Tag Archive | Encouragement

Scripture Reflection by Beth Auman Hoshia-na

Oct9

Hoshia-na! From the Cry for Help to the Song of Praise

A Scripture Reflection on Psalm 28

Greetings at the Gate.
Blessings and Shalom.

Stone upon stone.
Scripture upon Scripture.
For His Glory Alone.

Adonai is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him, and I was helped. Therefore my heart leaps for joy, and I will praise Him with my song.—Psalm 28:7 TLV

Draw your attention to these words in Psalm 28:7: “I was helped.”

Was. A testimony of help received. David speaks of Adonai’s help with assurance, and his heart responds with joy.

The Hebrew expression translated “I was helped” comes from azar meaning to help, assist, or support. David acknowledges that help has come from Adonai. This is a testimony we can remember when another difficult season comes: the One who helped us before is the One we can trust today.

Abba knows our needs before we ask. Before our first tear falls or our first prayer is spoken, we are already known and loved by Him. His provision does not always unfold when or how we expect, but His faithfulness gives us reason to trust Him as we wait. We can stand in faith and follow where He leads.

The Tree of Life Version gives Psalm 28 the heading “Hoshia-na!” The Hebrew prayer itself appears in Psalm 118:25:

Hoshia-na — “Please save!” or “Save, we pray!”

Hoshia comes from yasha, meaning to save, rescue, or deliver. Na, expresses an earnest appeal: “please” or “we beseech You.” It is the cry of a heart looking to Adonai for salvation and deliverance.

As you read Psalm 28, remember that David is baring his soul before Adonai. He calls upon his Rock. He lifts his hands toward the holy Sanctuary. He brings his pleas, his distress, and his need for deliverance before YHWH.

Then, in verse 6, the prayer turns toward thanksgiving:

Blessed be Adonai, because He has heard the sound of my supplications.—Psalm 28:6 TLV

David’s heart moves from pleading to praise. He knows that Adonai has heard him.

Yet the psalm closes with another petition: save Your people, bless Your inheritance, shepherd them, and carry them forever. Prayer and thanksgiving belong together. We can praise Him for His faithfulness while still bringing Him the needs we carry.

In verse 7, David declares Adonai to be his strength and shield. Oz – means strength or might, and magen, means shield. Adonai is the source of David’s strength and the One in whom he finds protection.

The word for trust is batach – to trust or place confidence in.

“My heart trusts in Him.”

Our confidence rests in who He is. When our own strength feels small, He remains our strength. When we feel exposed, we can turn to Him as our shield.

Hebrews 13:5–6 reminds us of His promise:

For God Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” so that with confidence we say,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What will man do to me?”Hebrews 13:5–6 TLV, excerpt

We hear this same assurance in Deuteronomy 31:6:

Chazak! Be courageous! Do not be afraid or tremble before them. For Adonai your God—He is the One who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:6 TLV

Chazak, also transliterated chazaq – carries the meaning to be strong, grow strong, or strengthen.

We are called to take courage because Adonai goes with us. When fear rises, we can bring it before Him and take the next faithful step, trusting His promise that He will not abandon us.

Hoshia-na is our plea for salvation. As followers of Yeshua, we look to Him as the One through whom YHWH has provided salvation.

The name Yeshua is a shortened form of Yehoshua, commonly understood as “YHWH saves” or “YHWH is salvation.” It is closely related to yeshuah, the Hebrew word for salvation or deliverance.

YHWH is omnipotent—all-powerful; omnipresent—present everywhere; and omniscient—all-knowing. He sees us, knows us, and hears our prayers.

Yeshua said:

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have shalom. In the world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world! John 16:33 TLV

Shalom means peace, with a range of meaning that includes wholeness, well-being, and completeness.

Yeshua has overcome the world. He tells us plainly that we will have trouble, and He invites us to find our shalom in Him.

Through His sacrifice, He opened the way for us to draw near to the Father. We may pray, petition, intercede, and bring our supplications before Him on behalf of ourselves and others. We may speak His Word in faith, submitting our declarations and requests to His will.

He has provided the Way. Our response is to believe, receive Yeshua as Adonai, and yield our lives to Him.

Ruach HaKodesh means “the Holy Spirit.” We ask Him to fill us and teach us how to walk by faith and not by sight.

We learn to follow where He leads and guides, trusting Him to guard, protect, and provide. We receive His alignment and assignment as He anoints and appoints us to bear fruit for His Kingdom. We pray for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Today, make Psalm 28 your heart’s cry.

Hoshia-na! Please save, Adonai.

If you have not received Yeshua as Adonai, turn to Him in faith. If you already belong to Him, renew your surrender and ask to be filled afresh with Ruach HaKodesh.

Take the next step onto His well-lit path. Ask YHWH to lead, guide, guard, protect, provide, align, assign, anoint, and appoint you to be and do all that He formed and fashioned you to do.

Remember where He has helped you. Let that remembrance become another testimony stone.

My heart trusts in Him, and I was helped.

May our cries for help rise before Him, and may our hearts also find their song of praise.

Reflection Questions

1. What plea do I need to bring honestly before Adonai today?

2. When have I experienced His help? What testimony can I remember and give thanks for?

3. Where is He inviting me to practice batach—to place my confidence in Him while I wait?

4. What would it look like to receive Him as my strength and shield in my present circumstances?

5. How does His promise to remain with me help me take courage when I feel afraid?

6. What is the next faithful step He is leading me to take?

7. What song of thanksgiving can I offer Him, even while I continue to pray?

A Prayer at the Gate

Abba, Hoshia-na! Please save. Hear the cry of our hearts as we bring our needs before You.

You are our strength and our shield. Teach us to trust You with what we understand and with what we cannot yet see. Remind us of the times You have helped us, and let remembrance awaken thanksgiving.

Strengthen us to take courage because You go with us. When fear rises, draw us close. When the path seems unclear, give us light for the next faithful step.

Thank You for the salvation You have provided through Yeshua. Fill us afresh with Ruach HaKodesh. Teach us to walk by faith and receive the shalom Yeshua promises in the midst of trouble.

Lead, guide, guard, protect, provide, align, assign, anoint, and appoint us to be and do all that You formed and fashioned us to do. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in our lives, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Shepherd Your people and carry us in Your faithful care. Let our hearts leap for joy, and let our lives become a song of praise.

For Your Glory Alone—in Yeshua’s Name. Amen.

Worship

Joshua Aaron’s Hoshia’na accompanies this reflection. As you listen, bring your own prayer before Adonai and let your heart join in the cry: “Hoshia-na!”

Listen to the video Beth selected

Stone upon stone.
Scripture upon Scripture.
Testimony upon testimony.
For His Glory Alone.

Blessings and Shalom,
Beth Auman

Hoshia-na© 2026 Beth Auman

Study Sources — editorial reference

The devotional applications above are distinct from literal Hebrew definitions.

Psalm 28 TLV and its editorial heading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+28&version=TLV

Psalm 118:25 TLV: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+118%3A25&version=TLV

Psalm 28:7 Hebrew text: https://biblehub.com/text/psalms/28-7.htm

Azar: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5826.htm

Batach: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/982.htm

Oz: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5797.htm

Magen: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4043.htm

Chazaq: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2388.htm

Shalom: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7965.htm

Yeshua and Yehoshua: https://bam.sites.uiowa.edu/hello/joshua and https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3442.htm

Tasha and na: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3467.htm and https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4994.htm

Editorial clarifications: Psalm 28 carries the TLV heading “Hoshia-na!”; Psalm 118:25 contains the Hebrew phrase itself. “I was helped” witnesses to help received; it does not establish that every requested outcome occurred before prayer. Omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience are distinguished in the reflection.

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Oct4

Scripture for the week of October 4, 2026
By JoBeth Kested

Because you love me, I will rescue you. I will protect you because you know my name. When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will save you and honor you. Psalm 91:14-15 (GW)

Isn’t it a wonderful feeling when you know you are loved? In loving relationships there is nothing we wouldn’t do for each other, especially when we receive a call for help. We will take food or clean a friends house in sickness, travel long distances to be with a hurting loved one and for some we are even willing to lay down our life in the face of danger. In these verses God declares how He responds to our love for Him. The Lord says that He will…rescue, protect, answer, be there, save and honor us. What an encouragement to know that the Almighty God desires our expressions of love for Him even in our weakness and imperfections. When we call out for God’s help in times of trouble He lovingly responds back to us and makes these promises to meet our specific needs just because He knows we love Him! Thank You, Lord!

Scripture Reflection by Beth Auman

Oct3

He Has Set Eternity in Their Heart

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Moreover, He has set eternity in their heart…”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 TLV

YHWH created time, yet He is never bound by it. He reigns over every season with perfect wisdom. Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to be silent and a time to speak. He has made everything beautiful in its time.

He has also given us appointed times—moedim—in which to turn our attention toward Him. Shabbat has taught me to receive His rest. The feasts have invited me to remember what He has done and watch for what He will do. I do not understand every mystery of His calendar, but I can come with a teachable heart. If an appointment with Abba is important to Him, it is important to me.

When I come before Him, I find that His invitation is both shared and deeply personal. We gather as His people, and He meets each heart. I ask Him for wisdom, revelation, counsel, strength, and the reverence to receive what He is teaching me.

I believe He began drawing my heart toward this beauty long before I had words for it.

When I was five years old, I made one friend in kindergarten. Her name was Mindy, and she was Jewish. One afternoon after our half-day class, I went to play at her home. My father, a surgeon, was delayed and could not pick me up at five as planned.

While I waited, Mindy’s father gathered his family in the dining room. They lit candles. With a prayer shawl over his head, he prayed a blessing over each of them. I had never witnessed anything so beautiful. They were together, speaking blessing over one another, and I longed to belong there.

When he finished, Mindy asked, “What about Beth? Is there a blessing for her?”

At first, her father said no. I was not one of them. My heart sank. I wished I were. In my home, words like those blessings were not spoken over me.

Then Mindy said, “Abba, if you don’t bless Beth, no one ever will.”

Her father looked at her, then at me, and called me into the dining room. He laid his hand on my head and spoke a blessing over me. I was five years old, and I can still feel how those words reached my heart.

Mindy stood up for me. I cannot know all that she understood in that moment, but I know what her courage and love meant to me. Her father made room for a little girl who wanted to receive a blessing. Through the years, whenever life has been hard, I have remembered that moment and thanked YHWH for it.

Perhaps that is why His appointed times move me so deeply. I remember what it felt like to stand nearby, longing to enter, and then to hear the invitation. I want to answer Him with that same open heart: Abba, I am here. Teach me Your ways.

In Yeshua, I see the beauty of His promises unfolding. Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Shavuot draw my heart to His death, burial, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Ruach HaKodesh. As I observe the fall appointed times, I remember His faithfulness and watch for the return of Yeshua, our King.

I am still learning. I bring Him my questions and submit my days to Him. His Word promises, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go” (Psalm 32:8 TLV). So I ask Him to lead, guide, guard, protect, provide, align, assign, anoint, and appoint me according to His will.

Eternity is in my heart. YHWH put it there.

I am grateful for a five-year-old friend named Mindy, who asked for a blessing on my behalf. I am grateful for her father, who called me close and spoke it. And I am grateful to Abba, who has continued to draw me toward Him, one appointed time and one answered invitation at a time.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

All glory, praise, and honor to YHWH.

Blessings and Shalom in Yeshua,
Beth Auman

Stone upon Stone.

Scripture upon Scripture.

For His Glory Alone.

AllThingsBeautiful© 2026 Beth Auman • FaithTestimony.org

 

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Sep27

Scripture for the week of September 27, 2026
By JoBeth Kested

The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you in his love; He will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (NRSV)

Have ever had or are you currently in the midst of one of those difficult times that seem like everything is just too much, too hard, or too impossible? Sometimes the hard stuff feels so overwhelming when we feel abandoned, betrayed or all alone without any hope for help. This scripture reminds us that our God is with us as a mighty warrior that fights for us to bring victory into our seemingly impossible situations. We must remember that as our Heavenly Father, He delights in us and rejoices over us with gladness. He desires to renew our faith and strength in the assurance of the reality of His loving presence. So, be encouraged with renewed hope and faith in His extravagant love for you. Be assured that the awesome Lord God Almighty is warring and rejoicing over you with gladness and shouts of joy to bring you into victory! Hallelujah! Yea God!

Scripture Reflection by Beth Auman

Sep24

Walk by Faith

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:7 (TLV)

Paul does not write these words in isolation.

In 2 Corinthians 5:5–10, he reminds us that God Himself has prepared us for His purpose and has given us the Ruach as a pledge. Paul speaks of confidence, eternity, and making it our aim to be pleasing to Messiah.

And right there, in the middle of it all, is this declaration:

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

There was a time when I did not understand what that meant.

I believed in the little Baby in the manger my whole life. I truly did.

But I did not walk by faith and not by sight.

I was worldly.

My earthly father was a surgeon and a man of science. In order to believe something, I thought there needed to be quantifiable proof.

I had never truly seen Yeshua do anything.

Or at least, that was my mindset.

Then came April 21, 1999.

The Night Everything Changed

I had turned thirty-four the day before, and it had not been a particularly good birthday.

I had enrolled my daughter in a small Christian school. Everyone was friendly, and we were invited to a praise and worship gathering.

I loved music, so I said yes.

I had absolutely no idea how profoundly that one yes would change my life.

When I entered the praise and worship service, the music was unlike the organ music I had known in church. My entire being was immediately engaged.

About thirty minutes into the service, I noticed what felt like a heaviness in the air—almost like being in the mountains on a cloudy day.

People were dancing and singing. Others began speaking words in languages I could not understand.

A friend I had made there extended her hand to us.

We went with her.

And suddenly something happened for which I had no framework whatsoever.

From deep within me came a language I had never spoken.

Tears streamed down my face.

And I said,

“Yes, Jesus.”

I was born again.

Saved.

Redeemed by the blood of Yeshua.

Rescued from the hand of the enemy.

The woman who thought everything required quantifiable proof had encountered the living God in a way she could neither manufacture nor explain by what her natural eyes could see.

It was literally as if I had stepped into the land of opposite.

Fear gave way to faith.

Longstanding fears were gone.

Faith arose within me.

I began to understand the truth of James 4:7:

“Therefore submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
— James 4:7 (TLV)

I had submitted myself to Adonai.

I was being renewed.

Rescued.

Restored.

I Knew That I Knew

I did not suddenly understand everything that had happened.

I certainly did not have a theological framework for all that I had experienced.

But there was something I did know.

I knew that I knew that I knew that God was for me and not against me.

I trusted Him.

And I was willing to obey.

April 21, 1999, became a dividing line in my life.

There was the woman who walked into that praise and worship gathering—

and there was the woman who walked out.

I had stepped into a life of learning to walk by faith and not by sight.

Walking by faith does not mean that difficult circumstances disappear.

It does not mean that we will always understand what YHWH is doing.

It does not mean denying what our natural eyes can see.

It means knowing that what we can see is not the entirety of what is true.

There is more.

There is always more with Him.

And from that moment forward, YHWH has faithfully:

Led me.
Guided me.
Guarded me.
Protected me.
Provided for me.
Aligned me.
Assigned me.

Through every season, every circumstance, every prayer, and every assignment, He has continued teaching me to trust Him beyond what my eyes can see.

Make It Your Aim

Paul continues:

“So whether at home or absent, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:9 (TLV)

That Scripture reaches deeply into my testimony.

I have made it my life’s goal not to leave one single thing that YHWH formed and fashioned me to be—or called me to do—undone on this side of eternity.

Not because I am sufficient in myself.

I am not.

But He has given me His Ruach HaKodesh.

He teaches.
He empowers.
He leads.

And my response is still the response that began that night:

Yes.

Yes, Yeshua.

Yes, I will trust You.

Yes, I will follow You.

Yes, I will walk even when I cannot see.

I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine.

The woman who once believed she needed to see before she could believe has spent these years learning something entirely different:

Walk.

Even when you cannot see.

Trust.

Even when you do not understand.

Obey.

Even when you do not know where the path will lead.

Because the One who called you is faithful.

And He has given us His Ruach HaKodesh to enable us to walk out what He has called us to do.

Reflection

Where am I requiring sight before I am willing to trust YHWH?

Is there something Abba has asked me to do that I have delayed because I cannot yet see how it will work?

What testimony can I remember today that reminds me, He has been faithful before?

A Prayer at the Gate

Abba,

Thank You for Yeshua.

Thank You for redemption through His blood and for the precious gift of Your Ruach HaKodesh.

Teach me to walk by faith and not by sight.

When my natural eyes tell me something is impossible, remind me that my confidence is not in what I can see, calculate, control, or understand.

My confidence is in You.

Lead me.
Guide me.
Guard me.
Protect me.
Provide for me.
Align me.
Assign me.

Give me courage to obey You even when I cannot see what lies ahead.

May nothing You formed and fashioned me to be, and nothing You have called me to do, remain undone because I was waiting to see before I was willing to believe.

Let my life be pleasing to You.

Let my testimony always point to Yeshua.

And let every step of this journey bring glory to Your Name Alone.

In Yeshua’s Name,
Amen

To His Name Alone Be the Glory.

Walk by Faith© 2026 Beth Auman FaithTestimony.org

 

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Sep6

Scripture for the week of September 6, 2026
By JoBeth Kested

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20 (NKJV)

Do you have difficulty believing that God really cares about any of the pressing needs you are currently facing? First of all, this verse profoundly declares that our God supplies ALL our need! But, if we are to understand that the doorway of His provision is in the glory of Jesus we may need to ask what is the glory? Biblically this often refers to the manifestation or the reality of God’s presence with us. Remember, one of the names of Jesus is Emanuel which means God with us. Therefore, there is a wealth of God’s provision for us as we grasp that Jesus is with us; our Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Friend of Sinners and our Savior. He is real, present and available to us in every circumstance today and everyday to meet ALL our needs. With renewed faith in His love for us, let us give worship, praise and glory back to our Father God. Yes, Amen!

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Aug30

Scripture for the week of August 30, 2026
By JoBeth Kested

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Psalms 19:1-3 (NKJV)

Have you ever been enthralled by stars shining in the darkness of night or the glow of a full moon over majestic mountains? Has your soul been thrilled by the glorious dawn of morning or a blazing sunset with gold and crimson streaks across the skies? Or have you been captivated by the delicate fragrance of a blooming rose, crashing waves upon a sandy beach, or a towering forrest with butterflies flitting and birds calling? These scriptures instruct us that the heavens are declaring the glory of God and the earth’s beauty reveals His handprints upon all creation. Day after day and every night all that is around us reveals the evidence of an intricate and intimate God. There is no place on earth where the voice of His creation and the language of His beauty is not spoken to all who will see and listen. May you hear His voice calling your name in the wind and your heart filled with His loving presence revealed in every in detail of His beauty all around you.

Introducing Flourish Living from the Tree of Life

Aug29

This summer has truly been one for the books… you know, the ones written in Heaven.

I sincerely pray that you will partake of Flourish: Living from the Tree of Life and invest in the Flourish Companion Journal as a place to linger, reflect, pray, and respond.

Flourish is simple, yet deep—deep calling unto deep.

My prayer is that as you walk through the Gate, abide in His presence, and receive all that He has for you, you will be strengthened in your inner being and increasingly rooted and grounded in His love.

Come.
Abide.
Align.
Bear Fruit.

To His Name Alone Be the Glory.

Scripture Of The Week By JoBeth Kested

Aug16

Scripture for the week of August 9, 2026
By JoBeth Kested

“I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalms 16:8,11 (NASB)

Have you ever wondered how to find joy through any circumstance? Biblically, joy goes beyond emotional happiness, which is temporary and is dependent on whatever makes us feel good. Joy is primarily a choice that is dependent upon trusting in the sovereign goodness of God and that He is Who He says He is in His Word; even when we don’t feel like it! God’s place at the Psalmist’s right hand, implies giving Him the highest place of honor in our lives with dependence upon His strength and power. We can learn in this verse that when we choose to abide in God’s presence, we can know the security of safety, overflowing joy and enduring pleasures forevermore. HIs right hand holds all power and all authority in heaven and on earth to defend, provide and bless each one of us as the Psalmist has declared. Thank You, Lord, that in Your presence we find the path of abundant life and the fullness of joy we all long for. Amen!