  • ‘Because his loyal love endures, He provides our food.’

This is what I call a biblical perspective that impacts or changes everything! When this is our perspective we find strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow! And, we find countless reasons to praise the father.

Reflection Question

What’s something you have to thank Him for?

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Quiet Time

The Goodness of God

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Enduring Hope, An LGG Study / Week 2 Hope In GOd’s Character
Today’s Reading /Ruth 1; 4:14-22; Matthew 7:7-11 / SOAP Matthew 7:11

If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:11

Borrowing from today’s LGG Journal/Devotional – “We serve a good God. He never changes. But sometimes, life doesn’t turn out the way we hoped it would. How do we reconcile our difficulties with God’s goodness in those times? How do we know that He really cares about us when we don’t feel like anything that’s happening to us [or those we love] could possibly be good?

Naomi had experienced incredible loss. She knew who God was, she was convinced of His character – that He was sovereign, ever-present, and good – but she had stopped believing He was good to her.”

If you didn’t read today’s passages from Ruth, I encourage you to do so. We may know the story from reading or hearing it before but let it fall fresh on you and watch for the ways God cared for Naomi – even in the midst of her loss and bitterness. In chapter one we see her forced to leave her homeland, friends, and all she knew for another land and people. Once there she lost her husband and her two sons, but not before gaining two daughters-in-law. One of which, Ruth, adopted Naomi’s God as her God and despite the fact that Naomi released her from her ‘obligation’ to live out her days with her – Ruth makes the declaration: “Stop urging me to abandon you! For wherever you go, I will go,. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will become my people, and your God will become my God. Wherever you die, I will die – and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I do not keep my promise! Only death will be able to separate me from you!”

The rest of the story is a beautiful love story of God for His daughter and the longevity of His people. It is a wonderful testimony of His Great Faithfulness and evidence of the work of His hand! To miss it is to miss out on a visual piece of the rich history of God’s people.

It is also a wonderful example of today’s focus verse – in demonstrating how “[our] Father in heaven gives good gifts to those who ask him!”

If you’re wondering why the LGG Team combined the Ruth passage with the Matthew passage – note in Ruth 1:8-9 how Naomi had prayed in general for both Ruth and Orpah, but then she prays specifically for Boaz, who has recently shown interest in Ruth –

“And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘May [Boaz] be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!

Ruth 2:4-19

And then, the beautiful declaration of praise from the lips of the village women, when they saw how God had answered Ruth’s prayer –

“May the LORD be praised because he has not left you without a guardian today!”

Ruth 4:14

Consider this, not only had God provided Naomi with a guardian, He was continuing to carry out His plan to gift us with a Savior! – Oh the vast, immeasurable goodness of God!

Response to the Word

Oh God, how very good You are! You have gifted us with a Savior, with Your Spirit, with forgiveness, never-ending mercy and all sufficient grace. You hear and answer our prayers, You see us when we are hurting, and You provide for our needs. Yes, You allow hard and even tragic things to happen to us or around us but our hope will not be shaken for we know You are with us, You are for us, You are not against us. Help us to press into these truths and to cling to the HOPE that is ours in Christ Jesus! – Amen and amen!