by Shannon Tillman | Oct 22, 2026 | Bible Study, Blog, Thoughts
Have you ever hidden from someone? One time I jumped into an aisle at a grocery store to avoid being seen by a person that had hurt me tremendously. Unfortunately, I let my guard down and he found me later on in the dairy section. I need better ninja skills.
People are not all I avoid. I hide from the Lord as well. I am the opposite of Moses who let his guard down completely whenever he was in front of God.
Exodus 34:29, 32-35
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord…Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.
Moses took the veil off in front of the Lord. Nothing was between the two of them as they talked. What an amazing friendship they had! Sometimes, though, I put up a guard with God. I often lower my expectations to prayers being answered in order to “guard” my hope. I have sidestepped conversations with Him to “guard” against having accountability in having to follow His plan instead of mine. I “guard” against sharing my dreams, afraid that I am asking for is “too big” or feeling I will never receive the answers. I have even put a “guard” on my anger or disappointment with the Lord as if He did not know what I truly thought or felt.
What guard do you put up?
What if every veil was removed? What if there was nothing, not even a “thin something” between God and ourselves? What if ever hindrance was put away? Maybe the hindrance is not feeling worthy of this relationship. But I believe that what the Lord offered to Moses is available to all of us, if we would so choose.
Exodus 33:11a
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Friend to friend, no barriers, no guards, no veils.
The Lord wants to be our friend. How marvelous is that! The proximity of relationship depends on us. We can choose to unveil our hearts to him today and become true friends, a friend of God.
by Shannon Tillman | Oct 15, 2026 | Blog, Thoughts
It was the first crime in history. Perfection was marred, eternal life met death, fellowship
became flawed. In a moment, everything was taken from them due to their choices.
Curses were pronounced: pain in childbirth, toil in labor, a continuous fight with evil.
Then, they were banished from their home. Paradise on earth was lost. Painful living
was what was in store for them. Every generation would suffer the terrible effects of that
fateful day. All of this torment from a moment of a woman talking to a serpent, while a
husband stood silently by.
This woman did not yet have a name. Her husband, after the fall, gave her a name.
Genesis 3:20
Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
Adam named Eve based on who she would be, the good she would do; instead of
the harm and sin of her past. Eve had committed the first of all crimes so he could have
chosen a name to reflect her evil actions. Yet, he bestowed upon her a name based on
what she would become not on what she had done.
How different would relationships be if we “named” each other on the potential instead
of the problem? Or what if we named ourselves based on what God has created us to
be instead of what our choices in the past led us to do? The name “Eve” means “living”
or “life”. Adam called out life, although their choices had created the reality of death.
Eve fulfilled her name and brought life to earth which continues today. Yes, death also
still occurs, but death is not the end. Life continues because of the greatest of Eve’s
descendants, Jesus. Her giving of life ultimately gave us Life Himself, God in flesh. She
fulfilled the name Adam gave her by bringing the opportunity of eternal life for all
through Jesus.
Whatever labels placed on us in the past, even those we created by our own bad
choices, do not have to continue any longer. May we receive a new name today. The
second Adam, Jesus, calls us Beloved, Chosen, Saint, Child of God, Righteous,
Masterpiece, A New Creation, Redeemed, Friend. Let us choose to believe the name
He gives us and we will see new life flow forth from us to others.
by Shannon Tillman | Oct 1, 2026 | Bible Study, Blog, Thoughts
Plants die under my care. I forget to water them. Only rain inside my house could potentially reverse my neglect. I would not be the one assigned over a garden, for a seed could hardly grow much less produce anything useful when I am in charge. Water is necessary for growth, for vegetation, for food. That is why rain is celebrated in agriculture.
Joel 2:23
Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.
It is interesting that the phrase “autumn rains” can also be translated “teacher for righteousness”. So, it would read in verse 23 “Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the teacher for righteousness…”
God gives on a physical and spiritual level. Rain is necessary for agriculture. The Teacher for Righteousness is necessary for life. The Lord desires to help us with our perceived needs, but He also wants to intersect our lives with more, with Himself, with what we truly need even when we do not realize it.
I have opinions on what I think would make my life better. I ask for “rain” on certain situations so they will be transformed. But what if the dry ground is for me to desire the “Teacher for Righteousness” to intersect those wilderness areas with Himself? What if I saw beyond the physical, circumstantial, financial, relational need to the opportunity of receiving God Himself into my life because of those situations? We desire a change in circumstances, God desires for us to be changed by our circumstances. The Teacher for Righteousness wants to guide me through those difficulties, training me to be more like Him because of what I am going through, not by the absence of hardship. His Presence is the gift in the situation, a better answer than what I desire.
God is faithful. He gives the rain. God is faithful. He gives Himself. We are called to rejoice in the gift of answered prayer but more importantly in the gift of the relationship with the Lord, the Teacher for Righteousness.
by Shannon Tillman | Sep 24, 2026 | Bible Study, Blog, Thoughts
My husband is chatty. Sometimes, he can miss another person’s attempts to say something in the conversation. I have been known to kick him under the table when I think he needs to stop talking and just listen. I wonder if Sarah should have used this strategy when Abraham’s words got them both in a lot of trouble.
Genesis 20:1-2
Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
Sarah is brought into a king’s harem because Abraham lied and said she was his sister. His words stemmed from fear of being killed because of her beauty. He was willing to sacrifice her integrity for his well-being. Sarah was taken from Abraham without a fight, not even an explanation of the truth. Thankfully, God intervened.
Genesis 20:3-7
But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.” Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”
Abraham was a prophet who lied. Abraham was a prayer warrior who made a decision to not trust God but live in fear. Abraham’s sin led to potential sin for Abimelek. Abraham allowed his beloved wife to be taken from him without a fight.
Sarah was held captive in a foreigner’s house, knowing she could be violated at any moment. She was forced to live amongst pagan worshippers who most likely did not speak her language. Sarah had no one, not even her husband, willing to help her. How lonely and frightening the situation must have been.
God saw Sarah’s abandonment and chose to rescue her. God revealed the truth to Abimelek by telling him who Sarah really was. Abraham had hidden Sarah’s true identity. The Lord spoke the truth about the relationship.
God does the same for us. Others may have called you false names, marred your identity, created a false narrative, spread lies, and enjoyed the gossip. That is not the truth. The Lord reveals to us our true identity in Him. God rescues us and validates us from the enemy’s plans and sets us again in the place of our destiny.
Genesis 20:8-13
Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.” And Abimelek asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?” Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
Abraham was a manipulator. He slyly told others Sarah was his sister and had her join in on the ruse, due to a technicality. He told part of the truth, while hiding the rest. All of this was to protect himself which put Sarah in danger. Abraham did nothing to free her from the situation that he himself caused. God intervened. The Lord not only rescued Sarah, he had the enemy vindicate her.
Genesis 20:14-16
Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.” To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”
I love how Abimelek spoke to Sarah. Women were not addressed at this time, much less publicly honored in such a way. But this enemy king showed respect to Sarah while humiliating Abraham calling him her “brother”. The sarcasm is evident in the exchange. And Sarah, the wife abandoned by her husband’s lie, is now validated by the enemy telling the truth. Her honor disregarded privately by Abraham was esteemed publicly by Abimelek.
Genesis 20:17-18
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.
Sarah must have been in this difficult situation for awhile since there was enough time to realize that women were not conceiving in Abimelek’s household. Now, the family was healed. Sarah was vindicated. Abraham prospered with a thousand pieces of silver. God worked this all for good, despite what Abraham had done.
Sarah’s suffering and subsequent deliverance benefited those around her. A pagan king received a divine revelation from the Lord. Plus, Abimelek’s household was healed after prayer, testifying to the true God. A lying husband received a huge sum of money as well as freedom to settle in the land. Both her husband and an unbelieving king experienced God’s goodness in the wake of her difficult situation. Even those who harm us can benefit from God’s goodness to us. In whatever hardship you may be in, wait on the Lord. His deliverance will not only rescue you and validate you but will also be a testimony of His goodness to those around you.
by Shannon Tillman | Sep 3, 2026 | Blog, Thoughts
I want to share something with you that God showed me as I walked through one of the most difficult seasons of my life. I cried out to God and nothing changed. I fasted, and the situations seemed to only get worse. I held up the promises and yet the enemy’s agenda went forward. Every area of my life was impacted. There was nothing safe, nothing unharmed, nothing that was not permanently traumatized. Each month something terrible happened, to the point that I began to panic when a month was wrapping up. What horrible thing would happen next? My husband and I often just cried together, not having enough energy for words.
I was broken.
In the midst of the heartache, I felt the Lord impress a message on me. It was simple, but profound. And I hope that the simplicity of the words will help you in whatever difficult situation you may be walking through. Here is what I heard from God:
It is time to switch questions. No longer ask “God, why did this happen?”. Instead ask, “God, how do I pray?”
It was a turning point. I will be honest; the switch did not come quickly. Sometimes, I still resort to the first question. But slowly I am learning to seek the guidance of the Lord on how to pray into the situation. Through this, He began taking me to Scriptures to specifically pray over each of the many difficulties we were facing. I compiled a list of over eighty promises. I wrote them on notecards. On extremely difficult days, I would just hold the cards up because I did not even have the emotional energy to pray aloud. But I wanted to show that I still believed the promises were true although my situations continued to spiral out of control.
And I want you to know that the prayers are still not answered. I am waiting. But I have learned to pray like I never knew before. And I wait in trust. Because unknowingly, when I asked God why the situations had happened, I was allowing myself to be open to doubting the goodness of God. Is this not as old as the Garden of Eden? The enemy wanted Eve to doubt God’s goodness, thus making decisions without Him. The enemy wanted me in my pain to resort to my own methods, avoiding prayer. Now, I trust that He allowed the enemy’s attack for a purpose. God does not want bad things to happen but allows them so goodness is achieved in the end.
One of the good things that have come out of the painful situations is that the difficulties taught me to pray. And I know the Lord’s prayer strategy is more powerful than the enemy’s orchestrated assault. And whatever the enemy comes against me with, I know the Lord can show me how to pray. Eventually, I will see the plans of the enemy defeated. God will have victory.
