Tag: God’s Word

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Living a Pure Life

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based on the Love God Greatly study, Abiding in Jesus, w3d3

How can a young person maintain a pure life?
By guarding it according to your instructions.
10 With all my heart I seek you.
Do not allow me to stray from your commands.
11 In my heart I store up your words,
so I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:9-11

Friends, These are three of the most important verses we should know and seek to live by. Read them again and ask God to help you commit them to memory, and to teach them to your children and grandchildren.

The psalmist was concerned about living a pure (godly) life. He not only knew the answer to his question but was already putting it into practice. We see this in his follow-up to the question. “By living according to God’s Word/instructions,” was his initial response, and this was followed by three more statements: “With all my heart I seek You. Do not allow me to stray from Your commands. In my heart, I store up Your words, so I might not sin against You.”

When my girls were growing up, by the time they were two, I started teaching them the children’s catechisms. I didn’t do this because we were Catholic, but because I knew and had learned the importance of knowing and living God’s Word and desires. I wanted them to understand who God is, why we need Him, what He expects from His children, and the blessings of living in His will, as well as the dangers of not.

Just as we train our children to obey us, not just because we want them to do what we say but because we want to protect them, enjoy time with them, and be represented well by them. The same is true of God; He has given us His Word, offered us a relationship with Him through Jesus and the Spirit, who have trained and helped us to represent Him well.

The Psalmist had a goal; the question is, do we? Are we concerned about maintaining a pure life? Are we pursuing a sinless life? Are we hiding God’s Word in our hearts? Are we asking for His help to stay faithful to His commandments?

The More We Know

This isn’t just a question for the young but for every heart that desires to walk closely with God. The answer? By living according to God’s Word. When we seek Him wholeheartedly and treasure His commands and promises, we choose to abide in Him, staying rooted in the wisdom He’s given us. This relationship strengthens us and empowers us, especially in the face of temptations or distraction.

The psalmist’s words, “with all my heart I seek you,” are a call to let our pursuit of God be wholehearted and undivided. THe psalmist further writes that we are to “store up your words, so I might not sin against you.” Memorizing and meditating on God’s Word is more than just a spiritual exercise. It’s a life-changing process that shapes our hearts and minds, which draws us closer to Him.

When His Words abide in us, they help us reflect His character and resist the pull from the world. – LGG, Abiding in Jesus, p101

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, For Such A Time As This, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Wisdom

How We Live …

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Read: Esther 2:1-4 and SOAP: Ephesians 5:15

Therefore, consider carefully how you live – not as unwise but as wise – Ephesians 5:15

Read: Esther 2:1-4 and SOAP: Ephesians 5:15

“For Such A Time As This,” as we will see throughout our journey, applies to Esther in her day and—as we have seen this week—we can learn much from the truths that surround her story. Of course, not in the sense that we live in palaces filled with riches to display or have week-long ‘banquets’ celebrating our wealth and power—but surely we live in a world filled with distractions of other varieties, wrong responses, demanding our own way, and the temptation to follow the world’s ways rather than God’s. Which is why today’s SOAP passage points us to the words of Paul in Ephesians 5:15.

We must carefully consider how we live. Specifically, we are to live as wise and not unwise. This lesson is important and one that will play out throughout the rest of our journey. The question is, how do we do live as wise and not unwise? Today’s journal entry1 has a wonderful answer … May we take it to heart and daily seek God’s help to walk wisely in such a time as this.

  1. LGG Journal, For Such A ime As This, p57 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, For Such A Time As This, From the Insideout, LGG Study

The Blessing of Godly Counsel

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Read: Esther 1:13-18 and SOAP: Proverbs 14:8

Today’s portion of our journey has been a sweet reminder to be thankful for the wise and godly counsel God has provided for me throughout my life. From parents to grandparents, to Pastors, teachers, and Christian friends, the blessing of godly wisdom/counsel has been readily available. I have sought it often and treasure it greatly. Sadly, this was not the case with King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes, as he was otherwise known). Xerxes had many advisers, but none who would lead him with godly wisdom. Because they were worldly, they imparted worldly wisdom to the king, “which led him down a path of confusion and poor decisions.”1

Even with Godly counsel at my disposal, it is easy to succumb to or even listen to the “voices that are loudest or most convenient. Social media, self-help books, or even well-meaning friends can quickly become our go-to sources for advice.2” However, Scripture tells us to seek God’s will in all we do, not to depend on our own understanding, but let Him show us which way to go. As Proverbs 14:8 points out, to do it any other way is the foolishness of fools. Godly wisdom is rooted in His Word, and His Word will never lead us wrong or fail us.

Who we choose to walk alongside us in these moments makes all the difference. Are we surrounding ourselves with people who point us back to God’s truth! Are they speaking God’s truth into our situations or adding more confusion?

For Such a Time As This, Journal, p49

I ache for those who do not know God and those who have no true concern for His opinion. How sad and dangerous it is for those who do not know what it is like to have faith and confidence in Him and His wisdom and truth. Their concern is with the earthly kingdom and what will please or displease others, or what will get them where they want to go, rather than with what is good and right to do and what leads them where God wants them to go. May we be ready disciples of the Word – ready with an answer for the hope that is in us, ready to point others to God’s truth, which is light and life and peace.

Note: There is more than poor counsel and sorrow in today’s passage. For while we do not see/read His name on the pages of the book of Esther, God was working all things together for the good of His people. Keep your eyes open and jot down glimpses you catch of Him throughout the journey. Training ourselves to do this can make such a difference in our own lives when we are struggling to see or sense His presence. – How have you seen Him working in your life? Do you see Him today?

Prayer

Father, teach us and help us to seek Your wisdom above all when troubles come our way. Thank You for the people You have surrounded me with throughout my life – who belong to You, love You, and have imparted wisdom and counsel from Your Word. Help me to do the same for others – In Jesus’ Name – Amen.

  1. For Such a Time As This Journal, p49 ↩︎
  2. For Such a Time As This Journal, p49 ↩︎
The More We Know

For more insight visit https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

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

The Authority of Scripture

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation / w5d3

Scripture: (Read and SOAP) 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21

Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

2 Peter 1:20-21
Observation from the Journey

While I enjoyed spending time chasing the ‘Scripture squirrel’ that you’ll find below, I would be remiss if I didn’t zero in on today’s key element to a firm foundation of our faith – that being that “all Scripture” – every Word that is written in the Bible – is inspired by God. Consider these words from today’s LGG Journal entry to understand why I believe If we do not believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and treat it as such – we not only waste our time reading it, but we1 dishonor God and 2 do ourselves an injustice.

  1. “The Bible is not merely a collection of human writings but the very Word of God. … It highlights God’s power and love to create humanity and redeem His people through His Son in order that we may be restored to a right relationship with Him.” The journal also points out that “It’s through Scripture that we receive spiritual nourishment and guidance for our daily lives.”
  2. “As believers, we are called to immerse ourselves in God’s Word. It is through reading, studying, meditating on, and memorizing Scripture that we open our hearts to hear God’s voice. The Bible reveals God’s character, His promises, and His plan for our lives, drawing us into a deeper relationship with Him.”

Application: Living out the Journey

We would do well to live out the Word of God, “aligning our lives with biblical truths.”1 Solomon explained to his son that he should pay attention to the words Solomon was sharing with/teaching him. He encouraged him to let them penetrate his heart and not let them out of his sight – saying that the words would bring life to those who find them and health to their whole body.2

When we are dedicated to God – we spend time with Him in His Word, and when this happens, we are being trained and prepared for righteous living. It also offers correction when we are wrong. As the writer of Hebrews puts it – “The Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword …” Why? Because it is inspired … given … and breathed out by the true and living creator God.3

ME🦋

The Scripture Squirrel I chased today:

I have used a variety of translations with today’s passage from 2 Timothy. to show that they are all nearly identical. This is especially true with the opening statement that All Scripture is inspired by God. I remember learning these two verses in high school in Mrs. Hall’s English class. She was one of my favorite teachers, fostering in me the love of words and the art of writing. She is also one of the reasons I worked on memorizing God’s Word, as it was a weekly requirement. We had to use the KJV then, so that is how I first learned these verses; however, since then, I have memorized it in the NIV translation, but I am now determined to work on the NET version – because of the one highlighted phrase below (See the NET bullet point).

  • NLT: 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
  • KJV:  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
  • ESV: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
  • NET: Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
  • NIV: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work

There are not a lot of differences between the translations, as you can see. However, the NET is used in our study journals, and the words in verse seventeen captured my attention as Paul’s reasoning for the usefulness of God’s Word is translated as “that the person dedicated to God (or ‘the man/servant of God,”) may be capable and equipped for every good work.” All the other translations mean the same thing but there’s something about the way the NET defines “a man of God” as “the person dedicated to God…” – As I read the words in the journal, I jotted down these words in the margin: “When we are dedicated to God – we spend time with Him in His Word, and when this happens, we are being trained and prepared for righteous living. It also offers correction when we are wrong. As the writer of Hebrews puts it – “The Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword …” Why? Because it is inspired … given … and breathed out by the true and living creator God.3” – Friends, if we are dedicated to God and His inspired Word, we will forever be growing in faith and grace and deeper in love with Him.

Friends, if we are dedicated to God and His inspired Word, we will forever be growing in faith and grace and deeper in love with Him.

ME🦋
Prayer of Response to the Journey -from the LGG Journal

Dear Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Help me to understand its authority and read it daily. Use Your Word to teach, correct, and train me in righteousness. May it nourish my soul and transform my life as I seek to know You more deeply. In Your name – Amen.

The More We Know

For more insight, please be sure to read today’s LGG Blog

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Run to God and His Word

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WHERE DO YOU RUN WHEN LIFE GETS HARD? / borrowed and shared from the LGG study of Ps 119

by WhitneyD | originally posted Aug 7, 2015 | 

I lay in bed next to my tender boy… the one who wears his heart on his sleeve. He feels it is unfair, but I whisper in his ear that his biggest struggle also has the potential to be his best gift. 

Help him to see it for himself one day soon, Jesus.

His high emotions serve him so very well when all is well. But when life gets hard? Well, he’s still learning how to navigate those rough waters. For now, he just wishes that he didn’t feel so much. Care that much.

He wants to see himself as God sees him, but it’s not always that easy – even with the best of intentions and in all of the trying. I get it buddy… I really do. Fair and right and easy living aren’t generally things this world hands out in abundance, and I haven’t seen a silver platter circulating the masses recently.

Ever feel like it would just be easier to run away from it all?

It starts out sounding like the best option – sometimes the only option. Only when we run, the hard still lingers within us. On this earth, no one escapes hard buddy. 

But hard has the most amazing potential when Jesus enters the picture…

___________________________

“Everyone is running somewhere,” I tell him. “But what you believe about God will determine where you run.”

May my cry come before YOU, oh Lord…

give me understanding according to Your Word.

May my supplication come before YOU;

deliver me according to Your promise.

~ Psalm 119: 169-170

trust

Doubt, fear, and shame tell us to run and hide. They tell us it would be way easier to stay in bed, to ignore that phone call, to throw our very own patented version of a temper tantrum and just plain refuse to show up.

But hard can also drive us to the cross.

Maybe hard has way more than just potential. Because of Jesus, what if hard suddenly became our greatest gift?

Hard strips away built-up pride and can lead us to a place of humility.

Hard crushes illusions of self-sufficiency and can push us to seek for a solution beyond ourselves.

Hard uncovers calloused hurts and shameful pasts and can awaken us to our need for forgiveness.

Hard exposes our deepest sins and can bring us to our knees in repentance.

Hard turns our eyes away from worthless things and can drive us straight to His Word…

… if we’ll let it.

The best time for new beginnings is now. You don’t have to run away any longer. Not because you’re suddenly stronger, but because you can run to the One who is.

Will the hard still come even after you lay it all down?

You betcha. But this time, you can turn the other direction and instead of running scared you can run in great confidence.

You can put on your brave face and embrace those waves, holding your head up high as you ride them straight into the arms of your Savior.

“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” ~ Spurgeon

God, your Word is a priceless treasure. Help us to run to it, for it’s there that we find YOU.

At His feet,

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

It Only Takes a Spark

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Psalm 119:145-160; Week 7 response/recap
My Response

What a great week it’s been in this week’s journey through Psalm 119! Hope…power…prayer…, and loyal love – these are all found and experienced and heightened in and through God’s Word! His true, righteous, and reliable Word is our strength in weakness, our light in darkness, our wisdom in life… our peace and comfort for fears and sorrows…and our salvation and victory over sin and death. There is no greater gift, and we must never waste it! 🦋

The following post is borrowed and shared from the lovegodgreatly.com site. I pray you will read the beautiful post and find a wealth of wisdom and encouragement from every word. Grow from it and share it as you are led – remember: it only takes a spark to get a fire going! –

passing it down to the next generation.

The precious Word of God, read and treasured…worth more than any gem or stone.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

FLEEING FAST FOOD SPIRITUALITY…

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Scripture: Psalm 119:133-136

Today’s post is borrowed and shared from LoveGodGreatly.com’s study of Psalm 119

by WhitneyD | Jul 22, 2015 | Week6/Day3

Wanna know a terrible secret of mine?

I like french fries. What’s worse? The more salt on them, the better.

When I was pregnant with my first baby, they were my quick go-to snack when I could no longer ignore those impatient hunger cravings that came on without notice. I know, I know… super unhealthy choice. But fast food is convenient, man. Preparing healthier options took time, preparation, and intentionality, and it was honestly just easier to indulge in a moment of weakness than to plan ahead.

I got away with it for awhile. At least it seemed that way. But over the course of my pregnancy, all of those moments of weakness eventually went straight to my hips. Of course, they did. Postpartum, I found myself uncomfortably weighed down by my unhealthy choices – both literally and figuratively.

I was miserable, and something had to change.

As I began to pay attention to my eating habits, I noticed that it wasn’t one huge bad decision that put me over the edge each day. Rather, it was a combination of small compromises that added up over time. A bite here. A lick there. A desensitization to the long term effects that the sum of my choices would produce over time, because I could justify my desire just this once.

In my desperation I started implementing small changes. Trust me, my body wouldn’t be transformed overnight. But as I made physical exercise and healthy eating greater priorities in my life, day by day and bite by healthy bite, I noticed that I craved those french fries less and less over time.

As I fed my body the good stuff, it got easier to leave the bad habits behind.

Love God Greatly

Taking the undisciplined, compromised road physically has its consequences. Sort of like our spiritual lives.

Sin is all around us, screaming for us to indulge.

It creeps up on us in our weakest moments.

Over time, it weighs us down and makes us all kinds of uncomfortable.

Sometimes it’s one big flop, but often it’s the seemingly small stuff that we justify because we think we can pull it off with minimal damage.

It desensitizes our convictions and tempts us to give in just this once.

It convinces us that it’s more fun to indulge in the moment than it is to invest wisely in the future.

And unfortunately for most of us, sin usually isn’t defeated overnight. 

But as we make God’s Word a priority in our lives, our hearts are redirected. By God’s transforming power we crave His law more and more, and by His grace we begin to crave the things of this world less and less.

“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” ~ Psalm 119:133

Reading God’s Word won’t always be convenient. It takes time, preparation, and intentionality, and is a task that will require planning and commitment every day for the rest of our lives.

But the results are oh, so satisfying.

Are you tired of settling for fast food spirituality?

Let’s fight against sin by feasting on the good stuff… together.

*Let’s Talk: What do YOU need to flee from in order to pursue more intimacy with God through His Word?

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Your Word is My Source of Hope

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Scripture: Psalm 119:113-120 / SOAP verses 113-115

I hate those with divided loyalties,
    but I love your instructions.
114 You are my refuge and my shield;
    your word is my source of hope.
115 Get out of my life, you evil-minded people,
    for I intend to obey the commands of my God.
116 Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
    Do not let my hope be crushed.
117 Sustain me, and I will be rescued;
    then I will meditate continually on your decrees.
118 But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.
    They are only fooling themselves.
119 You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum;
    no wonder I love to obey your laws!
120 I tremble in fear of you;
    I stand in awe of your regulations.

Psalm 119:113-120 NLT

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Matthew 16:23 NLT
Observations of Today’s Journey

When our loyalty is divided between God and the world/man, we are a hindrance to the Gospel and the work of God. Actually, according to Jesus, we are an instrument of the devil! For this reason, if for no other, we must search for God – seek His Word – and love His instructions. We must use His Word as a shield and refuge – a source of HOPE – ridding ourselves of evil-minded people and determining to choose obedience to God’s commands over the fear of man or the pleasures of this world.

It has become increasingly easy for Christians in the 21st century to have divided loyalties—defined by Jesus as setting our minds on the things of man rather than on the things of God, or as the New Living Translation puts it, “seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” We tend to view things as right or wrong from the standpoint of what seems fair to us or what has become acceptable in the world/culture around us – rather than what God has deemed right or wrong in His Word. This is a dangerous way for anyone to live, but certainly for the believer. – Look again at the words of the Psalmist for what awaits the wicked.

But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves. You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum; no wonder I love to obey your laws! I tremble in fear of you; I stand in awe of your regulations.

Just in case you find yourself thinking – yeah, but believers aren’t held to a standard of obedience – please consider the words of Christ, who said in John 14:15 –

“If you love me, obey my commandments.”

If you still find yourself wanting to make excuses and defend your choices as modern-day acceptances, then think about these words of the Apostle Paul to the believers in Rome and in Galatia:

 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Romans 6:15-16

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

Still not convinced that God’s ways are always meant to supersede the ways or cultural norms of the world’s standard? Consider these words of Paul –

Living out today’s Journey through application

Let’s face it—it isn’t easy to live counterculturally, but it is God’s call upon our lives. Jesus said that if we want to follow Him, we must turn from our wicked ways, deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. We must join the Psalmist and guard against divided loyalties by keeping our eyes/minds on God and His Word, loving ‘it’ and Him more than the world and anything it has to offer us. We must be determined to live righteously rather than following the ways of what God sees and deems as wicked. We must remember that we are utterly dependent on Him (ps. 62:6-7). We must set His Word as our shield and refuge and look to Him to sustain us in our commitment to love Him by obeying His commands. We must heed the words of James, who said:

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8

Responding to the Journey Through Prayer

Father,

It has become increasingly easy for Christians in the 21st century to have divided loyalties—which Jesus said was setting our minds on the things of man rather than on the things of God, or as the New Living Translation puts it, “seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” We tend to view things as right or wrong from the standpoint of what seems fair to us or what has become acceptable in the world/culture around us – rather than what You have deemed right or wrong in Your Word. This is a dangerous way for anyone to live, but certainly for the believer. – I join the Psalmist in declaring that You are my source of HOPE! Help me to draw near to You continually, not letting my mind be divided between You and the world. Sustain me in my commitment to obey Your commands, and rid me of any evil-minded companions. May You find me faithfully living according to Your Word and standing firm against the things You have deemed evil. – My hope is in You, Lord! – Amen and Amen –

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119

GOD’S WORD – OUR LIGHT WHEN LIFE IS DARK…

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A Response to Week Four’s Reading of Psalm 119-73-96 / from the LGG Study or Psalm 119

God’s word truly is a treasure that is more valuable than the most outrageous amount of earthly riches (vs. 72). I pray that, like the Psalmist, God’s word would also become our most prized possession… something we could never live without.

Jen Thorn/from the LGG Team

Today’s devotional is borrowed from the LGG online devo by Jen Thorn – may it richly bless you as she points us to the treasure we have been given in God’s Word –

Love God Greatly

I know all of us have had days, weeks, and months of hardship. I am talking about days when it is hard to focus on a task because of worry, and nights that rob us of sleep. Sometimes, these hard times seem to drag on and on. After some weeks we feel emotionally worn out, like we can’t possibly handle one more thing.

We read about such a time in the life of our Psalmist in verses 81-88. Spurgeon calls this section the midnight of the Psalm. It is dark and bleak, and yet “stars shine out.”

This poor Psalmist is in a bad way. There are people after him who want to ruin him (vs. 61), others mock him (vs. 51), and they are speaking lies about him (vs. 69). He even feels like his physical life is very much in danger (vs. 87).

We all have a breaking point and the Psalmist feels that he is reaching his. He comes to a point in his trials and sufferings where he is not sure he can handle one more thing (vs.83).

“For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke…”

When wineskins were left in a smoky area, they turned dark with soot and became dry and wrinkled. This is how the Psalmist felt. He was worn out, lined with worry, marked with sadness, frustration, and probably fear.

But as Spurgeon said, this dark and bleak time also had stars.  His faith continued on. He continued to cling with all his might to the word of God, knowing that at some point, night would turn to day.

This is what trials should to do us. They should push us more deeply into God’s word and therefore more tightly into the arms of God. The hardest days can’t tear true believers away from their God.

Verse 89 begins the dawning of a new day and renewed hope for the author:

“Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”

When the Psalmist is thrown around by all of his troubles, he makes sure to find his footing on the solid rock of God’s word. It is unmovable, secure and steady. This must be our footing as well. When we stand on this rock, we will find strength to fight temptation and bear affliction, power to obey, and resolve to stand firm.

How is it possible for God’s word to do all of this for us? This word is the same word which spoke everything into existence (vs.91) and which sustains the earth today (Heb 1:3). And not just the earth, but us as well. This word is filled with power because it took on flesh and became a man (John 1).

The reason we can live through the toughest days is because we have been given new life through Christ and the Spirit has taken up residence in our hearts. We do not fight alone. We do not walk through hard days alone. We do not cry alone.

Love God Greatly

Can you imagine what it would be like if we did not have God’s word? We would not know true wisdom, we would not have a place to find real comfort or joy, we would not know God, and we would not have salvation.

God’s word truly is a treasure that is more valuable than the most outrageous amount of earthly riches (vs. 72). I pray that, like the Psalmist, God’s word would also become our most prized possession… something we could never live without.

Looking To Jesus,

jen-sig
Posted in Bible study

GOD’S WORD, OUR COMFORT…

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by Jen Thorn | LGG Post of Jun 28, 2015 |

Welcome to week 3 of our Psalm 119 study!

What do you run to for comfort?

For me it is people.  If I am sad or scared or worried or discouraged I go to my husband or friends.

But people are not the only source of comfort, right? Some seek comfort in their money, retail therapy, food, work, or sleep. Others try to escape through fiction books or movies. And sadly, some pick really dangerous ways of coping by using  drugs and alcohol.

There is nothing wrong with seeking comfort from others. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us that we are to encourage each other. It is also fine to watch a funny movie to make us laugh when we are feeling a bit down. But we can’t rely on earthly things to bring real lasting comfort.

Once the friends leave or the movie is over we are right back in the midst of our suffering. Earthly things can only comfort us in part, but the Psalmist tells us that there is a place we can go to find real lasting comfort.

Each eight verse section in Psalm 119 has a theme, and today Psalm 119:49-56 deals with God’s word as our comforter. Verse 50, in particular, is a key verse for us:

This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.

If we accept them by faith then these words become personal. These words are not from some God, but from our God. They are words to us from our Father and from our Redeemer. We belong to him, and he cares for us.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction ~ 2 Cor. 1:3-4

God’s word can give us peace while we are in the midst of a wild storm. It can bring comfort while we are afraid, tired, and worn out. We can have hope that he will see us through to the other side.

Romans 15 tells us that “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

The best comfort we find in Scripture is that Christ died for us.  It puts everything else into perspective. We have something far better waiting for us. These hard times – while they are difficult – will only last for awhile.

God’s word has the ability to give us life in the midst of any circumstance… life that is made up of hope, joy, praise and strength.

Looking To Jesus,

jen-sig