I had the opportunity to write for Join the Journey. If you haven't heard about it you should take a look here: www.jointhejourney.com. It's a bible study program our church uses so everyone who signs up reads the same devotional each morning. It's a neat idea and they have also been able to get other churches and schools to use it by letting them have their own members or students write....So I have pasted my thoughts below so I will remember them and to share if you aren't a user of Join the Journey!
A little back story is I was given this verse with a last minute request to do it. As I was going over the verse I thought " Oh great, this will be easy since it starts with How lovely is your dwelling place...how hard will that be??" But I was dead wrong. The Lord had something else in mind. In the middle of the verse He had something to remind me of yet again. It's a part of the verse I usually skip over b/c it isn't singing praises like the rest. Instead, it tells you where the author is and what he has gone through while writing praises to the Lord.....
Key Verse:
How blessed are those who find their strength in you,
and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple!
As they pass through the Baca Valley,
he provides a spring for them.
The rain even covers it with pools of water.
(Psalm 84:5-6)
Central Truth:
We do not know what the Lord has planned for us as we travel down the road that leads to Him. We often have something different in mind than He does. When the harder times come, and they will, are we able to praise Him for them?
Title: what if the road becomes a valley
Have you felt a tug at your heart to stop and listen? Over the last few years I can remember moments like that very well. God has been speaking to me, and I'm learning to be still and listen.
My husband and I have been traveling down the road of infertility for a couple of years now. There have been many days of frustration and pain. This is not a road we would have chosen. When I find myself in the valley, I often can’t find my way out of it. As I have sought the Lord for strength, He has revealed more of His plan for me during this time. Once again, He spoke directly to me through Psalm 84.
The writer of Psalm 84 packed it with praise for the Lord. In verse 5 the writer longed for the road that led to God, and then we find in verse 6 that the road was probably full of struggles and pain. The writer states that he walked through the Valley of Baca. In looking up what that meant, I learned it was the Valley of Weeping. The writer then goes on to point out in verse 6 that the Lord provided during that time. God was faithful and gave them the means to keeping going. The writer notices the Lord's provision and decides to praise God even though the path leading to His temple seems to be full of trials.
I have to admit, it is very difficult to keep my eyes on the Lord when all I can see is the darkness of the valley at times. I believe the Lord has encouraged me and asked me to praise Him during my own Valley of Baca. He has taught me to look around and acknowledge His goodness and His plan and to be grateful for them. He has asked all of us, as believers, to walk the path that leads to His temple, to trust that He will give us the strength to continue walking, AND to praise Him in the midst of the journey.
Discussion Questions:
1. As a believer, do you long for the road that leads to Christ?
2. Would you long for the road knowing it could be your valley of weeping?
3. When walking through a valley, do you look for the quickest way out or praise God for it?
4. How has God shown you His faithfulness and goodness in the valley?
How blessed are those who find their strength in you,
and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple!
As they pass through the Baca Valley,
he provides a spring for them.
The rain even covers it with pools of water.
(Psalm 84:5-6)
Central Truth:
We do not know what the Lord has planned for us as we travel down the road that leads to Him. We often have something different in mind than He does. When the harder times come, and they will, are we able to praise Him for them?
Title: what if the road becomes a valley
Have you felt a tug at your heart to stop and listen? Over the last few years I can remember moments like that very well. God has been speaking to me, and I'm learning to be still and listen.
My husband and I have been traveling down the road of infertility for a couple of years now. There have been many days of frustration and pain. This is not a road we would have chosen. When I find myself in the valley, I often can’t find my way out of it. As I have sought the Lord for strength, He has revealed more of His plan for me during this time. Once again, He spoke directly to me through Psalm 84.
The writer of Psalm 84 packed it with praise for the Lord. In verse 5 the writer longed for the road that led to God, and then we find in verse 6 that the road was probably full of struggles and pain. The writer states that he walked through the Valley of Baca. In looking up what that meant, I learned it was the Valley of Weeping. The writer then goes on to point out in verse 6 that the Lord provided during that time. God was faithful and gave them the means to keeping going. The writer notices the Lord's provision and decides to praise God even though the path leading to His temple seems to be full of trials.
I have to admit, it is very difficult to keep my eyes on the Lord when all I can see is the darkness of the valley at times. I believe the Lord has encouraged me and asked me to praise Him during my own Valley of Baca. He has taught me to look around and acknowledge His goodness and His plan and to be grateful for them. He has asked all of us, as believers, to walk the path that leads to His temple, to trust that He will give us the strength to continue walking, AND to praise Him in the midst of the journey.
Discussion Questions:
1. As a believer, do you long for the road that leads to Christ?
2. Would you long for the road knowing it could be your valley of weeping?
3. When walking through a valley, do you look for the quickest way out or praise God for it?
4. How has God shown you His faithfulness and goodness in the valley?
1 comment:
Amazing, E.
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