Tag Archives: #mybiblehabit

Junkyard Saint

Podcasts, The Daniel Fast, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
  • Bible Reading: Mark 9: 1-50
  • Focus Scripture: Mark 9:24

 

HELLO, PEOPLE OF PURPOSE!

If you read the last article on Monday(Possible Outcome) you know I am breaking from the normal routine because…we are two days away from beginning the Daniel Fast!! I am so excited! I can not wait to hear your testimonies and how God reveals Himself to You. Knowing that so many have agreed to give up the junk food or what you normally eat, and change your attitude toward prayer and Bible reading, I could not be happier. With that said I also want to warn those of you that are new to fasting. You will be attacked. There is no way of sugar-coating it. People who have never invited you out for coffee or drinks will do so now. When you set aside time to pray, journal, and meditate with God you will be interrupted. This will not be easy. So I urge you to make a plan and stick to it. If you have an emergency or something you can not get out of it’s ok. Don’t let one misstep derail your commitment. If you haven’t already asked family, friends, or co-workers to join you please do so now. If they turn you down it’s ok. The focus is for you to deepen your relationship with God. There will be some that will laugh, think it isn’t worth your time or worse try to talk you out of it. But don’t be that person to yourself. This may be what God is leading you to do.

How do you prepare to Fast? Is it something special you need to do? Well yes and no.

Fasting will begin at 6 pm on November 30, 2018. You will need to follow the food list provided from that point until Friday, December 21, 2018, 6 am. This is spiritual. I can testify to hearing God clearer when I removed the junk from my system and quieted the fleshly desires. I am an emotional eater I would eat if I was happy and even more when I was sad. I still battle with those urges because it is comforting to me in those moments but when the plate was empty I didn’t feel any different. I began to think there had to be another way and I found God. He hadn’t left me I just stopped listening to Him. I put God out of my sight because I wanted to do what I felt was right in my own eyes. Even in my stubbornness, He didn’t let me get too far, He still loved and protected me.

Those who are more mature in faith will agree that fasting is as normal as breathing when it comes to gaining clarity. Food, caffeine, and alcohol can be self-soothers when we leave God out of the equation. For some of us not feeling God’s presence makes us feel alone so we look to “tangible” things to cope with loss or hurt. But I want to tell you that not only is God real He reveals himself to us in the most unlikely ways. This awareness opens up through prayer, reading His Word, and opening our hearts for God to increase our faith. I invite you to read Mark chapter 9 in its entirety because it tells us just how quickly life can change. We can experience wondrous awe-inspiring moments only to be smacked in the face with the reality of sickness, disease, and conflict. Christ had revealed himself to his inner circle during the transfiguration and once reunited with the disciples was met by a father desperately seeking help for his demon-possessed son. Mark 9:21-24, And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

“I believe help me in my unbelief.” God hears us and knows us. This may be the time you need to get to know Him. That will mean making a sacrifice and looking to God instead of the alternatives which will prove useless. Our idols, the things we give our precious time to instead of seeking God’s wisdom for ourselves will leave us broken, mute, and at the command of the enemy. I pray this will be the encouragement you need to find more time with God and apply His commands to your life.

~Torrie

 

Join in the Daniel Fast ↓

Growing Our Given Purpose Facebook Group

Watch the Intro Videos on YouTube

The Daniel Fast Video Playlist

Download your FREE E-Book

My 21 Day Daniel Fast Journal

Interacting within the group is not mandatory, however, it will let others know you are involved and open up the conversation. Don’t block your blessing by being closed off. The enemy wants us to continue to hide behind the screens. We are a community of believers in private and in public.

Journal Prompts:(Daily Questions from the Journal)

  1. Have I prayed for myself and someone else?
  2. Have I prepared my food for the day?
  3. Did I workout?
  4. Have I posted in the Growing Our Given Purpose group?
© Torrie Slaughter, Torrie Slaughter/Torrie Dorschel Photography, http://www.ourgivenpurpose.com, and Our Given Purpose™. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Torrie Slaughter, Torrie Slaughter/Torrie Dorschel Photography, http://www.ourgivenpurpose.com, and Our Given Purpose™ with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

 

Split by the Blood

The Gospel of Luke 24 Day Devotional, ,

The Gospel of Luke Devotional

  • Day 23 Chapter 23
  • Bible Reading: Luke 23:1-56
  • Focus Scripture: Luke 23:42 And he was saying, “Jesus remember me when You come into Your Kingdom!”

Doing things out of love for someone who has betrayed us is hard. My first thought about what God’s sacrificial love looked like on the cross, is giving up a vital organ for someone else. We don’t know if we will need the other kidney later in life. Going through a surgical procedure to save a person’s life is one of the most selfless acts a person can do. God performed surgery on Jesus. He removed Him from Himself to give us life. We have His life-saving blood as atonement for our sins. Through Christ, we can live freely knowing we will spend eternity with Him completely healed of all the mental and physical infirmities we had on earth. Our master Physician gives us life.

Luke 23:39-43 Jesus hung to die between two criminals. One criminal feared Christ and recognized Him as the almighty God; he sought forgiveness for his sins by acknowledging that he deserved to die. The other wanted to save himself, he was not remorseful. This paints the picture of the world. Christ is the dividing cause. Some people are sorrowful, repent of sins past, seek God’s guidance, and plead to Him to save a place in His eternity. On the other side, some will not seek God to save their souls but want Him to save their lives. {Luke 9:24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.} These people have sinned and want to be rescued without being punished or repenting. They are woefully unaware of eternity and the atoning blood of Jesus. {Luke 23:34 Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.} Jesus was tortured, bleeding, dying on the cross and He prayed for these sinners. The people did not understand what was happening. Jesus prayed for those with hardened hearts…he prayed for us. We can go through this life crying out to Jesus to save us in this world, or we can pray for our souls to find rest with Him in eternity. We are criminals. Our behavior is punishable. Jesus paid the greatest price. We are bonded out of prison awaiting His judgment. What will we do while we are free??… Will we commit more crimes or will we display our best behavior?~Torrie

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you notice what you have in common with someone or the differences?
  2. Have you befriended an enemy to bring someone down?
  3. Which side of the cross are your criminal acts? Are you repenting or are you angry?

A Few Points:Luke chapter 23Luke 23 is filled with details and scriptures to meditate on as is the entire Bible. This chapter takes us through Jesus’ trial, persecution, and death. Everything in Luke, as well as the Synoptic Gospels, add details to how this happened and how we are able to continue to have a life. The disciples were chosen as witnesses to testify about Jesus and spread the news of His coming Kingdom. All that followed Him faithfully in those days left a footprint and deeper understanding of who God is because of Christ. We are still power-hungry, wanting to have prestige and honor among our peers, and have comforts without sacrificing. We choose where we’re planted and how deep our roots go, we are a blessing to someone seeking shelter or in need of accommodations for ourselves. Repenting of our sins and focusing on forgiveness we can lead better lives. Reading God’s Word and spending more time with Him will make us more like Him. Throughout these Gospels one thing stood out. Balance. We are to balance our priorities, businesses, families, mental, physical, and spiritual health. Having enough to sustain ourselves without acquiring so much we build places to store it. We are to put God first. Taking care of the helpless, giving of our time and expertise. We are to be profitable but not be consumed with greed. How we handle the blessings God gives us will balance our mental, physical, and spiritual health. 

© Torrie Slaughter, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and http://www.ourgivenpurpose.com 2018-2048. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Torrie Slaughter, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and http://www.ourgivenpurpose.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

A Demon Passing Through

The Gospel of Luke 24 Day Devotional, , , ,

The Gospel of Luke Devotional

  • Day 22 Chapter 22
  • Bible Reading Luke 22:1-71
  • Focus Scripture: Luke 22:6 So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.

Betrayal. Opportunity. Confusion. Chaos. Entrapment. Liars. Thieves. Being lied to hurts. It hurts more when we know its coming. When we have loved someone with all our heart, given to them whatever they asked, yet it wasn’t enough. We weren’t enough in that particular season of their lives. Being betrayed is not something one can get over easily. We hang on to the bitter memories if we still have to interact with them. With God, we can move beyond our hurts and to forgiveness.

Believers in Christ acknowledge a spiritual realm. We can not see spirits but we can see their works. This is one reason we must forgive. At any given time an evil spirit may influence the outcome of an event. It could be a celebration, a new job, an opportunity to serve, or the dawn of a new day. Fighting with these evil entities is not something we can do on our own. Christ left us with the Holy Spirit to battle these evil forces. We have learned that Christ cast out demons. We do not know how many demons may dwell within any one person. What we can do is be ready to face them. Praying, reading God’s Word for clarity and understanding is how we arm ourselves.

John 12:6 and John 6:70 Jesus knew who Judas Iscariot was when he chose him. Judas Iscariot was given opportunities to change his heart but his greedy character made him a target. Luke 11:24-26 Judas Iscariot was home to an unclean spirit. It may have left him for a time but circled back bringing more demons with it. He went through his time of being a disciple unfulfilled. His heart never saw what Christ was offering. Judas Iscariot rejected Christ which led to his betrayal. Christ offered salvation to Judas Iscariot, he didn’t want it because it did not come in the form he thought it should have. Luke 22:3 Satan entered Judas Iscariot and used him as his vessel. John 13:27 Tells us that during the last supper Jesus told Satan to do his deeds quickly. Christ reveals that He sees all; in the spiritual realm and in the physical realm; He was God in human form. Not only was Judas Iscariot going to betray Jesus he continued to take from Him as though nothing was out of the ordinary. We have people like this today. They live with us, we work with them, they seem Holy and live upright. These unfortunate souls do not believe in Christ and what His death on the cross means for us now. They lead oppressed lives because fear shackles them. Their joy is found in material objects and they always want to acquire newer, better, and more. They look for ways to shame Christians by holding on to our past sins and praying against us. But just as Jesus teaches us do not allow the enemy to take over. Christ followers are vulnerable to the attacks of Satan as well. Luke 22:31-32. With God we are stronger; we can call on His strength to help us through. Brothers and Sisters in Christ keep walking with our Lord and Savior. Be of good courage. ~Torrie

Discussion Questions (Life Application Study Bible NASB study questions. pg 1711)

  1. Are we true disciples and followers of Christ, or uncommitted pretenders?
  2. Will, we accept Jesus’ free gift, or, like Judas, betray Him?
  3. Why would we want to betray Jesus?

A Few Points

  1. Luke 22:1-6 The Passover feast is being prepared and people from all over have journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate and also see Jesus who has spread in fame. The chief priests and scribes are conspiring to kill Jesus and not do it publicly. Judas Iscariot offers a solution and receives a payment for his deed.
  2. Luke 22:7-13 Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare the Last Supper. He instructs them on what to say and gives an answer to a question He knew would be asked. 
  3. Luke 22:14-30 Jesus reveals that He knew all of His disciples would betray and leave Him in His hour of need. John 13:27 Also reveals that He watched Satan enter into Judas Iscariot telling us He had the power to see both the physical and the spiritual realm at the same time. The disciples had not settled the argument: who was the greatest among them. They did not understand how gravely important the future was.
  4. Luke 22:31-38 Simon Peter denies that He would deny Jesus…ever. Jesus told Peter to be prepared because Satan would attack him. He reassured that Peter would be restored after this testing even though he would fail to stand up for Jesus.
  5. Luke 22:39-46 Jesus prays in agony in the Garden in Mount Olivet. The disciples were to keep watch but continually fell asleep.
  6. Luke 22:47-53 Jesus is betrayed and arrested.
  7. Luke 22:54-65 Peter denies Jesus 3 times.
  8. Luke 22:66-71 Jesus is the Son of God.
© Torrie Slaughter, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and http://www.ourgivenpurpose.com 2018-2048 Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Torrie Slaughter, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and http://www.ourgivenpurpose.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

God’s Watchful Eye

The Gospel of Luke 24 Day Devotional, , , ,

The Gospel of Luke Devotional 

  • Day 21 Luke Chapter 21
  • Bible Reading: Luke 21:1-38
  • Focus Scripture: Luke 21:1-2 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins.

You never know who is watching you at any given moment. Some years ago I noticed a little boy sitting by himself while all the other children were playing and having a great time. He didn’t look physically hurt so I asked if I could sit with him. He shrugged his shoulders. I told him my name. He shrugged his shoulders. I asked him his name. He shrugged his shoulders. So I told him I would call him Hero. To which he gave me the most incredulous look. He asked why would I call him that or think that was his name. I explained at that moment he was my hero because he allowed me to relax and enjoy his company. To which he replied…you’re welcome. We sat for a few more minutes in a comfortable silence watching the other kids. Of course, as though watching a movie the basketball gently bounces in our direction. Two students came bounding towards us attempting to push the ball back into play. Suddenly Hero stands up, grabs the ball, and proceeds to the court making a basket. He stayed on the court. Smiling to myself I started to leave as a teacher approached me. Hero was a new student and she had tried everything to break his shell. He communicated with her and was extremely intelligent, but he did not want to make new friends. She had watched the entire time, unbeknownst to me. The boost in confidence was enough to get him to join the game. Time is a sacrifice and we can make huge impacts when we pay attention.

Christ revealed that He watches us. CLOSELY. Christ also reveals that He speaks well about our sacrifices to Him. Luke 21:3-4 He knows everything about us down to the number of hairs we have on our heads. God is omnipresent. However, Satan does his best to dissuade us from the truth. He is NOT omnipresent so he uses our weaknesses against us by creating doubt and other tactics to infiltrate our minds. Where the mind goes the heart will follow. If we continue to believe that our sins or evil deeds do not need repentance, Satan has won and is lording over us. God-Sees-All! Do not allow the enemy to have us believe otherwise.

Christ knew the financial status of each person casting their coins into the treasury. God knows our circumstances, He knows what we can afford and what we sacrifice. What we give is not only measured by our financial standings but also in what we do, and how we do it. When we sacrifice our time or give of our talents we should do so without anticipating gain. Our mindsets have us trained to receive a monetary reward when we do tasks. We are capable of being a blessing and have God use us, why should we expect anything in return?

Let love be our guide. Not seeking to elevate ourselves or have someone regard us as a personal savior. The love that is sacrificial, not expecting a return. The peering eyes of our neighbors and loved ones watch our actions. What are you seen doing? Jesus gave His life for us. We are to return our lives to Him.

~ Torrie

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you use the resources God blesses you with to help others?
  2. Do you sacrifice or do you only give the bare minimum? 
  3. Are you remaining watchful and on guard for Christ’s return?

 

  1. A Few Points:
    1. Luke 21:1-4 A widow gives all she has.
    2. Luke 21:5-24 Jesus tells about His future. Speaking to the disciples Jesus tells of the things to come and things we can expect as well. Our family, friends, and neighbors will betray us; but following God’s commands, we have eternal life.
    3. Luke 21:25-33 God’s Word is everlasting it will endure forever. Jesus will return.
    4. Luke 21:34-38 We are to stay watchful, to keep alert. People were coming to listen to the Word of God.

 

© Torrie Slaughter, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and http://www.ourgivenpurpose.com 2018-2048. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Torrie Slaughter, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and http://www.ourgivenpurpose.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

 

Deeply Rooted DNA

The Gospel of Luke 24 Day Devotional, ,

 The Gospel of Luke Devotional 

  • Day 20 Luke Chapter 20
  • Bible Reading: Luke 20:1-47
  • Focus Scriptures: Genesis 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female. He created them.
  • Luke 20:25 And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”

It’s so amazing when we run into someone who looks like us. Perhaps it’s their hair, the way they walk, or their facial expressions seem to mirror our own. I enjoy going through photos of celebrity look-a-likes or body doubles; I always have a hard time figuring out who is the ‘original’. I vaguely recall a Game Show that had contestants attempt to guess who was the real celebrity. It was uncanny how closely these “unrelated” people resembled each other. Why?… Because we all bear the image of God.

You’re so: beautiful, handsome, intelligent, courageous, ingenious, talented, humble, adventurous, strong. You look like a movie star! Is there anything you can’t do? Compliments. They feed our ego and disarm us, we take off a few layers when strangers give us praise. (Ephesians 6:11) Our flesh is fed and we feel good about ourselves. Jesus teaches us a valuable lesson about ego. Pay attention to your mood the next time a stranger or even a friend showers you with compliments; if your mind is awaiting instruction or goes blank, you are disarmed. 

Luke 20:21  Jesus was prepared for these spies. Their way of gaining ground with Him is something we all do. We want to break the ice through compliments, make the other person relax, and have their ego at our command. However, in this instance, the spies were attempting to provoke Jesus to blaspheme, to ensnare Him in front of His followers. Compliments aside Jesus, knew what they were up to. Luke 20:24 Jesus asked those that were trying to trap Him, whose image was on the denarius. The duality and depth of this question lead to a more profound understanding. If Caesar’s image was on the money then it belonged to him and the people were to give the government what it was due through taxes. As believers, we accept that God created everything and us as humans are made in His image. Genesis 1:27 We belong to God and are to give Him what He is due; which is reverence, devotion, worship, adoration, and obedient living. Jesus left the spies confused because they could not argue with His point. Even though they failed to see the heart of His answer, we as His disciples understand the truth Jesus left for us.

~Torrie

Discussion Questions:

  1. Where does your mind go when you give or receive compliments? Is there an ulterior motive? (Or the opposite; do you seek compliments by being self-deprecating so that others will pity you? If so, is there an ulterior motive?)
  2. Who do you believe Jesus to be?
  3. Who are the religious leaders in your life?

 

A Few Points:

  1. Luke 20:1-8 The religious leaders challenge Jesus’ authority. The chief priests and the elders are confronting Jesus asking, by whose authority was He doing these things. (Luke 19:45-48) Clearing the temple of the merchandise was financially devastating to the Roman government. If the people continued to follow Jesus’ ways the Roman government would suffer a loss and would take more control over the Jews. The religious teachers wanted to hang on to what little power they had left. Jesus posed a threat to them.
  2. Luke 20:9-19 Jesus tells the parable of the wicked vine-growers. God planted the vineyard for us as humans to care for. He created everything for us before He created us. We can live, being fully provided for because of God’s forethought and foreknowledge of what we would need to survive in this atmosphere. The prophets and priests were sent to turn people away from their sin and to repentance. They were cast out and treated shamefully. God’s Son Jesus was sent to again call the children of Israel into repentance but while some accepted Him the leaders did not. This caused conflict within the hearts of man and confusion as to what should be done. Jesus came as our salvation to die for our sins. The religious leaders did not recognize this truth. We are to recognize the redeeming bloodshed on the cross for our sins. Repent and turn toward God.
  3. Luke 20:20-26 The religious leaders question Jesus about paying taxes.
  4. Luke 20:27-40 Religious leaders question Jesus about the resurrection. Some of the leaders did not believe in being resurrected. They asked a question meant to trap Jesus again but were left wringing their hands and defeated. Jesus proclaimed that God is a living God.
  5. Luke 20:41-44 The religious leaders cannot answer Jesus’ question. The Pharisees and Sadducees we completely stumped by Jesus’ reasoning and could not rebuke any of what He said because it was true. King David knew that the Son of Man would be both divine and human. This understanding was lost on these religious leaders.
  6. Luke 20:45-47 Jesus warns against the religious leaders. These leaders who valued their position took advantage of the poor and even cheated people in order to get ahead. The arrogant people who appear Holy but inside they are selfish and keep their resources to themselves. Jesus revealed the religious leader’s hearts and for the moment the people were unhappy with their leaders.
© Torrie Slaughter, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and http://www.ourgivenpurpose.com 2018-2048. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Torrie Slaughter, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and http://www.ourgivenpurpose.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.