Tag: God

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Spirit

The Spirit

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Lent – A Season of Drawing Close to God

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Luke 4:1-15; and SOAP: 2 Corinthians 3:17

 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 4:17

I can’t help but start with the passage from Luke and the story of Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. This lesson on dealing with temptation has been a huge help to me in my walk of faith through the years. I have benefited greatly from the example of Jesus’ method of dealing with temptation and have put specific verses to memory to use as weapons of warfare when the enemy comes at me. However, this time, as I began reading, what caught my attention were the words: “Then Jesus, full of the Spirit … led by the Spirit … and returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” I love that Luke writes with details like, “Then Jesus,” which is a follow-up statement to the preceding verses that told of Jesus’ baptism and the heavens opening and the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove.

 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Luke 3:21-22

Jesus, or the Word, as John describes Him in John 1:1, was victorious over the devil!

Though His fasting had emptied Him of food, it was clear that Jesus was filled, not only with the Spirit but also with the Word, and that the words He chose and boldly spoke to the devil overcame every temptation hurled at Him by the devil. The Word of God was the victory that empowered Jesus to return from the wilderness and eventually begin His public preaching. 🦋

LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

Like Jesus, we are full of the Spirit and led by the Spirit – and when we choose to keep in step with the Spirit we will be victorious over the enemy. Consider the words Jesus spoke to His disciples about the Holy Spirit before His ascension into Heaven, “But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told You.” When we keep in step with the Spirit, walking in and by the Word of God, the Spirit will help us to use the Word to overcome the enemy just like Jesus did. While we may not ‘fast’ for forty days as Jesus did in this extraordinary event, we can make it a habit to pray – Father empty me of me and of the things of this world and fill me up with You, Your Son abiding in me and I in Him, and Your Spirit leading me, teaching me, and reminding me of everything You have said.

PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

Father empty me of me and of the things of this world and fill me up with You, Your Son abiding in me and I in Him, and Your Spirit leading me, teaching me, and reminding me of everything You have said. For where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom from the power of sin and its pull or hold on me! Thank You, Father, that it isn’t the name “Christian” that makes a believer strong, but rather it is the Spirit, Who is our strength and Who intercedes for us in my weaknesses. I am most blessed to belong to You!

THE MORE WE KNOW

Jesus came to set us free spiritually. 

The Spirit helps us in our weaknesses

The Lord is a Spirit

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

Seeking Godly Wisdom

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based on the LGG Study, LENT – A Season of Drawing Closer to God / w2d3

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Daniel 1:3-17; SOAP / James 1:5

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

James 1:5
What is the Wisdom We Should Seek?

Godly wisdom may look very different from worldly wisdom. Jesus highlighted these differences in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5—7). For example, He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Godly wisdom often requires us to do that which is opposite to our natural inclinations. Godly wisdom goes against the “conventional wisdom” of the day; it is not focused on self-preservation but on furthering the kingdom of God. We can only live in godly wisdom when we are committed to crucifying our flesh and living in the Spirit (see Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:16, 25).1

Take, for instance, Daniel, who was committed to God. He not only trusted God but He acted on that trust even at the risk of his life … And God blessed Daniel and those who joined him in the commitment and risk.

Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”

Daniel 1:11-13 NLT

LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

So how can we know the wisdom of God? How can we know when to stand for something or, like Daniel, when to stand against something? Following the words James wrote, we are to seek God’s wisdom by going straight to the source, boldly approaching His throne, asking God through prayer, and/or by seeking Him through His Word. After all, in (Psalm 119:98–100), we are told that God’s Word makes us wise, so it only makes sense that we seek for wisdom within His Word.

The primary way we gain godly wisdom is by learning God’s Word (Psalm 119:169). “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). No one is born wise; we must acquire wisdom from God if we are to be truly wise: “Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts” (Psalm 119:98–100).

Gotquestions.org / Godly Wisdom
PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

Father, Your Word tells us to study to show ourselves approved workmen for You and to do this so that we can understand Your Word and walk in the wisdom of It. This instruction is not only so that we may live well by it – but that we might explain it well to others in order that they might also know and follow You. Help us to be faithful stewards of Your Word and prayer, for both are gifts and spiritual disciplines that are meant to draw us close to You and help us live according to Your Word. – In Jesus’ Name I pray – Amen!

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
THE MORE WE KNOW

1What is Godly Wisdom?

Be sure and visit https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/ for more insight on today’s passage

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Lent, Quiet Time

The Scriptures

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THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Exodus 34:27-28; Romans 10:17; and SOAP: Romans 15:4

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Romans 15:4 NLT

Because of the importance of this passage and the desired effect I believe God wants it to have on our lives – I have chosen to share the following reference from Bibleref.com / Romans 15:4, which had a profound impact on my understanding. I’m praying it will bless you as well.

Paul seems to take a bit of a detour from his main point with these words. In the previous verse, he quoted from Psalm 69 to support the idea that because Christ did not please Himself in this life, self-gratification should not be the main priority of Christ-followers.

Now Paul seems to comment on his practice—seen in Romans and throughout his other letters—of quoting Scripture to support his teaching about Christ. For the modern reader, Paul’s references are from what we now call the Old Testament. It is true that Christians have died to the law in Christ and have been released from any obligation to obey the requirements of the law (Romans 7:4–6). That does not mean, however, that the scriptures from the “former days” have stopped being valuable.

Paul insists that those older Scriptures were written to teach modern Christians, not just those who read them in the former times. Those Scriptures are for us, too, to bring encouragement and hope to God’s people in every generation. They help us to endure, even in and through suffering.

This verse serves as an answer to modern Christians who ask, why even bother to read the Old Testament? Regardless of age, those writings remain the revelation of the heart of God. The fact that we have been freed in Christ from following the law does not stop those 39 books from being the Word of God, full of truth, wisdom, history, and great encouragement for believers. Paul insists that we place value on those Scriptures and seek out encouragement and hope from them.

LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

We must make room for the Word(s) of God – whether it is literal time or quieting the distractions of our minds and hearts. The importance of this is seen not only in the forty days Moses spent listening to God and writing down the ten commandments but also in Paul’s words that tell us “Faith comes from hearing the preached word of Christ. I can’t help but also think of Paul’s encouragement to Timothy to stay faithful to the Word he has been taught, emphasizing how all Scripture was breathed out by God and is useful for rebuking, correcting, teaching, and training in righteousness.

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 NLT
PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

Father, Indeed all Scripture was breathed out by You and is useful for rebuking, correcting, teaching and training in righteousness. Help us not neglect It Father – for we know It has the power to save and that it is a light to guide our feet and a shield against sin. By Your Word we are warned and in keeping it there is great reward. As Paul told Timothy, we must remain faithful to the things we have been taught. We want to remain faithful to You – to the things written of old all the way to John’s closing words of Revelation. We want to know and understand and live out Your Word. We believe, as Your Word proclaims, that all Scripture has been inspired by You and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. Through the Word we are given the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Jesus Christ. Help us to create space for Your Word in our day to day lives and to keep in step with Your Spirit, whom You sent to teach us all things and to remind us of everything Jesus said. Use it, please – to prepare and equip us for every good work – to set us apart from the world and to make You known. – Amen, in Jesus’ name!

THE MORE WE KNOW

Keep In Step With the Spirit

To trust in Christ and yield to His Holy Spirit is to walk in wisdom; as Christians,

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

We Need A War Room

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based on the LGG Study, Lent, A Season of Drawing Closer to God / w2d1

The Journey (Scripture and Observation)

Scripture: Matthew 6:6; Luke 5:15-16 / SOAP: Matthew 6:6

6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Matthew 6:6 NLT

I have learned that when a verse begins with words like but, therefore, so, afterward … it is best to go back and look at what came before. Such is the case with this verse in Matthew. The word “but” actually refers to the preceding verse, which illustrated how some who pray are hypocrites who loved to pray where everyone could see them. Clearly, they loved and sought attention from others rather than time alone with God. and Jesus used it as a teachable opportunity to train them in the better way.

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.

Matthew 6:5 NLT

One of the many things I love about Jesus is that He was a teacher who taught not only with words but by example, as we see in Luke chapter five. As Jesus’ ministry became known, the crowds grew not only in numbers but in intensity of need and demands. So, Jesus didn’t just need to pray – He needed alone time – undistracted time – with the Father. Remember, Jesus was God in the flesh – all strength and power belonged to Him. Yet, in order to give the people what they needed – in order to do the work of the Father – Jesus needed time alone with the Father.

Now, if Jesus – the perfect Son of God – needed time alone to pray to the Father – how much more do we, imperfect human beans – marred by the flesh and sin stained world – need to spend time alone with Him? Apart from time with Him we will flounder in our own strength and we will lack wisdom and direction. We will succumb to fears and doubts, we will fall prey to temptations and not see the way of escape He has promised to all who belong to Him. We will speak words that displease Him rather than honor Him, we will miss the person who needs to hear the Gospel message, or the brother or sister who just needs some encouragement. You see, time alone with the Father is our lifeline to joy and peace, to strength and guidance, and to obedience – and to all of the abundant life Christ came to give.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy, My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:10 NLT
Living the Journey (Application)

Not only are we meant to stay connected to the Father and to abide in Jesus, but we are to keep in step with the Spirit. Our God is a triune God and to truly enjoy all that is ours in Christ Jesus we must cultivate a relationship with each person of the Trinity. Disciples of Christ, then and now, need the daily one on one with Jesus, which is why He taught, “Abide in Me…”, but He also teaches them by word and example that we need the Father, and following His crucifixion – He made it clear that anyone who wanted to follow Him and be His witness would be dependent on the Holy Spirit.

“Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Jesus explained to them, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1: 4-5 and 8 NLT

Later in Scripture we read a message that Paul, one of, if not the greatest of, Jesus’ witnesses, sent to the church of Galatia – in which he told them (and by extension, all disciples) that since they lived by the Spirit they should keep in step with the Spirit.1 Paul seems to make it clear that if we choose not to walk in step with the Spirit then we will not be good witnesses, instead we will become self-focused, self-righteous, and even make our walk of faith a competition rather than the relationship and light it is meant to be.1

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Galatians 5:22-26 NLT
Prayer for the Journey

Spending time, in prayer with You Father is imperative to abiding in Christ and keeping in step with the Spirit, for our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion just waiting to devour us. The enemy doesn’t want us to be good witnesses for the cause of Christ. He wants us to be silent and weak and to look more like the dark world than to radiate the light and love of Jesus. If we aren’t careful, if we aren’t intentionally strategic in the battle we will struggle at best or fail at worst. We need a War Room,2 where we frequently get alone with You so that when we are out in the world we aren’t of the world, and so whether we are on the mountains or in the valleys we can stand strong agains the wiles of the enemy and walk through the battles victoriously – filled with the Spirit! – 🦋

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

1 John 5:14-15 NLT
The more we know

1Keep in Step With The Spirit

Don’t forget today’s Love God Greatly Blog Post

Do you have a war room?

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

That Will Be A Time to Fast

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based on the LGG Study, Lent – A Time of Drawing Close to God / w1d5

Scripture: Luke 5:33-35 / SOAP: verse 35

A Discussion about Fasting

33 One day some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?” 34 Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. 35 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” This isn’t another trick question from the Pharisees but rather a legit question of wonder from unidentified people. Why do the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees fast while the disciples of Jesus do not? Jesus’ answer is, and I paraphrase, ‘Because I am still with you. When they come and take Me away from you that will be a time to fast.’ Luke 5:33-35

From the Journal / LGG Lent Journal, pg 58

“When Jesus was with His disciples, there was no need for them to fast. But now, since Jesus is not physically with us, since He has completed the work of His first coming and is preparing fo rHis second, we fast.

Fasting reminds us that, without God, we are nothing. It heightens our longing for eternity and reminds us to recognize how empty we are without Him. We fast and pray, earnestly longing for Him to come and restore and redeem all things.

Now is the time to fast. Now is the time to turn our hearts toward our Risen Savior. Now is the time to remember His love, mercy, compassion, and grace. Now is the time to remember that without Him, we are nothing. And now is the time to remember and remind one another of God’s incredible grace and the victory we have in Him!”

While these are all incredible reasons to fast, it hit me as I was reading/studying and highlighting the passage in my journal – that while Jesus may not be physically with us now He rose again and walked among the disciples again and He ascended into Heaven with the promise that He will come again. We cling to that promise, not in mourning, but with HOPE and we look forward to that day with JOY – we no longer mourn as the disciples did in the three days between the crucifixion and the resurrection after He had been led away or “taken from them” – but we rejoice in the grace of God poured upon our lives and we remember that the grave could not hold what “man took away!”

I”m not saying we shouldn’t fast – but for me the fasting isn’t in mourning His absence, for Joy and Hope follow the resurrection and ascension – because He is alive and will come again – just as He promised! – Me, from the Insideout 🦋

I wait, perhaps fasting and praying, as Anna did – for His coming – keeping my mind set on Him – watching and listening and hoping always … but I do not mourn at His absence for He is with me! Scripture says, I abide in Him and He abides in me. In an effort to comfort their sorrows, Jesus actually told the disciples in John 16:7 that it was to their advantage for Him to go away. The commentary from Bibleref.com on John chapter 16 is quite enlightening concerning the way the disciples would have felt following the resurrection –

Modern believers have the benefit of hindsight. We read the description of Jesus’ arrest (John 18:1–3) and crucifixion (John 19:18) knowing He will be resurrected (John 20:19). The disciples originally listening to Jesus didn’t have that perspective. That three-day period (John 2:19) will fill them with unimaginable sorrow, fear, and doubt. Jesus compares this to the experience of a woman in childbirth. During labor, pain is almost the only thing a woman can process. However, once the baby is born, agony is no longer the center of her attention. She doesn’t literally lose all memory of the pain, but the joy of a newborn vastly outweighs memories of labor. The same will be true for Jesus’ followers: they will quickly move through extreme pain and into tremendous joy (John 16:16–24).

bibleref.com

Sadness Will Be Turned to Joy

16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. – John 16:16-24 NLT

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

Fasting, A Personal Practice

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based on the LGG Study – Lent, Drawing Close to God / w1d4

Scripture: Jonah 3:5-9; Luke 2:36-38 / SOAP: Jonah 3:5 and Luke 2:37

Borrowed, in part, from the LGG Study Journal for Lent, Drawing Close to God/pg 54

She had spent the majority of her life at the temple worshiping God, fasting, and praying. Her discipline and commitment to God, and to spiritual disiciplines like fasting, enabled her to listen and respond to God’s prompting. When Mary, Joseph, and Jesus arrive, she blessed them and tose around them by prophesying who Jesus was.

Love God Greatly Lent Journal, pg 54

I love the story of Anna, but in all the times I’ve read her story, I don’t think I have ever equated her fasting as being instrumental in prompting her to pronounce a blessing on Jesus and His parents. It’s sweet inspiration, though, to consider that it was her spiritual disciplines, like fasting, that enabled her to listen and respond to the Holy Family when they entered the Temple.

The Jonah passage had an ‘a-ha’ moment as well. What’s not to love about the story of Jonah and the whale? However, I must confess that the people immediately fasting and putting on sackcloth is not one of the top 5 or even 10 facts on the list of “things I remember” about the story of Jonah. However, I love the lesson the LGG team highlights about their fasting. –

Fasting was a means by which the people of Nineveh aligned their hearts to God. They saw the wickedness in their hearts and removed it. Their fast was a physical representation of their spiritual reality.

Love God Greatly Lent Journal, pg 54

The journal entry concludes with wonderful words of encouragement for anyone considering making a Biblical fast part of your spiritual discipline.

While our fasting should not be done to show to others or to impress them, the result of us drawing closer to God by fasting will encourage those around us. When our hearts are aligned with God’s purposes, when our motives for fasting are to grow in our relationship with God, He can fill our hearts with His love for others and make us a blessing in ways we may not even see or know.

Love God Greatly Lent Journal, pg 54

Let’s ask God to work in our lives so that we can bless and encourage those around us today.

Reflection on the Journey
  • How does fasting encourage others?
  • Why is corporate fasting important in the body of Christ?
The More We Know

Christian Fasting

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

Whatever You Do

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based on the LGG study, Lent, A Season of Drawing Close to God / w1d3

Scripture: Psalm 1; Joel 2:12-14 / SOAP: 1 Corinthians 10:31

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

1 Corinthians 10:31 NET

The words found in the first chapter of the Psalms teach us that what we do – ie how we spend our time and who we spend it with matters to God and has a direct effect on our lives. As God’s word teaches: obedience brings reward and disobedience, or ungodly living, leads to destruction.

How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand in the pathway with sinners,
or sit in the assembly of scoffers.
2 Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands;
he meditates on his commands day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by flowing streams;
it yields its fruit at the proper time,
and its leaves never fall off.
He succeeds in everything he attempts.
4 Not so with the wicked!
Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.
5 For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment,
nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.
6 Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly,
but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.

Psalm 1

Once upon a time, this would have described me. When I was in my early twenties I had veered off the path of true obedience and had turned toward many of the ways of the world. Oh, I was good at playing the game of “Christian” on Sunday and Wednesday but the rest of the week I was just living whichever way the wind of my desires blew. Yet, God, in His goodness met me on the path and turned me back toward Himself- compelling me to ‘follow Him and to walk with Him in all my ways, I am eternally grateful and forever indebted to Him for rescuing me from the wilderness that was leading to sure and certain destruction. I am also grateful to Him for instilling in me the message of Paul to the Philippians – that regardless of what we do or don’t do we are to do everything for God’s glory

“Yet even now,” the Lord says,
“return to me with all your heart—
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
13 Tear your hearts,
not just your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to anger and boundless in loyal love—often relenting from calamitous punishment.
14 Who knows?
Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve,
and leave blessing in his wake—
a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the Lord your God!

Joel 2:12-14

The Lord warns the people, in Joel chapter two, to “return to Him with all their hearts – with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” He tells them to not just focus on the tearing of their garments but rather to be concerned about their hearts. Joel encourages the people to – “Return to the LORD – for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love — often relenting from calamitous punishment.” From the day, somewhere in my mid-twenties, when I began to understand the true depth of my sins and what they deserved – these words, along with the one word that incapsulated them all, GRACE, became some of my very favorite words of the Bible.

Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to anger and boundless in loyal love—often relenting from calamitous punishment.

Joel 2:13 NLT

Knowing that God allows us to “return” to Him is beautiful in and of itself. However, the knowledge of the depth of His mercy and compassion, of His slowness to become angry, of His boundless love, and the hope of Him relenting from the devastating punishment we rightly deserve – these were the words that drew me back to Him then and continue to draw me to Him now. They are the words that have shaped my heart and mind to live with the attitude that says – whatever I do, I will do it all for God’s glory.

Paul’s words to the Corinthians remind me of the words of Joshua to God’s people long ago – “But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh 24:15) –

Oh friend, how I pray that today, wherever you are in your relationship with the Lord – that you will heed the words of the Psalmist and of Joel, and of Paul, and of Joshua – and you will choose this day – to do everything you do for the glory of the God who loved you and saved you by His own glory and goodness!

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9
The More We Know

Do it all!

Whether you eat or drink …

Know The Truth

If you aren’t yet in a relationship with God or perhaps you need to remember why you were in a relationship with Him – I invite you to read these truths so that you can choose well whether you will serve the gods of this world or the one.true.living God –

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time

A Godly Fast

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based on the LGG study, Lent – A Season of Drawing Close to God / w1d2

Scripture: Isaiah 58:3-9 / SOAP: verse 6

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
    lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
    and remove the chains that bind people.

Isaiah 58:6 NLT

How does the word “fasting” affect you? For me it is one of those words that sets me on edge. I’m not sure if it is because I feel bad if others are and I’m not, or if it’s because of the “doing without” or because I don’t like to be bound by something that forbids me access to what is part of my daily routine. I suppose the guilt may be a small part of it, but since I can get busy on any given day and not eat or drink for hours on end – I believe the latter is most like true for me. Let me share a “for instance” with you.

Most Saturdays I hold-up in my bedroom from the time I wake until sometime early afternoon – anywhere between twelve and two o’clock. I should clarify that, thanks to my internal weekly alarm clock, I typically wake anywhere between four and six o’clock – to be clear, that is A.M. I hold-up in my room on purpose and I enjoy every minute of it and typically begrudge ever having to leave the room – because Saturday is my day to read, study, and write without interruption. Borrowing an occasional planned excursion or commitment, Saturday is my only day without a schedule and I protect it at all costs. Whether in my room or eventually out of my room tending to the household chores and bills or enjoying a walk and visiting with my mom this is my happy day.

However, as much as I love my room on Saturday morning, if someone were to tell me I had to stay in the room and not come out the entire day or even for six hours – I would have a huge problem. Why? Because it would no longer be a joy for me, door opened or closed, the mandate would definitely evoke claustrophobic anxieties and I would undoubtedly be a mess. It is much the same way for me when I hear the word “fasting.” While I may choose to fast on my own time and/or conviction of the Spirit, when the word ‘fast’ is used in conjunction with a mandate it literally unnerves me. That may not make sense or it may seem ridiculously silly to you but for me it’s a thing.

‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
    ‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
    and you don’t even notice it!’

Isaiah 58:3 NLT

Whether it seems ridiculous or whether you understand, I share my reactions to the word because I have to believe I’m not the only one who may struggle with this, and I hope to encourage you along with myself to explore the discussion of it throughout the study and not let it derail us from our journey to discover more about the season of Lent. To be clear, I do not struggle with Biblical fasting itself. It is clearly a practiced and valuable part of Biblical history from the Old Testament through the New and is still widely practiced today. Also, as we see in today’s passage, God made His opinion known about the issue of fasting as He answers the people’s question of lament concerning their ‘fast’ going unnoticed. He instructs the people through Isaiah on the difference between an unacceptable fast and a godly one.

the unacceptable fast versus the God Honoring fasts

“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.

  • Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers.
  • 4 What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
  • This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.
  • 5 You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance,
  • bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind.
  • You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes.
  • Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:

  • Free those who are wrongly imprisoned lighten the burden of those who work for you.
  • Let the oppressed go free,
  • and remove the chains that bind people.
  • Share your food with the hungry,
  • and give shelter to the homeless.
  • Give clothes to those who need them,
  • and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

A God honoring ‘fast’ is not limited to food but includes any sinful chain or distraction from God.

Me – from the Insdeout 🦋
The More We Know

Biblical Fasting

Reflecting on the Journey

What is the purpose of Biblical fasting?

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

Faith’s Demands

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Based on the Love God Greatly Study, Lent: A Season of Drawing Closer to God!

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18; Mark 8:31-38 / SOAP: Mark 8:34-35

Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and because of the gospel will save it.

Mark 8:34-35 NET

Following Christ is a choice, however, the choice comes with three distinct demands that we must be aware of. Jesus makes the demands known, not only to His present disciples but to the crowd of people who had gathered. Jesus opens His circle of disciples by extending an invitation to the crowd, saying: “If anyone wants to be my followers, he must …” Whether we are new followers of Christ or seasoned disciples, Jesus wants us to understand that our choice to follow Him comes with costs. Mark records three in chapter eight

  • Deny himself (refuse rights and privileges that get in the way of God’s kingdom)
    • The commentary, gotquestions.org explains the demand of “denying oneself” like this: “Jesus spoke repeatedly to His disciples about taking up their cross (an instrument of death) and following Him. He made it clear that if any would follow Him, they must deny themselves, which means giving up their lives—spiritually, symbolically, and even physically, if necessary. This was a prerequisite for being a follower of Christ, who proclaimed that trying to save our earthly lives would result in our losing our lives in the kingdom. But those who would give up their lives for His sake would find eternal life (Matthew 16:24–25; Mark 8:34–35). Indeed, Jesus even went so far as to say that those who are unwilling to sacrifice their lives for Him cannot be His disciples (Luke 14:27).”
  • Take up his cross: (or ‘bearing one’s cross’ – meant one was about to die, and that one would face ridicule and disgrace along the way [gotquestions.org])
    • “When a person carried a cross in Jesus’ day, no one thought of it as a persistent annoyance or symbolic burden. To a person in the first century, the cross meant one thing and one thing only: death by crucifixion. To carry a cross was to face the most painful and humiliating means of death human beings could develop.
    • Two thousand years later, Christians view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace, and love. But in Jesus’ day the cross represented a torturous death. The Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion (see John 19:17). Bearing a cross meant one was about to die, and that one would face ridicule and disgrace along the way.
    • Therefore, Jesus’ command to “take up your cross and follow Me” is a call to self-abasement and self-sacrifice. One must be willing to die in order to follow Jesus. Dying to self is an absolute surrender to God.”
  • Follow Jesus: (walk, live, love like Him)
    • To truly follow Christ means He has become everything to us. Everyone follows something: friends, popular culture, family, selfish desires, or God. We can only follow one thing at a time (Matthew 6:24). God states we are to have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7; Mark 12:30). To truly follow Christ means we do not follow anything else. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” There is no such thing as a “halfway disciple.” As the disciples demonstrated, no one can follow Christ by the strength of his own willpower. The Pharisees were good examples of those who were trying to obey God in their own strength. Their self-effort led only to arrogance and distortion of the whole purpose of God’s Law (Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:24).
    • Jesus gave His disciples the secret to faithfully following Him, but they did not recognize it at the time. He said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing” (John 6:63). And “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them” (verse 65). The disciples had walked with Jesus for three years, learning, observing, and participating in His miracles. Yet, even they could not follow Him faithfully in their own strength. They needed a Helper.

 Jesus’ command to “take up your cross and follow Me” is a call to self-abasement and self-sacrifice. One must be willing to die in order to follow Jesus. Dying to self is an absolute surrender to God.

gotquestions.org

And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

Luke 14:27-28

The cost is great but so was the cost that the Father and Son paid. The cost is great but the alternative, saving our life1, is even greater. The cost is great but the benefits, the grace and mercies of God and His promise of eternal life are far greater. The costs is great – the choice is yours. 🦋

As for me, the words to this age old hymn came to mind and filled my heart and poured forth as my prayerful answer – If you agree with the prayer- comment ‘amen’ or if you would like to know how to be a follower of Christ – follow this link https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/ and leave me a comment there – I would love to share a gift with you.

Father: “Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
Let them flow in ceaseless praise

“I AM YOURS”
I am Yours set apart for You
I am Yours hungry for Your truth
Take my life You are all I live for
I am Yours 🦋

A new and beautiful version – https://youtu.be/xXPn8FiHuHA?feature=shared

The More We Know

1To Save or to Lose One’s Life ?

For more insight check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Spirit, Wisdom

Wisdom & Understanding

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“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.” Colossians 1:9

God is good. He has gifted us with prayer and His Spirit. Jesus taught His disciples that the Holy Spirit was an advocate whom the Father would send in His name, He would teach them all things and remind them of everything that Christ had told them. Here, Paul prays for the believers in Colossae to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will -through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. According to the writer of ourdailyverse.com, “filled with the knowledge of His will,” is a phrase that transcends mere understanding. It suggests a filling so complete that it overflows into every corner of our lives – guiding our actions, decisions, and interactions.

May the Spirit help us to not just know God’s will, but faithfully seek it – that we may “be so filled with His will that our lives become a testament to God’s wisdom and grace.” This daily walk of faith – this journey through life on earth is only possible with the Spirit – the One who empowers, guides, teaches, reminds, and makes known the will of God.

“Dear Lord, In the quiet of this morning, my heart seeks the depth of understanding that comes form You alone. Inspired by the wisdom of Colossians, I pray for an infusion of your spiritual insight into my life. May your will be the lens through which I view the world, guiding my steps in love and truth. — Teach me, Father, to navigate this day with a spirit attuned to Your voice. Help me to embody the grace and compassion that Jesus demonstrated, making each decision a reflection of Your love. In moments of uncertainty, grant me the clarity of Your wisdom, so that I may act with confidence in Your divine plan. — Strengthen my reslove to serve those around me to be a beacon of Your light in their lives. Let my words and actions today sow seeds of Your kingdom, cultivating a harvest of righteousness and peace. In the precious name of Jesus, I commit this day to You. – Amen.” (borrowed from Ourdailyverse.com / 2.12.24)