There is one sure way to become tumbleweed driven and beaten by the world's wind or driftwood going where the water of life takes you.
There is one sure way of forgetting who you are and what you're here for, forgetting that blessings are not meant to be burdens, forgetting what are the most important things.
And how many of us have? Many, if the statistics are to be believed.
I was once in that statistic myself until just a few years ago. Now, I know in the minds of most, pastors' wives are mythical creatures who do everything right, but I am not one of them. I spent over a decade of my life as a disciple of Christ flirting with the idea of consistent time in the Word. And some of those years (too many) were years that I was also a pastor's wife.
And to be honest, I was not all that concerned about it. I wished, of course, that I was more consistent, but as long as I had my Bible study lesson completed or my discipleship material prepared, I generally felt I had done enough.
Looking back on those years, I recognize a woman easily affected by emotions, tossed and battered by the circumstances of life. I also recognize my obligatory perspective on the Word: reading it is something a good Christian does, and it's good to know for ministry purposes what the Bible says.
I was withering away and didn't know it, unable to see how my convenience food diet had weakened my faith, my mind, and my ministry.
Church planting shook me to the core. I could no longer be tossed around by my emotions when my everyday thoughts were full of discouragement and doubt. I could no longer respond to the circumstances of life with a self pep talk when I had nothing of value to offer myself. And when I retreated to food or t.v. or sleep, things I thought would feed my soul, they only left me unsatisfied and numb.
Where else could I go but to the Word of life, to the Words of life? When I knew my desperate need, the Bible rose to meet me with hope, truth, joy, motivation, and conviction. Through it, God set my feet on a firm foundation and gave me tools to fight the fiery arrows flying my way. In the Word, my faith became strong.
There is one sure way to grow up strong, one sure way to be filled completely with joy and motivation, one sure way to move about purposefully, one sure way of thoughts and emotions gathering around truth.
There is one sure way to become an oak tree planted firm, undaunted by the world's wind of confusion and deceit.
There is one sure way of remembering who you are and what you're here for, remembering that blessings are not meant to be burdens, remembering what are the most important things.
And there is one sure way of bearing fruit in ministry.
And there is one sure way of bearing fruit in ministry.
We only have to give ourselves to the Word.
Blessed is the man...whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
9 comments:
Ever have those moments in life where everywhere you turn you feel God seeking you out? Pushing you? Challenging you? I am in that moment now. I am in this exact moment where I know where I should be but instead I've turned to food friends quick devotionals & sadly even this blog to give me a quick boost. Or I convince myself I'm just in a funk. I need the Word-and not as a fix but to permeate & fill my soul. I just must admit I don't know how to start-I hate admitting that but it's true-how do you just dive in & it be more than reading to read? Thank you always for truth & challenges.
Oh how I needed this post today. Thank you.
Whitney said:
Ever have those moments in life where everywhere you turn you feel God seeking you out? Pushing you? Challenging you? I am in that moment now. I am in this exact moment where I know where I should be but instead I've turned to food friends quick devotionals & sadly even this blog to give me a quick boost. Or I convince myself I'm just in a funk. I need the Word-and not as a fix but to permeate & fill my soul. I just must admit I don't know how to start-I hate admitting that but it's true-how do you just dive in & it be more than reading to read? Thank you always for truth & challenges.
First of all, Whitney, I don't know why, but your comments never show up. How do you comment? I'm just curious because you are not the only one this is happening to.
To answer your questions, I would start by praying that God would give you the desire for His Word. It's like when we are in the habit of eating bad foods and we don't have a taste or desire for good ones. But the more you eat good foods, the more you desire them. So that's where I would start.
Another idea is to just start with a Psalm a day and search for an aspect of God's character in that Psalm. For instance, He is our refuge. Then, I would think about that aspect of Him and how He acts as my refuge. I might journal or pray and thank God for being my refuge. I suggest this because it helps us see that the Word leads us to God, not just to knowledge.
Part of it for me was just acknowledging that nothing else would give me rest and rejuvenation like the Word does. The more I made it a part of my daily "diet", the more I couldn't do without it.
Hope that helps.
I'm thankful it was helpful, Mandy.
I saw Whitney's comment on the post, Christine. Were you able to fix the issue? Jen Hatmaker's blog has a funny thing where if the comment has an ampersand symbol then the comment is cut off. Maybe it is something similar?
My heart is totally convicted by this post. I fear you have described me and my relationship with the Word, and I anticipate embarking on our church planting journey (we are raising support and hope to finish language school and head to the field in 2014) totally unprepared for the spiritual battles because I am not a consistent "eater of the Word." I am desperate to know God's Word deeply and to desire it daily.
There is one sure way to bless others and that is to put your words and the words God gives you out in the open for the world to relate to and be moved by. You did this sister. I needed this. I mean need, down to my core to the depths of my spirit to the Holy one in me. God wanted me to read this today. He truly began my day knowing I would read this. Thank you.
Rosalie said:
I saw Whitney's comment on the post, Christine. Were you able to fix the issue? Jen Hatmaker's blog has a funny thing where if the comment has an ampersand symbol then the comment is cut off. Maybe it is something similar?
My heart is totally convicted by this post. I fear you have described me and my relationship with the Word, and I anticipate embarking on our church planting journey (we are raising support and hope to finish language school and head to the field in 2014) totally unprepared for the spiritual battles because I am not a consistent "eater of the Word." I am desperate to know God's Word deeply and to desire it daily.
Anyone know why certain comments wouldn't show up?
There is one sure way to bless others and that is to put your words and the words God gives you out in the open for the world to relate to and be moved by. You did this sister. I needed this. I mean need, down to my core to the depths of my spirit to the Holy one in me. God wanted me to read this today. He truly began my day knowing I would read this. Thank you.
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