Tag Archives: Bible

Living in Truth

A few weeks ago I spoke with the youth group at our church about 4 Lies That Keep Us From Our Divine Destiny (click here). In it I focused on my experiences as a teenager, how what I believed about God affected the way I lived. I thought about how what I saw in the lives of the adults in our church shaped what I thought Christians looked like and how God worked in the world. I thought about my own example both for our children and the kids we work with at church and in other ministries. And I want my life to point people to genuine relationships with the Savior of the world, Jesus. When people see me and see my life, I want them to see Jesus. I want them to know I need Jesus, that I have failed at saving myself and He accepted me when I fell down at His feet. I desire a life that’s impossible without God, a life that is so reliant on His provision and His grace, that people can’t help but see Him when they see me. 

Praying for a life that is dependent on God is dangerous, frightening even. But I’m slowly coming to realize the truth that even my next breath will only come by the grace of the Creator who designed and fuels my body. I cannot live without Him, literally. 

A life in full pursuit of God and His will for our lives can only be accomplished by being rooted in the truth. And Truth is found in the Word of God. I talked about how I’m attempting to read through the Bible in a year in Where is Your Gaze? (click here) Today I want to share some of the verses that have touched my heart and I hope will speak to yours. I’ve created them to be printable so they can be hung up around the house, the car, or stashed in a purse.

Lord Jesus, we know your Word is living and active, able to speak directly to our souls. When we read your Word we find Truth. Speak to us today through these verses. May Your words cover us in Grace. Strengthen us to leave behind anything that’s a barrier to living fully for you. Free us to do the good works you have prepared for us. In the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Scripture Card: Psalms 37:23-24Download
Scripture Card: Job 19:25-27Download
Scripture Card: James 5:16Download
Scripture Card: Psalms 46:1-3Download

More Than Stories

Growing up I heard about people doing daily devotions and reading the Bible. They talked about how important it was to them and how much closer they felt to God. But when I tried it, the words fell flat. I picked verses at random, often just opening to a page, expecting it to speak to me. I wanted the Bible to be magic, containing some spell I could read to produce a desired effect. But I didn’t find magic. I found stories I’d heard a thousand times growing up to be uninspiring and much of the Old Testament seemed tedious and boring.

And then there were all the rules. All I saw in the stories was failure. I read over and over how people failed, how they could never please God. I found the words cold and condemning because I didn’t understand Grace. The Word can’t penetrate a heart with walls, a heart afraid of a God who can’t be pleased.

My fear kept me from connecting with the love of God contained on those pages.

But something changed when I came the end of myself, weeping in an ugly mess on my bedroom floor, and realized that God told us stories about our own failure so we could see His faithfulness. 

The entire Bible is God’s loving call to surrender. He tells us stories of the many ways He has rescued humanity and broken, fallen people so we will trust Him. He gives us boundaries to live by to guard our hearts from evil. And He sent His Son so He could save us from the consequence of our sin – death and separation from our Creator.

I challenge us all to read the words with new eyes, with a new heart. Let the Spirit speak.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12

The Bible isn’t meant to be something we go to only when we have a need, because if we’re honest, we always have need. Instead, it’s intended to be our daily bread, the food that feeds us in the day to day moments that aren’t so outstanding, but can be transformed when God speaks through His Word.

Bible reading builds a firm foundation for when our world is rocked. We will find the promises will come to mind in times of crisis and we’ll know where to find the passages that spoke peace into our hearts before. 

God speaks the loudest for me when I’m in His Word. Specific passages confirm promises, deliver peace, and shout out conviction. 

Any reading is better than none. And there are still times when I don’t understand. Now I just shrug my shoulders and either say to God, “I have no idea what that means” or “ God, please help me understand.”

Let’s open our Bible’s today. Read a chapter or an entire book. Find an unfamiliar passage from a place we haven’t explored before. Write down the words and verses that stand out. 

Holy Spirit, open our understanding of the Word of God. Breathe new life into the ancient words. Let us meet you in the pages and find you in the stories. Speak to us and call us forward in your love. Empower us to take another step of faith toward You today. Amen. 

Here are a few of the verses that have jumped out at me lately:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

John 14:27

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Isaiah 43:12

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
   Though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
    though its waters roar and foam, 
    Though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”

Psalms 46:1-3

“But you, God see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.”

Psalms 10:14 NIV

Learning to Hear God

Some time ago a good friend of mine asked me when I started to hear God. It got me thinking about my relationship with Him and the various ways He’s been faithful, even when I was not. When I was first coming back to Him, I needed almost constant reminders that He was real. He started to show me how He had been with me all along through various circumstances and events. I remember another time when I was standing in church and started to feel His Presence with me. I thought I was glowing, though no one else seemed to notice. Later, He spoke His favorite word for me, “Wait.” Since then I’ve felt impressions, had dreams, and even a vision or two.

But recently I’ve been wrestling with a promise, a plan that has occupied my heart for some time but hasn’t been realized. And I started to wonder about my ability to hear from God. I’ve considered three possibilities for my current hope:

  1. I heard from God but need to wait.
  2. I heard from God and the plan has changed.
  3. I imposed my own desires on a situation and need to let go.

We’ve already explored waiting (See: God of the “Not Yet”: Part One). As for plans changing, I’ve known people who have heard from God and are headed in a certain direction only to have doors close and plans change. Then there’s the third possibility, where I want something and start to confuse my will with that of my Father.

So how do I know if I’ve heard from God? How can we position ourselves to hear His Voice so we can follow His plan?

I’ve thought of five ways. I know there are more, but these have been the most helpful to me.

Prayer

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

Jeremiah 33:3

I’m very good at presenting my laundry list of concerns to God during my prayer time. I even whisper prayers of gratitude when I see His Presence around me during the day. But if I want to discern His will for my life, I need to listen. I have to make room in my prayer time to be quiet, to stand in the throne room and wait for a reply. Often I find it easiest to hear when I’m out in nature, appreciating all God has created. But God can speak to us anywhere, if we’re ready to listen.

Worship

“Oh God, you are my God, Earnestly I seek you;
My soul thirsts for you;
As in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.”

Psalm 63:1

We worship God because He is worthy. We worship because He delights in our praise. We are refilled with fresh anointing when we sing with adoration. He speaks to the surrendered soul like water in the desert.

Fellowship

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

Philippians 2:1-2

Fellowship and friendship with other believers is an essential way to hear the will of God in our lives. Sometimes they can see, they can hear when we can’t. Recently I was exchanging messages with a friend and she sent me a verse, giving me the prayer and support I needed…while I was waiting at the dentist. Of course face to face time is important, but it’s not the only way we can reach out to our friends.

Sermons/Teachings

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:24-25

It’s important for us to gather as the Body of Christ in our local churches both so we can hear His will for our own lives as well as His will for His Bride, the church. I take a notebook to church with me, not just to take notes on the sermon but on the impressions I receive while listening.

Bible Reading

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is God’s love letter to His people. What better way to hear His voice than in the Words He’s already spoken?

Learning to hear God is a process, a never-ending journey, just like everything else in our relationship with Him. And hearing His voice, feeling His presence, and submitting to His will takes time and knocking down the walls around our hearts. I’m finding ways to listen and waiting for His loving answers. And tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that, I’ll keep listening. Because the only way to know His will is to know Him.

What are some of the ways you hear from God? Are there promises/plans for your life you’re waiting for?