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Get our new study guide, “Lift Your Eyes: A Biblical Study of the Psalms of Ascents “ here! ⬇️
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We live in a world filled with conflict and instability, and it’s easy to feel powerless. But Scripture reminds us that we are not spectators in God’s plan. When we pray, we are participating in something far greater than what we can see. We don’t have to live in fear. The God who rules the unseen realm is the same God who hears us, and in the end, He wins. Lord, we declare there is no one like You. You are sovereign and unmatched in power. We trust You even amid the chaos in our world. Quiet my heart, and help us believe You are in control of all things. In Jesus’ name, amen. -Dr. Melissa Wetzel When was a time in your life when you prayed and experienced God’s peace, presence, or protection despite chaos and instability around you? by @first5app
Maybe this year has left you carrying more than you expected. Grief. Disappointment. Uncertainty. Weariness. Or simply the feeling that your heart has been pulled in too many directions for too long. We understand, friend! When there's so much asking for our attention, it's easy to lose sight of the One who walks with us through it all. But God's Word invites us to pause and lift our eyes. That's the heart behind our new @First5app study, “Lift Your Eyes: A Biblical Study of the Psalms of Ascents.” For four weeks, we’ll walk through the Psalms of Ascents, the songs God’s people sang as they traveled toward Jerusalem to worship. Along the way, you’ll be invited to reflect on His faithfulness, worship Him no matter what you’re facing, and trust Him with what lies ahead. When you give a gift to Proverbs 31 Ministries today, we will send you a copy of this study as a special thank you. We start reading in the FREE First 5 app on November 30! Click the link in our profile to give today! by @first5app
Heavenly Beings reveal God’s sovereignty while remaining entirely subject to it. These heavenly beings both help point out our own sin and point to the One who can save us. Sin has no place in God’s presence, but on the cross, Jesus paid the price for our sin so we can boldly approach God’s throne. Believers in Christ are not cut off or silenced before the Lord. We might not attend to His throne in the spiritual realm like these heavenly beings, but we are called to proclaim God's goodness to the world and worship Him with our whole hearts. As we serve the Lord today, may we more fully grasp who He is: holy, righteous, and worthy of all our praise and adoration. - @Michelle_Martino_ How can you join the heavenly beings and glorify the Lord in your words or actions as you go about your day? by @first5app
The Bible presents Yahweh as a King, and in the Ancient Near East (where the first readers of Scripture lived), all kings had councils made up of loyal servants who did the will of their ruler. The same is true of God. God’s council is made up of supernatural beings that He created for His good purposes. Some of these beings rebelled (Satan and other spiritual beings we would call demons), attempting to lead humanity away from God. Yet the "holy ones" (Psalm 89:5) do the will of God: They declare His majesty and holiness, like the seraphim of Isaiah 6:1-3. They protect God’s people and provide supernatural help, like Michael the archangel in Daniel 10:13. They proclaim the good news of God, like the angel Gabriel who announced the coming of Jesus in Luke 1:26-38. All of these present examples of "the assembly of the holy ones" (Psalm 89:5), or heavenly beings who obey as servants of the great King of heaven and earth. Our God is the Lord of hosts. -@muddamalle How does the reality of spiritual beings who serve in God’s council encourage you today? by @first5app
Until eternity, life as we know it continues to unfold in this world where the seen and unseen realms are not yet reunified, but they are constantly intertwined. God’s divine promises help us escape earthly corruption (2 Peter 1:3-4). His angels both worship Him in heaven and serve Him on earth. There are also fallen angels who seek to deceive and destroy God's beloved people … but these opponents will meet utter defeat. God is the only Director of the universe. Whether we are pleased with what we see in our lives or we’re praying for the scene to change, nothing can separate us from God’s love, and everything is subject to His rule . Everything is created for His glory. And in life, while there is time, every soul can find salvation through faith in His Son. In Christ, the two realms became one wonder. The Director became the Savior. Backstage activity became center-stage glory. So by faith, we are more than an audience. We are the redeemed. - joy.to.the.soul As you consider the two realms, the seen and unseen, what is one truth from Isaiah's prophecy that encourages you? by @first5app
Have you ever had a difficult season that left you wondering, “Is this just life being hard … or is there something more going on?” We get it, friend. The reality is many of us have never been taught how biblical discernment helps us faithfully navigate the battles we face, we’re left carrying questions we wish had easier answers. That’s why we created this season of Therapy & Theology. For the first time ever, Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress are sitting down for honest conversations about spiritual discernment, trauma, the armor of God, and the battles of faith — bringing biblical Truth into the fears, hurts, and hard places we actually experience every day. Together, we’ll learn how to become more discerning, more grounded in truth, and more confident in Jesus. Because we may feel afraid, but we don’t have to live afraid. Comment “Listen” and we’ll send you the link to explore the latest episodes! by @first5app
Sometimes it is difficult to see God in a world now filled with sin. This is why our role as image bearers is crucial. The forces of darkness desire to hide God’s glory and “steal and kill and destroy” the abundant life God created for us (John 10:10). But when God’s image bearers faithfully represent Him, we fight against the darkness. Through us, the world sees Him. Humanity now reflects God imperfectly because of our sin. But our Savior, Jesus, is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Christ perfectly shows us what faithful image-bearing is. Every time we choose to align ourselves with Jesus and live as He did on earth, we reveal God's true image to the world and bridge the gap between the invisible and visible realities. When I consider that God didn’t need to create humans in His image, I am in awe of His love for us. Our almighty Father is powerful enough to rule His creation without our help. Yet He created us for a purpose: to live in relationship with Him, reflecting His image for eternity. -@TrishaHawk Consider how you steward what God has entrusted to your care. How do you reflect God’s image to those around you? How could you reflect your heavenly Father more faithfully? by @first5app
While Scripture gives several accounts of people miraculously raised from the dead, all of them eventually ended up right back in the grave. But not Jesus. It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him . Jesus is the first and only human (so far) to rise bodily and never die again. As Revelation 1:18 says, He is "alive forevermore" … and He wants to share that life with us! Death is a corruption of God’s original design for a world where humans had free, easy, intimate access to Him. Death entered through the sin of Adam, but Jesus Christ defeated death. His victory breaks the bondage of sin and "unlocks" the grave, ending our spiritual separation, and eventually our physical separation, from God. Although death is a present reality, it will not get the final word. Revelation 20:14 tells us the Christ who holds the keys to death and Hades will also cast them "into the lake of fire." Then there will be no more mourning, crying, or pain, and “death shall be no more” (Revelation 21:4). While we wait for this eternity, we can have comfort even in our grief on earth, knowing that believers who are “away from the body” are “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). And when the time comes for us to face death, our hope is secure in the One who has turned the finality of the grave into a doorway to forever life. -@FeliciaCaidSmith Jesus has won the decisive victory over death and the grave. How does this truth shape the way we live in the present? by @first5app
God's established throne doesn’t eliminate suffering on earth today, but it guarantees that the One who rules over all walks with us through it. The same Hebrew word for “established” in Psalm 103:19 is used in other scriptures to describe God’s relationship with His people, to whom He remains faithful in covenant love. Second Samuel 7:24 says, "You established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever." We belong to God. Our relationship is established with One who will never leave us. -@thedenisepass What is the posture of your heart regarding God’s authority? Do you struggle to see His goodness or rejoice in His rule and reign? by @first5app
God is purposeful in all He does. In Isaiah 45:18, He says, “I am the Lᴏʀᴅ, and there is no other.” As we marvel at all He’s done, may our hearts declare that about Him as well! Because God has been the same since the beginning, and He will never not be God, we can find stability in our times of uncertainty. Because God is all-powerful, we can find hope in our hardships. Because God is purposeful, we can rest in His ways. -@the_one_thing_desired How can knowing God is purposeful help you praise Him, trust Him, or love Him more today? by @first5app
What do we do when a battle feels too heavy to carry on our own? When spiritual warfare feels overwhelming, our first response might be to try relying on our own strength or let fear take the wheel. But God never asked us to muster up our own power to fight unseen battles, He asks us to abide in His. While the enemy tries to use confusion and weariness to disarm us, Scripture reminds us that we can anchor our minds and hearts in God’s truth, peace, and ultimate victory. We don't have to fight for victory; we fight from the victory Jesus has already won. And when we don't know what else to say in the middle of a heavy season, prayer is our most powerful weapon. Swipe through for 3 prayers to pray when spiritual warfare feels near. If you’re ready to bring more biblical clarity to the unseen realities around us, our new study is for you! Join us for our next @First5 study, Between Heaven and Here: Biblical Answers About the Spiritual Battle You’re Facing. When you give a gift to Proverbs 31 Ministries today, we will send you a copy of this study as a special thank you. We start reading in the FREE First 5 app October 26! Click the link in our profile to give today! by @first5app
Lord, You see every question we carry, even the ones we struggle to put into words. Thank You for meeting us with truth, not confusion, and with grace, not fear. When we feel uncertain or overwhelmed, remind us that You are near and that You are reigning over both what we see and what we cannot. Help us to trust Your victory, to rest in Your protection, and to walk forward with confidence in Your promises. Shape our hearts to respond with reverence, awe, and worship as we remember that Your Kingdom cannot be shaken. In Jesus' name, amen. -@kelleybbrown How might God be inviting you to respond with greater trust in His Truth rather than fear or uncertainty? by @first5app

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