Again, I want to thank you so much for participating in the study with me. It was such a honor to be a part of it. I just want to encourage you to continue on with your reading, prayer, and journaling. If you are not sure where to go from here, I'd encourage you to read through the gospels. You can take it as fast or slow as you'd like. Behind seeking wisdom in Proverbs, learning about our Master, Jesus, in the gospels is my favorite reading.
I also wanted to let you know that I'd encourage you to read through Proverbs and Psalms again on your own time. I've been studying them for 6 months now, and just yesterday I read in Proverbs 27 and God gave me a very new and fresh revelation. Just shows that you can learn something new every time!
I will be keeping these blogs on my site indefinitely, so please feel free to share this with anyone you think might be interested. You can just refer them to my website and the entire study will be located in September of 2012.
Also, if you are interested in using this as a study for your small group please contact me as I have been working on small group questions to go along with the daily readings. (It would be a 4 week study.)
Thank you so much. Please let me know if you have any feed back regarding the study, this was a first for me and if there is anything I can do to improve it, please feel free to let me know. And thank you to all of you who have encouraged me and given me feedback already.
I love you all very much and am honored to have been a small part of your September 2012! :)
Much Love,
Steen
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Day 24: Taking a Stand.
Today we are reading Proverbs 24 and Psalm 116-118. Before you read, ask God to reveal something new to you today, or perhaps to remind you of something long forgotten.
-Read Scripture-
Injustice. This is a BIG deal to our Father. Proverbs alone mentions justice and injustice 31 times. I would even go so far as to say that behind accepting Christ, loving and worshipping our Father, and spreading the gospel, this is His main job for his followers. Taking a stand for those he has called us to. Who has he called us to stand up for? The oppressed, voice-less, poor, innocent, needy, broken, abused, and helpless.
"It's wrong, very wrong, to go along with injustice. Whoever whitewashes the wicked gets a black mark on the history books, But whoever exposes the wicked will be thanked and rewarded." Proverbs 24:23-25
Whitewashing is ignoring, to coverup. Those who know about injustices and wrong-doing but does nothing about it, or tries to cover it up to save or protect their reputation will face serious consequences.
"Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help. If you say, 'Hey, that's none of my business,' will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely you know- Someone not impressed with weak excuses." Proverbs 24:11-12 The Message
The Voice words verse 12, "If you excuse yourself, saying, 'Look, we didn't know anything about this,' doesn't God, who knows what you are really thinking, understand your motives? Isn't your Protector aware of why you aren't protecting the innocent? Will he not repay you in kind?"
Ouch. Even living in denial is wrong. We are so guilty of this here in America. It is so easy for us to forget the rest of the world. Thankfully, there is a generation of people coming along that values the fight against injustice, but they are unequipped. We are relying on social media and awareness alone and that is not enough! We have to be willing to get involved. We can not be afraid, we have to be bold!
"The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Psalm 118:6 NKJ
We can not live in fear. Yes, chances are if you fight against evil, perversion, and wickedness that you will face opposition. However, we are representing the One that has already overcome this world! We have NOTHING to fear! This is our job, this is what God has called us to do. We have already read enough in Proverbs to know that this is a huge part of God's heart. We must not ignore it. We must stop making excuses. After all, God doesn't buy them!
"But He leaned down when I was in trouble and brought His ear close to me. So as long as I have breath, I will call on him." Psalm 116:2 The Voice
This is their cry for help. This is what the people that we are called to protect and stand up for are doing. They are calling to him when they are in trouble and he is leaning down and bringing his ear close to them.
He has heard them. And he has sent you.
Ask God today what he has for you? What are your passions? What gets you fired up? What breaks your heart? What keeps you up at night unable to sleep? The list of those who need our help is endless. Let's get off the couch, stop watching the heartbreak on the news and get involved ourselves!
Abba, thank you for even desiring to use us! Our prayer is short and simple today, here we are. Send us.
Amen.
-Read Scripture-
Injustice. This is a BIG deal to our Father. Proverbs alone mentions justice and injustice 31 times. I would even go so far as to say that behind accepting Christ, loving and worshipping our Father, and spreading the gospel, this is His main job for his followers. Taking a stand for those he has called us to. Who has he called us to stand up for? The oppressed, voice-less, poor, innocent, needy, broken, abused, and helpless.
"It's wrong, very wrong, to go along with injustice. Whoever whitewashes the wicked gets a black mark on the history books, But whoever exposes the wicked will be thanked and rewarded." Proverbs 24:23-25
Whitewashing is ignoring, to coverup. Those who know about injustices and wrong-doing but does nothing about it, or tries to cover it up to save or protect their reputation will face serious consequences.
"Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help. If you say, 'Hey, that's none of my business,' will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely you know- Someone not impressed with weak excuses." Proverbs 24:11-12 The Message
The Voice words verse 12, "If you excuse yourself, saying, 'Look, we didn't know anything about this,' doesn't God, who knows what you are really thinking, understand your motives? Isn't your Protector aware of why you aren't protecting the innocent? Will he not repay you in kind?"
Ouch. Even living in denial is wrong. We are so guilty of this here in America. It is so easy for us to forget the rest of the world. Thankfully, there is a generation of people coming along that values the fight against injustice, but they are unequipped. We are relying on social media and awareness alone and that is not enough! We have to be willing to get involved. We can not be afraid, we have to be bold!
"The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Psalm 118:6 NKJ
We can not live in fear. Yes, chances are if you fight against evil, perversion, and wickedness that you will face opposition. However, we are representing the One that has already overcome this world! We have NOTHING to fear! This is our job, this is what God has called us to do. We have already read enough in Proverbs to know that this is a huge part of God's heart. We must not ignore it. We must stop making excuses. After all, God doesn't buy them!
"But He leaned down when I was in trouble and brought His ear close to me. So as long as I have breath, I will call on him." Psalm 116:2 The Voice
This is their cry for help. This is what the people that we are called to protect and stand up for are doing. They are calling to him when they are in trouble and he is leaning down and bringing his ear close to them.
He has heard them. And he has sent you.
Ask God today what he has for you? What are your passions? What gets you fired up? What breaks your heart? What keeps you up at night unable to sleep? The list of those who need our help is endless. Let's get off the couch, stop watching the heartbreak on the news and get involved ourselves!
Abba, thank you for even desiring to use us! Our prayer is short and simple today, here we are. Send us.
Amen.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Day 17: I pity da fool!
Today we are reading Proverbs 17 and Psalm chapters 81-85. Before you read today, ask God to speak to you. Claim Psalm 81:5, "I hear this most gentle whisper from One, I never guessed would speak to me." The Message version.
-Read Scripture-
I don't know about you, but when I read the Proverbs, I tend to pay special attention to the characteristics of the wise. After all, that is the goal right? We are striving to be and learn to be wise. But the truth is, we can learn a lot from the characteristics of the fool. It can be an indication or a red flag that we are on a wrong path. Those proverbs show us our weaknesses and exactly what we need to work on, so we shouldn't glide past them with out taking some time to address them. It's easy to just strive to be wise, we will always be doing that. It's much harder to face your foolishness. And unless we do that, we will not make it very far down wisdom's road.
So I think it's time we face our foolishness and ask ourselves some VERY hard questions. Because once we recognize when and where we tend to be foolish, we can begin to change and replace those tendencies with wisdom.
1. You perk up when you hear gossip. (Proverbs 17:4) Are you ever in a conversation, half paying attention and then your friend mentions your mutual friend who is going through a rough time and you jump back in the conversation full force? Do you "itch" to know what's going on with a situation even though you are not involved? Confession: This is one of my big fool indicators :(
2. You make fun of or tease the less fortunate. (Proverbs 17:5) Do you make fun of your friend's beater car behind their back? Have you ever quit hanging out with someone because you started making more money than them? Do you secretly feel that people who have less are worth less or are inferior?
3. You celebrate another's misfortune. (Proverbs 17:5) This is the one that no one wants to admit, but look within. Do you secretly celebrate when a friend fails? Are you relieved when once, he didn't get that promotion? Or have you ever hoped someone wouldn't be able to achieve something because you couldn't? I am, ashamedly, guilty of this.
4. You repeatedly recall other's past mistakes. (Proverbs 17:9) Do you have trouble letting things go? Even if you don't bring it to that person's attention, do you keep recalling those mistakes in your heart and mind? Do you keep using those past failures to keep your friend/sibling/spouse in check?
5. You pick fights, or enjoy fighting with others. (Proverbs 17:9) This one is harder to see in yourself. Only because when you are fighting with someone, you are right and the other person is wrong! We want to blame the other person for the fight because, after all, they are the wrong one. But if you tend to get in fights often with your family and friends, chances are YOU are the common denominator.
6. You accept bribes or ignore injustice. (Proverbs 17:23) This doesn't have to be the traditional "money under the table" bribe. It could be as simple as looking the other way when you knew something bad was going down. Do you ignore injustices and wrong doing to maintain your status?
7. The glass is always half empty. (Proverbs 17:22) Do you always fear the worst? Do you always see the negative of the situation? Do you bring joy into an environment or do you drain it? Most people wouldn't associate this characteristic with being a fool, but robbing yourself and those around you of joy is most definitely a foolish way to live!
These are some hard questions. If we are honest with ourselves and take a hard look in the mirror, we see where we are a fool. You are foolish, and I am most certainly foolish. But the good news is that once we see it, it becomes easier to recognize and easier to eliminate those tendencies. Once a flaw is exposed, it is hard to ignore!
I've grown a lot this year by learning and recognizing some pretty deep flaws of my own. And I pray that God continues to reveal my weaknesses so I can begin to work on them and grow. So that slowly, I can become more like my master, Jesus.
I pray this for you as well. That we not be content to sit on our flaws and foolish tendencies or accept them as just "the way we are" or "the way we were made." Bull honky. Jesus has called you to be more than that. He has called us to be like him, and that will take us a lifetime. Let's start today by answering these hard questions and taking a hard look in the mirror. Ask God to expose all the foolishness. Then, together, let's ask him to begin to change us!
-Read Scripture-
I don't know about you, but when I read the Proverbs, I tend to pay special attention to the characteristics of the wise. After all, that is the goal right? We are striving to be and learn to be wise. But the truth is, we can learn a lot from the characteristics of the fool. It can be an indication or a red flag that we are on a wrong path. Those proverbs show us our weaknesses and exactly what we need to work on, so we shouldn't glide past them with out taking some time to address them. It's easy to just strive to be wise, we will always be doing that. It's much harder to face your foolishness. And unless we do that, we will not make it very far down wisdom's road.
So I think it's time we face our foolishness and ask ourselves some VERY hard questions. Because once we recognize when and where we tend to be foolish, we can begin to change and replace those tendencies with wisdom.
(I know it's a funny pic, and I couldn't help myself. But, I'd go ahead and get all your laughing out of the way because we's about to get serious!)
Proverbs Top Seven List:
You might be a fool if...
1. You perk up when you hear gossip. (Proverbs 17:4) Are you ever in a conversation, half paying attention and then your friend mentions your mutual friend who is going through a rough time and you jump back in the conversation full force? Do you "itch" to know what's going on with a situation even though you are not involved? Confession: This is one of my big fool indicators :(
2. You make fun of or tease the less fortunate. (Proverbs 17:5) Do you make fun of your friend's beater car behind their back? Have you ever quit hanging out with someone because you started making more money than them? Do you secretly feel that people who have less are worth less or are inferior?
3. You celebrate another's misfortune. (Proverbs 17:5) This is the one that no one wants to admit, but look within. Do you secretly celebrate when a friend fails? Are you relieved when once, he didn't get that promotion? Or have you ever hoped someone wouldn't be able to achieve something because you couldn't? I am, ashamedly, guilty of this.
4. You repeatedly recall other's past mistakes. (Proverbs 17:9) Do you have trouble letting things go? Even if you don't bring it to that person's attention, do you keep recalling those mistakes in your heart and mind? Do you keep using those past failures to keep your friend/sibling/spouse in check?
5. You pick fights, or enjoy fighting with others. (Proverbs 17:9) This one is harder to see in yourself. Only because when you are fighting with someone, you are right and the other person is wrong! We want to blame the other person for the fight because, after all, they are the wrong one. But if you tend to get in fights often with your family and friends, chances are YOU are the common denominator.
6. You accept bribes or ignore injustice. (Proverbs 17:23) This doesn't have to be the traditional "money under the table" bribe. It could be as simple as looking the other way when you knew something bad was going down. Do you ignore injustices and wrong doing to maintain your status?
7. The glass is always half empty. (Proverbs 17:22) Do you always fear the worst? Do you always see the negative of the situation? Do you bring joy into an environment or do you drain it? Most people wouldn't associate this characteristic with being a fool, but robbing yourself and those around you of joy is most definitely a foolish way to live!
These are some hard questions. If we are honest with ourselves and take a hard look in the mirror, we see where we are a fool. You are foolish, and I am most certainly foolish. But the good news is that once we see it, it becomes easier to recognize and easier to eliminate those tendencies. Once a flaw is exposed, it is hard to ignore!
I've grown a lot this year by learning and recognizing some pretty deep flaws of my own. And I pray that God continues to reveal my weaknesses so I can begin to work on them and grow. So that slowly, I can become more like my master, Jesus.
I pray this for you as well. That we not be content to sit on our flaws and foolish tendencies or accept them as just "the way we are" or "the way we were made." Bull honky. Jesus has called you to be more than that. He has called us to be like him, and that will take us a lifetime. Let's start today by answering these hard questions and taking a hard look in the mirror. Ask God to expose all the foolishness. Then, together, let's ask him to begin to change us!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Day 11: Mess to Masterpiece.
Today we are reading Proverbs chapter 11 and Psalm chapters 51-55. As every other day, start today with an openness and willingness to listen and learn. Remove all distractions and ask God to prepare you to receive anything he may have for you today.
-Read Scriptures-
Many of these studies focus on the Proverbs portion of the reading, but today I want to focus on Psalm 51. This is the Psalm that David wrote after his affair with Bathsheba was brought to light by Nathan, the prophet of the time. Psalm 51 is a psalm of repentance and seeking after God's grace. We have all been here at some point of our lives. We have all done something wrong, something we regretted. We have all committed sins from which we needed cleansing.
The first step in healing is confession, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge." Psalm 51:4 TNIV
God alone is our judge and he alone can forgive us. To confess to our God is admitting that we need a savior, that we need saving. Without this admission, this acknowledgement, we can never truly heal.
The second step is repentance. Turning from your sin and asking for forgiveness. "I would surrender my dearest possessions or destroy all that I prize to prove my regret, but you don't take pleasure in sacrifices or burnt offerings. What sacrifice I can offer you is my broken spirit because a broken spirit, O God, a heart that honestly regrets the past, you won't detest." Psalm 51: 16-17 The Voice
I love the way The Voice version words these verses. The unfortunate truth is that the shortest route to God is a broken spirit. But the good news is that in that moment, that moment of honest regret and brokenness, God shows up and does something incredibly beautiful. He creates something new in you...
"God, make a fresh start in me; shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life." Psalm 51:10 The Message
Again, I love the way this version words this. A "Genesis week," the creation story. One of the most beautiful and hopeful stories in the entire bible. God uses the chaos and broken pieces of our lives to make something grand, something big and beautiful. A new life. To me, that is the good news. That through Jesus' sacrifice, God takes our pitiful, broken, sinful lives and turns them into new, beautiful, and worthy piece of art!
The third step is simply to allow God to change you. Because he will! God took the runt of the family, David, and turns him into the one of the greatest Kings in Israel's history. For heaven's sake, Jesus was born from his bloodline. :) God took Solomon, a result of an affair, and made him the wisest man who ever lived. God takes us, broken and unoriginal, and turns us into complete and original children of our King!
Without my God, I am nothing.
With him, I can have everything.
Thank you Abba, for forgiving us when we fail, for forgiving our sins. We are undeserving, but your love is unfailing. Thank you for your judgement, cleansing, and creating us into new beings. We would gladly offer you all we have, but you desire our hearts. So take it, because you can make it into something I could never dream of. All we have and all we are is yours.
Amen.
-Read Scriptures-
Many of these studies focus on the Proverbs portion of the reading, but today I want to focus on Psalm 51. This is the Psalm that David wrote after his affair with Bathsheba was brought to light by Nathan, the prophet of the time. Psalm 51 is a psalm of repentance and seeking after God's grace. We have all been here at some point of our lives. We have all done something wrong, something we regretted. We have all committed sins from which we needed cleansing.
The first step in healing is confession, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge." Psalm 51:4 TNIV
God alone is our judge and he alone can forgive us. To confess to our God is admitting that we need a savior, that we need saving. Without this admission, this acknowledgement, we can never truly heal.
The second step is repentance. Turning from your sin and asking for forgiveness. "I would surrender my dearest possessions or destroy all that I prize to prove my regret, but you don't take pleasure in sacrifices or burnt offerings. What sacrifice I can offer you is my broken spirit because a broken spirit, O God, a heart that honestly regrets the past, you won't detest." Psalm 51: 16-17 The Voice
I love the way The Voice version words these verses. The unfortunate truth is that the shortest route to God is a broken spirit. But the good news is that in that moment, that moment of honest regret and brokenness, God shows up and does something incredibly beautiful. He creates something new in you...
"God, make a fresh start in me; shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life." Psalm 51:10 The Message
Again, I love the way this version words this. A "Genesis week," the creation story. One of the most beautiful and hopeful stories in the entire bible. God uses the chaos and broken pieces of our lives to make something grand, something big and beautiful. A new life. To me, that is the good news. That through Jesus' sacrifice, God takes our pitiful, broken, sinful lives and turns them into new, beautiful, and worthy piece of art!
The third step is simply to allow God to change you. Because he will! God took the runt of the family, David, and turns him into the one of the greatest Kings in Israel's history. For heaven's sake, Jesus was born from his bloodline. :) God took Solomon, a result of an affair, and made him the wisest man who ever lived. God takes us, broken and unoriginal, and turns us into complete and original children of our King!
Without my God, I am nothing.
With him, I can have everything.
Thank you Abba, for forgiving us when we fail, for forgiving our sins. We are undeserving, but your love is unfailing. Thank you for your judgement, cleansing, and creating us into new beings. We would gladly offer you all we have, but you desire our hearts. So take it, because you can make it into something I could never dream of. All we have and all we are is yours.
Amen.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Day 6: The List.
Today we are reading Proverbs chapter 6 followed by Psalm chapters 26-30. Before you start reading, (as always), ask God to prepare your heart to receive his truth for you today!
-Read Scriptures-
As followers of Christ, we should always be aiming to become more like Jesus. Our character should always be molding into a more Christ-like character. But sometimes I got frustrated. I mean, why didn't God just give us a list? Wouldn't that make it so much easier?!
Then I came across the "Seven things God hates" list. The following literally came to me as in the comics when a light bulb turns on over one's head. If these 7 things are the things he hates more than anything, then surely the opposite characteristics are the things he loves most! Really profound right?! Lol. Well, it makes perfect sense to me. :)
So here is the list according to the TNIV:
"There are 6 things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness that pours out lies, and a person who stirs up dissension in the community." Proverbs 6: 16-19
(In case you were wondering, haughty eyes means seeing yourself as superior, being arrogant. I had to look that one up, not ashamed to say. :)
So using that list, I wrote my own "Things God loves" list and started praying to become these things every day. I have been praying this list over myself, my kids, and my husband for over a year! I figure that if I can use this list of characteristics as my guideline, then I will constantly be moving in the direction of becoming more Christ-like (no matter how slow). Now here is what I came up with. (Keep in mind, this is a list I wrote based on what I read, so take it for what it's worth, grain of salt and what not!)
Here are the 6 things God loves, 7 that are honorable to him (according to Steen):
Undivided heart: 100% focused on You, not on this world. (More on this concept later :)
Clear mind: to remember and recall Your truths.
Peaceful attitude: to bring people together, not to separate.
Compassionate eyes: eyes that are quick to embrace, not judge.
Selfless mouth: quick to listen, slow to speak, and speaking only truth.
Productive hands: accomplishing Your work.
Steady feet: following You, never to wander or stumble.
(When I pray it, I work from the head down. Start with the heart, mind, attitude, eyes, mouth, hands, then feet!)
I have found that you can run almost ANYTHING that comes your way through this filter/grid and know how to respond in a more Christ-like manner. Since I have begun praying for these specific traits, I've felt myself change. It's getting a bit easier to make right choices. I still struggle with several of them, (especially the selfless mouth). But slowly, God is molding me to become the person I am asking him to make me.
A prayer I want us to offer up and meditate on today:
"Examine me, GOD, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I'm fit inside and out so I never lose sight of your love, But keep in step with you, never missing a beat." Psalm 26:2-3 The Message
My challenge for you: Pray this list over yourself and your loved ones every day for the rest of the month and just see what happens!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Day 5: No matter the stormy sea.
Before we start reading today, ask God to reveal something new about himself to you. We will be reading Proverbs chapter 5 and Psalm chapters 21-25.
-Read Scripture-
A couple of days ago, we talked about why God rebukes, disciplines, and corrects us. Yesterday we looked at our innate desire to rebel against authority and that the only TRUE freedom is found under God's authority. Today we are going to look at the collateral damage of rebellion, and that no matter what dark place you find yourself in, it's never too late to cry out to God for help.
It's very hard when you watch someone you love rebel. Being the oldest of 3 other siblings and having worked with my husband in student ministry for over 7 years, I have much experience with this. You see the path they are on and the danger ahead, but it is not until they are swimming in their consequences that they call out or want help. Of course, this is applicable for us and the people around us. People see us heading down a road, and we don't want help until the inevitable rock bottom. It's hard to watch. So imagine our heavenly father, having to watch us swim out too deep, knowing at any moment, we could be overcome with irrevocable consequences.
"Mark well that GOD doesn't miss a move you make; he's aware of every step you take. The shadow of your sin will overtake you; you'll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark." Proverbs 5:22-23 The Message
This is why God steps in to course correct, he understands the consequences before we do. This is why we should be grateful when he steps in, because he is most likely saving us from certain drowning. The biggest, most important thing to get out of today is that it is NEVER too late to call to God. You are never out of his reach, no matter how low you are.
I love King David. He was a shepherd, a King, an adulterer, a murderer, but he was a man after God's own heart. David had experienced almost every high and every low imaginable. In every peak, he praised God, and in every valley, he cried out to him for salvation & rescue. Even after his affair and murder cover-up, God restored David due to his genuine humility and cry of repentance.
Psalm chapter 23 is some of the most famous and recalled scripture of all time. "Yea, through I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me..." Psalm 23:4 NKJ But I want to share with you another version of that passage. Sometimes, when you've heard something your whole life said the same way, you don't really HEAR it anymore. It just bounces through your head and doesn't stick. (At least that is what happens to me.) And I truly want these verses to stick!
"Even in the unending shadows of death's darkness, I am not overcome by fear. Because you are with me in those dark moments, near with your protection and guidance, I am comforted." Psalm 23:4 The Voice.
Jesus forgave the thief on the cross dying next to him. We have already established David's rap sheet. It's never too late to ask God for help. He's never out of reach. The power of Christ can light any dark place, he can rescue you from any stormy sea or any dark valley you may find yourself.
Abba,
Thank you for caring about us enough to never leave us. Thank you for your patience with us. Thank you for your redemption. I pray that we accept your tough love in our lives as what it truly is: grace. That you see what we can't, you see the consequences that lay ahead. That we trust you to lead us. Thank you that no matter how far we wander, no matter how dark a place we may find ourselves, you are able and willing to rescue us and set us at your table. That is immeasurable love. Thank you for lifting us up so that we can stand tall and look you straight in the eye. We love you and desire to honor you with our lives today.
Amen
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Day 2: Learning to listen.
Before we start, ask God to open your ears and heart to hear and receive anything he may have for you today. Then go ahead and read Proverbs chapter 2 and Psalm chapters 6-10.
-Read Scripture-
Today we are going to talk about the biggest, life changing thing that has happened to me. (Regarding my relationship with God.) And that has been training myself to hear and respond to God's voice. Over the past 5 years or so, I would hear him speak to me, but it was sporadically. It wasn't until about a year and a half ago that I started hearing him regularly.
And it wasn't because he wasn't speaking, it was just that I wasn't listening.
"If you listen for Lady Wisdom, attune your ears to her, and engage your mind to understand what she is telling you, If you cry out to her for insight and beg for understanding, If you sift through the clamor of everything around you to seek her like some precious prize, to search for her like buried treasure; Then you will grasp what it means to truly respect the Eternal, and you will have discovered the knowledge of the one True God." Proverbs 2:2-5 The Voice
Attune your ears, sift through the clamor. I love these verses, they gave me the instruction I needed. Like much of the world today, I suffer from some form of ADD. I would pray, say in the car, then I would find myself mentally preparing my grocery list...or I would be reading the bible, then out of nowhere be thinking about the movie I watched the night before.
It wasn't until I started journaling where everything changed for me. I started journaling on my trip to Thailand in January of 2011 and never stopped. I journal and read every single morning. It has gotten to where my whole day feels out of sorts if I don't! Each morning, I start out journaling about what is going on in my life, family, friends, upcoming events or vacations. I tell him the funny story that happened the day before (this has also done wonders for my memory!) I ask him for help with problems I can't solve, etc.
Then I read some scripture, then I close by praying. I journal ALL of my prayers. It allowed me to focus and an amazing thing happened. As I'd journal, I would hear God answer or respond to me! So I started writing his responses down in capitol letters so I wouldn't confuse myself. Now, I'm able to go back and reread what he has said to me.
It's incredible to be able to go back a year and read the things God prepared me for and how they all came true. I get to see how God saw the whole picture way before I could! Now I do hear God other times, but when I "attune my ears, engage my mind, cry out to him, and beg for understanding...when I sift through the clamor," THAT is when I hear him best.
People have asked me how I know it's him, or what does it sound like. Now this is just my personal experience and I'm wanting to share it with you so that you will not be afraid to share your story with others. It's not a booming voice of God, he speaks through the Holy Spirit inside me. So it kind of sounds like me talking to myself, but I always know when it is him. There are two ways I know.
1. It's always something that I would NEVER say to myself.
2. It almost always moves me emotionally.
Whenever the Holy Spirit speaks to me or prods me, it is very overwhelming. It is almost as though I feel warm inside and on the verge of tears. It is, my absolute favorite feeling.
My challenge for you today, and the rest of this month, is to journal some of your prayers. Put your phone in another room, (mine has buzzed 3 times in preparing this study, talk about clamor!), sit it in a quiet place, and ask God to show up. Then wait. Don't think about anything else. (I've found the easiest way for my ADD mind to do this, is to visualize a picture of God I have in my mind and rest there.) Praise him, thank him.
And if he speaks, write down what he says. It may not make any sense to you at that moment, but I'm willing to bet that if you go back and read it later this month, it will. There is NO confirmation of faith like going back and reading God's personal words to you, especially when you've seen them play out! I promise.
Abba, may we open ourselves up to you. Let us forget about the world around us and ignore the clamor for just a moment. Let us be open to hear what you have for us and the truth about how you feel about us. We rely on you. Let us simply rest in your presence today.
Amen
Day 1: The beginning.
We are beginning this study by reading Proverbs chapter 1, then Psalm chapters 1-5. Before you read, pray that God will reveal his truths and heart to you. Sincerely enter this reading with an open heart and mind, being ready for God to start changing you!
-Read Proverbs & Psalms-
What is the point of reading the bible? What is the point of this study for you? Is it to obtain wisdom? Discipline? Or is it simply to learn more about our creator? No matter your answer, “Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one true God, is the first step towards knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7, the Voice). Honestly, I believe that is the first step towards anything; knowledge, peace, joy, or discipline. The question is, what are you searching for? Try starting with worshiping your heavenly father, your Abba. Worship has an incredible way of setting up our hearts and minds to receive truths God has for us. Take a minute and WORSHIP him! Take a moment and write down some praise towards heaven.
Which brings us to step 2. “Instead you thrill to God’s word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.” (Psalms 1:2-3, the MSG). I love the visual picture of “chewing”. It matters what we eat, what we ingest. It is important to “chew” on good things! Focusing on ingesting God’s word is one of the most essential things we can do. You know the saying, “Good things in…” Think about it this way, for every minute we spend in the scriptures, that is one more minute we have invested in eternity. Good news, you’ve already spent almost an hour investing in eternity today! Think about ways you can chew/meditate on what you’ve read later today.
God uses his word to teach us, correct us, and sometimes rebuke our behavior or attitude. The great news is, if you “Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” (Proverbs 1:23, NKJ). This is my personal favorite. If you humble yourself and bow before your Father, study the scriptures with an open heart and learn from your Master, Jesus, then the Holy Spirit will make his will known to you. Now, if you are a follower of Christ, the Holy Spirit (I like to call him “Friend”, re: John 14:16-17 MSG version) resides in you and works in and through you. BUT, if you want to experience God in a tangible, real way, and want to be able to recognize his voice, you have to be willing to make him priority. Not just a part of our lives, but THE priority. He speaks to us, gives us words when we need them, stops us from dangerous situations, and sends us encouragement through friends and family. He will make His words known to us, and make no mistake, he has words for you! And it is my prayer that over the next month, together we will learn to recognize his voice through the Holy Spirit, because it WILL change our lives! I know, it has already begun to change mine.
My personal prayer for us today:
Abba, give us an attitude of praise today. Let us see you and worship you in everything we encounter. Help us "chew" and meditate on the scriptures we read today. Make them fill every crevice in our minds and hearts. Help us recognize the Holy Spirit and respond to his prodding. Reveal yourself to us today and show up tangibly. You are always there, just open our eyes to recognize you. We love and honor you.
Amen
-Read Proverbs & Psalms-
What is the point of reading the bible? What is the point of this study for you? Is it to obtain wisdom? Discipline? Or is it simply to learn more about our creator? No matter your answer, “Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one true God, is the first step towards knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7, the Voice). Honestly, I believe that is the first step towards anything; knowledge, peace, joy, or discipline. The question is, what are you searching for? Try starting with worshiping your heavenly father, your Abba. Worship has an incredible way of setting up our hearts and minds to receive truths God has for us. Take a minute and WORSHIP him! Take a moment and write down some praise towards heaven.
Which brings us to step 2. “Instead you thrill to God’s word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.” (Psalms 1:2-3, the MSG). I love the visual picture of “chewing”. It matters what we eat, what we ingest. It is important to “chew” on good things! Focusing on ingesting God’s word is one of the most essential things we can do. You know the saying, “Good things in…” Think about it this way, for every minute we spend in the scriptures, that is one more minute we have invested in eternity. Good news, you’ve already spent almost an hour investing in eternity today! Think about ways you can chew/meditate on what you’ve read later today.
God uses his word to teach us, correct us, and sometimes rebuke our behavior or attitude. The great news is, if you “Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” (Proverbs 1:23, NKJ). This is my personal favorite. If you humble yourself and bow before your Father, study the scriptures with an open heart and learn from your Master, Jesus, then the Holy Spirit will make his will known to you. Now, if you are a follower of Christ, the Holy Spirit (I like to call him “Friend”, re: John 14:16-17 MSG version) resides in you and works in and through you. BUT, if you want to experience God in a tangible, real way, and want to be able to recognize his voice, you have to be willing to make him priority. Not just a part of our lives, but THE priority. He speaks to us, gives us words when we need them, stops us from dangerous situations, and sends us encouragement through friends and family. He will make His words known to us, and make no mistake, he has words for you! And it is my prayer that over the next month, together we will learn to recognize his voice through the Holy Spirit, because it WILL change our lives! I know, it has already begun to change mine.
My personal prayer for us today:
Abba, give us an attitude of praise today. Let us see you and worship you in everything we encounter. Help us "chew" and meditate on the scriptures we read today. Make them fill every crevice in our minds and hearts. Help us recognize the Holy Spirit and respond to his prodding. Reveal yourself to us today and show up tangibly. You are always there, just open our eyes to recognize you. We love and honor you.
Amen
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