Rumination Journal

The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever. --Isaiah 40:8 WEB      To fully understand verse eight, we must begin with verse six.      The voice of one saying, “Cry!” One said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.” --Isaiah 40:6-8 WEB      In this passage the prophet Isaiah is called upon to proclaim some important truths. First, all of mankind is like the grass, which is here for a short time and then is gone. It does not matter whether the people are rich or poor, good or bad, famous or unknown. All are temporary.    Second, all of the “glory” of mankind, all of its achievements, all that it has ever made or ever will make, is like the beautiful ...

Welcome to the first in a series of Bible memory verses. In the Bible, God has instructed us to meditate upon His Word, but we cannot do this unless we first know His word. The words in our Bibles are useless unless we internalize them--make them a part of us. Only then can we meditate upon God’s Word. And only then can God call them to our remembrance. Through the memorization of Scripture God not only teaches us, but He can may use us to teach and help others.      One longstanding method of Scripture memorization is to state the Scripture reference, recite the Scripture passage, and then restate the Scripture reference. This process is repeated a number of times until the reciter becomes comfortable with the passage and the reference. The purpose of this method is to remember not only the passage, but its location in the Bible. This would allows the reciter to find the passage in the Bible, both for themselves and for others.      These Scripture ver...

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. --Hebrews 10:35-26 NASB      In chapter 10 of the Book of Hebrews the author emphasizes the finality of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice by contrasting it with the Old Testament system of law and sacrifices. The Old Testament system must be repeated without end, but the redemption of Christ does not need repetition or supplementation--it is final.      God's redemption of us through Christ is more than just “fire insurance”--comfort in the knowledge of our own eternal destiny. God’s redemption comes with the expectation that we will share with others, just as it was shared with us. Because of Christ, we can speak to others with confidence. The Greek word in verse 35 is transliterated as parrēsia (“par-rhay-SEE-ah”), meaning a freedom of speech; a boldness; a confidence....

Christians are charged to be able to clearly explain their faith, and to be prepared at any time to do so… But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. — 1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV In the spirit of this command, we will present a series of questions and answers with regard to the basis in Scripture for prayer, why we pray, how we pray, and various aspects of prayer. To be sure, there are many Scripture passages that we might choose, so we will offer some for your consideration. We will begin today with why we pray... Question: How do we prove from Scripture that prayer is our duty? Answer: Jesus Christ tells us that we should always pray and not faint… Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show the...

[To the chief Musician; A Psalm for the sons of Korah] 1 Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. 2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. 3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. 4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. 5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? 6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? 7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth shall spring out of the ...

“In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” --John 16:23-28 NASB Jesus taught the importance that we pray in His name. We cannot hope to approach God in ourselves. Jesus has to come between God and us. The Apostle Paul explained that Jesus Christ must be the me...

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. --Romans 12:2 NASB In this passage the Apostle Paul reminds us that as followers of Christ, we should no longer be as the world is, but as God wants us to be--we must be changed. The Greek word used here is transliterated as “metamorphoó,” meaning to literally change from one form into another--to transform. Our transformation should come through the renewing of our mind. The word used for our mind is the Greek word “nous,” which means our mind, our understanding, our reason. But how do we renew our mind? We do so through the study of God's Word—the Bible—and through prayer. God not only invites us to pray, but commands that we pray. As we are consistent in this duty, we are going to be changed. A life of prayer is a life of obedience to God. Our prayer life should be one of supplication with...