Tag: SOAP

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Every Thought

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God / w5d1

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18 / SOAP: verse 17

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God).

Ephesians 6:17

Over the past four weeks of our journey we have seen evidence from God’s Word that:

  • His truth supports us as we live out His calling on our lives.
  • His righteousness is a protective covering for our hearts and souls from the evil one.
  •  His Shoes of Peace are to help us stand firm defensively and run swiftly offensively.
    • Defensively: when the enemy targets us (or others), we must press our ‘feet’ firmly into God’s Truth so that we are not easily shaken or knocked down.
    •  Offensively, we must always be ready to ‘run’ with the message of His Peace so that others will know the hope of our salvation through Jesus Christ.
  •  His Shield of Faith can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. These arrows of fear, doubt, temptations, and a myriad of others are part of the enemy’s strategy to steal, kill, and destroy God’s children. However, as we have seen, by faith, we are overcomers, and God’s Shield is a protective barrier for us to use against all the flaming arrows.
The Full Armor

When I consider the pieces of armor we’ve picked up in the first four weeks of our journey, I feel secure. However, I know I must not stop with the Shield of Faith. God’s instructions through Paul are to “Put on the full armor of God.” To do anything less is to be careless and put ourselves, and possibly others, in jeopardy.  

 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground –

Ephesians 6:12-13

Remember with me for a minute the scene in the Garden. The serpent tempted Eve by messing with her mind, making her doubt what God had said or meant, and enticing her through her senses. Scripture says that Eve saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise;  the serpent had captivated her mind, and Scripture says, she took the fruit and ate it, then she gave some to Adam and he also ate it. While we might want to say or think we will not do what Eve did, the reality is we all know that, but by the grace of God, we will. The enemy is still actively at work today, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy God’s people. He still messes with our minds, hoping we will fall for his cunning and deceitful words, just like Eve, which is why we must stay alert. It is why we must put on the Helmet of Salvation to protect our mind from the enemy and the lies and the games he plays with what we think and believe or perceive to be true. 

If you want victory over the mind the helmet is not optional. It can save you from the enemy’s schemes and lies.

As I’m sure you’ve heard me say, my mind is a battlefield. I have been putting the Helmet of Salvation on since the first time I studied Ephesians six, close to thirty years ago, and yet even this week, I have seen how very vulnerable I am if I don’t wear it well. God has shown me it isn’t enough to go through the motions of “putting the armor on.” I must live as a warrior who understands what the pieces are and how to use them so that when they are needed, I’m not caught off guard. God faithfully and graciously continues to train me in protective procedures through studies like this and the practical application in the daily battles of this world. Being alert to the enemy is one defense I cannot afford to let down; I’ve seen what happens when I do. I must stay on guard, alert to the enemy’s schemes, as well as my weaknesses, and ready to stand firm.

Because of our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ we have the assurance of God’s forgiveness. We have the great privilege of knowing that we are no longer under the requirements of the law but instead we live in the freedom of God’s grace and the hope of eternity. This is the bottom-line of the helmet of salvation. Gotquestions.org writes that, “The idea in this verse is that, as we prepare for Satan’s attacks, we must grab that helmet and buckle it on tightly. Salvation is not limited to a one-time act of the past or even a future hope. God’s salvation is an ongoing, eternal state that His children enjoy in the present. It is daily protection and deliverance from our sin nature and Satan’s schemes.”

Keep in Mind

Because of the power of the cross, our enemy no longer has any hold on us (Romans 6:10; 8:2; 1 Corinthians 1:18). He knows that, but he also knows that most of God’s children do not know that—or, at least, they do not live as if they know. We must learn to keep our helmets buckled so that his fiery missiles do not lodge in our thoughts and set us on fire. Through this helmet of salvation, we can “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

So suit up and don’t forget the helmet – 💕

Going Further in the Journey

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Faith Overcomes the World

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God / w4d5

Scripture: 1 John 5:4-5

 because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith. 5 Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:4-5

From the first day of this week’s journey, I have had the song “Faith is the Victory”  playing daily in my head at some point. Today’s passage has amplified the song to full blast, and if I weren’t writing this late at night and worried about waking my daughter, I would be belting out the tune loud and clear – perhaps even marching around my room. For now, I must settle for the more timid celebration of marching and singing in my heart and head.

Reread our verses and read them out loud this time. Listen as John first proclaims that our faith is the conquering power that has overcome the world, and then as he clarifies that the person of faith is the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.Surely, those hearing these words at the time would have broken out in loud cheers and shouts of victorious praise to their God that would have rivaled a Super Bowl crowd. After all, this is the final chapter of the First John letters. So far the church has received a series of four letters including: lessons about the fellowship of believers (1), instructions on being Followers of Christ(2), the requirement to love one another(3), instructions on the importance of testing the spirits to make sure they are from God(4), and then he wraps it all up, here in chapter 5, with this beautiful message of peace – that it is our faith, our believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that gives us the power to overcome the world! This is where our text focuses today. And I believe it is the crux of the demand to put on the whole armor of God and stand firm. For, without faith, there is no hope and there is no victory to celebrate – there is only fear and dread.

Our faith gives us power!
~~~~~
Because our faith places us in Christ and Christ in us ~
and thus, we are empowered to overcome the world.

Me – from the inside-out

We could stop here, but this is one of those scenic overlooks of a journey where you want to stop and take a picture of the majestic mountains or some other wonderful sight to remember. So, let’s stop for a minute before rushing on and look at the scenic overview to experience it and appreciate the beauty of what led up to John’s declaration of conquering the world.

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down, 4 because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. -This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith. 5 Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 

1 John 5:1-5

Did you see the beauty? Verse one explains or at least sheds light on verse four’s comment about being “fathered by God.” Then verse three poses this statement: And his commandments do not weigh us down, but John addresses his statement as if it were a question: “Because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world.” For me, this is an ultimate photo op, one best captured by this quote from gotquestions.org – “The apostle is not implying that only certain “super-Christians” are overcomers; rather, every true believer is an overcomer because he has been born of God.” There it is, a great photo op and a truth that should ignite loud shouts of cheers of victory and thunderous praise for the conquering power of our faith!

The apostle is not implying that only certain “super-Christians” are overcomers; rather, every true believer is an overcomer because he has been born of God: 

Gotquestions.org
Prayer of Response to God’s Word

Father, thank you for this message from John. May our application be to daily celebrate this beautiful knowledge of peace that we are overcomers by the conquering power of our faith in Christ Jesus, Your only begotten Son. Thank You for adopting us, who were once Your enemies, and fathering us as children naturally born to You. We are most blessed to have this faith – please help us to walk in it faithfully, claiming the victory that is ours in Christ and sharing the message of our faith so others may hear and believe in the One, whose name I pray, His name is Jesus and He is the author and perfecter of our victoriously powerful faith! And Father, if there is anyone, even one, who reads this but doesn’t share in our faith, will you open the eyes and the ears of their heart to understand and to claim the faith as their own by believing that Jesus is Your Son, the author, and perfecter of our faith – Amen and amen!

Going Further in the Journey

John refers to believers as victorious conquerors multiple times (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21)

How is faith the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4)?

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

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Faithful Protector

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor Of God / w4d4

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 / SOAP: verse 3

But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

Sometimes you can pull one verse out of a passage and SOAP it without the others, but sometimes it is made so much richer with the others. I find this to be true of these five verses. While each one has a distinct message, each one also highlights the next as well.

  • Paul starts off asking for prayer, “Finally,” he says, “pray for us, brothers and sisters, that the Lord’s message may spread quickly and be honored as in fact it was among you.”
    • It is an example that reminded me that as brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not only to pray for one another but we are to share our needs or the needs of the body with one another.
    • It is also a reminder that, like Paul, we are to understand and be concerned about the Lord’s message spreading quickly.
  • Paul continues with the prayer request in verse two with the concern for the dangers they faced in spreading the message. He continues, “and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people, for not all have faith.” As we know from Paul’s letters to the churches, his life and those he served with were often in great danger from those who opposed the message of the cross. Such danger led to countless imprisonments and beatings by those not of the faith.

 His enemies were hardened unbelievers.

Bibleref.com
  • Now, our SOAP verse –

 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. – 2 Thessalonians 3:3

  • I love this verse because it starts with the word “BUT.” The word ‘but’ in Scripture is an ‘alarm’ word. Not only does it mean looking back and seeing what came before, but it typically means something is coming we don’t want to miss. In this case, what follows is ” the Lord is faithful.” Can’t you hear the collective sigh of relief for Paul among the church as they read this part of the letter naming the urgency of spreading the Gospel and the danger that comes with it? Paul knew they would need to be reminded and encouraged that – “The Lord is faithful! He understood that remembering the truth of God’s character would help them to pray with hope, knowing the Lord would hear and answer their prayers. Paul added even more hope with the reminder, “The Lord will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 

Paul had confidence from the Lord that their faith was strong and they were living it out well.

  • Paul’s encouragement to the Thessalonians continued in verse four, where he wrote “And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you.” This had to bring them great encouragement to know that not only would they know the Lord’s protection from the evil one but Paul had confidence from the Lord that their faith was strong and they were living it out well.
  • Finally, verse five – which really stood out to me and is why I realized that the five verses were a package deal. For in order for them to continue to know the hope and encouragement and faithfulness to live the righteous life they would have to have their hearts directed toward God’s love and the endurance of Christ, or they would fail miserably. Their faith, had to be set firm in God (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and not in Paul, his ministry, or anything, or anyone else; and so Paul prayed: “Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and the endurance of Christ.”

Note: Applications (underlined text) are laced throughout the observations of this SOAP

Prayer of Response to the Word

Father, thank You for Your teachings through men like Paul. His letters and examples of the faith encouraged those in his day and all the generations of believers to this day and beyond. They are living and active, and I pray for strength and faithfulness to apply them well. Grace me with the daily reminders of the truths of Your character, as we find in Paul’s words that You are faithful and will strengthen us and protect us from evil. We are now and forever more dependent on You, and these truths fill us with the hope we need to use the Shield of Faith well – to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. I bless Your Name and the name of Jesus through whom I pray. Amen!

Worship of Praise Response
Going Further in the Journey

Check out these But God verses

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Our Shield and Defender

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God, w4d3

Scripture; Psalm 18:1-50 / SOAP: verse 50

The one true God acts in a faithful manner;
the Lord’s promise is reliable.
He is a shield to all who take shelter in him.

Psalm 18:30

Last week, we read in Ephesians 2:14 that Jesus is our peace, and in today’s SOAP passage, we read that God is a shield to all who take shelter in him. We see the evidence of David’s faith being firmly in the Lord throughout Scripture, but we also hear it in his descriptive words of God, as he declares Him to be the one true God who acts faithfully and who keeps His promises. Keep in mind that David learned these things both by observing God and from first hand experience. One of my favorite Old Testament passages is when David requests to stand up to the Philistine giant, Goliath, and declares to Saul: “The Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” To be clear, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” and if we spend more than a minute in the Word of God we are bound to read the stories like David and Goliath or Noah and the ark, or of Rahab and the spies and Ruth and Naomi, or of Jesus’ life from the birth announcement to the cross to the empty grave and His ascension into Heaven. These stories bear witness to not only the Gospel but to the realness and the faithfulness of our God. They continue to bring people to faith every day and they strengthen the faith of those who have already believed, or such is my experience.

I made a profession of faith as a young child, but it was in my mid to late twenties, when my first child was born, that my faith began to grow and take deeper root. Looking both backward and forward from that point God has shown me the lions and the bears of my own life and how He has delivered me not only from them but from the giants I’ve had to face as well. It occurs to me as I’m writing this that David’s initial words about the lion and the bear are: “Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear.” He later acknowledges that it was the Lord who delivered him. This isn’t a discrepancy but the beauty of how God walks with us in our battles – fighting for us and through us to overcome the dangers and snares in our paths. We are wise to realize we cannot and should not attempt the battles, the storm tossed seas, or any other part of life without our faith firmly established in Him. After all, as David said – God is our shield.

“Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be just like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 David went on to say, “The Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Then Saul said to David, “Go! The Lord will be with you.” –

1 Samuel 17:36-67
Noteworthy Observations

Many things about Psalm 18 jumped off the page to me, starting with the fact that “David – sang to the LORD the words of the song.” I love this, partly because I do it too – as I drive to or from work or as I’m praying. However, I think what I love most is that it is like a love song to the Lord, expounding not only on his love for God but on the wonderful ways God has loved and cared for Him. David knew God was worthy of His praise, but he also wanted anyone who heard the song to see the greatness of God and what He had done for David, which is most likely why he didn’t just say God, You’re so good – but went into details of His goodness.

I also love that David didn’t mind admitting that he was vulnerable and needed help, and he knew his help came from the LORD. When he was feeling like he was being overwhelmed by the currents of chaos and feeling distressed, we find him calling out to God for help. We may not feel the waves of death like David did, but much of life can easily engulf us and leave us feeling trapped very quickly and needing “the One True God” to come to our defense and rescue us. I’m so thankful David, the “servant after God’s own heart,” has given us an example of how to respond in these situations.

One other observation I want to note is that while it may be easy to read some of David’s words as boastful or proud, however, we must keep in mind the opening words of the Psalm, which say “…by the LORD’S servant David, who sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul.”(1a) David’s song was specific to an event in which David had pleased God and how God proved to be loyal, trustworthy and reliable in return; but to Saul, who had acted contrary to the ways of God, the LORD showed sharp and powerful judgment.

How do I Apply this to my life?

I love you LORD, my source of strength! Psalm 18:6

I believe we start with Psalm 18:6, understanding and acknowledging who truly is our source of strength. Can we, like David, say that the LORD is our source of strength? Who do we seek when we are in trouble? Who do we trust more than any other? Who do we believe is truly able to do more than we ask or imagine? It is easy to answer these questions with the Christian answer of God, or Jesus, or His Spirit in us. However, we must not answer according to who we “know it should be” but rather by who we “Know it is.” Ask Him to show you any areas of your life where another is the source of your strength. Don’t be surprised if He shows you places where your faith needs to be rooted a little deeper in Him and less in the world or others. After all, we are works in progress – He’s not finished with us yet. *Note, if God has given you a wonderful friend or friends that are faithful to help you with anything, anytime, and anywhere – this is a blessing to be cherished – but we should be quick to acknowledge that they too, are a gift from God.

Be quick to see and then acknowledge the goodness and faithfulness of God. Count your blessings, name them one by one, as the old hymn says – it truly will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Be quick to ask Him for help, He knows you need it and He is poised and ready and desirous to help His children.

A Response of Prayer to God’s Word

Father, grace us with eyes to see and minds to recall all the ways You have acted on our behalf. Please help us to remember your goodness and faithfulness to rescue us from the power of our enemies and the struggles in this life. When the waves are crashing at our heads and distress is overtaking us, remind us to do as David did and call out to You, the One from whom we receive our help. Help us not lean on our understanding and power but to remember You are our only true and faithful source of strength. Thank You for being our shield! Thank You for being the One who is faithful and a keeper of His promises – May these truths help us to stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around our waist, the breastplate of righteousness in place, the shoes of peace on our feet, and the shield of faith ready to douse the flaming arrows of the evil one. And, when like David, we see the victory – help us to faithfully respond with songs of praise to You born of love and faith in who You are. – Amen!

Response of Worship

The words of the Psalm brought this song to mind, may it be a blessing to you as it always is to me –

Going further

We Rest on Thee, Our Shield and Our Defender (Grab a tissue and don’t miss this)

Don’t forget to check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

For the One Who Believes

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based on the Love God Greatly Series, The Armor of God, w4d2

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29/SOAP: 24-25

Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 

Mark 9:24-25
The Object of One’s Faith is Critical

In my studies of this passage I found a quote by Gotquestions.org that is helpful if not crucial to understanding the scene with the demon possessed boy and the father’s desire for Jesus to heal him.

The believing one has power only due to the one he believes in.

gotquestions.org

Why do I believe this is so important? Because the healing clearly hinged upon what or who the father placed his belief in. The father’s earlier statement that the disciples had failed to heal his son most likely had affected the man’s belief that Jesus would be able to heal the child; at the very least, it had caused him to doubt. So, Jesus repeats the man’s words – possibly to point out the doubt and emphasize that one must believe in Jesus and His ability to cast out the demon. Whatever the reason for Jesus’ words, the father then proclaims his belief, showing he understood the importance of believing by asking that Jesus would help him past any unbelief – and, at Jesus’ command, the boy was healed, highlighting the truth that the one who believes has power only due to the one he believes in.

Bibleref.com makes this statement concerning the passage: “True faith doesn’t presume that God will do what we want but that God can do what He wants.”

Prayer Response to the Word

Father, help me to continually center my belief on You. It is so easy to get caught up in situations or struggles and cry out with our eyes on the problem rather than on You the only one who can truly answer our requests – be it healing or provision or wisdom. Help me to remember that faith doesn’t mean that You can or will do what I want but that You can do what You want to. In those moments of life when I am desperate, do not allow my desperation to overshadow my belief in You. And, as this father prayed – so pray I – “help my unbelief”. – In Him who I have placed my Trust – Thank You and Amen!

Reflections from our Journey
  • What does the Bible teach about the nature and power of faith in relation to overcoming obstacles and receiving answers to prayer?
  • How can we apply this understanding to cultivate a deepr faith in Jesus Christ?
Going Further

https://www.gotquestions.org/all-things-possible-him-who-believes.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/only-come-out-by-prayer-and-fasting.html

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Faith Is The Victory

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, The Armor of God, w4d1

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18 / SOAP: verse 16

and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Ephesians 6:18
Dressed and Ready – Well, Almost

Ok, so you have your belt of truth in place which is securing your breastplate of righteousness and your feet are readily fitted with the Gospel of peace – but don’t forget your shield of faith. According to gotquestions.org, FAITH is a protective barrier that helps us stay grounded in the TRUTH. It is the VICTORY we know that overcomes the world! (1Jn 5:4 and Hebrews 11:1) In reference to “overcoming the world”, we would do well to remember that Jesus Himself referred to satan, our enemy, the evil one, as the “ruler of this world”. When talking about His own impending death, Jesus announced: “The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.” John 12:31.

Bigger and Better than We Can Imagine

Check out this word picture of our “Shield of Faith”. It makes me tired just thinking about how I will lift it and hold it in place but then I remember that, if I followed Paul’s instructions from the beginning – my strength and power come from the Lord! – Ephesians 6:10

The Roman shield of the time was called a scutum (/ˈsko͞odəm/). This type of shield was as large as a door and would cover the warrior entirely. Such a shield was not just defensive but could also be used to push opponents. When fighting as a group, a phalanx of soldiers could position their shields so as to form an enclosure around themselves, called a testudo (“tortoise”). This was especially helpful to protect against arrows launched from the walls of cities they were attacking. Shields, often made of wood and then covered in hide, when wet, could extinguish flaming arrows.

gotquestions.org

If that word picture isn’t enough, Scripture’s is even better, our faith is one of the greatest gifts we have, abiding right along side hope and love – 1 Cor 13:13; Paul goes on to write that faith is the way we receive grace, Eph 2:8-9 and that it is the means of our justification, Rom 5:1 and Col 3:24.

So take heart, in those moments when you feel like you are the enemy’s target practice, like he just launches one flaming arrow after another, God’s armor includes a sure and powerful shield that is ours through faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer of Response to God’s Word

Father, some days or even seasons of life it can seem like the enemy hurls one flaming arrow after another but we have this hope through faith in Christ – that no weapon formed against us can stand. We have access to Your Armor that is surely able to defeat the enemy! Help us to heed Paul’s opening word of instruction concerning the armor – to be strengthen in You and in Your power, for I am convinced that we cannot wear this armor with Your Power and strength. Help us to suit up in the full armor, including the shield of FAITH that can extinguish all the flaming arrows of evil one. Help us to stay alert, remembering that our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour and he uses all kinds of tactic, from fruit of a tree in the garden to the challenge to

Worship Through Song
Reflections from the Journey
  • What does Ephesian 6:16 teach us about the importance of taking up the shield of faith?
  • How does the shield of faith protect us from the attacks of the enemy?
Going Further in the Journey

Don’t forget to check out the LGG Blog Post for today’s study, The Armor of God/w4d1

Christ Temptation on the Cross

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Live Like This

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God, w3d5

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17/ SOAP: verse 15

Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful. 

Colossians 3:15
Be Intentional? (true confessions)

The word peace typically denotes a serene, laid back, no worries kind of word; however, Paul says “let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart.” If I’m being truly honest, letting anyone or anything be in control of me is not as easy as it sounds. So this one has taken me years to to learn and I’m still working on putting it into practice faithfully. For you see, I’ve learned that peace in this context isn’t a laid back, no worries kind of word – but rather a word that requires me to be an active participant in a difficult task. It is referring to living at peace with others, which is why I must let Him be in control of me. I’m telling you this was daunting to me – until I learned how much I can trust Him, how much He loves me, how faithful, compassionate, patient and kind he is. And then, when I remembered what He did for me, His enemy, so that I could be at peace with God – well, it was a game-changer! I have found that there is truly no greater peace than letting Him be in control of my heart and every other part of me. I find pleasure and strength in giving Him every part of my life and running to and depending on Him for help when I struggle to love as He loved, or to make allowances for other’s faults and forgive those who have offended me. To quote Jesus’ words to His disciples – [living at peace with others] is impossible with man but with God all things are possible, Matthew 19:26.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

Our passage today in Colossians three, is one of the ways I learned to “let Christ be in control of my heart”. I put it to memory, along with the first eleven verses, close to a decade ago. I noticed, as with all of Paul’s letters, he is always teaching the disciples of Christ to take responsibility for their faith. Notice here in these verses all of the responsibilities Paul gives to help them take owner ship of their faith.

  • clothe yourselves … bear with one another … forgive … love … let peace control your heart … let the Word dwell in you (richly) … use the Word to teach, exhort, and encourage … Be a representative of Christ … Give thanks to God through Christ

Sound a bit daunting? It definitely can be – until we remember that God has given us His Spirit who empowers us to live like this, and according to James 4:17, to do anything less is sin. Again, the good news is while it’s impossible for us to live like this – Nothing is impossible with God. The Spirit empowering us is a promise found in 2 peter 1:3-4, where we read:  By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share in his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then NOT do it.

James 4:17
Remembering This Helps

The peace Christ came to bring – is a peace that set us free from sins hold – a peace between us and God, and yes, even others – it’s a peace that is able to control our heart’s attitude toward others – because He wants us not just to know His peace but to live in peace with God and others – (I realize I just made that point but it bears repeating – because it is difficult to do) but – as Paul told the Philippians in verse 17, God has called us to “be a representative of Christ” – who exemplified the very definition of peace.

Prayer of Response to the Word

Peace peace wonderful peace flowing down from You Father. Peace that You graciously and lovingly gave by sending Your only begotten Son to be our peace so that we could have a relationship with You and others. You have called us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts for as members of one body – the body of Christ, we are called to live in peace. We can only do this when we live like Jesus. Guard us from hating others or being unkind or refusing to forgive those who have offended us. Help us, instead, to clothe ourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness humility gentleness, and patience. Strengthen us to make allowances for other’s faults and to forgive those who offend us, and when all of this just seems too hard or we just don’t want to live like this– then help us to remember how you have forgiven us. – I pray these things in the name of Jesus – Who is our peace. AMEN!

Reflection on the Journey
  • What does the Bible teach about the importance of letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts?
  • How can we cultivate and maintain peace in our hearts and relationships?
Going Further:

Don’t forget to check out today’s LGG Blog

What does it mean to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart?

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

The Feet of the Messenger

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Scripture: Isaiah 52:7

How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance,who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7

I remember reading this for the first time in my late 20s or early 30s and was so intrigued by it. I was using the NIV study Bible then, which, along with the KJV and NLT translations, uses the word beautiful instead of delightful. It has the same meaning, but the word beautiful really struck me and has stuck in my mind all these years. When I hear the Gospel preached on Sunday morning or think of Billy Graham’s crusades that my dad had us watch when we were growing up, or in any other setting where I hear His Word of peace and salvation proclaimed – the Spirit raises this verse to mind, and I stand transfixed to that moment in time when the people first heard the messenger on the mountain, that Isaiah refers to.

How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
    the news that the God of Israel reigns!

Isa 52:7 NLT

Isaiah’s word imagery is also used in the Old Testament by the prophet Nahum in Nahum 1:15, where we read:  “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.” It is used again by Paul in the New Testament, in Romans 10:14-15, as a reference to “missions” and carrying the Gospel to the unreached – where Paul poses the question,  “How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.”

In Isaiah’s day, his words were meant to leave Judah rejoicing in deliverance from captivity to their enemy. The same was true in Paul’s day, and even now, the words can should evoke rejoicing in the “goodness’ of our salvation and the freedom it brought us. For by it, we have been delivered from captivity to the law of sin and death! (Romans 6:14-15)

Is this not a beautiful message of peace that Paul delivered, bringing us the ‘good news’ of our salvation?!


14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

Roman 6:14-15
Other Notable Observations
  • Having learned from Ephesians 2:14 that “Jesus is our peace,” this could read “…the feet of a messenger who announces Jesus.
  • It wasn’t just the feet; it was the message – the good news of deliverance
  • Freedom comes through the Sovereign God who reigns!
One Obvious Application

While there may be other worthy applications, the one that jumped off the page to me was – be ready with the Gospel.

A Prayer in Response to the Word

Father, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news that “our God saves!” Thank You for calling Your disciples – myself included to share this Good News with ALL! And, as Peter said, to be ready with an answer for the HOPE that is in me, 1 Peter 3:15. Help me to be excited about the message of Good News and not let the enemy keep me silent. Help me to live as Paul taught – unashamed of the gospel, the Good News about Christ, for it is You at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. Help me to remember that Christ himself united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us – so that I don’t hold back but share and work as He did to bring all people to You. – In His Name I pray – AMEN!

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.[a]

1 Peter 3:15 and Romans 1:16

Reflection on the Journey
  • How can we make sure that our feet are fitted with the “Gospel of Peace”?
  • What “mountains” can you ascend with the good news of the Gospel?
Going Further:

“God has called each of us to be a messenger of His love and grace to those around us.”

The LGG Devotional Journal

These are great and helpful links to understanding what Paul meant by not being ashamed of the Gospel and how to be ready to implement the Gospel in your everyday life.

By nature, we are not at peace with God, but are enemies to Him, living in rebellious pride. Our responsibility is to share the gospel of peace, telling people that they can turn to God and come to Jesus for forgiveness. Whether through our words, actions, or simply the way we live our lives, we have the privilege and responsibility to share the Good News of salvation and the peace that only God provides.

The LGG Devotional Journal

The Good News of salvation is not just for us: it is for everyone. We have been given the privilege of sharing it with the world. Let us take courage, lift up our heads, and go forth with joy, knowing that our feet are beautiful because they carry the Good News of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The LGG Devotional Journal

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Jesus Our Peace

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God, w3d3

Scripture: Ephesians 2:13-18 / SOAP: verse 17

 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near

Ephesians 2:17 NET
Note the Difference

This peace is more than the peace we seek and know when we face a test tomorrow or a real and present battle today. This peace is what brings us near to God, giving us access to Him – the One who guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. It doesn’t negate or change the peace that passes all understand that we seek in order to not worry, as Paul instructed, but rather it is the Peace that makes all other peace possible.

A Portrait of the Real and Lasting Peace of God

What a beautiful and encouraging passage of Scripture! Perhaps one of the most realistic portraits of Christ our Savior that is painted in – and with – the Word. Jesus as our peace, His blood pouring down as access for all who would believe – no longer just the Jews but now the Gentiles were included! Or as Paul writes in Colossians, “.It doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, barbaric, uncivilized, slave or free.” We are brought near to God through Christ! Why? Because there was hostility [sin] between us and God. We were, as it is written, “enemies of God” who were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,”.

 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? 11 Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. Read the rest of the story

 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Ephesians 2:17 NLT – I can’t help but think once again of the old hymn, “Peace peace wonderful peace – flowing down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit forever I pray in fathomless billows of love.”

Think About It

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Romans 5:10
  • His act of love wasn’t just His death but His life – for He left Heaven’s splendor and lived the life of a man, actually of a servant, in a “man’s world”, full of sin and far different from from Heaven’s splendor – not so that He could experience life with flesh and blood but so “He could first preach the message of PEACE” (John 14:27, Matt 5:9) to all so that through Him we have access to both the Father and the Spirit – and as verse 15 says, so that there would be no more condemnation. (Romans 8:1).
Reflection on the Journey
  • What does it mean that He preached peace to those who were far off?
  • What does it mean that Jesus brought us near? (13)
Going Further:

Don’t forget to check out today’s LGG Blog

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

The Answer for True Peace

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, The Armor Of God, w3d2

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 (8)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s 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

God’s message through Paul is: “do not be anxious” about anything. While that may sound like a daunting and impossible instruction to follow we must remember Jesus’ words to His disciples in Matthew 19:26, concerning another impossibility. Matthew wrote, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible.'” So, yes, ‘anything’ is a really big word but God is a really big God who empowers us to do whatever He has called us to do.

So, how do we do it? Money’s tight and the bills are due – how do you not worry? You or someone you know is facing serious health issues – how are you not going to be anxious? Your children are struggling with school or life – how do you keep the concerns from overpowering you. The list is endless but the bottom line is this – regardless of what scenario we come up with – God is bigger than the problem and He has given us the answer for true and lasting in peace in every situation.

Paul tells the Philippians they are to pray in every situation, bringing their petitions (requests) to God and offering prayers of thanksgiving for what God has already done. gotquestions.org

Prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving

There is a difference between praying and petitioning God and this is important to the mix. To pray is to talk to God. The conversation can and should include more than asking something from God. It is, as Gotquestions.org explains, “the primary way for the believer in Jesus Christ to communicate her emotions and desires with God and to fellowship with Him.” However, to petition God means to make a request from Him, it is a great an awesome gift that we are able to ask anything from God when He has already given us His ALL; but to only always petition God would be to forfeit the best of what God intended our relationship with Him to be.

God saved us from the sins that held us captive but He saved us to a rich and satisfying life(Jn10:10), a life where we would come to Him and find rest for our souls or comfort for our sorrows, refuge in the storms of life and wisdom in the battles and decisions of this life. It is a life that promises a peace that passes all understanding as we live in Christ Jesus. He saved us not just so we would know His love but so that we might love Him and others in return. In regards to love, Jesus told His disciples that when we remain in His love we would not just know joy but we would overflow with joy (John 15:11). When our time and energy are spent on/with God like this – our hearts and minds will be filled with and guarded by His peace.

  • His peace is more than we can understand
  • His peace is able to guard our hearts and minds from the anxious thoughts – because we are in Christ
Don’t Worry – Be At Peace

So how do we live this out? Well, it may look different for you than it does for me or the next person but the answer or prescribed method of knowing God’s peace always involves prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. This is not a cavalier method of telling yourself not to worry – or just kick back and relax. This is a- 1arealize you are anxious or worried about something and 1brespond by talking to God about what ever it is. 2Thanking Him is next and is a way of letting Him know you trust Him more than you fear the problem or are having anxiety over a situation. Then 3ask Him to help you not worry over “it” and to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, just as He promised. It’s about choosing to give and leave the situation in God’s hands knowing He is fully capable of handling the fear or anxiety you are battling. Finally, remember God is true to His word, so you can – and should expect and claim His peace, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s Prayer Response

Father, thank You that Your peace is more than we can understand. Thank You that Your peace is able to guard our hears and minds from the anxious thoughts and the evil one who seeks to steel and kill and destroy. Help us to be alert to the evil one and to turn away from him and to You – for only in You will we know Your peace – Amen and Amen!

Reflection for the Journey

How can we know the peace that passes all understanding?

Going Further

There are several reasons why it is imperative to guard our hearts. First, our hearts have a significant impact on our relationship with God, and the condition of our heart can either draw us closer or push away us away from Him. When we meditate on the Word of God (Psalm 1:2) and allow it to sink into our hearts, we are radically transformed and will experience a greater sense of peace, joy, and contentment (John 10:10; Philippians 4:6–7; Galatians 5:22–23).
On the other hand, allowing sinful influences to take root in our hearts will hinder our relationship with God. We will struggle to pray, read the Bible, and may even feel distant from God. Thus, we must guard our hearts and cultivate a deeper relationship with God.
The second reason why it is imperative to guard our hearts is that the heart impacts our relationship with others. It can draw us closer to others or estrange us from them. For example, if we cultivate an attitude of love, kindness, and compassion toward others (Ephesians 4:32), we will build strong and meaningful connections with them. A heart of patience, understanding, and forgiveness creates a culture of trust and mutual respect (1 Corinthians 12:25–27).Read the full post about Guarding your heart at https://www.gotquestions.org/guard-your-heart.html