As a follow-up to Tuesday night, I let the women know that I would be sharing some thoughts that the Lord gives me on my blog including a "toolbox"....tools that I have found helpful for myself and for them to consider using as they seek to apply what the Spirit spoke to them about regarding having a new beginning as it relates to their greatest weakness.
I want to share 2 "tools" in this blog. I'll share more as the Lord prompts me to do so. And, I'll add a "toolbox" sidebar to my blog that lists the tools for easy reference that includes the blog date if you want to read the fuller explanation.
Tool #1:
A new Bible
This tool really only applies to you if you've had your Bible for a long time. In other words, it's well used and marked up. If that description fits you, this idea is worth considering! What I've found is that it is very easy to become too familiar with my Bible...huh, you're saying?! How can a person become too familiar with their Bible? By leaning on the notes and markings I've already written such that I no longer listen to the Spirit for a new application of a particular passage's truth.
Additionally, because spiritual growth is a process, we are (hopefully!) always changing. That means we're growing in knowledge; therefore, what we needed when we first came to know Jesus isn't the same as when we've been walking with Him for awhile and certainly not what we need as a seasoned follower of Him. In earlier days, a person may need a more readable translation, but it may be what's called a paraphrase (i.e. The Message or the Living Bible in which the writers took the original words and put them into their own words and focus heavily on making it relevant) or a "thought for thought" Bible translation (i.e NIV in which phrases are taken and translated from the original manuscripts...this also helps make it more readable for today's reader) instead of a "word for word" translation (i.e. NAS or ESV which is the most accurate since each word is translated one word at a time from the original manuscripts).
As God grows us up in Him, just as a baby moves from milk to solid food to meat, so we as believers need a change in our spiritual diet. With the age of the internet and an abundance of Christian bookstores, we all have a wealth of resources to avail ourself of...if we really want the information!
Tool #2
A classic devotional book like Streams in the Desert
by Mrs. Charles Cowman
Sometimes, we all need a little help in our quiet time (the specific time you've chosed to set aside every day to spend with the Lord reading & praying). The only exception I know personally is my husband, Neal, who is what I call a "purist"...he, for the most part, only uses his Bible for his quiet time. Always has, probably always will. He does keep our Strongs or Holman's concordance handy (I'll probably blog at some point on the benefits to using a concordance.) I agree with him that for the most part, we need to spend most of our time with "straight Bible", but I also know that a devotional can be a huge source of encouragement and growth in my spiritual life. Streams in the Desert is one of those profound books that I have read again and again, year after year, and the Spirit continues to use it to sharpen me. It is available in an updated edition in almost any bookstore, probably even a secular bookstore like Barnes & Noble or Borders. I personally love the older editions, and search for them on Ebay and in used bookstores wherever I travel because I love giving them away to people.
By the way, this devotional was my Mom's all-time favorite. A older, godly woman gave her a copy when she was a young wife & Mom, and it stayed with her Bible & all the things she used regularly for her quiet time up until the time of her departure to heaven in January of this year at the age of 83.
I love this phrase from the April 30th's selection and have been "chewing" on it all day:
"The living God is still in the heavens
and
even to delay is part of His goodness."
Wow...see what I mean about being sharpened?!
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Women of Lakeview that attended the banquet:
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share with you. I would LOVE to hear from you, and how taking the 40 day Psalm 1 challenge/dare is going and how I can pray for you. I plan to blog soon writing out a summary of what I shared so that you have that for reference...because sometimes we agree to do something and then down the road we really can forget why...I want you to have the core Biblical truths available so that the Spirit can keep that fire in your heart lit for Him!
P.S. please don't let the enemy succeed in discouraging with tempting thoughts such as "i missed a day praying & asking the Lord to give me a delight for His word, so I might as well give up." No...just pick right up again & continue on! I cannot wait to hear how He uses the next 40 days (or however long it takes you to do 40 days worth of asking!)!
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