“Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.” – Psalm 15.

There’s nothing quite like the presence of the Lord. We read in the Bible of prophets, disciples, and followers of Christ who have experienced God’s presence, and hear stories of God’s presence in people’s lives ranging from dramatic miracles to subtle, yet impactful, moments of guidance and comfort. But there is nothing like experiencing the presence of God in your life.

Spending time in God’s presence is essential to the Christian journey. Spending time in God’s presence requires discipline and desire. Everything within you must desire to be with Him. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

Psalm 15 serves as a clear reminder that we can never achieve acceptance with God based on our righteousness. Psalm 15 calls us to abandon our righteousness because Christ is our righteousness. He lived on our behalf. He achieved the righteousness that we could not achieve on our own. Christ purchased our righteousness, and He paid our penalty.

In Psalm 15, David asks the question of who can live where God lives. Throughout this psalm, David lists different things that are required of the person who lives where God is. The first part sums it up in that the person must be blameless and righteous. The rest of the verses give direct examples of what that means.

All over the world, there are people who are asking the same question that David asked. They want to know how they can live where God lives, how they can dwell in His presence.  So, how do we encounter the presence of God? How do we experience his nearness? Encountering God is similar to encountering another person. We don’t seek an experience with a friend; rather, we seek to know them by spending time with them and gain an experience as a result. The more we know them, the more we recognize their voice.

Timothy Keller said, “To stand in the presence of God, that is what the Gospel is. The Gospel is not primarily about forgiveness. It’s not primarily about good feelings. It’s not primarily about power. All those things are byproducts, sparks. It’s mainly about the presence of God.”

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you understand the concept of God’s presence? Is it a feeling, a location, a relationship, or something else entirely? 
2. In what ways have you experienced God’s presence in your life? What are some common obstacles that prevent people from recognizing or experiencing God’s presence? 

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard” – Psalm 19:1-3.

Periodically, we all need a respite from everyday life. We can benefit from spending time alone in nature with the Lord. This is why so many great writers, poets, and songwriters have spent time in nature. Nature allows us to realign, readjust, and reacquaint ourselves with God. God’s creation affords us a chance to think, contemplate, reflect, and pray. Nature is a reflection of God and is a testament to His power, creativity, and love.

One of the most compelling reasons people are drawn to the Emerald Coast is its natural beauty, characterized by pristine white sand beaches and clear, emerald-green waters. Beyond the beaches, the area boasts unique coastal dune lakes, picturesque dunes, and charming coastal towns. The Emerald Coast, like so many beautiful places around the world, is a tremendous gift from God.

It is said that an artist creates from the beauty within. Similarly, the beauty of the natural world reveals the beauty of the God who created it. Nature can be seen as a silent preacher.  Everything from the tiniest insect to the most majestic mountain, indeed all created things, demonstrates the unity and harmony of God’s wonderful creation. The beauty we see in nature all came from God and was perfectly and intentionally designed by Him and Him alone.

The solitude of time spent in nature offers us an opportunity for prayer and meditation, free from the distractions of daily life. We can focus our minds and hearts on God. Jesus Himself often withdrew to lonely places to pray. He gave us an example to follow. In these quiet moments, we can pour out our hearts to God, seek His guidance, and listen for His voice. Spending quiet time in nature may be all you need to begin feeling closer to God.

God’s gifts to us are never-ending. His presence can be seen and felt anywhere. Our planet is filled with creation that reflects God’s character, creativity, and His ultimate design.

Job 12:7-10 tells us, “Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you.  Let the fish in the sea speak to you. For they all know that my disaster has come from the hand of the Lord. For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being”.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the beauty and intricacy of the natural world point to God’s creative power and design? 
2. How can spending time in nature help us feel closer to God and experience His presence? 
3. What specific aspects of nature (e.g., a sunset, a mountain range, a tiny flower) particularly resonate with your sense of God’s presence?

“The Bible is a vein of pure gold, unalloyed by quartz or any earthly substance. This is a star without a speck; a sun without a blot; a light without darkness; a moon without its paleness; a glory without a dimness. O Bible! It cannot be said of any other book that it is perfect and pure; but of thee we can declare all wisdom is gathered up in thee, without a particle of folly. This is the judge that ends the strife, where wit and reason fail. This is the book untainted by any error; but is pure, unalloyed, perfect truth.” — Charles Spurgeon.

“What is your most valuable possession?” Immediately, your mind may scroll through a balance sheet that lists all of your possessions. If you are like most people, you may consider your home, business, or investment portfolio to be your most valuable assets. There are many possible answers, such as family heirlooms, photographs, and life in general, but would the Bible make the list?

People go to great lengths to access and read the Bible, including overcoming physical and political barriers. Owning, printing, importing, or distributing the Word of God in hostile or restricted nations can result in being arrested or even killed. Governments and groups opposed to Christianity impose harsh penalties and deadly punishment in attempts to stop evangelism and Bible distribution. Individuals and organizations smuggle Bibles into countries where they are banned or restricted, often facing significant risks in the process. In countries with strict internet censorship, individuals may use technology, including VPNs and encrypted communication, to access online versions of the Bible or to share digital copies.

The writer of Psalm 119 says that the Word of God has more value to him “than millions in gold and silver” (119:72). He even says that “My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions” (119:109). Do we speak about the Bible in such terms?

The Bible is a tool given by God to help individuals develop a personal relationship with Him. Through studying the Bible, individuals can gain insight into God’s nature, His will, and His plan for humanity, thereby fostering a deeper connection and understanding of Him. While the Bible wasn’t written to you (we’re not the original audience), the Bible itself says it was written for you. The authors of Scripture made it clear that God was speaking to them and through them—more than 3,000 times they said, “Thus saith the Lord” or its equivalent. And because “God inspires all Scripture ” (2 Timothy 3:16), when you open these pages and read these words, you can do it with the confidence that this is God’s message for and to us.

In summary, the Bible is the inspired Word of God, a source of truth, and a guide for living a righteous life. It is a source of wisdom, comfort, and strength, and a means of encountering God. What can be more valuable than that?

Discussion Questions:

1. What value do you place on the Bible, and how does that value manifest in your daily life? 
2. Why is the Bible considered the most precious thing we can hold?
   

  “Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” If this is true, many of us are living the Christian life without the fullness of the complete Word of God. There are 66 books in the Bible, yet most adults gravitate to only a handful. If we truly believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then we must prioritize reading all of the Scripture.” —AW. Tozer.

Have you ever found yourself flipping through your Bible, reading a verse here and a chapter there, but feeling like you’re missing the bigger picture? You’re not alone.  Individual passages of the Bible hold great power and can profoundly impact a person’s life, leading to personal growth and transformation, but we should not limit our Bible study to the “usual suspects” of familiar passages.

God did not give us just some books of the Bible, or parts of some books. He gave us 66 entire books because the whole of Scripture can be a place where we encounter God. A large portion of the Bible is completed before we reach the book of Matthew. It might seem prudent to focus on the Gospels to meet with Jesus. Many of our Bibles are far more well-thumbed in the New Testament and, perhaps, Isaiah and the Psalms — the most obviously Jesus-centered parts of Scripture. Some parts of the Bible seem a little too gory and some a little too graphic (Song of Songs).

Think about a mystery novel. We are presented with a seemingly unrelated set of events and characters. One of the characters is involved in this crime, but which one is it? And how? As we navigate through the novel, we find ourselves suspecting one person after another. But just when uncertainty starts to set in, we are given a vital clue.  And then another. And with a smile, we now see past all the red herrings and blind alleys and know who the villain is. We close the book with a smile and mentally say, “Of course — it all makes sense!”

Now, imagine going back to the book for a second time. Returning to the first page, we already know how the entire story will unfold. When we first meet the murderer, we know he is the murderer. At the first mention of a vital clue, we already know its significance. We see the hints that we missed before. The book has fundamentally changed, for we now have the bigger picture. The story still unwinds along the same course; the detective still reaches the same conclusions. But our reading is so different. Events and remarks we hadn’t noticed the first time take on a fresh significance. Characters emerge in a new light. We have seen behind the curtain. What if we could read Scripture in this way?

Reading the entire Bible, as opposed to select chapters or verses, offers significant benefits: Reading the Bible as a whole reveals God’s character, purposes, and plan of salvation from Genesis to Revelation. You’ll see how the Old Testament points to Jesus and how the New Testament fulfills those prophecies, leading to a fuller understanding of the Gospel. Reading the whole Bible allows you to see the “big picture” and understand how different books and genres fit together to tell a single, overarching story.

Discussion Questions:

1. Reading the entire Bible, from cover to cover, allows you to grasp the overarching narrative of Scripture and see how individual books and passages fit into the larger story. This helps in understanding the context of specific verses and passages, which can be missed when reading selectively. Agree or disagree, and why?
2. Do you believe reading the whole Bible will enable you to know God and yourself better? Why or why not?

“The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,  making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold.” – Psalms 19:7-10

Most people enjoy reading a good book. Reading offers a variety of benefits and pleasures, including entertainment, learning, relaxation, and the ability to explore new worlds and perspectives. The Bible is more than a good book. It is the single most important book ever written, an eyewitness account of historical events of such magnitude that they have shaped the world in which we live. Don’t be fooled by the form it has taken and the label we have given it as a book, because what makes it great is far beyond what any book can offer.

The power of Scripture lies in its ability to transform lives through the truth, guidance, and inspiration it provides. It acts as a lamp for our path, a mirror revealing our true selves, and a sword that cuts through darkness. Meditating on God’s Word and applying it to our lives brings us closer to God.

As Christ-followers, we don’t believe that we are left in the dark, wondering who God is or what He is like. We don’t have to settle for nonverbal communication. Instead, we have a God that speaks to us through Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

The power of scripture is available to everyone. Perhaps one of the reasons that people avoid the Bible is that it is like a mirror. Often, we are reluctant to confront the truth about ourselves. The Scripture tells us, “For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” (James 1:23-24).

However, only by reading the Bible daily will we reap its intended benefits. We cannot simply skim through our favorite passages whenever we need a pick-me-up. We must value every page and benefit from every truth we can. We need to understand the Bible and its history. We need to examine the background and context of each passage we read and meditate on it in prayer. We need to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance every time we open God’s Book.

Scripture can bring God into our lives. Imagine a life where the weight of struggles is lifted and replaced with joy. We should approach the Bible not just for information but for transformation, knowing God and desiring to obey Him because there is more here than simply ink on a page; Scripture can bring us into the presence of God, the one who put the spinning galaxies into being and whose nail-marked hands are stretched out towards us in love. Other books may speak of God, but the Bible is the primary source for understanding and connecting with God.

Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways has God’s Word impacted or changed your life? Can you think of specific examples? 
2. How does the Bible serve as a source of guidance, encouragement, and wisdom in your daily life? 
3. How does the power of scripture equip you to face challenges and overcome obstacles? 

“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.” – Jeremiah 15:16.

Knowing God is essential; it is more than just learning facts about Him. It’s like trying to get to know your wife by reading her resume. One relevant example is assuming you know a person and thus judging their character and competence based solely on their political party affiliation. We want to go deeper. We need to discover who God is and be drawn into a deeper, more personal relationship with the God of the universe. When you want to deepen your relationship with God, you need to move beyond head knowledge to know Him well enough to seek personal encounters with Him. Daniel 11:32 (TLB) tells us, “…But the people who know their God shall be strong and do great things.”  

John Piper said this about the subject: “But to enjoy Him, we must know him. Reasoning, thinking, knowing God is the necessary means, and delighting in, being satisfied in, enjoying and treasuring God is the ultimate end of the human soul.”

Scripture finds its focus and fulfillment in Christ. It is possible to study the Bible without Christ as our focus. Understanding Jesus through the Scriptures involves recognizing how the entire Bible, comprising both the Old and New Testaments, points to Him as the central figure of God’s plan of salvation. By studying the Bible, particularly the Gospels, and understanding how it relates to Jesus, believers can gain a deeper appreciation for His identity, His mission, and the implications for their own lives. He is not just the beginning of the Christian faith, but the entirety of it.

Jeremiah was a prophet who was called by God to minister to a people who would not heed God’s Word and rejected His holy instructions. Israel rebelled against God’s truth and treated His faithful servant poorly, but Jeremiah found hope and comfort in God’s Word. Jeremiah 15:16 is a powerful verse that speaks to the joy and delight found in God’s word.. It emphasizes the transformative power of God’s word, likening it to food that nourishes the soul and brings joy.

The purpose and power of God’s Word is for all people, at all times in every circumstance, offering life, truth, and equipping us to live fully for God.

Scripture possesses the power to reveal God’s nature, character, and will, providing a pathway for individuals to understand and connect with Him. It serves as a source of truth, guiding believers in their faith and actions, and offering hope and strength in times of difficulty. There are so many ways you can attempt to learn about Jesus in the world today, but there’s only one way to truly know Him: through the Word of God.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the Bible reveal Jesus’s character, actions, and teachings? 
2. How do specific passages deepen your understanding of who Jesus is? 
3.  How does studying scripture help you grow in your faith and relationship with Jesus? 

“Many of us live like a jar of river water that’s all shaken up. What we need is to sit still long enough that the sentiment can settle and the water can become clear. When we sit quietly, in God’s presence, the sentiment that is swirling in our souls begins to settle. ― Ruth Haley Barton, Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence.

Our lives are consistently ongoing, some more than others. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by a packed schedule. Between work commitments, family, and personal responsibilities, finding time for yourself and your relationship with God can seem impossible. However, amidst all the chaos, it’s crucial to carve out moments of solitude to pause, reflect, and reconnect with God.

One consequence of living in an instant culture, which values fast delivery, easy accessibility, and pithy slogans, is good if we are ordering a burger, buying on Amazon Prime, or are happy to get our news from Twitter. There is, however, no such thing as “instant spirituality.” Building a deep connection with God, like any meaningful relationship, requires time and effort. A lasting and meaningful relationship with God typically requires continuous effort and commitment, as well as spending time in God’s presence. This takes time. This takes stillness. This takes solitude and silence. This involves temporarily withdrawing to a private space for spiritual reflection and contemplation. This period of solitude may last only a few minutes or several hours, but the goal remains the same: to be alone with God.

The good news is we don’t have to plan a date or place far ahead because we know exactly where God is at every moment of every day. He promised to come to us and take up residence within us. If we would just be still long enough, be quiet long enough, be alone long enough, we would find Him.

There are many benefits of reconnecting with God in solitude, one of which is being exposed to God’s wisdom. God is all-wise and all-knowing.  Acts 4:13 says that when the religious leaders saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled, and they realized that they had been with Jesus. Secondly, you can benefit from God’s perspective. God gives His people the capacity to see all of life from His vantage point. Having God’s perspective allows us to rise above the daily grind of life and the actions of others and realize there is a sovereign God who rules over His creation and directs the activities of mankind.

Lastly, we benefit from God’s guidance. God promises to guide us throughout our lives. The psalmist writes, “For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die” (Psalm 48:14). But how do we receive this guidance? Psalm 48:9 says: “meditate on your unfailing love.”

Discussion Questions:

1. What does solitude look like in your life? 
2. What are the biggest barriers to practicing solitude? 
3. How can Jesus’ example of prioritizing solitude reshape your pursuit of time alone with God?

“Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation, and loneliness.” – Dallas Willard.

It may not seem like it, but there is real value in solitude,  in making time and space to hear from God. We need quiet to tune our ears to the still, small voice of God. We need the type of peace that only comes from quieting our hearts and minds.

There is a difference between solitude and loneliness. Modern life opposes solitude with its non-stop noise and bustle, and many people wrestle with the idea of being alone for any length of time. To be truly healthy, we need to be able to be alone with ourselves—and alone with God to listen to the “still small voice” heard by Elijah. (1 Kings 19:12)

Christians are called to community; however, the Gospels demonstrate that although Jesus loved to be with people, He also clearly relished the time He spent alone. The Holy Spirit, in the same way, delights in silence and solitude as well as community.

The Holy Spirit is a source of strength, renewal, and restoration for believers. Through faith and surrender to the Spirit, we can experience a fresh infusion of power, joy, and peace, enabling us to overcome weariness and fulfill God’s purpose.  King David experienced the beauty of the Holy Spirit’s work: “Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you” (Psalms 51:11-12). The biblical account of Paul and Silas in prison describes a powerful experience of spiritual refreshment and revival through the Holy Spirit. Despite being beaten and unjustly imprisoned, they prayed and sang hymns, which led to an earthquake that miraculously opened the prison doors and released everyone’s chains. This event, in turn, led to the conversion of the jailer and his household.

We may encounter the Holy Spirit as quiet encouragement to forgive someone, through a persistent nudge to step out in faith, or during an awe-inspiring encounter that changes the course of our lives. Whether we experience the Holy Spirit in subtle or striking ways, the Spirit’s power helps us live out God’s purposes for us.  Hearing the Holy Spirit speak involves recognizing the subtle ways God communicates with believers, often through impressions, nudges, or a sense of peace, rather than an audible voice.

We read many stories in Scripture of those who had profound, life-changing encounters with God in out-of-the-way places like the desert, the mountains, or in the quiet of the night. Away from the distractions of crowds and their contemporaries, they opened their hearts to the Lord and came back to the responsibilities and stresses of their lives, empowered and refreshed.

The Holy Spirit often speaks through an inner witness, a sense of knowing or conviction that aligns with God’s character and Word. We may receive gentle nudges or impressions about what to do, where to go, or what to say, or it may be a sense of peace and harmony that often accompanies the Spirit’s guidance. The Holy Spirit can speak through the circumstances of life, aligning events and situations to guide us, but can only do so when we are silent enough to hear.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does God speak to us?
2. What are some ways the Spirit communicates with us?
3. What role does scripture play in hearing God’s voice?

 Summary: Finding intentional rest involves deliberately setting aside time and space to disconnect from busyness and reconnect with God, allowing for spiritual, mental, and physical refreshment. It’s not just about physical inactivity, but about aligning with God’s rhythm of rest, cultivating peace, and experiencing His presence.

The COVID pandemic forced us to slow down. At a time when the pace of our lives seemed to be accelerating rapidly, the lockdown forced us to slow down suddenly. We found ourselves letting go of some responsibilities and spending more time with God and family. But then the pandemic was over.

 An experiment was conducted in which participants received a mild electric shock. All the participants said they would pay money not to be shocked again. Each person was then left in the room alone for 15 minutes, without their phone or any distractions. Rather than being bored and alone with their thoughts, two-thirds of the participants (who said they would pay money not to be shocked) voluntarily chose to shock themselves rather than to sit there and do nothing. Pretty compelling evidence that we don’t do well with boredom or with rest.

If you study Jesus’ life you will see that He set boundaries for work and rest. In the Gospel of Luke, we read about a busy day. After teaching in the synagogue, and curing a demoniac, Jesus  visits Simon and cures his mother-in-law. Then the passage says, “As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one” (Luke 4:40).  The next paragraph begins, “Early the next morning …” He left and went to a deserted place. But then the passage says, “The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them.” Jesus stands firm. “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea” (Luke 4:43-44).

Jesus did not ask permission to go, nor did he leave anyone behind “on call,” or even let His disciples know where He was going. Jesus obeyed a deeper rhythm. When the moment for rest had come, the time for healing was over. He would simply stop, retire to a quiet place, and pray.

Silence is hard because everything in our culture, everything in our hearts, and everything in our world pushes us to share our thoughts and express our opinions. Op-eds in the paper, conversations around the water cooler at work, the news media, social media, and other platforms tempt us to voice our opinions, rather than remain silent. Being still is not easy for us in this modern age. It means that we have to stop doing, scrolling, planning, talking, watching, and hashtagging. It means that we cease all activity. It seems unnatural to be still, and there is a tendency to want to fill the silence. To counteract that, we need to be intentional.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we be intentional in finding rest?
2. How can silence help us hear God’s voice?”
3. What are some ways we can practice silence in our daily lives?

“We all know we need rest from work, but we don’t realize we have to work hard just to rest. We have to plan for breaks. We have to schedule time to be unscheduled. That’s the way life is for most of us. Scattered, frantic, boundary-less busyness comes naturally. The rhythms of work and rest require planning.” – Kevin DeYoung.

In 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner, a high school student, broke the world record for staying awake (264 hours). According to NPR, his experiment also demonstrated significant negative effects on cognitive function and mood. Gardner said, “I had a very short fuse on day 11. I remember snapping at reporters. They were asking me the same questions over and over. And I was just — I was a brat.”

There is a consensus that when people don’t get enough rest, they often experience increased irritability and a tendency towards cynicism. Prioritizing rest is vital for maintaining a positive and balanced perspective. The answer is finding rest in Jesus.

In a world constantly buzzing with notifications and overflowing with responsibilities, the simple act of finding rest in Jesus can feel like a big task. We often feel pressured to be constantly productive, fearing that we might miss out or fall behind. But God wants you to release your worries to the One who truly cares for you. It’s your invitation to discover inner peace amidst life’s chaos.

Jesus said that if we come to Him, He will give us rest. And not just any rest but deep, soul rest. Listen to our Savior’s words. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”(Matthew 11:28). He gives us rest through faith in Him.

That was the whole point of the Sabbath. God wanted His people to rest and remember. To rest from their labors and to remember that when they were slaves in Egypt, God rescued them. He delivered them, so how could they remember? God wanted His people to focus on and remember His wondrous acts of love and mercy each Sabbath Day. And even today, God still wants us to gather together—to rest and remember.

We need that because life can be a grind, and we need physical and spiritual rest. We need both physical and spiritual rest because God designed us to thrive with both. Physical rest, like sleep and breaks, is essential for our bodies to recover and function properly. Spiritual rest, found in connection with God through prayer, meditation, and spending time in His Word, nourishes our souls and provides peace and perspective. Ignoring either leads to burnout and hinders our ability to live fully as God intends.

By prioritizing both physical and spiritual rest, we honor God’s design for our lives and experience the fullness of His blessings.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does prioritizing physical rest help you be more attentive to spiritual matters and connect with God? 
2. What does the concept of “spiritual rest” mean to you, and why is it important to find rest for your soul? 
3. In what ways can you cultivate a life of “restful trust” and surrender to God’s will?