SELAH

Selah is a word used in the Old Testament that means to have an intentional and deliberate pause. In the Psalms, Selah was used when the reader or audience was invited to pause and reflect on what they had just sung. We have taken the word selah and used it as an acronym to help prepare our hearts as we approach God each day. Take some time to slowly walk through SELAH—Stop, Exhale, Lean-in, Ask, and Hear.

Stop

Before you read, take some time to stop and limit your distractions. Start by turning your phone to Do Not Disturb so you won’t receive notifications. Take some time to close your eyes and begin to prepare your heart for the transformation God wants to lead you in today.

Exhale

With your eyes closed, take several slow deep breaths. As you breathe in, invite God into your time with Him today and as you breathe out, exhale your stress, anxieties, worries, distractions, and sins. Make your breathing all about receiving Him and removing yourself.

Lean-In

As you continue to breathe, take a posture leaning forward. Today you want to lean in to what God wants to teach you and how He might want to transform you. As you lean forward, tell God that you are ready for any work He might want to do in or through you.

Ask

Now with your eyes closed, breathing slowly and leaned forward, ask God to transform you today. Your goal should be to live and love more like Jesus than you did yesterday. You need God’s help for this to be possible. He loves to help His children, but He is waiting for you to ask.

Hear

Now, stop & listen. Don’t continue talking, but give yourself time to hear from Him. He will speak to you today through worship, His Word, and the devotional you’re about to read. He is ready to speak. Are you ready to hear from Him?

God in the Old Testament

Note

In these last 5 days, we'll be asking the question: Is God the same God in the Bible as He is today?

Passage to Read

Exodus 10:1-2

Reflect

Who is the God of the Old Testament? Why does He seem so harsh and merciless? It seems easy to come to the conclusion that God must have changed between the Old and New Testaments, but it isn't true. There are many references in Scripture stating that God is never changing. We are going to look at the Old and New Testaments and see how God may look different, but is truly the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Respond

After you've read the passage today grab a journal or open your notes. Take some time to reflect on today’s reading. Use the SOAP acronym to help you engage. (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer).

• Scripture - What did you read?
• Observation - What did you learn?
• Application - What will you do?
• Prayer - Write out a prayer talking to God like a friend.

Additional Reading Suggestions:

Read and highlight in your Bible: Hebrew 13:8, Revelation 1:8, and 1 Peter 1:24-25 as a reminder that God does not change.