Sunday Scripture

For Sunday Scripture posts currently, I'm using the Daily Grace Co. book Fix Your Focus. This is really not a Bible study as such, but more of a guide to help you fix your focus on God, His Word, prayer, gratitude, and spiritual growth, every week for 52 weeks.  I encourage you to follow along with us as we journal, look at Scripture, pray, and face the challenges of our weeks with our focus on Him.

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of May 12, but I am working ahead of you readers.  So here goes!

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is further on in each week's section. But since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this week-at-a-glance checklist first.  [Maybe you would like to use this same checklist if you are following along with us.]

This checklist offers us four points;  

* To make a plan for reading our Bibles and praying.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To jot down a to-do list of tasks that must be completed this week.

* To make a note of our top three priorities for this week.

This last point is one that I need to pay special attention to every week.  I'm finding it so helpful!

 For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Saturday's ladies and girls brunch at church -- preparing food, bringing items to decorate with.

2) Family -- sympathy cards to extended family; talking with my NV daughter; figuring out my son-in-law's birthday gift.

3) Service -- cleaning and other prep work at TWNE, plus preparing for a ladies' Sunday School class and blogging too.

🌿 The first actual prompt for each week is JOURNAL.  We are encouraged to take a few minutes to journal about our fears, joys, worries, desires and stressors concerning the week ahead.  [If you are following along with us, take a moment in a journal or notebook to do just that.]. Here's what I wrote on Monday, breaking it down into the suggested categories:

Fears: No real fears going into this week,.  Maybe a concern for my hubby's skin condition to improve..

Joys: It's always a joy to serve at TWNE and at church.  I find joy in teaching Sunday School and in blogging.  It's a true joy to spend time at our cottage.  And I'm looking forward to a joyous time at our ladies' brunch..  .

Worries: No real worries.  Just a concern that we are pursuing the best course in some matters.

Desires: That God will be glorified in the events of this week.  That believers will be edified and encouraged through Sunday School, one-on-one meetups, the brunch, and this blog.

Stressors: Tasks that won't stay done.  Irksome situations to deal with and work around.  Time constraints..

🌿 The next prompt is PRAYER. It was suggested that we use several prayer prompts to have a conversation with God about the week ahead.  [You can do the same.  Use the very same prompts for your own prayer.]

* Lord, You are ...in control of this week and all that it will hold.  You know all things and know each of my worries, joys, fears, desires, and stressors.  Not only do You know them all, but You are all powerful and all-wise and can work everything out for my eventual good and for Your glory.

* Lord, I feel ... tired.  A bit achy, like I've been doing too much.

* Lord, help me with ... the things on my plate this week.  Help me to be the best possible help to my husband during this trial with psoriasis.  Help me to use my time wisely.

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I act in my own strength.  Times when I allow circumstances (or even people) to annoy me.

Make a note of four or five people you are praying for.  I listed a young couple who need God's direction, our former pastor grieving the loss of his wife, a friend grieving the loss of her mother, and a grandson not walking with God.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Psalm 145:18, using the SOAP method, and then answered several suggested questions.   [You can use your own preferred method to meditate on this verse, and answer the questions below for yourself.]

I had spent some time meditating on this verse in 2023, so I will be including some of that study here.

S= "The LORD is near to all those who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." (Psalm 145:18)

O=  My Bible titles Psalm 145 thusly: "David's psalm of praise."  Scofield has given it the title "Praise to the gracious God."  All 21 verses of this psalm are filled with praise to God for all that He is and all that He has done and is doing. 

"It is David's, David's very own, David's favorite ... It is altogether praise, and praise pitched in a high key.  David had blessed God many a time in other psalms, but this he regarded as peculiar, his crown jewel of praise."

Spurgeon wrote concerning the Bible's title of Psalm 145 as "David's psalm of praise": 

Here in verse 18 David declares:

* The LORD is near to all who call upon Him in truth.

A cross- reference for "near" in verse 18 --  

"For what nation is there so great, that hath God as near unto them, as the LORD our God is, in all things that we call upon Him for?"  (Deuteronomy 4:7)

"Not only near by His omnipresence, but to sympathize and favor.  He does not leave praying men, and men who confess His name, to battle with the world alone... 'All' who place themselves beneath the shield of His glorious name by calling themselves by it, and by calling upon it in supplication, shall find Him to be a very present help in trouble." -- Charles Spurgeon

"The nearness or remoteness of a friend is very material and considerable in our troubles, distresses, wants, dangers, etc.  I have such a friend, and he would help me, but he lives so far off ... But it is not thus with you, O Christians!  who have a God so nigh unto you, who have the signal presence of God in the midst of you.  Yea, who have a God always standing by you."  --Thomas Brooks

A cross-reference for "truth" -- 

"God is a spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."  (John 4:24) 

 "To call upon God in truth is, first, to repose an implicit confidence in the faithfulness of His promise, and to look for unlimited answers to prayer from the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus.  But it is also to feel our own urgent need of the things for which we supplicate, and to realize an earnest and unfeigned concern to obtain them." -- Thomas Dale, 1853

A= To help with my application of this verse, I answered the questions from Fix Your Focus:  

🌿 Reflect on what this verse tells you about who God is.

He is near to all who call upon Him in truth.  His name LORD is used here -- Jehovah, the self-existent One who always has been and always will be.

🌿 Think about what this verse tells you about who you are.

I am a person who is in need of help, who calls upon God and finds Him near because of my relationship with Jesus.

🌿 Throughout this week, consider how this verse should affect the way you live.  

I can call upon God at any time.  I can and should sense His nearness to me at all times.  I should keep short accounts with Him so I can call upon Him "in truth" at any time.

 Spurgeon wrote,  "To pray in truth, we must have a true heart, and the truth in our heart; and then we must be humble, for pride is a falsehood; and be earnest, or else prayer is a lie.  A God of truth cannot be nigh to the spirit of hypocrisy; this He knows and hates; neither can He be far removed from a sincere spirit, since it is His work, and He forsakes not the work of His own hands." 

 It is incredibly comforting and strengthening to know that God is always near to me.  I think one of the best ways to practice His presence and nearness is simply to speak with Him often: "Thank You, Lord!" when we see Him act or give wisdom; arrow prayers when we need help or guidance; words of praise and awe when we observe His glorious creation.

P= "Lord,  I am so thankful that You make it possible for us to know You and have a personal relationship with You!  I am thankful for  Your nearness to Your children and that I may speak to You at any time.  I pray that You will help me to be able to share with others how they also may have this relationship with You.  I pray also that You will help me to encourage other believers to cultivate the closeness to You that You want for all of us to have. Help my very life to be a hymn of praise to You.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

🌿 GRATITUDE is the next prompt.  We were to reflect on the way God has shown His faithfulness to you over the past week and list five things we are thankful for.  [If you are following along with us, be sure to make your own list of five things!]. Here is my list:

1) Strength for busy days at TWNE.

2) A fun Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra concert that our granddaughter and friends played in.  

3) Meaningful study times in God's Word.

4) Supper out with family on Mother's Day

5) Getting together with my young friend R. last Monday.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on FASTING. We were to consider fasting from something this week in order to focus on our need for God.  What could we fast from?  What would be the duration of our fast? [And again, if you are following along, please think about this for yourself.]

   I chose to fast from sugar Monday through Friday.  I ordinarily do intermittent fasting anyway, and use the time gained by not eating breakfast in additional Bible study and prayer.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

The Lord is near; when I call, He hears.

We can take this encouraging thought into the coming week and communicate with God often!