The American Standard Version (ASV) and Updated American Standard Version (UASV) were completed by American scholars using the Formal Equivalence translation philosophy. This means that translation was done with the goal of showing readers what God said by means of a human author.
Word-for-Word translations use this method and hold the belief that the responsibility of interpreting words is held by the reader versus the translator; the translator’s role is merely to translate the texts from the original languages into the languages of today’s culture and it is our job to interpret what they mean.
What is the American Standard Version (ASV) Bible translation?
The ASV translation was published in 1901 by Thomas Nelson & Sons. It has also been known as ARV, ASR, ASRB, and ASE translations, but by 1929 it was most commonly known as ASV. This is a revision of KJV that focused on updating the language. The scholars responsible for ASV used more manuscripts than were available and understood when the KJV was translated, so they were able to utilize a broader set of tools and knowledge for this translation which helped the accuracy and enabled them to provide a more literal translation than the KJV. In fact, some language that had been translated into English in the KJVwas brought back into the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic throughout the ASV. For example, in KJVwhere God is named “LORD”, it reads “Jehovah” in the ASV.
Far and wide, the ASV is claimed to be the most literal translation of the Bible into English. ASV has been widely used as the basis for later translations, such as the Updated American Standard Version (UASV), Revised Standard Version (RSV), Amplified Bible (AMB), New American Standard Bible (NASB), Recovery Version (RV), and The Living Bible (TLB). ASV is thought to be an incredible translation for those who wish to read as close to the original languages as possible while being unable to actually read and understand them.
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What is the Updated American Standard Version (UASV) Bible translation?
The UASV is a revision of the ASV that is actually still being translated. The purpose of this particular translation is to provide a deeper, more accurate translation in the closest corresponding modern English, according to Christian Publishing House (CPH). CPH, the developers of the UASV, claim the original author’s meanings are never put in danger in order to improve readability because it is the job of the translator to translate, but the job of the reader to interpret. They are referencing the NT translated by William Tyndale in 1526, KJV of 1611, RV of 1885, and the ASV from 1901. They are also referring straight back to the original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.
The founder of CPH and the UASV translation has been working on the UASV since 1996. Through the loss of his family and job, and while enduring homelessness, he completed college, wrote various books, and continued his work on this translation. His passion for the completion of this translation is certainly commendable to say the least.
Should I use the UASV BIble translation?
The ASV seems to be looked over pretty often outside of the scholarly world, but because of the additional knowledge and resources available at the time of its completion, it may very well be a step up from the KJV. The UASV is certainly a translation to keep your eye out for.
Growing up I had a really tough life. One night I got into a pretty bad fight with my mother. In my anger I stormed out of the house in the middle of the night, raining, no jacket, no shoes, no phone. Only wearing sweat pants and a tank top in the cold rainy night. I was so upset I just kept walking.
About 3 miles away from my house I noticed a car had been following me for some time. I approached a parking lot before walking across a bridge and the car parked in front of the sidewalk and two guys got out. I was freaking out, totally terrified that I was about to be thrown in the car. But something extraordinary happened instead.
These two guys had stopped to make sure I was okay. I insisted I was fine, and told them I didn't need anything from them. So one of them took the shoes off his feet, took the jacket off his back, and laid them on the sidewalk for me. I said, "I don't want them, you can take them back!" He responded compassionately with "well, then I supposed someone else will have a nice new pair of shoes then" and he got back in his car and left. They drove off, and I put on the five-size too big shoes and jacket on and kept walking.
I went across the bridge and landed behind a theatre I'd spent much time at. I was sitting behind a building, under the bridge, at the edge of a cliff when a white pickup truck pulled up and parked. Again, I was terrified thinking I was about to get thrown in the truck or throw off the property...but an old man got out and asked me if I was okay.
I was crying my face off but told him I was just fine and that I was just getting some air after a fight with my mom. This man went back to his truck, came back, handed me what looked like a $20 bill, and told me with compassion I should head home where it is safer than the back of a theatre in the middle of the night.
As he left I unfolded what I thought was money and found a slip of paper that read:
"Disappointed?
Jesus won't let you down.
Make Jesus Christ Lord of your life!
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
That night, those people had no idea what was going on in my world. They also had no idea that their simple and extraordinary acts of compassion and generosity would have a permanent impact on my life. They changed my perceptive, and planted an incredible seed for me.
That was a defining night in my life that ultimately played a vital role in me coming to Jesus many years later. That night I knew I was not alone; I knew God was with me. I received incredible love from these strangers in circumstances you'd never expect and they changed everything for me.
Never, ever discount the impact your simple acts of generosity and compassion may have on someone else. Never throw the crazy acts of kindness God compels you to do out the window. Trust that God knows best and don't miss the chance to do something either simple or crazy that could change someone's entire course for such incredible good.
Watching the movie Saving Private Ryan, a Captain Miller and his command went on a mission to find a specific soldier in the middle if war. Their mission was to find him and send him home safely. They finally found Private Ryan, and shortly after the Captain was shot. With his dying breath he told Private Ryan "earn this".
At first I was left feeling like that was a really messed up thing to say with your last breath...but then it hit me. That is what Jesus did for us. He came into a sinful war-zone to find his people and save them from the war of sin. He sacrificed himself so that we may go home to the Father in safety and live a life worthy of the sacrifice He made.
Will we ever really be able to earn what He did for us? No, but we can sure live our best life trying to every day. God has given us so many blessings. Everything we have is because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We are exactly where we are, have exactly what we have, connect with specific people, all for His purpose.
We have so many ways to worship Him and show our gratitude for everything the Father and the Son have done for us. It goes so much further than studying His word and prayer, which are absolutely vital pieces of the puzzle, but don't ever discount the opportunity to just take a step back and appreciate all the wonders and blessings God has placed in your life.
God has blessed you with gifts, talents, love, kindness, work, people, and relationships so that you may use them all for His glory. Use your skills for His good. Worship Him by using the gifts He gave you. Strive to live a life worthy of the sacrifice made so you may have these blessings. We will never be able to earn it, we will never deserve it, but we can sure show our gratitude by using them for His good.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
We are here to grow, to learn, to be strengthened through suffering and trials. Job is an incredible example of someone who suffers immensely but remains faithful. He understood that God was still there with him and that He would restore him in His time. He knew that through faith he would be blessed. It is so easy for us to think there is no hope for a situation to get better, that there is nothing good to be found in a crappy circumstance.
It is far too easy for us to throw faith out the window when we suffer - but God tells us to keep the faith and keep going. God will make us uncomfortable so that we can grow. We cannot grow if we are never challenged. We will never learn if we don't struggle first. Sometimes our most valuable lessons and most important growth comes from the darkest times of our lives.
Remember to keep faith and keep focused ESPECIALLY while you are struggling.
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
What is the King James Version (KJV) Bible translation?
The most commonly known word-for-word Bible translations are KJV and NKJV. To better understand and appreciate the KJV translation of scripture, let’s take a leap back in time for a little history lesson.
In the 14th and 15th centuries the faith of Europe was pretty shaky. People wanted the scriptures in a language they could understand but the Roman Catholic Church had banned scriptures in English and enforced the use of the Latin Vulgate, the “official Bible” of the fourth century that was translated from the original Greek and Hebrew into Latin by St. Jerome by order of Pope Damasus. There had been various translations of the gospels, psalms, and some prayers into English, but they had been translated from the Latin Vulgate, were only partial translations, were not very accurate, and were deemed heretical by the Roman Catholic Church.
John Wycliffe later oversaw the translation of both the Old and New Testaments into English, an impressive feat considering he’d never even read the full Bible. The Wycliffe Bible was the first official Bible in English. Because it was translated from the Latin Vulgate it didn’t always make sense. In 1408 it was made illegal to translate the Bible in England, but in the 1400s French, Dutch, Spanish and Italian Bibles surfaced.
KJV and the Great Reformation
In 1517, after the “Great Schism” of 1378-1417 when the religious authority of Europe was being utterly ripped apart, and the invention of a movable-type printing press in 1454, the Reformation was born thanks to Martin Luther. By the 1520s William Tyndale had traveled to Germany to complete his translation of the Bible into English but could not return to England for fear of death. He was kidnapped and burned at the stake before he could translate the entirety of the Old Testament. His translation of the New Testament was the first to be done from the original Greek into English.
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In 1534 massive religious reform was still raging in England, which separated the nation from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry VIII became the “Supreme Head” of the Church of England. Throughout his life England was transformed into a Protestant nation. The legality of the Bible and prayers being available in English was constantly challenged.
How did Henry VIII impact the KJV?
Henry had authorized Myles Coverdale to translate the first complete Bible printed in English, which was published in 1535. It had been translated from the German Bible and the Latin Vulgate. Then in 1537 came Matthew’s Bible, translated from Coverdale’s OT and Tyndale’s NT, with some additional notes intertwined. Henry VIII ordered that an English Bible be available in every church and Matthew’s Bible was used. John Rogers, whose pen name was Thomas Matthew, put together the Matthew’s Bible. Matthew was the first martyr to be burned at the stake by Mary Tudor.
England’s devotion to the Bible was higher in 1538-39 than ever before. Also with permission from Henry VIII, The Great Bible was released in 1539. This translation came so the people would have a Bible as good as Matthew’s Bible, minus the added notes. Fast forward to 1543 and Henry banned the Coverdale and Tyndale Bibles.
Mary I, Bloody Mary
Henry VIII had two daughters who both lived to reign. First was his daughter with Queen Katherine of Aragon, Mary Tudor; Mary I of England, First Queen Regent of England. The reign of Mary I began in 1553. She was commonly known as Bloody Mary because she brutally persecuted Protestants in an attempt to restore Catholicism to England. This also made it illegal once again to read scripture in English.
She burned Bibles and Protestants alike. In this time many scholars fled to Geneva where they put together the Geneva Bible, the first Bible completely translated from the original Greek and Hebrew texts into English. The Geneva Bible replaced The Great Bible in churches. Because it was not appropriate for English clergy, though, the Bishop’s Bible was released in 1568.
Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen
After the death of Mary I, Henry VIII’s other daughter Elizabeth, daughter to Anne Boleyn, became Queen Elizabeth I. Elizabeth, a Protestant, ruled England after her sister had just forced the nation back to Catholicism. She attempted to make peace between the faiths of her nation. Catholic priests fled to Europe, and because people wanted a Bible in English they commissioned the Rheims-Douai Bible. This was not to appease the people, but merely to ensure that they at least had a correct Bible.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Elizabeth was the Virgin Queen - never married, and never had children, therefore she had no heir of her own. Mary Queen of Scots was the granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, Henry VII’s sister, and King James the IV of Scotland. She faced much parole throughout her life in France and then Scotland. When she sought refuge in England, she was viewed as a threat to the Protestant faith and Elizabeth’s rule. Elizabeth imprisoned her and later executed her. This left Mary’s son, James VI of Scotland, the only heir to England making him King James I of England.
King James
King James came to his own power in Scotland at the age of 12, and eventually became the head of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland. He went on to oversee the completion of the King James Version, which was first published in 1611. From 1382-1610 translators and Bibles were burned in an attempt to suppress the efforts of giving people the Bible in their own language. In 1611 the people finally, legally, had a Bible they could own, read, and understand. No other version of the Bible has had the kind of impact that the KJV has had on the world, even to this day.
If KJV is what you prefer, you will find there is no shortage of beautiful KJV Bibles to choose from.
What is the New King James Version (NKJV) Bible translation?
The first full copy of the NKJV did not come about until 1982. There were many revisions of the KJV over the years, but the NKJV was the first version truly dedicated to preserving the beautiful language and accuracy of the KJV, while also seeking to update and improve the text in order for the everyday reader to better understand it.
A couple of factors that were taken into account were that English words had changed over time. On the flip side, there was a better understanding gained of the original Greek and Hebrew. With these factors considered many of the words used in KJV were no longer accurate and needed to be updated to ensure readers were getting the message that was intended by the original texts.
If you are a lover of the KJV, the NKJV would likely be a great match for you as well. Understanding the origin of Bible translations is incredibly vital when choosing your translation of preference. We will continue down the Word-for-Word list for the next couple of weeks, then we will dive into Thought-for-Thought, Moderate, and then Paraphrase versions. If you have any questions, input, resources, or would like to join in the study we’d love to include you!
There are many different NKJV Bibles out there o choose from no matter what you are looking for.
Sometimes life does not happen the way we want it to. Occasionally there will be things we desperately want in our lives, but God has not made it happen. Now and then God grants us our desires, often times He may have something better in store for us, but sometimes God just wants us to be patient; we are not ready for it yet. God will give us time to be patient, grow in faithfulness and obedience to Him, and then He may grant us our desires as they fit into His plan.
There are certain people in scripture that are sincerely fantastic examples of faithfulness and obedience. We can seriously relate to some people in the Bible, and sometimes we long to relate to them. Hannah is one of those people for me.
Hannah is the mother of Samuel, who was the last judge of Israel and ultimately led the nation into faithfulness to God - none of which would have happened if it were not for Hannah’s faithfulness and devotion to the Lord.
'And she vowed a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head." '
Like Hannah, for a long time I plead with God for a child. I wanted a small human of my own to love and to love me. I begged God to give me a child, and when He granted my request I disobeyed God, went my own way, and ended up losing my first child. In God’s time, though, He gave me a living child through some tragic circumstances and my life forever changed. While I was disobedient to God, Hannah was not. God remained faithful through all of it nonetheless.
'And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. '
Hannah made a pact with God. She vowed that if it is His will to give her a son, she would commit the boy to the Lord for his whole life. God’s response initially was for her to be patient and faithful, waiting for His perfect timing. Then when He gave Hannah her son, Samuel, she kept her word to God even though it meant she only had her child for the first 3 or 4 years of his life. After Samuel was weaned, she committed him to the Lord for the rest of his life, leaving him in the care of Eli.
'And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord . For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord . As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord ." And he worshiped the Lord there. '
The thing about Hannah is that while God was giving her time to be patient, strengthen her faith, and continue to live in obedience she was combating ridicule and bullying from those around her. Not only is it already difficult to remain faithful when we feel God is not listening, but it can be especially difficult when we have people trying to tear us down while we are struggling.
It is too easy for us to lose faith when we are not getting what we want. Our human nature is selfish and society teaches that instant gratification is necessary and deserved. But man, what God can do through our faith in Him.
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' But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.'
God gives us every day, every breathe, every strength, and He can bring us through every trial we face. Even though Hannah was in complete despair, she remained faithful to God. Through her gratefulness and faithfulness she not only gained a son, but she also gave him to serve the Lord.
We have no idea, not even the faintest inkling, of what God can and will do in His time and His way through our faithfulness and devotion to Him. God deserves our praise every day, all the time, even in the midst of struggles because He has the power to get us through it.
And Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
2 “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. 3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. 6 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. 8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.
9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Have you ever felt like you just can’t catch a break? Like the whole world is against you? Like there is just too much wrong with life? Or like it is just too darn difficult to keep going?
We are all faced with difficult situations throughout life. There are times where we feel no one could possibly understand, and we cannot possibly make it through. David was no exception when he, a shepherd boy, was called upon to become king. His life was immediately put at incredible risk when God commanded he become king in place of Saul, who had become wicked and turned away from God.
' O Lord , how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, "There is no salvation for him in God."
David is given a mission he never asked for or expected, and it was a massive mission. I know I can definitely relate to that. The task in and of itself to be obedient to God’s will and commands is really challenging, especially when it comes with tasks our human nature doesn’t want any part of. We by nature want to do life our own way, but when God comes calling it is our job to listen no matter how hard it is.
Sometimes what God calls on us to do puts us right in the middle of chaos. When I made the decision to follow God’s will for my life I lost all my friends, and also a relationship with most of my family. I changed completely and with that my whole life and everything and everyone in it also changed. I felt at first like I was drowning. If following God and trusting Him is the right thing, why on earth did it feel like life was falling apart?
But you, O Lord , are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord , and he answered me from his holy hill. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.
When we decide to trust God and put our faith in Him, that faith will be tested. The testing of our faith is done to strengthen and confirm our faith in Him. In Psalm 3, David was being hunted down because he chose to follow God’s will for him to become king. His prayer in Psalm 3 is an incredible example of what keeping our faith in the midst of chaos looks like.
He knew that even though he was in great danger, and that life would never be the same, he’d never have a simple shepherd life again, that God would help him along his path. David knew that God would make good on His promises, and that all David needed to do was trust God to guide and protect him.
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Arise, O Lord ! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the Lord ; your blessing be on your people!'
When you feel like you are consumed by darkness remember that God is always there. He is faithful to the faithful, and He will never lead you astray or abandon you. God will deliver you from your enemies of any kind. Have faith that God will bring you through, and that through the struggles, sacrifices, tough choices, and suffering you can grow closer to Him by faith and obedience. Lean on Him even more in times of depression, anxiety, loss, grief, pain, and loneliness. Don’t lose faith that He will deliver you.
' Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord , and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.'
“In my distress I called to the Lord , and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.
There have been plenty of times in my life where I felt like I’d been swallowed up, trapped in chaos, utterly overwhelmed, just like Jonah when he was swallowed up at sea. Nine years ago I moved across the country with my then fiance. I was a few weeks pregnant, in completely new territory, experienced massive culture shock, had none of my family or friends, and was completely isolated.
We had not even settled in before he started working long, crazy hours and I was left home where it was unsafe for me to walk the neighborhood alone, cooped up in the heat and humidity, where I was required to cook and clean all day for my fiance, his uncle, and his teenage cousin. After only about six weeks of this, I found myself in such excruciating pain I was brought to the emergency room where I discovered I was no longer expecting a child.
I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord , and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.
I felt like Jonah; banished from God’s sight, engulfed, drowning, and utterly consumed and strangled by darkness. I fell into complete despair and as I cried to God I felt like He was surely not going to help me out of the deep, monstrous cavern I’d fallen into.
I remember crying night and day, praying for God to change what had happened, to heal me, and to take me out of what turned into an absolutely horrendous experience after an already horrible loss. Not only had I lost the baby, but the man I thought loved me more than anything quickly began to hate me more than anything. While enduring every kind of abuse I kept pleading for God to bring me out of my terrible fate. I didn’t want to lose faith, and He was the only thing I could hold onto anymore.
“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord .’ ” And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.'
After a couple of months, a light finally shone on my darkness. My family was flying me home. I was leaving this place I’d only experienced immeasurable pain. I was terrified but so relieved to leave. The pain was not over, but God had delivered me, moving me forward, providing an escape and refuge, and reminding me there is reason to hope and trust Him.
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God, in His time, in His way, provided me with knowledge and experience that changed everything about who I was, and a way out of the sinful, hateful, painful existence I’d been living in. God vomited me out onto dry land like Jonah from the belly of the fish.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Life was not immediately easier, nor was it pain free. I have been through countless struggles even since then, but with each struggle comes another lesson of faith. During every experience of suffering I come even closer to understanding what salvation means; what it means to be saved.
This Prayer of Salvation is a beautiful prayer to thank God because, even when we are suffering, even when we are lost and hurting, even though we are so incredibly sinful and undeserving, He loves us anyway. He loves us enough to sacrifice His son, Jesus Christ, to save us from the damnation of eternal pain and separation from His mercy and love.
Even though we screw up, reject Him, walk away, curse Him, live in utter sin, and disrespect everything that He has done for us He loves us enough to chase after us and pull us out of the deepest depths of darkness and into impossible peace.
Because of His salvation, I know that my faith in God is good and right and that I can depend on Him to pick me up and deliver me to His kingdom when He says it is time. Every trial we face here on earth is another stepping stone toward God and His promise of salvation.
Don’t forget to thank God today, especially while life is especially difficult. It will change your life.
As I sat in the hospital room alone with my unconscious grandfather 10 hours before his last breath, I prayed constantly, talking to God as a friend, as someone who could bring peace to a situation where peace felt impossible. I prayed for my grandfather to be at peace, to go home and be with our Father, to find comfort, and to know that he is so loved. I prayed for my family to be at peace with his coming passing and that they would have strength.
I thanked God for all of the time I was lucky enough to spend with him, and all the memories we created. I thanked Him for taking care of my grandfather, for giving him peace in the end, and for bringing him home to live in Heaven, where I knew he would go. Prayer brought an incredible sense of peace for me as I watched every rise and fall of his chest and listened for every quiver of his breath, anticipating any one of them to be his last.
Why does prayer bring us peace? Why does prayer have such power?
Matthew 6 tells us how to reap the full blessings and benefits available through prayer, and helps us understand why we should pray this way.
'"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. '
I thought for the longest time this meant that prayer was something only for me to know and hear privately, but that is actually a very common misinterpretation of this instruction. This verse tells us to not show off to other people with our prayers, to not pray empty prayers that sound nice, but to instead pray from the heart. Prayer is intended as a conversation between you and God and is not about the words of the prayer, but about the depth of your heart that it comes from.
Prayer that comes from the heart holds so much power. God already knows what is going to happen, what we need, and when we need it. We are called to pray for God to help, change, comfort, and guide us. We should pray for God to help us accept and be grateful for what He does in our lives, and pray to foster our relationship with Him and others. Prayer helps us to realign our focus to God, and remember that He is the one in control.
The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is an incredible example laid out to show us how we should pray. It is easy to dismiss this prayer as “old fashioned” and “irrelevant” before we understand that it is a kind of “prayer template”, each line having great significance.
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What does the Lord’s Prayer mean?
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Acknowledge who God is; our Holy Father, whom we get to have a personal relationship with, and deserves our praise, worship and thankfulness for who He is.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Ask for God to work His will into our path, whatever is happening in our lives. We should be seeking God’s will rather than our own. If we are asking for something we want, we should always remember that our will should match His, and that His will may look different than our desires or what we think we need. God knows better than we do.
Someone very important to me always says “God gives 3 answers; Yes, not yet, or I have something better in store”. He doesn’t just say “no”. God knows what is best for us. He sees the whole entire picture, holds all knowledge and wisdom, and will always work everything together for “the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28).
Give us this day our daily bread,
Ask God to provide for our needs, with the hope and faith that He can and will, as He knows is best for us. Remember to give thanks for his provisions in your life. God will always provide and we should show appreciation to Him for all we have. We would not have or be anything without His grace.
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
We should admit that we are not perfect. It is in our nature to be sinful but through the blood of Jesus all sins are forgiven. Bringing our mistakes, imperfections, and sins to God through prayer cleanses us. God forgives us and lifts the weight of guilt and shame from us so we can move forward with peace. Because God forgives us, praying for God to help us forgive others gives us spiritual freedom, allowing us to let go of grudges, judgement, and hurt feelings.
God will never “tempt” us; the devil does that. We should pray for God to help us through the temptations we face, and to guide us through any testing He places before us, give us strength, courage and knowledge to learn and overcome.
We are called to have faith that God will always provide a way of escape from temptation. Have confidence that God can and will be your helper, even when you don’t think you need or deserve it.
'No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. '
Prayer is a spiritual tool for us to communicate with God, to develop and foster a personal relationship with Him, to repent of our sins, and seek God above anything and anyone else. It should be done often and come from the heart.
This post coming on April Fools Day is a bit ironic. A day people are worried, afraid and anxious about pranks at every turn. This is a holiday celebrated around the world. In France they may worry about having a picture of a fish pegged on their back. One might spend the day paranoid that favors requested in Scotland are a fool’s errand. Portuguese culture may leave you fearful of turning a corner and a having flour thrown at you.
What are you afraid of? Is it an April Fools joke? Spiders? Snakes? Lions, tigers, and bears? Or is it something deeper? We spend so much of our lives living in fear of the unknown, a broken heart, being alone, getting hurt, getting lost, never finding our purpose; the list never ends.
But what if I told you that you don’t need to be afraid of the practical jokes or any of the deep fears that feel embedded in our DNA? What if there was something that could tackle anything you may ever be fearful of? What if you didn’t have to live in fear anymore?
' But now thus says the Lord , he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.'
God tells us not to be afraid 365 times throughout the Bible. We are given this command once for every day of the year as a reminder that He is with you wherever you go, and will carry the weight of your fears if you let Him.
‘The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’
I lived in a constant state of fear most of my life. I knew God was trying to pull me in, but after everything I’d suffered, I didn’t want to trust Him. One day about 5 years ago, in one single moment, my fear miraculously melted away in an instant. I was in a terrible and abusive marriage and that day was the breaking point. I remember the sudden rush of impossible courage well up in me, a feeling I had never felt before or really knew I could feel. I snapped. In that instant I traded my fear for perfect love.
‘There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
When my fear was lifted up and I trusted God to provide, He showed up and changed my entire life in ways I never dreamed He would or could. God transformed me from a broken vessel into a strong, faithful, courageous woman. God wrapped my entire life up in pure, unimaginable love. I am still a work in progress, but allowing God to take the fear from me changed my entire life in the best possible ways.
Are there still challenges, struggles, and pain? Of course. That is a fact of life. But I can get through all of it and come out stronger knowing God will always show up when I choose His incredible and perfect love over my human fears.
' The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.'
Exodus 32 dives in deep to the roots of idolatry in the Israelite people. Their history is filled with idolatry and should be taken as a serious warning to all of us today. The lessons of Exodus 32 are incredibly relevant in many ways to us now.
The book of Exodus is filled with important information about the history of God's people and the world. It is not only important, but so many of the lessons we can learn are relevant to each one of us as children of God. Dive in as we explore Exodus chapter by chapter.
'When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” '
Moses had been up on the mountain for 6 days and the Israelites had already turned from God and even Aaron had allowed so much corruption to come into the community.
Aaron took the people's jewelry and made an idol from the gold. The people worshiped the idol and then participated in sexual immorality. God was so angry that He told Moses that He would kill them all for their sins, but Moses asked God to spare them so that he could do try to fix the situation.
Can prayers cause God to change His mind?
Sometimes God adjusts His plans in response to our requests or actions. We see this in some areas of scripture (Nu 14:11-23; Am 7:1-7; Jnh 3:1-10). Interpersonal relationships are often complex. We alter our responses according to God's, and God will sometimes do the same for us. There are many things that will not change just because we want them to. I love the way my NIV Quest Study Bible puts it;
"There are decrees and promises he has made that do not change. He kept His covenant with the forefathers of the Israelites (Dt 7:7-8) and He keeps His new covenant with those who believe in Jesus (Jn 6:37-40, 44). God wants us to live out His will obediently. He has predetermined ways He expects us to respond, but He has made us capable of resisting Him (Ps 143:10; 1Th 5:16-18; Heb 10:35-39; 2Pe 3:9). These aspects of God's will work together. While it is not possible for us to fully understand how they work together, we know that God is ultimately in control."
When Moses returned from the mountain where he was convening with God, he was extremely angry with Aaron, who blamed the people for all that had happened, and with the people who had become so corrupt in only a matter of days. Moses called forward the faithful people of God and told them to kill all the sinful people who had rebelled against God.
'Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ” '
I feel the biggest lesson here is that we are called to put God above everything and everyone else, even our own families. God's will comes first.
' “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. '
Moses asked for forgiveness for the people, and God decided that He would "blot out" these sinners from His book. The best way I can think to explain God's book is to think about Santa's naughty and nice list. The good children on the nice list are rewarded for their good behavior, and the children on the naughty list get coal. Likewise, the faithful children of God are rewarded with Heaven and the naughty list, those who are "blotted out" get damnation.
God tells Moses to lead His people to where He has commanded them and at the right time He will punish them. Then the Lord set a plague on the people as punishment for their sins against Him.
Exodus 31 teaches us about the history of the Sabbath Day. While we don't necessarily hold to the Sabbath the same ways the Israelites did, there is so much we should learn from the way God instructed them and the reasons behind it all. Let's explore what the Sabbath is, why it is important even now, and how we can make more space for God in our lives.
The book of Exodus is filled with important information about the history of God's people and the world. It is not only important, but so many of the lessons we can learn are relevant to each one of us as children of God. Dive in as we explore Exodus chapter by chapter.
'“For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord . There I will meet you and speak to you; '
In order for the Israelites to further concrete themselves in their new culture, God would "show Himself" by appointment only. He specified times for them to come and meet with Him. This helped them to form a habit of coming to Him.
The Sabbath
'“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord , who makes you holy. '
The Sabbath is a day of rest to remind God's people that they have a unique relationship with God. It is a consistent reminder that they are God's holy people.
Should we still recognize the Sabbath?
The Sabbath is a day set apart for us to acknowledge that God is in control. It is a day for us to rest, recover, and focus on what is most important. It is a day of reflection and refreshment.
'“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. '
God is not offended by us doing small things on the Sabbath Day.The point is to rest and to focus on the Lord, on good, but still remember that God is the one in control. This is a day to put the normal day-to-day aside and trust God to take control. Setting aside a day per week for rest and worship helps us to set the healthy routine God establishes for us, and allows us to enter a new week refreshed and focused.
Exodus 24-30 covers the Tabernacle. There is so much here that is vital for us to learn and understand, and so much foreshadowing of what was to come when Jesus came to dwell among men. The Tabernacle is certainly not irrelevant - dive in and explore how this still holds much importance for us even today.
The book of Exodus is filled with important information about the history of God's people and the world. It is not only important, but so many of the lessons we can learn are relevant to each one of us as children of God. Dive in as we explore Exodus chapter by chapter.
Eventually people access God through Jesus, but in OT times they would reach God through the Tabernacle.
'“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. ' Exodus 25:8
God designated the exact specifications for the entire tabernacle as a kind of test of faith and obedience. This manufacturing was done to show their obedience, to instill further obedience in the people, and was given exact ritual practices that would get them into the habit of trusting, honoring, worshiping and obeying God who had saved them. It was a way to aid them in getting used to the new culture God had laid out for them. He wanted His people to have a way to access Him so that they would grow in their faith and obedience to Him.
"Throughout these details we find spiritual parallels to Christ and the church. The tabernacle (literally, dwelling place) points to Jesus the Messiah, who made his dwelling (literally, tabernacled) among us (Jn 1:14, Jn 2:20-21), tore the curtain of the old covenant in two (Mt 27:51), and enabled us to enter the Most Holy Place by His sacrifice (Heb 10:19-22). We can also learn principles about salvation and the church from the pattern of the tabernacle's construction (Eph 2:21; 1Pe 2:5)."
God laid out an extremely specific design for the Tabernacle. Each piece had specific reasons for its design.
Ark of the Covenant
The ark was the most sacred piece of the tabernacle. The ark held copies of the ten commandments and the Book of the Covenant (which is Exodus 20-23), which explained the specifications for covenant requirements. It was designed to preserve its contents and protect it from human hands.
Bronze Laver
The priests would cleanse themselves using the Bronze Laver, as they must be clean and pure to enter into the presence of God.
Altar of Burnt Offering
Animal sacrifices were made here. The blood of the animal was sprinkled on the four horns of the altar. The blood on the altar was symbolic of God accepting the sacrifice and forgiving the people, cleansing them of their sins.
Gold Lampstand or Menorah
This was set in the Holy Place, across from the table of showbread. It had places for lamps which were little gold bowls with wicks sticking out. The other ends of the wicks were sitting in a bowl of oil. The light from the lamp signified the presence of God.
Table of Showbread
This was always in the presence of God. It had 12 loaves of bread on it, which represented the 12 tribes of Israel.
Altar of Incense
This was a smaller altar than the Alter of Burnt Offering. The incense would fill the tabernacle with sweet smells. The smells would have helped mask the nasty smells of dead animal and blood, and the smoke would have helped to mask the holy objects further showing that they were holy and set apart for God.
Priestly Garments
'Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. ' Exodus 28:2
Aaron and his sons were the first priests of the Lord. They were instructed to wear very specific garments which were to give them dignity and honor.
The Breastplate of the High Priest
'“Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord . '
I love this section because we see a lot of these stones in ESO...and, well, we are gamers after all! The breastplate of the high priest had 12 specific precious gems embedded into it; Carnelian, topaz, garnet, emerald, sapphire, diamond, agate, amethyst, beryl, onyx, and jasper. Each stone had the name of one of the 12 tribes engraved on it. Each stone was precious and signified the value that God placed on His people.
'“Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. '
The priests were told to wear very specific attire, which included linen undergarments so that they were covered and not "spiritually naked" in the presence of the Lord. This was to break them away and set them apart from pagan rituals, which often involved nakedness.
Consecration of the Priests
'Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head. '
This was to symbolize the priests being set apart to serve God for a special purpose.
Why the specific instructions for the animal parts?
'Then take all the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. But burn the bull’s flesh and its hide and its intestines outside the camp. It is a sin offering. '
Some animal parts were considered more desirable and the best parts of the animal were given to God. Other parts were symbolic of sin and were burned, and others were used in pagan rituals and were also burned to ensure that the Israelites would not be tempted to engage in pagan rituals.
What's with all the blood?
'And take some blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated. '
Sin cannot be ignored by a holy God and the consequence of sin is death. The blood was to clearly demonstrate the life-for-life substitution. Pouring out the animal's blood was to show the pouring out of life to cover the sins of the people. This was a sign of forgiveness and renewed life to the sinner.
God required such a massive price for our sins because He did not want His people to ignore the seriousness of sin. The act of killing an animal, the smells, sounds, and sight of it would be very sobering to and remind them of the price for their sins.
Reviewing the Annual Feasts in Exodus 23 helps us to better understand the journey and struggles the Israelites endured after being delivered from slavery. Life was challenging to say the least, and they had to learn a whole new way of life - not unlike us when we choose to accept Christ as our Savior. While we don't hold these feasts as the Israelites did, learning this part of history has much to teach us about our lives today as well as better understanding where we came from.
The book of Exodus is filled with important information about the history of God's people and the world. It is not only important, but so many of the lessons we can learn are relevant to each one of us as children of God. Dive in as we explore Exodus chapter by chapter.
'“Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me. “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed. “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. “Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field. '
He is giving them a point-blank warning. God warned against the temptations and "snare" they would face while among those of a different faith. This also is a good point to be reminded to love your neighbor, and to live in love, kindness, and patience.
Does this mean God wants us to live separated from non-Christians?
No. This was an instruction relevant to the Israelites in their situation at the time. It is important to recognize that we today are instructed to "be in the world without being of the world." We should be careful and not become unequally yoked with non-believers, but we should absolutely be an example and plant seeds in the lives and hearts of non-believers around us.
'They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. '
During this time of the Israelites they were still bombarded by the pagan cultures and needed to be isolated so that they could take on the new life, culture, and way of thinking and worshiping that God was revealing to them.
After reviewing various laws about social responsibility and property, God also instructed his people in Exodus 23 about helping others and providing hospitality. There is a lot we can learn today from Exodus 23, even though times and culture have changed and evolved.
The book of Exodus is filled with important information about the history of God's people and the world. It is not only important, but so many of the lessons we can learn are relevant to each one of us as children of God. Dive in as we explore Exodus chapter by chapter.
'“For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. '
How do we balance helping the poor and taking care of our families?
I am a firm believer in helping the poor, the homeless, the needy. I have spent almost my entire life being in that demographic. When I was a teenager I would sneak off to the large city nearby and talk to, feed, and make friends with the homeless there every weekend. I would bring sandwiches and fruit, water bottles, and small snacks.
I was young, living in the tiny dining room of my grandparent's home, without a bed big enough to lay flat in. While we did not have much and I had next to nothing, I knew that I had enough to share with those who had even less than I did.
The way I see it is that God provides for us, and from what He gives to us we have enough to take a piece and give to those who have even less. I also believe that the "materially wealthy" have been given much so that they can help that balance; they have plenty to care for their family, and also to make a huge impact for those who do not have enough.
'And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” '
A few years ago I made the decision to start tithing for the very first time. I set up automatic donations to my church in the tiny amount I felt God put on my heart. I was a single mother, juggling the weight of caring for my very young child on my own, working like a dog to support us, barely having enough food for myself (always putting enough food on the table for my child first), and struggling immensely to pay the bills. It was rough.
I knew, though, that when I decided to give my life to God fully that God had given me enough and that I also had enough to give back to Him. When we give back to God, He takes that and uses it to care for the poor, the needy, the less fortunate. He also blesses those who give.
'But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”'
Ever since I trusted God wholeheartedly to provide for me while I continue to give from the small material wealth I have to give, God has blessed me immeasurably. He has provided me the ability to leave my job, stay home to care for my child, and continues to provide for me every day.
Every time I worry that the money will run out, or I won't be able to afford the next "need" God reminds me what He has already done for me, what He has already delivered me from, and He never fails to provide everything that we need - while I continue to faithfully give back to God from what He provides.
No matter how little we have, there is always something we can give. If not money, time. If not time, items.
Here are some practical ways to help others:
Clean out the closet you have been piling junk into and donate those sweaters you haven't worn in six years to a shelter.
Help organize a food drive or a backpack drive for kids who can't afford school supplies.
Give warm jackets to foster families and the kids they have taken in.
Host a fundraiser for organizations that help fight sex trafficking, homelessness, mental illness, etc.
There is always something that you can give, and God blesses those who give to Him and to those in need with a generous heart. Tell us in the comments other ideas you have for helping others in practical ways.
How has God delivered you from the wilderness?
'“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. '
When I was younger, I ended up drifting very far from God - pushing myself away from Him for many years. I specifically disobeyed God. I did not understand God or really know Him, or know that I could know Him. I was lost, wandering in my own wilderness, looking everywhere but to Him. I sinned greatly and made myself a very rough path.
I complained to God and asked Him why I was suffering so much. I begged God to save me, to help me, to take me out of the misery - but I did not want to do what He asked me to do. Looking back, it seems like every time I heard God whisper to me "do this" I did the opposite and then wondered why the results were so tragic.
When I was 17, I finally started to understand that I needed to do something different. I knew I was filthy of sin, I was broken, and I could not do it on my own. I wanted so badly for God to make me clean. Unfortunately, I was more tempted by life, by lust, by sin than I chose to resist. I gave in again and found myself in another very wrong, painful, harmful situation.
I had asked God to cleanse me, and He did, and then I turned my back on His commands again and I know that what I received was God teaching me that His path is the only right path and that when I choose my own way it will never be right.
I remember the exact millisecond that I heard God breakthrough to me. I remember Him telling me loud and clear (in my heart, to be clear) "Trust me. End this suffering. Just trust me. We can do this." I remember it. I remember standing my ground, having strength fill me in an instant that I know was not my own.
I remember every single thing that happened after that moment and recognize God's hands in all of it. I remember when God ultimately delivered me from my wilderness, and ever since that moment I have worked diligently to run away from sin, to follow His commands, to go against the societal norms, and to be what He calls me to be no matter the cost.
I strive to trust Him no matter the risk. He delivered me from the darkness, from the loneliness, from being lost. He delivered me to Himself and I will never leave Him again.
'But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. '
God is with us as we wander our wilderness. Just like the Israelites, we will complain, we will choose not to listen all the time, we will try to make our own way - but when we fail He is right there with us still. He guides our path. It won't be instant. It takes time to learn to trust and listen to Him. Thankfully, though, we have a very patient and merciful God.
I am a wife, mom, writer, crafter, and above all, a Child of God. I love to study the Bible, fellowship with other Christians, and serve God. I am thrilled to invite you to join me in seeking to satisfy our thirsty souls with the Living Water of Christ, which is what Water On Thirsty Land is here to do.
