Tag: faithful

Posted in Bible study, From Broken to Restored, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Conviction, Confession, Forgiveness

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based on the Love God Greatly study, From Broken to Restored / w4d3

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:1-4; Leviticus 26:39-45 / SOAP: 1 John 1:9

But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

All of our passages in today’s study reveal the seriousness that God places on sin. It is so serious that it requires action on our part – that action is the confession of sin, meaning we admit our guilt before God – and in repentance turn away from the sin back to God and His way. In the Old Testament this meant offering a sacrifice to make atonement for the sin, however, in the New Testament that all changed with the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. His righteous blood was sufficient to ‘once and for all’ pay for the sins of man unlike any animal sacrifice that was or could ever be given.

While 1 John 1:9 is God’s promise to beleivers – that when/if we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive the sins. The added blessing is that God doesn’t just forgive the sins but He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. However, we must not ignore or miss the fact that this forgiveness comes “when/if” we “confess” our sins to God. When sins remained unconfessed they become a problem for us1, a stumbling block for others2, and a hindrance to our relationship with God3.

1Hebrews 12:7–11; 1 Corinthians 11:30

2Matthew 18:5-7; Matthew 18:8

  • 3If, as children of God, we choose to remain in our sin, then we choose the consequences that go with that choice. Broken fellowship and lack of growth result. However, those who persist in sin need to reexamine their true relationship with God (2 Corinthians 13:5) – Gotquestions.org;
  • See also Isaiah 59:2
    • Unconfessed sin works like a drape. Imagine standing by a south window on a cold winter day. The air is frigid, but the sun is shining through the window. It begins to warm you, and you bask in its glow. Then you pull the drape closed. Instantly, the warmth stops. Is it because the sun has stopped shining? No, it is because something has come between you and the sun. The moment you open the drape, the sun can warm you again. But it is up to you. The barrier is inside the house, not outside.
Making it Personal – Reflection

Was the people’s repentance genuine? How does genuine repentance differ from ritual repentance? Which one honors God more?

Going Further

Don’t miss today’s insight in the LGG Blog

A Sin Offering: https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-offering.html

The Danger of Unconfessed Sin

A Stumbling Block

Posted in Bible study, From Broken to Restored, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word

Project: Rebuild and Restore

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based on the LGG Study, From Broken to Restored /w1d4

They will rebuild the perpetual ruins
and restore the places that were desolate;
they will reestablish the ruined cities,
the places that have been desolate since ancient times.

Isaiah 61:4

Don’t you just love reading/seeing the prophecies of the Scriptures fulfilled. Each one an encouragement that God’s promises are sure and certain and each one an assurance that Jesus is truly coming again!

Today’s Love God Greatly Devotional points out that more than three-hundred years passed between the promise God spoke through Isaiah and Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Actually, “when God made this promise, Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed.” However, they had been “warned” about the consequences of their disobedience. Yet, as the writer of the LGG devotion states, “God also promised that He would restore them, rebuilding what had been ruined and devastated.”

This is exactly what happens in Nehemiah 3. Gate after gate and section after section is rebuilt. Perhaps the most beautiful thing about the rebuilding for me, is that God allowed the people to participate in the rebuilding process. Seriously, go back and read the entire report. It’s worth reading every verse to see the personal involvement of God’s people – whether family units or priests, temple servants, goldsmiths, or inexperienced people – they came – one after another after another – and worked together to rebuild the walls.

Then I said to them, “You see the problem that we have—Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned. Come on! Let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that this reproach will not continue.” 18 Then I related to them how the good hand of my God was on me and what the king had said to me. Then they replied, “Let’s begin rebuilding right away!” So they readied themselves for this good project.

Nehemiah 2:17-18

If you look back to chapter two, specifically verse seventeen and eighteen, you will hear Nehemiah’s plea coupled with what I would call a cheer. After pointing out the problem they were facing was the desolation of Jerusalem he pleads for them to “come on.” He urges them, “let’s rebuild the wall;” and he cheers them on by assuring them that God’s hand was on Him. Read carefully and you will see that in large part their participation was due to the encouraging and passionate invitation of Nehemiah.

Going Further

Today’s going further is borrowed from the From Broken to Restored journal, w1d4. Read, reread, and then dwell on it for a bit. Let it soak in that no matter the season you are in – God is not only working in and on you but He invites you to join Him in the rebuilding process.

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, In His Image, Journey Through The Word, The Attributes of God

God Most Faithful

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All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Thomas Chisholm, 1923
Today’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 23:19; Lamentations 3:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Today’s focus verse from Lamentations 3:22-23 is one of my favorites. It has, and still does, get me through many trials and worries of this life. It is a constant reminder that He is trustworthy – that regardless of the concerns and doubts this world offers us today, we never have to doubt God. He can be counted on.

God’s love is Faithful (trustworthy) – and because His love is faithful

  • His mercies never end
  • His[compassion] is new ever morning
  • His faithfulness is great
Faithfulness Remembered

When my husband of more than 26-years walked out the door many things crossed my mind. Shock, anger, hurt, fear and sorrow were at the top of the list. Sorrow quickly engulfed the shock, anger, and hurt but in the days that followed fear tried to become the dominator. This did not surprise me, as I had dealt with the crippling affect of fear for years. What did surprise me was the fact that with every crashing wave of fear came the reminder that God was faithful and would see me through. The wave of financial fear was met with examples of His past provisions and His current provisions still pouring in… the fear of ‘how will I survive this?’ was met with the reminder of His healing hand on my oldest daughter in her childhood battle with cancer… the concerns of his decision to leave and the crippling affect it could have on our daughters brought the reminder of how my youngest daughter, born with crippled feet, had known complete healing with no lasting effects… and even the wave of anger was doused with the reminder of how many times I had messed up and yet found Him faithful to forgive, slow to anger and abounding in “faithful love”. These reminders of God’s faithfulness kept fear at bay which kept despair and bitterness from taking root; and this allowed me, in the midst of it all, to minister to my daughters (then, 17 and 11) and to survive all of the things that come with the ugly reality of divorce. Perhaps the most beautiful reminder that God sent was the one that came with every wave of loneliness or feeling of abandonment. As I battled these emotions God would faithfully come along side of me – making me aware of His presence with me, a whisper from His Word, a call or a visit from a friend, or a card of love and encouragement -that He no doubt had prodded, would arrive and with each arrival was the refreshing refrain of the old hymn, “Great is Your faithfulness, Lord unto me.” How the reminders showed up was not as important or as memorable as the sweet and blessed realization that God was faithful.

He is faithful in the trial, in the temptations, in forgiveness, He will be faithful to the end, and He calls us to the same

God’s will for your life is that you be faithful as He is faithful. Faithful to Him. Faithful to others. Faithful in this moment. Faithful to the end. That when He wills, He also enables.

Jen Wilkin, In His Image – p106

My Response to God’s Word

Father, Your faithfulness is great! It surrounds me and holds me up. It is a sustaining grace of Your love and the hope of every tomorrow. Your love is faithful, Your presence is faithful, You are trustworthy and true to all You have said or promised. Your presence is dependable, Your comfort is sure, You go before me and come behind me, You are all around me and I have no reason to fear. Your ways are purposeful – meant to show me Your faithful love and truth. I praise You that I never have to doubt You but can rest forever in Your unfailing faithfulness. – All praise to You my Faithful God and Father, and to the Son and the Spirit who are equally faithful in all things. – Amen!

Join me on Monday, March 6 for the 6-week Love God Greatly Study, “He Sees, He knows, He Cares“. You’ll find everything you need for the study right here but the benefit of the journal is a helpful and lasting blessing and your purchase is used to stop Bible illiteracy! PURCHASE WOMEN’S JOURNAL

Questions for Reflection
  1. Who is the most faithful person you have every known? List several specific ways you witnessed that person’s faithfulness. How does his or her example point to the faithfulness of Christ?
  2. How have you known God’s faithfulness in trial? How did your time of trial produce perseverance?
  3. How have you known God’s faithfulness in temptations? How has he provided a way out in the past? What temptation (small or large) are you currently indulging? What wisdom does God’s Word offer as a way out?
  4. How should a desire to grow in faithfulness impact our relationship with God positively? How should it impact our relationships with others positively? Give a specific example of each.
Pray
Posted in Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study
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A Faithful Servant

Week 3, Day 4 of Choosing God Instead of the World, A Love God Greatly Study

Scripture Reading: Genesis 37:2-11 (SOAP – Luke 16:10)

10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.  NLT
Observation:
A glimpse of Joseph

Today’s passage from Genesis gives us a sneak peak at Joseph, whom we will continue to learn from in the coming weeks. Some of the things from today’s reading may be helpful to remember in future passages. While some speculate that Joseph was more loved than his brothers because he was the son of Rachel, the truth is that Joseph was loved more than all of his brothers because he born to Jacob in his old age, Genesis 37:3. As you can imagine, this caused problems with the brothers, as jealousy and hatred arose, fueled not only by the obvious display of Jacob’s love for Joseph, Genesis 37:3, but made worse by the dreams Joseph shared with them that seemed to be prophecies that he would one day rule over them. It also didn’t help that he gave a bad report to his father on how the brothers were caring for the sheep, Genesis 37:2. Scripture makes it clear that the brothers hated Joseph, leaves no doubt that the hate was fueled by jealousy, and clearly reveals that the hate destroyed relationships, Genesis 37:4, 8, 11.

Today’s Focus Verse

Today’s verse, Luke 16:10, is short and to the point. Basically it can be a stand-alone statement, “if you are faithful in a little you will be faithful in much and if you are dishonest in a little you will be dishonest in much”. However, there is much to be learned from it and the verses that surround it that make it much more than a general statement.

Application: How then should we Live?

We should be a faithful steward, not unfaithful. Being faithful with our ‘earthly’ wealth or things entrusted to us here will bear witness to what kind of stewards we will be with the responsibilities and treasures that God will entrust to us in His Kingdom.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, help us to be faithful stewards here so that we may be found even better stewards with the responsibilities and treasures of Your Kingdom. This to Your glory both on earth and in heaven. – Amen!

Your Turn:
  • Over what areas has God given you responsibility?
  • How can you be faithful in the small things in you life?
  • How can you be faithful in the big thing God has given you?
Want More?

Check out today’s LGG Blog

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Week 6 – Truth Over Lies: Overcoming Lies

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OVERCOME BY: WALKING IN TRUTH

Read: John 17:17 and SOAP: John 8:31-32

Truth: Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32
What do you think?
  • Where do we find truth?
  • What does it mean to ‘walk in truth’?

If we want to stand firm against deceit, we must learn to walk in truth.

Read the LGG Devotional here

John tells us how to discern between the Truth and a lie: We must abide closely to the One who is the way, the Truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

Read the Love God Greatly blog here
Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Friendship: Week 6, Day 3 — He is Our Faithful Friend

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READ: PROVERBS 18:24 AND HEBREWS 13:5-6; SOAP: PROVERBS 18:24

Proverbs 18:24 New Living Translation

There are “friends” who destroy each other,
    but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Some of us have not only been disappointed by our friends, we have been seriously hurt. – 

Read the full LGG Devotional

REFLECTION QUESTION: HOW DOES GOD PROVE TO BE A “FAITHFUL FRIEND”?

Hebrews 13:5-6 New Living Translation

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.
    I will never abandon you.”

6 So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper,
    so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?”

So, I’m dying to know your takeaway from today – even if it’s just the word “Faithful”. Or maybe you feel like He hasn’t always been faithful to you? If so, take a second to share why so that we can pray for and encourage you.

Reply below

Don’t forget to check out today’s LGG Blog at https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Shame Breaker, Week 1 Tuesday – God Removes Our Guilt

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Today’s Scripture – Psalm 103:12-13 (S.O.A.P. Psalm 103:12-13)

He has removed our sins as far from us
    as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

Today’s Blog Post

If you would like to continue following this four-week study and other posts from the Nsideout sign-up below

Posted in From the Insideout, LGG Study

Bridge to Shame Breaker Wk 2 December 31, 2020

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One of the things I love about God is His Faithfulness. Trust is hard for me but with God I don’t have to worry about whether or not I can trust Him. It isn’t simply that there are verses that declare Him to be faithful; don’t get me wrong, since we walk by faith and not by sight this would be enough, but His actions bear witness to His Word. Or, as our verse says – “He ACTS in a faithful manner -“. Because He does I know that He is reliable. He is a dependable REFUGE. And, there is truly NO ONE on earth or in heaven like Him. No wonder David wrote in Psalm 16:8 – “I constantly trust in the LORD; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” As we head out of one very challenging year and into all the unforeseen of another – may David’s bold and confident statement become our mantra. May it define us and become our strength both day and night, on our mountain-tops and in our valleys. May it be a light of encouragement to those who are watching. When troubles come and they see that we aren’t shaken perhaps they will ask why – and may we be ready with an answer – like David – for the HOPE that is within us! The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me,  and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2

Me – from the Insideout

The one true God acts in a faithful manner;

the Lord’s promise is reliable.

He is a shield to all who take shelter in him.

31 Indeed, who is God besides the Lord?

Who is a protector besides our God?

Psalm 18:30-31

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 17 and 18; (S.O.A.P. Psalm 18:30-31)

Psalm 17 A prayer of David.

1 O Lord, hear my plea for justice.
    Listen to my cry for help.
Pay attention to my prayer,
    for it comes from honest lips.
2 Declare me innocent,
    for you see those who do right.

3 You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
    You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong.
    I am determined not to sin in what I say.
4 I have followed your commands,
    which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
5 My steps have stayed on your path;
    I have not wavered from following you.

6 I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
    Bend down and listen as I pray. Read More

Psalm 18 For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang:

I love you, Lord;
    you are my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.
3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and he saved me from my enemies.

4 The ropes of death entangled me;
    floods of destruction swept over me.
5 The grave[a] wrapped its ropes around me;
    death laid a trap in my path.
6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
    yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
    my cry to him reached his ears. Read More

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout

From the Insideout: Everlasting Covenant – Week 1, Tuesday

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The rainbow has been used in many different ways throughout history, such as an acronym, Roy G. Biv, for the sequence of hues commonly described as making up a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, or as a trademark in the advertisement of a popular cereal, and the infamous path to a pot of gold. However, it’s first use as a symbol precedes each of these by centuries and carries much more importance.

We find it mentioned for the first time as a sign of a covenant between Noah and all generations that followed. God said it was to signify that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. He called it a guarantee, and to this day He has held true to His promise.

Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth.

Genesis 9:12-13

Since childhood, when I see a rainbow I’ve been intrigued. First of all – where’s it’s end and is there really a pot of gold there? (Ok, be honest, you’ve wondered the same thing.) However, having been raised in a Christian home and taken to church from birth – I learned very early on through Bible story books and flannel graph lessons (yes, I am that old) – that what I was seeing meant God had made a promise. Somewhere along the way, as I grew and matured in my understanding of that promise I moved from simple intrigue and being mesmerized by it’s beauty to giving thanks to God for His promise, and then to being humbled by His faithful grace and mercies to His people.

As I reread the passage today, I noticed three things –

He gave a sign for Noah and all generations to come. God could have simply said, “I promise.”, but He’s a relational God and He chose to give His people a visible sign. He called it a guarantee, a term meant to imply or encourage trust in the one making the promise.

Then there’s the placement of the sign. “I will place My rainbow in the clouds.” When I think about clouds, I think of “looking up”, an act I immediately associate with “looking to God”. I think of Scriptures like Psalm 121: 1-2, where the Psalmist said he looked up to the hills because he knew his help came from the Lord, and of Luke 21:25-28 where Jesus, Himself, said that the people were to look up because their redemption was coming.

25 “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. 26 People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. 28 So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”

Luke 21:25-28

However, the thing I found most interesting is that Scripture doesn’t say that the rainbow is to be a reminder for Noah and the generations to come, I guess that’s a given since a sign is meant to be noticed. It does, however, say that He will notice it and remember it as the guarantee He made to His children. God is God – He is the omniscient – all knowing – God. Forgetfulness is not one of His characteristics, but just as He can declare that He will not remember our sins against us* – He can “claim the right” to remember a promise made. His statement, as the symbol itself, is an indication of the how serious He is about the promise.

*31 “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord. But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Jeremiah 31:31-34

God is serious about His promise so He gives His people a visible sign to confirm it, a sign that is a reminder still today. A symbol of trust that has not worn out with the passing of time. A symbol that awakens a fresh remembrance of a faithful and loving God. A symbol of hope, of grace, of mercy, and of love.

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.