Tag: Jesus

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, The Importance of Prayer, The Importance of Prayer

Knowing the Spirit Intercedes

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Inspired by “The Importance of Prayer”, a Love God Greatly Study – w3d5

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:26-27; SOAP verse 27

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.

Romans 8:26-27 NET

I remember the first time I read this verse, well – at least the first time I read it with any understanding and appreciation for what it says. That day was more than three decades ago and even though I’ve experienced many seasons of stifled prayers since that time the truth is still as sweet and refreshing today as it was then. When emotions or tiredness or life bogs us down – we may want to pray but find that no words will come, or when words come but they are all jumbled up because mind and heart are a jumbled mess of trials or temptations and we just aren’t sure how to pray – this is the truth that allows us to sit quietly before God knowing His Spirit is at work on our behalf – by and for God’s will. That’s a powerful truth and a privilege of prayer that we must not miss. God, so wants to interact with us – and He so wants us to be confident and able to rest in Him that in His sovereign knowledge and provision He provided a means for us to pray even in our weakest moments, or greatest temptations, or deepest griefs. Whether we are so physically tired we can’t think, or so spiritually weak we don’t know if we even want to pray – God made a way. Not only does His Spirit teach us and remind us of everything He has said (Jn 14:26), He takes our groans, our unutterable words, our aches and pains of heart, mind, body, and soul and He delivers them to God on our behalf – and He does this because God willed it to be so. – Why? Because, as Peter wrote, God cares for us – (1 Peter 5:7). So, here I was studying this verse again – so familiar to me that I can say it in my sleep and claim it often in those moments of unformed words, which are all too-frequent now – yet I found myself once again making notes like I had never read or understood it before. I’m looking back at those notes now and here’s the one that jumped off the page at me – actually it’s been on my mind everyday for the last 6 days … “Just because we don’t know how or what to pray doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray – We may be silenced by our emotions or distracted by our season of life but we can still sit quietly before Him – trusting Him to know our hearts and minds as His Spirit intercedes on our behalf.”

” Just because we don’t know how or what to pray doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray – We may be silenced by our emotions or distracted by life but we can still sit quietly before Him – trusting Him to know our hearts and minds as His Spirit intercedes”

Me – fromtheNsideout

Be sure and check out today’s Love God Greatly Blog Post

And – check back in here tomorrow for another Saturday Reflections

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study

Praying According to His Will

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Inspired by The Importance of Prayer, a LGG Study, w3d2
Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:13-15; SOAP: 1 John 5:14

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.  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 5:13-15

Once upon a time …. God lived in a temple built by human hands. His presence was behind a curtain and accessible only through an earthly priest. God’s people would come to the temple to worship as they had been instructed and to offer sacrifices of the blood of animals. Their sacrifices were atonements to pay for all the ways they had broken the laws that God had given them – no matter how hard they might try to keep the law as God desired – it was an impossible feat. The earthly priest, who was allowed to pass behind the curtain once a year, would make sacrifices on behalf of himself and the people year after year because their’s was not an everlasting atonement.

“The veil in the temple was a constant reminder that sin renders humanity unfit for the presence of God. The fact that the sin offering was offered annually and countless other sacrifices repeated daily showed graphically that sin could not truly be atoned for or erased by mere animal sacrifices. Jesus Christ, through His death, has removed the barriers between God and man, and now we may approach Him with confidence and boldness (Hebrews 4:14-16).”

Gotquestions.org

However, in time, God sent forth His only “begotten son” to become an atonement that would forever cover the sins of all those who believed in him. The atonement did not come easy, not only did God give up His one and only son, the son had to be born as a human and dwell among men. He took on the form of a servant and He loved like no one had loved before. He called others to follow him and performed miraculous acts of compassion through healing. He walked among the pious, devoutly religious, and sinners. He was questioned, ridiculed, and eventually sentenced to death – though no wrong could be proved against him.

Though he had faced all the temptations known to man – he was a man without sin. He was hung upon a criminal’s cross and He was crucified. A crown of thorns was used to mock his claim to be ‘king of the Jews’. He was stripped of his clothes, spit upon, and tortured beyond our understanding – all so that God’s plan would be accomplished. This plan, His plan, was born out of His love and His desire to dwell among men. It was a plan to save people from their sins – not through the sacrifices of animals over and over again but through His son who met all the requirements of a perfect sacrifice, a once and for all sacrifice. He was the true and spotless ‘Lamb of God’.

Remember the curtain… the one that stood between man and God … the one that was a constant reminder of sins that separated man from God? Well, when the son died, he proved to be the true and spotless lamb, for when he died the curtain in the temple, where God lived, was torn in two. It was not torn by human hands but miraculously from the top to the bottom – torn as a symbol that the wall between God and man was forever removed.

The size and thickness of the veil make the events occurring at the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross so much more momentous. “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50-51a). … So, what do we make of this? What significance does this torn veil have for us today? Above all, the tearing of the veil at the moment of Jesus’ death dramatically symbolized that His sacrifice, the shedding of His own blood, was a sufficient atonement for sins. It signified that now the way into the Holy of Holies was open for all people, for all time, both Jew and Gentile.

Gotquestions.org

From that time forward, even to this day, the son’s blood covers all the sins of every man, woman, and child – from every tribe, nation, and tongue who believes in him, the son of God. Believers are adopted into God’s family and given the full rights of sons and daughters of God. As such, they are no longer separated by a curtain but are invited to approach God – to come before Him – with confidence that when they ask anything according to His will He will hear them and answer accordingly.

This isn’t the end of the story …. The son’s death was followed by a miraculous resurrection and ascension into Heaven where He sits at His Father’s right hand interceding on the behalf of all who have believed – with the promise to one day return again … Are you ready? If not and you would like to know how to be please contact me – I would love to share more of the Son’s story with you and introduce you to The Way. https://www.gotquestions.org/gospel-message.html

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Importance of Prayer, The Importance of Prayer

Reflections

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I haven’t posted weekend reflections for a while now but decided I would this weekend. As I was typing them out, this passage from James came to mind – may it be a help and encouragement to you as we continue on this Journey through God’s Word –

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. James 1:22-25 NLT

REFLECTIONS FROM WEEK 2 OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER –
  1. What do we learn when we see how Jesus took time out of His day to get away and pray?
  2. How to anger and unforgiveness hinder your prayers?
  3. How was the power of prayer exhibited in Acts 9:40? What does this teach us about the power of prayer?
  4. When we pray for ourselves and others, what is one thing we should pray for based on Ephesians 3:16?
  5. Why is it important to abide in Christ? How can we do this when we pray?

If you missed any of the posts for week 2 you can find them at the following links –

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/01/16/5497/
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/01/16/5508/
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/01/18/5517/
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/01/19/kneel-before-the-father/
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/01/20/pray-to-abide-in-christ-2-0/
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Importance of Prayer, The Importance of Prayer

Pray to Abide in Christ (2.0)

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Inspired by a LGG Bible Study, “The Importance of Prayer”, w2d5

Scripture Reading: John 15:1-8; SOAP (5)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me – and I in him – bears much fruit because apart from me you can accomplish nothing”

John 15:5 NET

Jesus is teaching His disciples that He is their source of life ; and He goes on to say that they [the disciples] are the branches. He doesn’t stop with that analogy though, but continues the lesson that gives them the key to being a healthy – thriving “branch”, which is to abide, or remain in Him. In the context of the analogy it might sound like this – ‘the one who remains attached to Me – and I remain in him – bears much fruit …” or the evidence of Christ in us – Galatians 5:22-25)

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. \

Galatians 5:22-25

As for the little clause, “and I in him“, is a given fact, for Christ said – “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20. And, of course, in John 14:18 He told them that He would send the Holy Spirit so that they would not be orphans, in other words He wouldn’t leave them alone. Jesus made it clear that He will always be with us – the choice is ours – to stay the course of a true disciple, remaining attached to Jesus, the “True Vine” – or not. Note the passage from Galatians defines those who “belong to Christ” [a true disciple] as having “nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.” He then identifies the disciples who belong to Him as ones who live by the Spirit, and encourages them to follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of their lives.

Oh Father, may we choose well in our walk of faith, holding fast to the eternal life to which you have called us and about which we have declared before many witnesses in our churches and neighborhoods, at our jobs and to our families. Lord let us not falter but help us to faithfully keep in step with the Spirit – so that in all things we do and say – fruit will abound – disciples will multiply and You will be glorified! In the mighty name of Jesus – Amen!

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study

Kneel Before the Father

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The Importance of Prayer, LGG 2023 – w2d4

Today’s Reading: Ephesians 3:14-19; SOAP 14-16

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he will grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, 
Ephesians 3:14-16

To understand the “reason” that Paul talking about when he kneels before the Father we need to look back at the previous verses, specifically verse 12 where Paul writes about coming before the Father with boldness and confidence.  “Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”  He continues the thought here by putting it into practice. He kneels before the Father to pray. He continues on by uniting Himself to the Father in name and then praying according to His glory. He prays specifically for strength and power, but notice how even Paul’s requests draws the focus to the Father as he acknowledges the power would come through God’s Spirit. What a powerful and God honoring prayer that we would do well to model. I couldn’t help but think of another verse as I was writing – one that is most likely very familiar to you as well.

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

1 John 5:14-15

The above comments were written when I was soaping this verse a year ago. My observations this time around were very much the same but also included the following:

  • looking back to verse 1 for insight to the phrase, “For this reason”, which could also include his opening words – “For the sake of the Gentiles”. focusing on the goal to reach all people with the Gospel message.
  • Noting, as I have before, that the posture of kneeling is believed to be a gesture of attributing lordship to God
  • However, perhaps the best additional nugget of truth was a deeper look at his particular prayer that they be strengthened with power through His Spirit, “in the inner person”. As noted above, Paul was drawing the focus to the Father and acknowledging the power would come from His Spirit, but how sweet is this last little phrase that serves as a reminder that “it’s who’s on the inside that makes us strong and able.”
    • Without His Spirit living in us we would not remember or understand what has been written in His Word – John 14:26
    • We would not be able to approach His throne – certainly not with confidence and boldness 1 John 5:14-15
    • We would not be able to claim with Paul, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us – Phil 4:13
    • We would not have everything we need for a godly life or be able to participate in the divine nature – 2 Peter 1:3-4
    • We would not be able to claim the promises of benefits in this life and in the life to come – 1 Tim 4:8
    • We would not know peace of mind and heart – John 14:16-30 (27)

Sweet stuff – right? These are the truths we must cling to, they are the truths that should move us to live and pray as Paul did. They are the truths we should share with others

Father, help us not just to come boldly but to come with confidence and not just to come with confidence but with the distinct purpose of reaching all people with the message of the Gospel. Help us to live and to pray in the Spirit – to continually be growing and straining toward the righteousness you desire for Your children – for we are called by Your name – saved by the blood of Your Son, and filled with Your Spirit in who we are made strong and able! – Amen, In Jesus’ Name –

Heres a little line from a song that came to mind as I was writing … “My God is so big so strong and [able] there’s nothing that He cannot do …” May it get stuck in your head and lived out in your life and prayers.

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, The Importance of Prayer, The Importance of Prayer

Find Time For Prayer

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Inspired by the LGG study, “The Importance of Prayer”, w2d1

Read: Matthew 14:23 and Mark 1:35; SOAP Mark 1:35

Jesus’ Emphasis on Praying

35 (Then Jesus) got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, (and) went out (to a deserted place), and there he spent time in prayer.

Mark 1:35 (NET)

Where did you learn to pray? Perhaps it was at the dinner table or by your bed, maybe it was in church, or in a small group meeting. Wherever it was, whenever it was, and whoever it was that taught you – there is no better place to learn about prayer than in God’s Word from Jesus Himself. Most of us are familiar with the “Lord’s Prayer”, where Jesus taught His disciples how to pray – with examples of what to say. However, throughout His ministry Jesus showed us, by example, so much more about prayer. And as Paul wrote to Timothy, what is written in the Scriptures is meant to train us in righteousness – to equip us for every good work.

All Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. [So that] the servant of God may be throughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

One such occasion is found in Mark 1:35. On this particular occasion Jesus did four specific things. He 1got up, 2departed, 3went out and 4spent time in prayer. While I love spending time in prayer the first thing of the morning and believe it is important, I do not believe that this is the main point here; but rather – that He intentionally got up from what He was doing. A couple of translations combine the next two actions (went out and departed) found in this translation and at least four others that I use in my studies, but I love the separation of them. While I agree that they sound or seem similar in nature – “departed” and “went out” – I also believe when separated they tell the more accurate picture of what Jesus was doing. Indulge me for minute. It wasn’t enough for Jesus to just leave the room or the house where He was. After He left He then went out – or went further away from the place where He had been, specifically, to a deserted place. It’s really a beautiful picture and a great illustration for us. In this situation it wasn’t enough for Jesus to be in the next room with the door shut or outside on a ‘porch’. He wanted to make sure He was alone. Why? Because He wanted, and needed, to spend time with His Father in prayer. Knowing His need, He was determined and strategically took precautions against interruptions. He didn’t just need time away from people but time alone with God.

This leads me back to the start of the verse, Mark 1:35, where we read, “THEN Jesus got up …” The word ‘then‘ caused me to look back to see what came before and what I found was that He had been healing the sick (29-34). A similar situation to Mark’s rendering here is found in Matthew 14:13-23, where Jesus had fed thousands and then sent His disciples on ahead of Him and after sending the crowds away He went up the mountain “by Himself” to pray. We would be remiss not to notice that the context of both passages has Jesus needing, not just wanting, to be alone with the Father following the pouring out of Himself to others.

And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.

Matthew 14:23

Jesus didn’t always go away alone to pray. Luke 11:1 tells us that after He had finished praying one of the disciples asked Him – “teach us to pray”. He prays a blessing over the food in Matthew 14:19. He also prays in the presence of His disciples in John 17:1-26, as well as in the presence of many witnesses as He hung on the cross Luke 23:33-34, and in one final cry to the father in Matthew 27:46 . However, He certainly did make a habit of getting alone with the Father as seen in our passages today, as well as Luke 5:16 and others. We would do well to follow His examples regularly. Separating ourselves not only from people but distractions of all kinds, including phones and other media devices. The noise and clamor of home or work, the needs and cries of the people, the activities, delights, and pleasures of the world all demand that we separate ourselves, not just to rest but more importantly, to spend time with the Father.

Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

Luke 5:16

For more from The Importance of Prayer, by Love God Greatly, read today’s blog at LoveGodGreatly.com

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Importance of Prayer

Pray for Each Other

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The Importance of Prayer, Love God Greatly 2023, w1d5

Read: Romans 15:30 and Colossians 1:9-12; SOAP: Colossians 1:9

 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Colossians 1:9-12

He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

Colossians 1:8
Devoted to Prayer

Paul’s devotion to prayer teaches us much about praying for others in this one little passage, even in just this one focus/soap verse. Starting with the very first word we learn that we are to pray with a purpose. “So”, or “For this reason”, as found in the NET is a word or phrase that indicates the need to look back in order to truly understand why Paul and Timothy haven’t stopped praying for the believers at Colossae. When we look back to verse 8, we find the answer is because they heard how the Colossian believer’s love for others, a love given to them by the Holy Spirit. When we share the common bond of love – in the Spirit, whom we have received through faith in Christ, we will be or should be drawn to pray for one another. If we look carefully at verse 9 we will see at least three other lessons worth noting and I believe implementing in our own prayer lives.

  • Pray with a purpose: “because of your love in the Spirit.” (8)
  • Pray with others: “we have not stopped praying for you” (9)
  • Pray faithfully: “We have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you“. (9)
  • Pray specifically and in accordance with God’s will: “We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.“(9)

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Colossians 1:9

“I’ll pray for you” can easily become a trite statement, something we say as a Christian nicety but with very little or consistent follow through. However, I believe this passage, specifically verse 9, gives us cause to guard ourselves against the nicety of prayers and implement this example in our everyday prayer life. When we invest in the lives of other believers, like Paul teaches, we will make an impact not only in each other’s lives but in the way we live for God. We will be known to bear fruit and honor God, and we will develop and deepen a relationship with Him. We will find ourselves strengthened with His power, not lacking in endurance or patience, and filled with joy. Oh the blessing and privilege of praying for each other. May He find us faithful and may we find ourselves different because of it.

10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Colossians 1:10-12

Reflection Questions:

  • Who are you praying for?
  • Do you pray with purpose and faithfulness?
  • Do you pray specifically and in accordance with God’s will?

Don’t forget today’s blog from Love God Greatly

https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

How can I pray for you? Please leave any prayer needs you have in the comment/reply box below.

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study

Worship Filled Praise

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The Importance of Prayer, w1d3

Read Jeremiah 10:6-7

6Lord, there is no one like you!
For you are great, and your name is full of power.
7 Who would not fear you, O King of nations?
That title belongs to you alone!
Among all the wise people of the earth
and in all the kingdoms of the world,
there is no one like you.

Jeremiah 10:6-7

To ‘revere’ is to feel deep respect or admiration for (something or someone). Our prayers are often the way we express our deep respect and admiration for God, which is what Jeremiah was doing here. Read it again, listen as He declares, “There is no one like You … You are great … Your name is full of power.” He questions, “Who would not fear You? He then addresses Him as the “King of the nations” and declares He alone is worthy of the title! Then Jeremiah’s praise crescendos with His final declaration, “Among all the wise people of the earth and in all the kingdoms of the world, there is no one like You.” What a beautiful prayer for us to borrow from the Scriptures, a wonderful example of ‘revering’ God and attributing the highest of wisdom to Him. – Me from the Insideout 💗

“Among all the wise people of the earth and in all the kingdoms of the world, there is no one like You.”

Jeremiah 10:7

I believe to fully comprehend and appreciate these two verse, we first need to read the words of God to Israel in verses 1-5, where Israel is warned that idolatry brings destruction:

Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O Israel! 2 This is what the Lord says:
“Do not act like the other nations,
    who try to read their future in the stars.
Do not be afraid of their predictions,
    even though other nations are terrified by them.
3 Their ways are futile and foolish.
    They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol.
4 They decorate it with gold and silver
    and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails
    so it won’t fall over.
5 Their gods are like
    helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field!
They cannot speak,
    and they need to be carried because they cannot walk.
Do not be afraid of such gods,
    for they can neither harm you nor do you any good.”

Jeremiah 10:1-5 NLT

In these five verses you find that the people of the other nations make their own gods, they dress them and prop them up so they will not fall over. Our God, however, not only talked to His people, we’ve also read how He was heard by Adam and Eve walking in the garden in the cool of the evening. — But the gods of the other nations cannot speak and have to be carried because they cannot walk. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “they can neither harm you nor do you any good.” It’s quite easy to boast of our God’s power, might, goodness, love and all the other namable qualities – but our “boasting” means nothing unless we truly understand the truth that there is NO ONE like Him.

Making it personal

We must get to know God for who He is in order to worship Him as He deserves. Likewise we must be aware that all other gods pale in comparison to Him. I believe when we do this our prayers will flow with worship-filled praises like we read here by Jeremiah.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, there is no god like You. There is no one like you in heaven or on earth. For, as the prophet wrote, You are great, and Your name is full of power. Who is there that would not fear You, O King of nations? That title belongs only to You! Among all the wise people of the earth and in all the kingdoms of the world, we can not say it enough – there is no on like You! Help us to spend so much time with You that we realize, like Jeremiah, that all else pales in comparison to You – and may our lips flow with the praise that You alone are due. – In the powerful name of Jesus! – Amen –

Don’t forget to visit https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/ for today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, The Importance of Prayer

Boldly Approaching God

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The Importance of Prayer, w1d2

Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16; SOAP: Hebrews 4:16

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Today’s Observation:

There are many key words in these verses. We are SOAPing verse 16 but verses 14 and 15 have some words that help make sense of verse 16, such as, “high priest” (Jesus), “weaknesses (tendency to sin),” and “without sin” (sinless) . In a nutshell, this verse is a reminder that Jesus, who was without sin, is our Great High Priest who understands our weaknesses. He understands them because He has “faced all of the same testings we do – with one big difference – He never sinned. How do these truths affect our boldness? Because, we will not pray to or draw near to God if we do not have confidence in Jesus, we will certainly not approach God’s throne with boldness, if we do not know and trust the sinless character of our Great High Priest. Again, simply put, we will not request something we don’t deserve [grace] or ask that a punishment, that we do deserve, be withheld [mercy] when we do not understand God’s character, which is full of mercy, abundant in grace, and abounding in love. Boldness typically comes from confidence and confidence comes with trust and trust is built through relationship and established over time . However, when we know the God who sits on the throne and Jesus, the Great High Priest, and when we know our weaknesses, compared to His sinless life – His desire, hope, and invitation is that we will boldly, draw near to Him and find, as promised, His mercy and grace.

Today’s Application: Making it Personal

Have you ever had one of those moments when you drive a very familiar path to a very familiar destination – such as home to work or work to home – but when you arrive you wonder how? Like you don’t really remember anything from point A to point B. You safely went through the routine drive but you can’t remember seeing the river that you love to look at or if there was a beautifully painted sky along the way. I have done it often, and as I began journaling some thoughts of application on today’s passage- I was prodded to question if I am guilty of this in prayer. For instance, “when I pray do I even consider Jesus, the one who bridges the gap? Am I consciously aware of Him who made it possible for me to even approach God in prayer or am I just going through the routine of praying? I don’t want to deflect from the message of coming boldly before God’s throne, which is the writer’s point, but it made me wonder just how often I begin praying – approaching God’s throne, without even considering Jesus – not that I don’t consider Him within the context of the prayer – and close the prayer in His name – but it struck me in reading these verses today, that the only way to truly approach God with such boldness is to be consciously aware of Jesus from beginning to end. To remember how He taught us [His disciples] to pray … “Our Father, in Heaven, hallowed be Your name”, is a reminder that we are coming before a holy God. and can only do so through Jesus, our Redeemer, who sits at the Father’s right hand pleading for us, (Romans 8:34). This conviction/question/realization that came to mind isn’t necessarily that I need to change the words that I pray and certainly not that I need to pray the same words every time, but that when I pray – it should never be just a routine prayer, instead it should flow out of a conscious awareness of being in conversation with God. It should never be just an awareness of my needs and requests but of God’s (Father, Son, and Spirit) presence, His promises, His Word, His provisions, His teachings, His guidance, His will, His perfection, His goodness … holiness … trustworthiness … and all that we know Him to be. Without such an awareness I wonder if we will ever have the bold confidence that Hebrew’s teaches.

So how about you? When you pray, do you pray boldly? Do you trust Jesus, your High Priest, to intercede on your behalf according to His understanding of who you are. weaknesses and all? Do you draw near to God with boldness, believing that Jesus was tempted in every way like you have been but remained sinless and having offered Himself up on your behalf is there interceding for you now? If not, ask yourself what’s holding you back. Ask God to give you a fuller understanding of these truths and to help you hold firmly to what you believe.

Today’s Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for the reminder of why I can come boldly before Your throne. How often do I just run into Your presence without thought to the privilege and the reason I can stand before You! Help me to not aimlessly nor without thought enter into Your presence. For surely, when I am purposeful to consider Your gift of Christ -I will come boldly as You have invited. Thank You for Your promise of grace and mercy – and for the confidence such knowledge gives me!

Posted in Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, The God Who Restores

PRAISE THE LORD!

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The God Who Restores, w4d2
TODAY’S READING: 1 SAMUEL 2:1-10; PSALM 113

Today’s SOAP: Psalm 113:1-2

Praise the Lord!
Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!

Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever. Psalm 113:1-2

OBSERVATIONS: PRAISE THE LORD!
  • Praise is the theme
  • God is the object of the praise
  • Even His Name is worthy of Praise
  • Praise Him NOW and FOREVER
APPLICATION:

PRAISE THE LORD was going to be my single response here – but as I began typing my observations it occurred to me that, for me, the application might just need to be a question (and answer) response.

  • Is praising God the theme of my life? (Not like it should be. I do praise Him and often but I also realize that often when answers I’ve prayed for come – my praise is often a quick word rather than a lavish response of praise
  • Is God the object of my praise? (Certainly! That should be the answer, right? However, if I’m truly honest in the evaluation of myself – I fear I sometimes get much more caught up in the answer than with the God who heard my petition and answered me.)
  • What does it mean that “His name is worthy of praise? (God’s acts are definitely worthy of praise. Consider the list the Psalmist gave: “He raises the poor from the dirt, lifts up the needy from the garbage pile and seats him with the prices of his people. He makes the barren woman a happy mother of children.” But even if He did none of those things He is worthy of our praise! – He is Creator God, seated on a ‘high throne’, where He has to look down just to see the sky and earth. His name is above every other name – there is no one like Him in heaven or on earth!
  • Is my praise contingent on circumstances and time? (Surely I will praise Him when I am forevermore with Him. But what about the now and all the days between now and then? Oh it’s easy to praise Him when things are going well. It’s easy to praise Him when I am focused on the fact that He alone is God – but what about those times in the “here and now and all the unknown ‘more’ days that follow here on earth, with all of their unforeseen storms and struggles of life? When things aren’t so good or my mind spirals to fear or other emotions that hinder praise – will I still praise Him? When the waiting for His return gets harder, will I still praise Him? – In all honesty, I think and pray I will, or at least it is what He has been faithfully teaching me to do for many many years now. May I faithfully do so to His glory 💜
  • The bottom line is this – If we have chosen to follow-Christ and live as a child of God we should be serving the Lord – denying ourselves daily, taking up our cross and following where He leads us and doing His work while He’s gone. – May the words of this commentary be encouragement and inspiration: “Make your job [ministry] in the church an act of praise, doing it with [joy] and reverence to God Honor Him by the quality of your work and the attitude of service you bring.” (borrowed from the NIV New Life Application Bible)
PRAYER: RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD

Father, You are worthy of praise – Your Name alone deserves and ignites praise! The work of Your hands and the depth of Your love – even more so! As the Psalmist said, “Who can compare to You?”. And of course, the answer is none. Not even one Father! You are sovereign over all! There is nothing You cannot do. Your love and power and goodness are matchless! I praise You oh LORD, my God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!💜❤️💙 Now and forever, Father – may I be quick and faithful to praise You – even as fervently as I pray! And this to Your Glory and honor – Amen!

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
  • What are you praising God for today?

Me: I’m praising Him for His peace, that passes all
understanding, in the midst of the storms and waves of live
right now that sometimes cause me to be overwhelmed.

– I’m praising Him for His helping me to get caught up on a
few things that were leaving me feeling overwhelmed and
trusting Him to continue to help me get completely caught
up.

– I’m praising Him for my mother’s birthday, celebrating her
83rd year of life!