Tag: Waiting

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

God Restores

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The God Who Restores, wk3d1; A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: Psalm 126

Today’s SOAP: Psalm 126:4-6

Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:4-6

I have gotten behind on a few things and will be posting a little differently this week, or at least for a few days this week (as time will tell). I trust you will understand and bear with me – I am borrowing devotional writings from the LGG Team provided in the journals and will be posting my SOAP/thoughts on the passage in the comment sections, as I hope you will do too. 😊

INTO THE TEXT – A LOVE GOD GREATLY DEVOTION

w3d1 of The God Who Restores, p90

The people of Israel had seen God’s restoration. They had seen Him restore Zion in such miraculous ways that they believed they were dreaming. They shouted for joy, praising God for the incredible things He accomplished for them. God had brought the people back from exile in Babylon and restored and rebuilt the temple and the city walls in Jerusalem.

This psalm was written after that restoration, when the people of Israel were again waiting for God’s deliverance. They were once again in desperate need of His healing and His intervention and this psalm reminded them of His faithfulness and gave them joy as they looked to what He would do in the future. Though they were still awaiting God’s restoration, they remembered His kindness, compassion, and faithfulness.

This week, we focus on the incredible joy we have in the Lord. After remembering the promise of His return and our great need for Him, we turn our focus to the joy that we already have in him and the fullness of joy we will have when He has restored us.

When we focus on the joy we have in the Lord, no matter our circumstance, we find hope. We do not ignore our suffering, but we focus on God’s faithfulness and what He promises to do. He promises to restore the world. He promises to return, defeat the enemy, and establish His kingdom on earth. God promises to dwell with us forever and to give us eternal life when we place our faith in Him.

[Since we know] God can keep these incredible promises to us, and [because we know] he can restore the world, surely He can restore our current circumstances. Not only is He powerful enough to intervene, but He cares deeply about the pain and sorrow we face today. He promises to restore all things. Though God’s ways and timing may look different than what we hope for, we can have joy as we anticipate His fulfilled promises and His coming restoration. May we shout for joy, even as we wait for Him.

Written by an LGG Team Member

Today’s Reflection:

  • How have you seen God restore your life or circumstances in the past?
  • What are you asking of Him or waiting for Him to do for you today?
  • How does His past faithfulness give you joy in your present season of waiting?

Want more? Visit https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

Posted in Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Quiet Time, The God Who Restores

God Protects His People

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Week 2, Day 3 of The God Who Restores; A Love God Greatly Advents Study
Today’s Reading: Psalm 94
Today’s SOAP: Psalm 94:14-15

Lord, how happy is anyone you discipline
and teach from your law
13 to give him relief from troubled times
until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 The Lord will not leave his people
or abandon his heritage,
15 for the administration of justice will again be righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Psalm 94:12-15 CSB
Observations: God’s People

I think most of us, myself included, prefer the loving, kind, long suffering descriptions of God rather than the passages that boast or cry out for the avenging God, the God who pays back the proud. The Psalmist cries out for that in today’s passage and yet he also sings God’s praises, boasting of how blessed we are to be taught of Him, how He instructs in order to protect us from times of trouble until the wicked are destroyed. Clearly, as the Psalmist clarifies, God understands that it is hard to live among the wicked who constantly seem to flourish and even celebrate, while those who follow God struggle through, what seems like, one trouble after another. So it was quite refreshing and encouraging to reach verse 12 and the verses that followed, specifically through verse 15. To read of the one who receives God’s instructions, the one who is taught by God from His law is blessed with His protection from times of trouble, until the wicked are destroyed.

However, I think the most encouraging words in the passage aside from knowing He will protect us come in verses 14 and 15 where the Psalmist insist that God will not forsake us, restating it and clarifying that God will not abandon His people – those who belong to Him. The writer goes on to explain that while it may not look like it now – justice for the righteous will prevail! Our God will clear us of any blame or suspicion, He will make right the wrongs for those who walk in His ways.

Application: What does this mean for me?

While in this world it may seem like the ‘wicked’ – the ‘evil doers’, the ‘morally corrupt prevail in all they do’ but the upright suffer for their righteous living – there will come a day when the tables will turn and the upright, those who walk in the way of the LORD, will be vindicated.

Are you following God but facing one trial after another while others who follow only the desires of their hearts seem to flourish? If so, take heart and rejoice in knowing that our God reigns! He will neither forsake or abandon you and will protect you in your times of trouble and use them for His glory and your good.

Prayer: Our Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You that You have adopted us into Your family – that You have by grace through faith made us – or a way for us – to be Your people. For as surely as this promise was true in the Psalmist day so it is in ours! You will never forsake Your people. You will not abandon us because we belong to You. And though we wait for Jesus in this world full of sin – we continually wait with hope in Your promise to one day vindicate the upright.

Your Turn: Reflections:
  • How do you handle waiting on God?
  • Are you impatient, doing all you can to ‘help’ God out?
  • How does Psalm 94 help you as you wait on Him?
Want More?

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

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study

What’s Next?

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The God Who Restores, a study by Love God Greatly

I invite you to join me for the journey through our upcoming study, The God Who Restores, which begins on November 28.

A perfect follow-up to Come, Lord Jesus, Come, The God Who Restores Bible study journal will lead us through the season of Advent, a season of waiting and great expectation of the coming back of our eternal King.

Advent[isn’t just] a season of waiting, but of remembering, and rejoicing. We wait for Christ’s return, celebrating His first coming even as we wait and long for His return. We remember the brokenness of our world and how He will bring restoration and wholeness when He comes. And we praise Him, remembering the joy we have as we place our hope in Christ.

You’ll find everything you need for the journey right here beginning November 28. Invite a friend along for the journey by sharing this post, or plan to do this one with your family to get the whole house celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. To make it extra special check out the journal details below and how your order potentially gives life to women around the world.

This study journal includes daily readings and SOAP verses, devotions to aid in understanding, as well as reflection questions and highlights from a global Love God Greatly branch. Perfect for personal or small group study, The God Who Restores will offer you encouragement in your walk of faith.

The God Who Restores Bible study journal includes:

– Four-week reading plan

– Daily Scripture readings

– SOAP journaling pages

– Daily devotionals

– Two-week Bridge reading plan

– Weekly challenges and reflection questions

– Global highlight: LGG Chinese Branch

– Beautiful full-color photography

Don’t forget! Your purchase reaches the nations!

By purchasing Love God Greatly Bible study journals, you are directly supporting the ministry of Love God Greatly, reaching thousands of women with God’s Word in their own native, heart languages! Thank you for your support!

Please note that all sales are final. We do not accept returns.

100% of your journal purchase goes back into the ministry, helping us translate each study into multiple languages as we reach more women around the world with God’s Word.

PURCHASE WOMEN’S JOURNAL