Week 5/ Day 1:
Hebrews 11:13
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”
Journaling Assignment #1
Write the verse and read it several times. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you His heart in this verse. Don’t forget to practice the first 13 verses together several times today.
Journaling Assignment #2
Spend today defining the following words, not by looking them up, simply based on what comes to your mind. There is no right or wrong. This is just a jumping off point. Take the time to reflect, be honest and open with yourself about your thoughts and feelings. We have nothing to do in the space except grow and learn! I will even provide my journal notes each day so that you can see the mess that the Lord is working with here!!
living
distance
admitting
Kinsee’s Stream of Consciousness Journal Notes:
Living: This is the act of “doing life” every day. Sometimes we are aware of how we are living and other times, we are coasting through on auto pilot. There are seasons, such as Christmas or summer vacations, that tend to draw us into the experiences we are having in the act of living. There are other days that lull us into missing what is happening around as we complete routines and responsibilities day after day.
Distance: How far we have to go… this can be driving in a car or training for a marathon. The point from where we begin to the point at which we will finish is the distance we must travel. This can also be used in reference to separation from someone that we love. The miles, the distance between us, can cause us to feel lonely. Even with all of modern technology, there is something powerful about sitting next to someone we love.
Admitting: This can be tough. Admitting to a mistake, to a sin, to a weakness makes us feel vulnerable. At times, even admitting shortcomings in our hearts, minds and lives to ourselves can be almost impossible. We all acknowledge that we are not perfect yet, somehow, getting into the details of how and why takes an enormous amount of strength and humility.
Journaling Assignment #3
Jot down anything from this verse that jumps out at you. Include other scriptures that come to mind. Cross references add great insight into each verse. It is powerful to keep notes of what the Holy Spirit draws out of the verse in your heart and also to study Scripture in light of Scripture.
Week 5/Day 2:<b/span>
Hebrews 11:13
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”
Let’s Dig into Some Truth
We touched on the concept of life in a previous verse. Living echoes the sentiment of our reflections on life. Today, I am convicted of the ease in which I can coast through life and forget that living is a verb! Hebrews 11:13 points to a people who are living by faith. They are actively seeking God in the moments of their lives. There is nothing passive here. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Sarah are spending the time they have pursuing a faithful God who will teach them how their time is meant to be spent each and every day.
Reality Check #1: Every moment is a gift and “living” is a verb! If I commit to give each moment to the Lord, He will teach me how to spend my time. When sitting in a restaurant waiting for a table, I am one of countless others mindlessly scrolling through my phone apps. Time is passing, life is passing. Am I really living? Who has God placed in my life that I am missing because I am being passive with the moments before me? We see God’s wisdom about time in Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time.”
There are times when seeing something from a distance serves as a warning, like a storm in the distance. In this verse, however, it is a promise and encouragement. Abraham and his family are able to see God’s promises in the distance. I do not know if the Lord gave them a supernatural vision of what was to come. I actually think it is more likely that what they “saw in the distance” was actually a conviction and confidence of heart. They moved forward in obedience, trusting God’s plan. They did not need to experience it all; they experienced God and that was enough.
Reality Check #2: It is easy for me to want to rush the process. I want to close the distance between where I am and where I am going as quickly as possible. The Lord is more interested in the state of my heart than the location of my circumstance. When I slow down and focus on what the Lord is doing, the speed of transition becomes less important. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Abraham and his family had the humility necessary to admit that they were not worthy of anything that God gave them. They were able to recognize life as a gift and because of this they were able to trust God with their futures and for the fulfillment of their promises.
Reality Check #3: Every gift from God is more than I deserve. There can be no entitlement. I am thankful for His radical grace and generosity in my life. I admit that I am desperate for His forgiveness, salvation and strength in my life. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
Journaling Assignment #4
Take time to record the “reality checks” that the Lord provided to you as you were digging into His truth today.
Week 5/ Day 3:
Hebrews 11:14
“People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.”
Journaling Assignment #1
Write the verse and read it several times. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you His heart in this verse. Don’t forget to practice the first 14 verses together several times today.
Journaling Assignment #2
Spend today defining the following words, not by looking them up, simply based on what comes to your mind. There is no right or wrong. This is just a jumping off point. Take the time to reflect; be honest and open with yourself about your thoughts and feelings. We have nothing to do in the space except grow and learn! I will even provide my journal notes each day so that you can see the mess that the Lord is working with here!!
say
show
looking
Kinsee’s Stream of Consciousness Journal Notes
Say: There is so much noise in the world around us. We are constantly listening to what people say to us, about us and around us. Additionally, we are adding to the chorus of voices each and every time we open our mouths. Words can bring laughter, tears, pain or encouragement. For something that is so powerful in nature, it is often used in a careless manner.
Show:To show something is to cement its reality. If I hear of the promise of a beautiful experience, I am hopeful that it is true. If I am shown pictures of what is being promised, I am more confident. When I am taken, in person, to whatever it is that all the fuss is about, I am thrilled at its existence. Adversely, when there is a threat of bad news I am hopeful that it is not real. When I hear there could be a difficult diagnosis, I pray it is not true. When I see the test results in black and white I know that it is a reality that I must now deal with. To show is to prove.
Looking: I am focused in the direction that I am looking. It is easy to sneak up and surprise someone who is staring intently in the opposite direction. My boys know that they can get away with an extra cookie when I am looking down at my phone instead of paying attention to their choices. We can choose to look to the past and relive happy memories or muddle in past regret. We can choose to look to the future and dream of what is to come or we can worry about what might go wrong. We can choose to look up at our current reality and experience the miracle of the moment.
Journaling Assignment #3
Jot down anything from this verse that jumps out at you. Include other scriptures that come to mind. Cross references add great insight into each verse. It is powerful to keep notes of what the Holy Spirit draws out of the verse in your heart and also to study Scripture in light of Scripture.
Week 5/Day 4:
Hebrews 11:14
“People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.”
Let’s Dig into Some Truth
In Hebrews 11:14, we are recalling the account of God’s faithful, His chosen people. Therefore, I think that it is vitally important that we pay attention to what they have to say. These faithful ones are speaking of their own frailty and weakness and boasting of God’s strength and perfection. Their speech points to God.
Reality Check #1: I am aware that I am often careless with my words. Every word that we speak has the power to point people to Jesus. I am so convicted to slow down and think before I speak. Someone is always listening. I do not want to waste a breath. A harsh word to my children can be replaced by a gracious response. A critical word to my husband can be replaced by gentle encouragement. A flippant response to a stranger in line at Starbucks can be replaced by a caring inquiry about their day. “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).
The ancients that we read about in Hebrews do not only speak their faith, they show it in their actions as well. Each verbal submission and admission is backed up by an obedient action. Abel gave his offering, Noah built the ark, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob lived as foreigners in the Promised Land. Their faith in God showed up in the way that they lived their lives.
Reality Check #2: ”In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). We are not saved by our works. Salvation is a free gift. The actions in our life that show our faith are a result of the gratitude and dependence that we have on God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Any action in my life that points to God is through the power of the Holy Spirit and a direct response to my gratitude for the gift of salvation through Jesus.
The concept of looking continues to surface in this chapter. Abraham is considered a friend of God because he walks faithfully with God, trusting Him. He is able to do this because his eyes are focused not on the things of this world, but on the promises of the One he trusts with his life. Whenever Abraham shifts his gaze, he slips into sin. When he turns his eyes back to God, he is restored and strengthened.
Reality Check #3: There are so many sparkling lies around us that vie for our attention. Power, control, comfort, success, and so many more cry out for us to look at them instead of at the One who is above all. When we shift our focus to the things of this world and away from God, we loose track of our ultimate identity and security. When our eyes are fixed steadily on our Savior, we have no need to chase the temporal idols around us each day. The peace that we will experience when we live this existence is found in Isaiah 26:3,“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
Journaling Assignment #4
Take time to record the “reality checks” that the Lord provided to you as you were digging into His truth today.
Week 5/ Day 5:
Hebrews 11:15
“If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.”
Journaling Assignment #1
Write the verse and read it several times. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you His heart in this verse. Don’t forget to practice the first 15 verses together several times today.
Journaling Assignment #2
Spend today defining the following words, not by looking them up, simply based on what comes to your mind. There is no right or wrong. This is just a jumping off point. Take the time to reflect, be honest and open with yourself about your thoughts and feelings. We have nothing to do in the space except grow and learn! I will even provide my journal notes each day so that you can see the mess that the Lord is working with here!!
thinking
left/return
opportunity
Kinsee’s Stream of Consciousness Journal Notes
Thinking: This never stops!! One of the main reasons that I began memorizing chapters of Scripture was to take captive my crazy, cyclical thoughts. It seems that as children our thoughts are filled with hopes, dreams and excitement. When do those thoughts slide into worry, fear and trepidation? An upcoming vacation, for example. My children are counting down the days to adventures and fun. I, on the other hand, am making sure necessary prescriptions are filled, legal documents are in order and travel insurance is purchased. This is no way to live!
Left/Return: This makes me think of going away to college. I actually wasn’t great at it… I really loved home, still do. My family lovingly calls me, “the hermit.” So, leaving home was painful. While I enjoyed my days on the university campus, my favorite college memories are the Friday afternoons that I drove 3 hours and returned home for the weekend. It felt even more amazing than I remembered and the food tasted better as well. I think I am a much better “returner” than “leaver.”
Opportunity: This word sets me on go! When there is an opportunity, we are taught to grab it! There is no telling when that same chance might come around again. This can be exciting and anxiety producing as well. If I seize the opportunity, then success should follow. But if I miss the opportunity, what will happen next?
Journaling Assignment #3
Jot down anything from this verse that jumps out at you. Include other scriptures that come to mind. Cross references add great insight into each verse. It is powerful to keep notes of what the Holy Spirit draws out of the verse in your heart and also to study Scripture in light of Scripture.
Week 5/Day 6:
Hebrews 11:15
“If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.”
Let’s Dig into Some Truth
Abraham and his family were not thinking of the past. They did not dwell on what they had lost or left behind. Instead, they were thinking and meditating on the goodness and faithfulness of God. I do not think that they knew what was ahead for them. We have the benefit of reading their whole story, they did not! What they did know for certain is that God would not fail them. He never had and He never would.
Reality Check #1: I often allow myself to think about the “what ifs” in my life. These seldom play out favorably in my mind. When I replace the unknowns of this life with the omniscience of God, I find peace. I can choose to replace the anxious thoughts of my mind with the priceless truths of Scripture. “Finally brothers and sister, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things”(Philippians 4:8).
I find it interesting that this verse tells us that if Abraham had desired to return to the country that he had left, he would have been able to do so. I wonder if, as he laid down in his tent, Satan tempted him with memories of the land from which he had come. It was more comfortable, more familiar and certainly an easier existence. What we learn is that Abraham did not dwell on those memories. He replaced them with the hope that God had something better for him, just as He had promised. Abraham seemingly had a firm grasp on the reality of where he came from and where he was called to go. This enabled him to remain strong in the midst of spiritual warfare and Satan’s lies.
Reality Check #2: Have you ever know anyone who rewrites history? You spend a day with them and then when you see their retelling of that day on Instagram, cleaned up and neatly captioned, you wonder if you were really in the same place at all? There is a great danger in this. When we fail to acknowledge the challenges of our past and allow ourselves to revel in the “good ole days” we miss the growth and blessings that God is ready to bring in our present and futures. A realistic perspective of where we have been and a continual dependence on God will propel us into the future that He has planned for us. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21).
Abraham had the opportunity to be obedient to God’s call and the equal opportunity to turn the other way. By the power of the Holy Spirit, a constant gaze at the God of his heart and an eternal perspective, Abraham was able to choose the path of obedience and blessing.
Reality Check #3: Each moment, I have the opportunity to choose obedience to God or to turn away from His path and His blessings on my life. If I am able to take each moment captive, to recognize its potential, then I can ask the Lord for the strength and wisdom to choose Him. He will be faithful to provide. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).
Journaling Assignment #4
Take time to record the “reality checks” that the Lord provided to you as you were digging into His truth today.
Week 5/Day 7:
Reflection Day
1. Reflect on your notes from this week.
2. Practice the verses that you have memorized so far.
-Write them.
-Recite them to a friend or family member to check for accuracy.
-Use them as a prayer to the Lord.
3. Read Hebrews 11 in its entirety a couple of times.
4. Pray for endurance throughout this journey.
5. Remember…
“He who has called you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve God’s will, His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Scripture Memory Strategies
1. Copy the Scripture several times. Then try to write it by memory.
2. Set an alarm on your phone for 4 times each day. Each time you hear the alarm, practice your scripture.
3. Showers! The shower is a perfect time to recite your scripture.
4. Traffic. As you sit, instead of getting frustrated, use the time to practice.
5. Accountability. Find a friend working on scripture memory as well. Recite your scripture to each other one day a week.
6. What else? List some ideas that might work for you!
