Discover the Word Podcast

For those who often feel forgotten, it is good to be reminded that our God doesn’t forget us. In this brief topical study, we consider three people in the Bible who called out to God that He remember them, and we see what He did in response to their cry. Receive If you ever struggle with feeling forgotten, it’s good to remember that our God doesn’t forget us. God has promised to never leave or forsake us. As we consider three people in the Bible who called out to God and we see that He remembered them, we get a beautiful picture of how God hears our cries and remembers us. How could trusting that God hasn’t forgotten you help you, especially in your times of trials? Reflect How does Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel 1 comfort you knowing that God remembers you even in your pain, sorrow, and heartache? How does Samson’s story found in Judges 16 encourage you that God remembers you even in your times of weakness and failure? How does the story of the thief on the cross in Luke 23 encourage you that Jesus remembered you when He was on the cross? Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) “Dear God, thank You that You always remember me and never forget me! Help me to trust that You are always with me. Help me to know You are near no matter what trials I’m facing.” Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: Discover the Word Podcast Archive Listen: In God's Presence Are You There God? (with Sally Lloyd Jones) on God Hears Her Podcast The Rebel Next to Jesus Read: Where Is God When I feel lonely? Answered Prayer | Hannah When You Pray and God Doesn’t Answer: 4 Simple Things to Practice Watch: Where Is God? - Psalm 25:6 Let's Talk About Prayer

Traditionally, the Old Testament book of Ruth has been viewed as a love story. But in this series of 12 conversations with author Carolyn Custis James, Mart DeHaan and Elisa Morgan discover that this story of Naomi and Ruth and Boaz is not all about romance. It’s about God’s ability to make much of broken lives, and how he calls men and women to serve together to build His kingdom.Receive What do we do when life doesn’t follow the Cinderella script? How do we respond when the life we get doesn’t seem to have the happily-ever-after ending that we hoped for? Traditionally, the Old Testament book of Ruth has been viewed as a love story. But there’s so much more to the story than meets the eye. As we dig deeper into the stories of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz, we get a picture of God’s ability to make much of broken lives, and how He calls men and women to serve together to build His kingdom. How can the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz encourage you as you face hardships in your life? Reflect Based on Ruth 1:1–5, how is Naomi’s story similar to Job’s story of suffering? How was Naomi’s situation perhaps even more dire than Job’s? How does the end of Naomi’s story in Ruth 4:13–17 remind us that God gives us beauty for ashes? How can we relate to Naomi’s laments in Ruth 1:6–13 and Ruth 1:20–21 when we’re going through times of sorrow, grief, or hardship? Based on Ruth 1:14-18, why did Ruth refuse to leave Naomi? Who was she really clinging to? Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) “Dear God, thank You that You are close to the brokenhearted. Help me turn to You even in the midst of any sorrow or pain I’m experiencing. Help me feel Your comfort and love during any trials I face.” Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: The Gospel of Ruth Where Ya From? Podcast - Fighting Battles Together (Carolyn Custis James) Listen: The Book of Naomi God Is At Work—The Story of Ruth Part 1—The Worst of Times Read: Journeying Through Grief to Find Healing A Season of Suffering – Meeting Jesus in Our Pain Watch: Running on Empty - Ruth 1:21 Unshakable Moxie

How long do you think your attention span is? A lot has been written about the attention spans of people, and there’s debate about whether attention spans are getting shorter or not. Well, if it’s true that we have short attention spans, and if they are potentially getting even shorter, there’s a really important invitation in the Bible that we’re going to struggle with. It's an invitation that shows up 1000 times--the invitation “to behold.” What does it mean to "behold", and why is "beholding" so important? Explore that with the group in this study called Behold. Receive Does your attention span seem to be getting shorter? If the cares of this world are pulling you in all different directions, perhaps it’s time to pause and ponder why the Bible invites us more than 1,000 times to “behold!” We live in a world of glimpses and glances, but it’s through beholding God that we are transformed and find abundant life. What could taking time to “behold” look like for you? Reflect In Genesis 1:29–31 (NASB), why did God invite Adam and Eve to behold His creation? And why did God stop and behold His creation? Beholding something can have a positive or negative effect on us. How was the new pharaoh affected by beholding the increasing number of Israelites in Egypt in Exodus 1:8–10 (ESV)? How was Pharaoh’s daughter affected by beholding baby Moses in Exodus 2:6 (NASB)? How did beholding the burning bush affect Moses’ life in Exodus 3:1–2 (NASB)? What is the psalmist beholding in Psalm 119:18 (NASB)? What are the Israelites not regarding or beholding in Isaiah 5:11–12 (NIV)? Why won’t God behold or regard His people’s offerings in Amos 5:21–22 (NIV)? How can we guard against beholding someone in a dishonoring way as seen in Esther 1:10–11 (NRSVA)? How can we join the psalmist in Psalm 27:4 (NRSVA) in longing to behold God’s beauty and wanting to see His goodness as we read in Psalm 27:13 (NRSVUE)? How can we join the psalmist in his desire to behold what we know is true in our heart as is mentioned in Psalm 42:1–3 (NRSVA)? Why are we told to behold in both Matthew 1:22–23 (NASB) and Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)? What role does the word behold play in John 1:29 (ESV)? What should we behold as we read Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)? Who should we behold as we read Revelation 1:12–18 (ESV)? Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) “Dear God, thank You for Your loving invitation to stop and behold You! Help me to pause and take time throughout my day to notice Your hand in my life. Help me not miss Your goodness, grace, and mercy that’s available to me every day.” Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: Reclaim Today Prayers for Ordinary Life Listen: In God's Presence Does Sabbath Still Matter? Read: The Intimacy of Prayer: Stepping into God’s Presence My Soul in Silence - Learning How to Pray Watch: Psalm 84:1-3 - Residing in His Presence Exodus 33:14 - God Is Always with Us