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Our Refuge and Redeemer (Psalm 34:19-22)

November 29, 2018 by Patti Brown Leave a Comment

As we come to the final verses of Psalm 34, our eyes turn toward eternity…

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

He keeps all his bones;

    not one of them is broken.

Affliction will slay the wicked,

    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord redeems the life of his servants;

  none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 34:19-22

Our Refuge and Redeemer: a study on Psalm 34:19-22

God Delivers Us From Affliction

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19)

Friends, if someone tells you that your challenges are a punishment, and that if you were more holy you would not suffer, remember this passage. The righteous do indeed have afflictions. Saying that life’s challenges are a result of not enough prayer or godliness is bad theology.

We can take heart, because verse 19 also reminds us that God delivers the righteous from ALL his afflictions. We know that deliverance from some of our troubles may not be seen this side of heaven, but we can be confident that God will fully deliver us from all suffering in eternity!

God Preserves Us

He keeps all his bones,
Not one of them is broken.
(Psalm 34:20)

Scholars differ on the intent of this verse. Most agree that the literal and literary implications are that in context it refers to all righteous men, not THE righteous man, Jesus Christ. Writing on this verse, Augustine said, “Bones are the firm supports of the faithful. For as in flesh our bones give firmness, so in the heart of a Christian it is faith that gives firmness. The patience then which is in faith, is as the bones of the inner man: this is that which cannot be broken.”

In Christ, no matter how broken we may feel, God preserves us, and makes us whole. Our faith helps us to patiently endure the trials of life.

John, in chapter 19 of his gospel, does detail the fact that Jesus’ bones were not broken after He was crucified. It is noteworthy that the bones of the sacrificial lamb at Passover were commanded to not be broken (Exodus 12:36, Numbers 9:12), a fact that would not have been unnoticed by Jewish Believers.

Unforgiven Sin Exacts the Ultimate Price

Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
(Psalm 34:21)

In the end, the wicked will be ruined by the evil they do. Sin exacts an eternal price!

“…and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23b)

Make no mistake: there is always hope for redemption, even for those who have done great evil. All have the freedom to choose redemption through Jesus Christ! But those who persist for all their earthly days to sin against God and persecute His people will ultimately pay in eternity.

God is Our Refuge and Our Redeemer

The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
(Psalm 34:22)

You and I are sinners too, but as willing servants of the most high God, we have been redeemed by Jesus’ blood! Jesus is our refuge – we tuck ourselves into His arms (we abide!) and are safe.

If you were to stand trial today before a heavenly jury for your wrongdoings, you would be convicted: GUILTY! But in a trial, after a verdict is found, a sentence must be handed down by the judge. And dearest child of God, even though you are guilty of sin, you are NOT condemned, because Jesus is your refuge!

Bless the Lord at All Times

Last week, after 101 years of faithfulness, a precious son of God we know slipped away to Jesus for eternity. He experienced many afflictions in his life, and certainly in his later years, as his body deteriorated, many of them were physical. Yet this dear brother has now been completely delivered from every affliction, physical and otherwise. In his earthly life he praised God continually. Now, face to face, he praises Him for eternity.

Friend, trouble is certain in this earthly life, but God protects us, and redeems all our suffering. Indeed we can say, from the moment words first form in our mouths, to the evening of our lives when like the setting sun we fade, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1)

FOR STUDY AND REFLECTION

Make a list of all the things Psalm 34:19-22 says God will do. What do these actions show about His character?
Share with someone about a time God delivered you from an affliction.
What do you think of Augustine’s analogy of faith being like the soul’s bones?
Numbers 32:23b says “…and be sure your sin will find you out.” What do you think this means? Have you observed this?
What does it mean to you to “take refuge” in God”? You may find doing a word study gives you insight.

Trouble is certain in this earthly life, but God is our refuge. #Psalm34TasteAndSee

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The Eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous

November 20, 2018 by Cheli Sigler 2 Comments

As noted by previous authors in this series on Psalm 34, David wrote the psalm after He escaped the Philistine king, Achish, at Gath. The events leading up to David’s escape are detailed in 1 Samuel 21. Reading these events adds meaning and understanding to David’s outpouring of thanksgiving in this Psalm 34.

As Chapter 21 opens, David is in the House of the Lord seeking provision and protection from King Saul. In an act of self-preservation, David lies to the priest concerning the reason for his visit. From there, he flees to Gath seeking protection and anonymity from Israel’s enemy— the Philistines. There, in front of the Philistine king, David feigns humiliating madness, and escapes with his life.

Although we weren’t “on the run,” like David, I see aspects of his story reflected in my family’s experience with unemployment and financial hardship. I am reminded in Psalm 34:15-18 of God’s grace and mercy as He listens, defends, delivers, and saves His children.

My family’s story begins in December 2009; the housing bubble burst, and my husband, who worked for a large, mid-western homebuilder, brought home a pink slip— just in time for Christmas.

God sees and listens.

Looming bills, a mortgage, and Christmas gifts became mountainous hurdles, without a paycheck. For the sake of our young girls, we made the most of the “extended vacation,” but late at night, we prayed and cried out to God for help.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are attentive to their cry… Psalm 34:15

Seeing David in his time of need, God provided David with sustenance and a powerful weapon for personal protection through Ahimeleck, the priest in the House of the Lord. When we needed it most, God provided consulting jobs for my husband and increased sales from my work-from-home business. I even secured additional employment that relieved our strained budget through Spring.

God defends.

Along with financial stress, negative thoughts plagued my husband as his unemployment stretched longer. Where David faced an opposing king and army in Gath, my husband faced tough adversaries named Grief, Inadequacy, and Depression.

A steady stream of negative reinforcement fought hard against him.

“You should have saved more.”
“Didn’t you see it coming?”
“You are a bad money manager.”

In the face of self-condemnation, God’s Word provided a sure defense:

…but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

to blot out their name from the earth. Psalm 34:16

Buoyed by Scripture, the Holy Spirit strengthened our spiritual muscles; teaming together, our marriage strengthened, and the smallest of provisions prompted thanksgiving. God provided friends who encouraged and prayed for us. At times, weary from the struggle, God’s presence offered comfort and hope.

God delivers.

Although it took six months to find a new job, we had four weeks to pack up our house, say goodbye to friends, and hug our extended family before moving more than a thousand miles from home and family to southern California. I can testify to God’s promise in Psalm 34:17:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

In this verse, the Hebrew word for “delivers” means “to snatch from trouble.” Between David’s quick thinking and God’s rescue, David averted trouble in Gath. Similarly, a new job and a cross-country move delivered us from our immediate financial woes.

God saves.

Just as David’s self-reliance and poor choices prompted David’s circumstances in 1 Samuel 21, our family’s period of unemployment revealed poor stewardship of our resources. Answering prayers about living closer to family, God moved us to Florida, where we could work through lingering financial issues in a supportive environment.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

The Hebrew word for “saves” in Psalm 34:18 means “to set free.” Financial brokenness was God’s opportunity to free us from enslaving attitudes and choices. Furthermore, God drew near as we openly wept over our disobedience, and refreshed us with forgiveness and love when we relinquished our will for His.

Study and Reflect

Read 1 Samuel 21. Outline the chapter.
Find a trusted commentary and dig deeper in 1 Samuel 21 and Psalm 34. Blue Letter Bible offers great resources.
Have you experienced God’s listening, defending, delivering and saving? Journal about it or write your experiences on note cards to keep handy when you need a reminder of God’s care for you.

What do you love most about the verses in this passage? Tell us in the comments or in our DoNotDepart Community on Facebook.

The Eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous. A Study of Psalm 34: 15-18. #Psalm34TasteAndSee

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Psalm 34: Good to Know

November 16, 2018 by Jaime Hilton Leave a Comment

“Hey friend! How’s it going?”

“Good! Things are good.”

Sound familiar? I know I have this conversation on a regular basis.

Good. What does it really mean?

Charles Spurgeon describes the first half of Psalm 34 as a hymn and the second part a sermon. Remember the backstory In 1 Samuel 21? David escapes the Philistines by pretending to be a madman. The story continues in 1 Samuel 22:1-2.

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

Picture the scene with me. David, fresh from danger, delivered but humbled and in hiding. His heart is overflowing with gratitude which he channels into this beautiful psalm. He looks out at the camp. Four hundred men, not even counting the women and children, seeking leadership. Not a crowd of warriors ready to overthrow the sitting king, but broken down, depressed people.

Have you ever been in distress? Burdened by debt? Bitter in your soul? In desperate need of something good?

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

I can almost hear David’s urging in the exclamation, Oh!

Taste. See. Engage personally and know for yourself. The Lord is good. Not the superficial good based on circumstance or perspective, but good in the wider sense. As in, when God finished creating the heavens and the earth, looked at it all and called it good (Genesis 1:31).

The people have come to the cave seeking shelter, safety, and reprieve. David reminds them and us that true refuge is found in the Lord who is good.

Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack.

We’ve talked before on the blog about what it means to “fear” the Lord. (Check it out here) To fear Him is to acknowledge that He is in control and over all things. He can be trusted because He is capable of delivering on all His promises. He called David to the cave at Adullam (which, fun fact, means “justice of the people”) and he called each man and woman there as well. We are called to be set apart (1 Peter 2:9) and He will provide for us (Phil 4:19).

The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

What image does the phrase “young lion” call to mind? A lion has both positive and negative connotations throughout Scripture (Psalm 7:2, Proverbs 28:1). Personally I like Matthew Henry’s take on the subject.

“Those that live by faith in God’s all-sufficiency want nothing; for in him they have enough. The young lions. often lack and suffer hunger-those that live upon common providence, as the lions do, shall want that satisfaction which those have that live by faith in the promise; those that trust to themselves, and think their own hands sufficient for them, shall want (for bread is not always to the wise)-but verily those shall be fed that trust in God and desire to be at his finding. Those that are ravenous, and prey upon all about them, shall want; but the meek shall inherit the earth. Those shall not want who with quietness work and mind their own business; plain-hearted Jacob has pottage enough, when Esau, the cunning hunter, is ready to perish for hunger.”

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Dig Deeper

What is your go-to when you are in distress or bitter in soul? How can you take refuge in the Lord?
What does it mean that the Lord is good? How can you taste and see this for yourself?
Do a word study on some of the key words in these verses (good, fear the Lord, lion). How do these words enhance your understanding of the text?

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How Do You Live a Good, Long Life?

November 15, 2018 by Lisa Burgess 19 Comments

When we are having a good day, we wish it would last forever.

But how do we string those good days together to make a whole life?

And what does that have to do with worshiping God?

Join in as we continue to study Psalm 34. See in verses 11-14 that worshiping God is the good life.

Our Happiness and Our Worship

When my grandmother made it to her 90s, she wanted to put in her mouth whatever tasted good to her. Cheetos. Chocolate. Candy.

We all want to be happy. And sometimes we think we’ve earned the right to be happy, either because of our age or our current position or previous circumstances.

But we don’t always know how to make ourselves happy past the moment, how to build a desirable life year after year.

And even more rarely, we don’t always see the connection between our own happiness and our reverence for God.

Listen to David

In Psalm 34, David connects the dots. Like a father gathering his children around him, he says, “Come here. Pay attention.”

“Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?”
Psalm 34:11-12

Do you want to love life and see good things?

Worship the Lord.

And how do we do that, David? How do we worship an invisible being?

David keeps it simple.

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Psalm 33:13-14

In other words:
Mind your mouth.
Discipline your doings.

What words are we taking in?
What words are we speaking out?
Are we running away from bad things?
Are we running toward good things?

Begin Now

The good life requires sustained intention as we reverence the Lord.

When we intentionally shield our tongues from hate, keep our lips from lies, we will honor the Lord.

When we intentionally choose life over death, pursue peace over chaos, we are respecting the Lord.

It may not guarantee we live to see our 90s like my grandmother did. And it doesn’t mean our lives will be easy.

But living our lives to honor the Lord will help us see more goodness.

A holy life begun now will continue forever into the afterlife.

It’s No Secret

In the last months of my grandmother’s life, she could no longer live alone. She moved in with my aunt. And her diet got healthier again. What she put into her mouth was more nutritious.

And what came out of my grandmother’s mouth? She continued to give praise to her Creator.

The secret to a long life may be complex and dependent on many things.

But the secret to a good life doesn’t have to be a secret.

Respect the Lord.
Mind your mouth.
Discipline your doings.

For Study and Reflection:

Read Psalm 34:11-14. What is David promising to teach?
Make a list of good things you see on a daily basis.
Say a prayer of thanks for those good things, and ask God to show you even more.
Study the following passages: Luke 6:45; Romans 12:18; Proverbs 8:13. How do they fit in with Psalm 34:11-14?
Put up a special effort the next few days to live in peace. Use your words only for good, not for harm.

How do you live a good, long life? Here is David’s answer. #Psalm34TasteAndSee

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How long did your grandparents live?
What good things have you seen in your life this week?
We’d love to hear.

See all our posts on Psalm 34 here.

I Sought. He Delivered and Answered.

November 9, 2018 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

All this month we’re looking at Psalm 34. Today’s focus in on Psalm 34:4-7. David tells us, “I sought…” and the Lord “answered and delivered.”

I don’t think I’ve always been a fearful person, but as I get older, I’m more aware of my battle with fear.

I’m a so-called “creature of habit” and I’m most comfortable being comfortable. I like knowing what to expect and don’t typically care for change. And when things inevitably do change, it makes me feel a little (or a lot) insecure.

Then fear starts creeping in.

I’ve become familiar with wrestling with and wrangling up thoughts when the ground shifts beneath my feet. And though I’m learning to wrestle and wrangle faster (taking every thought captive), I’m definitely a work in progress. I continue to practice surrendering my fears.

When I fear, I have the opportunity to choose faith. Fear is a feeling. Faith is a choice.

David reminds us all of what to do when fear creeps in. When David feared, he made a choice of faith to seek God.

I Sought. He answered and Delivered.

David was on the run from an enraged King Saul who was hunting David to kill him. (See 1 Samuel 21:10-15)

I’m sure David was confused since he’d already been anointed as king by Samuel (see 1 Samuel 16:10-13). How could be actually be king if he was killed?

It makes me wonder what things I fear or worry about that God has already promised me.

But David, with fearful emotions and all, knew what to do. We’re told in the Samuel passage that he feigned madness. It’s this verse in the Psalms that gives us insight into what actually happened:

I sought the LORD, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)

David sought God and trusted Him to work things out. Though he feared, he exercised his faith. Perhaps he even stopped and prayed before pretending to be crazy. We’ll never know the specifics. But what we do know is this: God is still in the business of delivering His children from fear!

Fear is an enemy and a liar. It compounds our problems, distracts our focus, steals our peace, and robs us of joy. And joy? That’s our strength!

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b

Those Who Look Are Radiant

We don’t always get what we want in life. That’s a hard truth. But it isn’t an ugly truth when looked at in the light of God’s love.

Though life doesn’t always work out in the way we want or expect, God is a good, good Father who loves us tremendously. Even the most tragic, earthly outcomes are made beautiful in Heaven.

Ultimately, God will not let us down. All things are for His glory and our eternal best.

Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed. (Psalm 34:5)

“Those who look to him are radiant.” When our faces seek His, we are brightened and cheered up by His light. A peace is found in us that the world cannot explain nor take away. We are assured of His love and promise to never forsake His children.

“The burden is removed from the heart and the countenance becomes radiant with hope and joy.” – Barnes’ Notes on the Bible.

Because He is faithful, we know we have no need to be ashamed of our trust and faith in Him.

The Lord Heard and Saved

Are you in a place of suffering right now? The word translated in the ESV as “poor” in verse 6 is the Hebrew word ani, which is most often translated as “afflicted.”

David was afflicted. He was suffering. But because he knew what to do with his fear and distress, He cried out to the Lord. The result? The Lord heard him and saved him.

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles. (Psalm 34:6)

God always hears us when we cry out to Him. Our job is to make sure that we do go to Him. And when we do, we don’t have to be afraid that our prayers hit the ceiling and fall back down. Though we may not get the answer we are looking for, be certain: God hears us! He will answer in the perfect way, in the perfect time.

The Angel of Lord Encamps

The angel of the LORD encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

I love this promise. Quite simply, when we “fear the Lord,” He delivers us. The New Living Translation puts it this way, “For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.”

The Bible promises again and again that God guards and protects us. We know that we are sheep in Jesus’ hands and we are safe there. (John 10:27-30).

It isn’t clear in this verse if the “Angel of the Lord” is Jesus Christ as an uncreated angel (meaning messenger) of God’s presence, or a created angel (or angels) sent on His command. Either way, there is clarity that we are protected by this angel of the Lord, always!

For Study and Reflection:

Read Psalm 34:4-7. What do these verses say mankind should do? What does God do?
As we approach Thanksgiving, spend time in prayer thanking God for all His actions listed in these verses.
Are you suffering? Choose one verse from today’s passage to memorize, or try memorizing all four verses.
What do these verses tell us about not being put to shame? Psalm 22:5, Romans 9:33, and 1 John 2:28. How do they connect with Psalm 33:5?
Research the Angel of the Lord. Here is a good place to start.

What do you love most about the verses in this passage? Tell us in the comments or in our DoNotDepart Community on Facebook.

I Sought. He Answered and Delivered. A study of Psalm 34:4-7. #Psalm34TasteAndSee

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Taste and See That the Lord is Good

November 6, 2018 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

The weather is changing, autumn leaves are falling, and many of us are in a season of gratitude and reflection as Thanksgiving approaches. Are you? As my family is gathering and spending more time indoors, I am more aware of my blessings and am confronted in new ways by God’s goodness. It’s a fitting season to soak in Psalm 34. All this month on the blog, let’s “Taste and See That the Lord is Good!”

Psalm 34 Background

David penned this Psalm of Thanksgiving for God’s deliverance some time after he was set free from Abimelech* (or Achish, see 1 Samuel 21:10-15). David mentions blessings, seeking God, gathering to exalt Him, God’s good provision, and His nearness to His children and the hurting and brokenhearted. This Psalm is one of deep gratitude for God’s deliverance.

As we near our Thanksgiving Holiday here in the US, we tend to reflect on our blessings. We seek our “ever-near” God and gather to exalt Him and thank Him for His great provision.

Bless the Lord

I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1)

I love verse one. David says that he will bless the Lord “at all times.” What motivating words! Whether our situation be dangerous, dire, or simply downright exhausting, God is worth blessing! He is good, He loves us, and He worthy of all our praise.

And those praises? We can sing, shout, whisper, or declare them. But like David says, it should continually be in our mouths.

When more time is spent praising God with our mouths there is less for hurtful words, bickering, complaining, and gossip.

The world might be a better place if our tongues were more occupied with praising God. He certainly would be better glorified!

Boast in the Lord

My soul makes its boast in the LORD;

let the humble hear and be glad. (Psalm 34:2)

We have all dealt with pride and boasting at some point in our lives. Boasting comes naturally to us. From playgrounds to executive offices, haughty boasts abound.

But we humans aren’t the ones who should be at the center of boasting! If we boast at all, it should be about our God. He is good and perfect. He alone is holy, righteous, all-wise and all-powerful. How dare we boast in ourselves, right?

Let’s let our boasts be in Him alone. (2 Corinthians 10:17) Instead of a chest puffed up with personal pride, we can let our hearts be full of joy, awe, and gladness because we have such an awesome God!

Magnify the Lord

Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

and let us exalt his name together! (Psalm 34:3)

This fall, as the days grow shorter and our gatherings grow longer, cozier, and more familiar, we can come together with other Believers in order to magnify God together.

The Hebrew word translated as “magnify” in verse 3 is gadal, which means “advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent.”

As we boast in the Lord, we magnify Him. We advance His name, His cause, His glory. It reminds me of John the Baptist’s words in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Why do we gather together? Because He is so good and so wonderful that praising Him alone just doesn’t always suffice. As Christ’s body, we are in relationship with other Believers. Corporate worship is satisfying because He created us to be in communion with one another and with Him!

For study and reflection:

1. Read the entire Psalm looking for things David says about blessings, seeking God, gathering to exalt Him, His provision, and God’s nearness to His children and the hurting and brokenhearted.

2. Write Psalm 34:1 today, then verse two tomorrow, and then verse three the next day. At the end of the three days, choose one verse to memorize.

3. How can you “bless the Lord at all times?” How would today look if you praised Him continually?

4. Who can you exalt the Lord with today?

5. Spend time in prayer, thanking God for being so good!

* According to theologian Norman Geisler, titles and subtitles weren’t original parts of the psalms. Due to their being added after the inspired work was penned, it’s possible that an error was made in this subtitle. Another plausible possibility is that Abimelech had two names, the other being Achish. This is not a far-fetched idea at all. Throughout Scripture we occasionally see one person with two names. For more, click here, or see the book titled When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992). © 2014 Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe.

Are you looking forward to diving in deeper to Psalm 34? I am!

Taste and See That the Lord is Good. A mini-study of Psalm 34 on the blog this month.

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This Hope Is Not Passive – Lamentations 3:26 {Scripture Memory Challenge}

November 5, 2018 by Lisa Burgess Leave a Comment

Here’s that word again.

It’s the third time in three verses of the six we’ve been memorizing.

Yachal

What does it mean?

Yachal is the Hebrew word for “to hope, to wait.”

We’ve seen it in Lamentations 3:21:

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have HOPE:

In 3:24:

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will HOPE in him.”

And this week in 3:26, even though the English translation in ESV is “wait”, it’s from the same Hebrew root word as “hope” in the other verses:

It is good that one should WAIT quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

(KJV says, “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”

This hoping, this waiting, is not a passive thing. It is having an expectant attitude. It is keeping your eyes open for something good to show up.

Because God is good. And God always shows up to deliver us.

Thanks for reading along with us these six weeks as we’ve concentrated on these six verses in Lamentations 3. We pray these truth’s about God’s goodness and faithfulness stay with us much longer.

We can confidently expect God to stay with us forever!

This is not a passive waiting. This hope is expectant. #HideHisWord

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What are you hoping for as we move into November toward Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Please share what you’re thinking in the comments.

Who Am I? Exploring Our Identity in Christ – Series Wrap Up

October 30, 2018 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

All this month on the blog we’ve been digging into God’s Word to explore our identity in Christ in order to answer the question, “Who am I?” We’ve looked to passages in Scripture that address this question, to see what God says and why it matters. Here’s our series wrap up.

Like I said in the introduction to this series,

Our identity in Christ truly affects everything. …Daily life is shaded a different hue when viewed through the lenses of our identity in Jesus Christ!

What We Talked About

I wrote to remind us that Being God’s Child Gives a Different View. I said, “We learn better than to look to this world for hope or fulfillment – instead, we know to look to God. We view trials, tests, difficulties of life differently… hardships are a fact of life in a fallen world; we experience them with a loving Father beside us, helping us and guiding us through. Trials can wean us from love for this world and ready us for an eternity with God in heaven!” God secures our eternity by His gift: Jesus!

Jaime wrote that our Identity in Christ is Fruitful. She mentioned that sometimes she gets caught in the “comparison game.” (Don’t we all?) She wrote, “When I start playing the comparison game, it’s helpful to remember who I am in Christ and what he’s called me to do.” What a great reminder! Jaime further explains that though we all go through seasons of feeling unfruitful, “…even when it’s quiet in my world and it doesn’t seem like I’m doing anything, I can rest in knowing that I am a branch, connected to Christ, and fruit will come.”

Do You Know Enough Already? Lisa tells us, “Knowledge can be power. But when we think we don’t know enough to be a “good” Christian? Or we don’t know enough to deserve God’s love? Or to share His good news with others? We’re misguided. We do know enough already. It’s not just our own knowledge that gets us out of tight spots or into healthy places. It’s the Lord’s knowledge through us.” She reminds us that we already know enough to be used by God and we can rest from striving to know it all. How wonderful!

Cheli Sigler joined us on the blog with a guest post called, My Identity in Christ is Real. Cheli encouraged us by the fact that Jesus calls us to more than a “basic” Christian life; He calls us to REAL life in Christ! She wrote, “From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His plan, and, all along the way, invites me to partake in every aspect of Christ’s life— His REAL life.” She then gave us four ways we can participate in Christ’s life in our here and now and ways we can show others what real life in Christ looks like.

A Little Summary

Because our identity is in Christ, we view life differently because we’re His kids, remind ourselves that we are a vine in His branch, that we already know enough to be used by God, and that God has invited us to live our whole life authentically!

Our Identity in Christ is who we are.

Like Cheli said, let’s ‘live-out-loud a life that is deeply and robustly authentic— REAL.”

All for God’s glory,

Ali

Who Am I? Exploring Our Identity in Christ – Series Wrap Up

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If You Wait, If You Seek – Lamentations 3:25 {Scripture Memory Challenge}

October 29, 2018 by Lisa Burgess 2 Comments

Is God good?

Have you ever wondered where God is?

Sometimes it doesn’t seem like the Lord is present—or good—when bad things happen. We wonder why He doesn’t step in and stop things.

We may never get the answers we’re looking for on this side of heaven.

But we can trust this promise:

“The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”
Lamentations 3:25

We may not see the good immediately.

Or we not agree with God on what is “good.”

But eventually, and hopefully sooner rather than later, if we keep waiting and keep seeking, we will know that the Lord is good.

If you keep waiting and keep seeking, you will know. #Lamentations3 #HideHisWord

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Are you good at waiting? At seeking? What reminds you that the Lord IS good?

Please share what you’re thinking in the comments.

My Identity in Christ is Real

October 26, 2018 by Guest Post 1 Comment

We’re honored to have Cheli Sigler join us on the blog today! Cheli is on the HelloMornings writing team and has contributed to several Bible studies there. We’re thankful that she has contributed this article, My Identity in Christ is Real, to our series Who Am I? Exploring Our Identity in Christ. Cheli encourages us by the fact that Jesus calls us to more than a “basic” Christian life; He calls us to REAL life in Christ!

“Mom, that’s so BASIC.” That word— “basic,” reverberated through me. Consult the Urban Dictionary, and you will find the term means “mainstream, elementary, or simplistic.” Jolted by my first-born using the millennial lexicon, and although not directed at me, all I heard was, “Mom, be REAL. I don’t want superficial gobbledy-gook. Sometimes your Christian answers are so basic.” Ugh. How do I communicate the depth and authenticity of a Christ-filled life to others when it is mostly found in the intangible workings of the heart and mind?

Know Real Life in Christ

To answer that question, I must remember the well-worn advice of airline attendants, “Put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others.” Oxygen flows into my relationship with Jesus when I tend and nurture it as I disciple others. Breathe in these words from Paul,

“Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life – even though invisible to spectators – is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too – the real you, the glorious you.” Colossians 3:3-4, MSG

From the Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His plan, and, all along the way, invites me to partake in every aspect of Christ’s life— His REAL life. I participate in Christ’s life through:

1. His death on the cross. Galatians 3:20a (ESV) says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

Real life in Christ means I am free from the power of sin by the power of Christ in me.

2. His resurrection from the dead. Romans 6:4 (ESV) states, “as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Real life in Christ means I am reconciled to God and fit to spend eternity with Him.

3. His ongoing work in me. Galatians 3:20b (ESV) says, “And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Real life in Christ means I trust the Holy Spirit to do what is necessary to make me more like Jesus. The more I look like Jesus, the more of His glory I can share.

4. His glory at His return. Philippians 3:20-21(ESV) says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Real life in Christ means that when Christ returns, upon seeing Him face-to-face, He will impart the fullness of His perfection to me— the wonder of His complete restoration of me shining bright and beautiful. And incredibly, my true self (the person God has planned for me to be from the beginning) will be unveiled. (WOW!)

Show Them Real Life in Christ

Affirming the life that Jesus has invited me to experience, I must take my lead from the Master Teacher, who revealed how to live the “real life.” Taking every opportunity, he modeled compassion by touching the untouchable, used true-to-life object lessons and parables to communicate kingdom truths, and washed feet to teach servant-leadership. Most profound are the words of Romans 5:8 (NIV):

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

As Jesus put His presence into practice, Christ’s presence in my life must be evident to those in my sphere of influence. Real life in Christ must be active so others can witness, experience and learn. Christ calls us to live what Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes as a “vigorous” life, “devoted to God.” In Philippians 2:12 (MSG) Paul writes, “Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God.”

Jesus doesn’t call me to a “basic” Christian life; He calls me to live-out-loud a life that is deeply and robustly authentic— REAL.

Jesus calls us to more than a “basic” Christian life; He calls us to REAL life in Christ! @CheliSigler

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Cheli Sigler is a teacher through and through. She pursues her God-given purpose from her home base in sunny Orlando, FL where she and her husband, Matt, raise two teenage daughters. Cheli equips missionary kids for the mission field as a volunteer at Wycliffe Bible Translators, teaches a third grade Sunday School class, and is involved in Hello Mornings as a group leader, mentor, and writer. Inviting people to sharpen their mind and soften their hearts for God’s purpose and the world, Cheli shares ideas and resources on her blog, Sharpen to Soften. Connect with Cheli on Twitter as @CheliSigler or on Instagram as @chelidee.