Tag: God’s Word

Posted in From the Insideout

The Bondage of Fear

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The Bondage and Battle of Fear

The bondage of FEAR is a great and scary thing. It is real beyond words and until one has been captive to it you can not understand it. IT sneaks up on you and grabs hold of you before you realize it. You try to shake it off but it whispers to you and tightens it’s grip with every whisper of worry and doubt, or truths you can’t control and lies you choose to believe.

Yes, the bondage of FEAR is real and it is scary! Those that know it understand – they know that you can’t “just” shake it off – you can’t “just” ignore it. It’s grip is tight and it must be battled with sword and shield and truth. It can be fought and defeated for sure but not alone. Victory requires the Spirit of God but is better still with God’s army of supporters. The Aarons and the Hurs of your life that can come to your aid or those of the household of faith who faithfully walk with you and pray circles around the “fear” until it falls captive in obedience to Jesus Christ! (2 Cor. 10:5).

It can be a long and weary battle, you may see the enemy fall only to meet him at the next corner. Fear can be cloaked in health issues, in pain, in needs, in pride or dangers and a host of other phobias. But no fear is greater than our God – and that is the first step to every battle with fear. The belief that God is greater than all powers and entities of this world. Only this belief will allow us to say to our fear, like David did to Goliath, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel…” (1 Samuel 17:45). The same God of whom the Gospels boasted when they taught – “Nothing is impossible with God!” (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37), and of whom Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Experience God’s Peace

Are you plagued by worry or anxiety? Hear (don’t just read) the words of Paul – who was persecuted, threatened, beaten, imprisoned and yet wrote … “Don’t worry about anything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for what He’s already done. THEN you will experience Gods peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7). These are two of my life verses – and I can say from experience, the truth they teach and proclaim has loosened endless grips of fear from me and lowered countless prison bars that held me captive. The words themselves aren’t magic. You can’t just read the words and get results; you have to know the words are true. This happens when you get to know God – when you see Him part the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to cross safely – and then watch as He releases it on the enemy who pursued them into it. It happens when you see Daniel survive the lion’s den or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego the fiery furnace. It happens when you watch them crucify our Lord but see Him alive on the third day. There is no limit to the power of our God – whatever you are facing He is greater and able to overcome it or to bring you through it. We only have to be still and know (and remember)that He is God, another of my life verses, Psalm 46:10. When we don’t know the answers and can’t see a clear or hopeful path or a way out of our situation – we must keep the Lord always before us and say, “because the Lord is at my right hand I will not be shaken,” Psalm 16:8. It is during these times that God allows us the opportunity to practice walking by faith and not by sight – or feeling for that matter, (2 Cor 5:7).

Able to Steel, Kill, and Destroy

Fear is a ferocious giant, an enemy like no other, a predator and captor – it is able to steel, and kill, and destroy us … IF we allow it a foothold. The key is choosing not to give fear a foothold – to stay alert – to be prepared with the truth – ready to take captive every thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and make them obedient to Jesus Christ! The victory is ours through Him who has already overcome the enemy on our behalf!

To borrow a line from a Veggie Tales song – “God is bigger than the boogieman … and He watches out for you and me! … I know whatever’s gonna happen that God can handle it.”

Does fear or anxiety or worry have you trapped? Let me offer this one last encouragement – from the words of the Apostle Paul … “and now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Breath Prayers

A truly helpful exercise to make a daily habit (morning, noon, and night – and any time anxiety creeps in): Take a deep breath in through your nose and as you inhale think (I am weak) then exhale thinking (God is strong) … repeat/inhale (be still and know) exhale (that He is God) … repeat (I can do all things) exhale (through Him who strengthens me) repeat/inhale (do not be afraid) exhale (for I am with you) … four times at least three times a day will honestly change your life in more ways than I can count or share here. You can use any number of scripture combinations – keeping in mind that the purpose is to refocus from self to God.

Me – from the inside out 💕

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout

Pursuing Joy through Prayer

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The link shared below is something I found both encouraging and helpful. I wanted to share it with the hope that it will also encourage you to spend some quality time with God. I will preface it with this … prayer can also be spontaneous which Scripture supports in Colossians 4:2, where it tells us to pray continually or devote yourselves to prayer as some translations say, painting a picture, not of praying once a day, but praying throughout the day.

However, as Pastor John teaches in this devotional, Plan for Prayer, prayer is also meant to be a time planned or set aside to spend purposefully with God – for the specific purpose of praying. I will also add – we should set aside time to spend in His Word – the two can be combined but neither should be neglected or we cheat ourselves out of one of the greatest privileges of our salvation – a personal relationship 💗 with the True and Living God💜 . This includes entering into His presence boldly and with confidence both to talk to and to hear from God (Ephesians 3:12 and Hebrews 4:16 [14-16]), knowing that we have been brought near through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:13 [11-18]), and believing He wants us to understand His Word and know His will for us (Luke 24:45, Romans 12:2, and 2 Timothy 2:15) – May this add strength and encouragement to your day and blessings to your weekend 😊

This is a segment of “Solid Joys” from Desiring God, a site I follow by John Piper

Plan for Prayer

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Truth Over Lies: Wk1, D5

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DECEIVED THROUGH OUR IGNORANCE

  • Read: 1 John 4:1, 1 Thes 5:21, Acts 17:11, Psalm 119:11, Titus 3:5-6, and James 1:22
  • SOAP: Psalm 119:11

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

What do you think?

  • What does it mean to hide God’s Word in your heart?
  • How does it help us not sin against God?

Don’t forget today’s LGG Devotional and Blog

Posted in From the Insideout, LGG Study

A Response to Hosea 6:1-3

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“Come, return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces; now He will heal us. He has injured us; now He will bandage our wounds. In just a short time He will restore us, so that we may live in His presence. Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of the dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” 💜

Hosea 6:1-3

I’m currently doing a Bible study called Faithful Love which focuses on the book of Hosea. Hosea is actually one of my favorite books of the Old Testament and I have read and studied it often. However, perhaps because it’s been a while since I’ve studied it or maybe because I’m using the SOAP method, this time things are hitting me differently. One of these things is Hosea’s prayer in chapter 6. I don’t remember noticing before what great words of wisdom Hosea prayed over the people in verses1-3. Over the past three weeks, as I’ve read and studied through the first five chapters which describe God’s people chasing after other gods, God’s anger with His people for their idolatry, and their refusal to return to Him – it has been quite easy, or at least tempting, to convince myself that I do not have idols or practice idolatry. Of course, according to the definition of idolatry, this would mean that I never devote myself to anything more than God.

The definition of idolatry, according to Webster, is “the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.” An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God. 

What is the definition of idolatry? | GotQuestions.org

However, in reality, I have felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to at least consider a few things – people, pleasures, foods, time, etc.. – that I sometimes, if not often or regularly, tend to place before God. So, on the day when my Bible Study time included this passage from Hosea along with Lamentations 3:22-24, and 1 Peter 5:6-7, it was a heads-up, an eye-opening reminder to not be fooled. Just because we’ve dressed our idols up in the 21st century, allowing them to become commonplace – so much so that many are widely accepted in homes and communities and even churches – doesn’t mean they are any less of an idol. Maybe this doesn’t hit you the same way that it hits me – maybe you have all possibilities of idolatry under control – but if I’m honest – I don’t. I have – through the 58 years of my life -struggled from time to time with the issue. So, I find myself thankful that, like Israel, even when I have turned to other “gods” – I am, by God’s grace and mercy, invited to return to the Lord with the assurance that He will respond. James said it like this in chapter 4, verse 8 –  “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.”

The testimony of Scripture is that God alone is worthy of worship. Idol worship robs God of the glory that is rightfully His, and that is something He will not tolerate (Isaiah 42:8). Idolatry extends beyond the worship of idols and images and false gods. Our modern idols are many and varied. Even for those who do not bow physically before a statue, idolatry is a matter of the heart—pride, self-centeredness, greed, gluttony, a love for possessions, and ultimately rebellion against God. Is it any wonder that God hates it?

What is the definition of idolatry? | GotQuestions.org

“Whoring after other gods” seems like a harsh and awful statement – but it is nonetheless what God said His people were doing in Hosea’s day, what James warned against in the New Testament, and sadly what I know I have been guilty of at times. However, as the author of Lamentations pointed out, God’s love is Faithful and His mercies are new every morning. This has been one of my life verses since I was 28 years old and I’m still clinging to it today. The thought of it fills me with hope – for I know because of God’s great love I am not consumed! Instead, I am invited into His presence. I’m given the gift of His Word and His Spirit and entreated to know Him more, and I have learned that knowledge is power – in this case – power against sin, as indicated by David in Psalm 119:11 where he wrote, “I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

One thing I have realized in my fight against idolatry, if I am busy pressing forward to know God more, I am less likely to turn away to other ‘gods’.

fromtheNsideout

His Word isn’t just power against sin though, it is also the knowledge of what pleases God and it offers us the power to see sin, turn from it, and do what is right. Consider the words of Paul to Timothy, “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. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Oh, how I pray for faithfulness to Him – a faithfulness that imitates His faithful love to me, leads me closer to Him, keeps me mindful of what is right to do, and quickly repentant of any sin. May I heed the words of Hosea and be quick and faithful to turn back to God and press on to know Him more and more. Why? Because of Hosea’s words in chapter four –

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge … and a people without understanding will come to ruin”.

Hosea 4:6 and 16

I invite you to journey through the word with me every Monday through Friday, right here at MefromtheNsideout

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Faithful Love: Week 1, Monday – Salvation is Found in the Lord

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WELCOME TO DAY 1 OF OUR JOURNEY THROUGH HOSEA! I’M SO GLAD YOU’VE JOINED ME AND PRAY THAT TOGETHER WE WILL GROW DEEPER IN OUR FAITH AND UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S FAITHFUL and Redeeming LOVE. 

Read: Hosea 1:1 (if you like suspense, only read verse 1 today – otherwise, spoiler alert!) and 2 Kings 14:23-29; SOAP: Hosea 1:1

The Lord gave this message to Hosea son of Beeri during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel. Hosea 1:1 (NLT)

Jeroboam II Rules in Israel

Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, began to rule over Israel in the fifteenth year of King Amaziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria forty-one years. 24 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. 25 Jeroboam II recovered the territories of Israel between Lebo-Hamath and the Dead Sea, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had promised through Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.

26 For the Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and that there was no one in Israel, slave or free, to help them. 27 And because the Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel completely, he used Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, to save them.

28 The rest of the events in the reign of Jeroboam II and everything he did—including the extent of his power, his wars, and how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. 29 When Jeroboam II died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then his son Zechariah became the next king.

Throughout the book, Hosea will show us that salvation is found in turning to the Lord and away from our sin. … 

Read More

Reflection Question: Today’s SOAP passage is short and maybe less than exciting, but what, if anything, stands out to you about God and Hosea? I invite you to share your thoughts in the comment bar.

Want to know more? Read 2 Chronicles 26-28

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Draw Near: Week 6 — Friday A Lifetime of Study

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Today’s Scripture: Psalm 19:14; Philippians 1:3-11 (SOAP: Philippians 1:6)

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.

 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6 (SOAP)

7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:3-11

The Lord will see to it that we are sanctified in spite of our failures and shortcomings. Salvation is God’s work, not ours.

Read more of today’s LGG Devotional

As this study comes to a close, I pray that it has reawakened in us a desire and an excitement to dig deep into God’s Word and grow in the knowledge of our Savior.

We have been blessed with access to many free tools, including books, commentaries, and sermons, that can help us in our studies. Let’s make the most of these gifts.

Here are some things to remember:

Read the rest of LGG’s Blog/lesson
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Draw Near: Week 6, Wednesday The Why of Memorization

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Today’s Scripture: Psalm 19:14; Romans 10:5-17 (SOAP: Romans 10:17)

Salvation Is for Everyone

 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,

“The message is very close at hand;
    it is on your lips and in your heart.”

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:5-17

Do you remember who first shared the truth of the gospel with you? – Faith comes from hearing the message and someone has to go and share the message. Who can you talk to about Jesus today? 

Read the full devotional at LGG

We memorize a lot of things in our lives; recipes, song lyrics, movie lines, directions, even computer programs. We are adding more information to our minds on a regular basis. One thing many Christians seem to struggle with is memorizing Scripture. I believe the main reason for this is because we don’t see its importance.

Read the Reasons and Benefits …

You can read the rest of the LGG blog/lesson
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Draw Near: Week 6, Tuesday — Knowing God’s Word Helps You

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Today’s Scriptures: Joshua 1:7-9; Deuteronomy 11:16-23 (SOAP: Joshua 1:8)

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9

“But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods. 17 If you do, the Lord’s anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the Lord is giving you.

18 “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 19 Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.

22 “Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him. 23 Then the Lord will drive out all the nations ahead of you, though they are much greater and stronger than you, and you will take over their land. Deuteronomy 11:16-23

While Joshua was a good leader, many after him were not. These leaders did not know God’s laws and therefore, did not follow it. In order to live …

Read the full devotional at LGG
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Draw Near: Week 5, Wednesday Applying God’s Commands

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Today’s Scripture: Psalm 19:12-13; James 1:19-27 (SOAP: James 1:25)

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
    Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
    Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
    and innocent of great sin. Psalm 19:12-13

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger[a] does not produce the righteousness[b] God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:19-27 NLT

The commands of God guide us in living. God’s commands show us that there is a better way to live. God teaches us through His principles what we should be doing in order to glorify Him and in order live a fruitful and faithful life. We need to ask, “how should I be living?”

Read the full blog/lesson at LGG

 As we look to God’s Word for instruction and encouragement, let us also remember the signs of His faithfulness and set up our own pillars of remembrance.

Read the full devotional at LGG
Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Draw Near: Week 5 — Monday On to Application

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Today’s Scripture – Psalm 19:12-13; Psalm 1:1-2 (SOAP: Psalm 19:12-13)

Psalm 19:12-13

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
    Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
    Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
    and innocent of great sin.

Psalm 1:1-2

Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
    meditating on it day and night.

For most of us, the application of our Bible study tends to be the favorite part of our quiet time. We live in a world where we can have access to everything quickly. This mindset can creep into our Bible studies and cause us to want to skip the hard work of observation and interpretation and we move straight to “How can I apply this to my day, week, life, or circumstance?”

For a better understanding of the application process – Read the full blog/lesson at LGG

 God’s word can bring to light hidden faults and can warn us of what displeases God so we can confess and avoid these offenses.

Today’s SOAP passage is also our memory/focus verse this week – Read its corresponding devotional at LGG