Old Scriptures seen in a new light……

As you know, our bible study is currently studying "A Confident Heart," by Renee Swope. I love this book. Renee shares her personal stories and has a great way to connect with her audience. This book has had a big impact on me, and I recommend it for anyone who struggles with having a confident heart in God's promises.

Today I wanted to share my learning about 3 familiar scriptures discussed in Chapter 9. I can't tell you the number of times I have read these scriptures, but today, I saw something different. We all know that happens, it is the beauty of God's Word; if you ask him to share who he is and to speak to you, he will. That was no exception today. Thank you Lord. So I thought I would share my learning, I pray it opens up new meaning for you as well.

Luke 10:38-42 Mary and Martha
The first scripture is probably very familiar to all, especially to us ladies. Martha and Mary are throwing a dinner party for Jesus Christ himself. And while Martha is scurrying around taking care of business, Mary is sitting at the foot of Christ, listening. Women for centuries have taken sides on which person they were more aligned with, but today I viewed Christ's words differently. A few words stood out to me that didn't before: "……but a few things are needed – or indeed only one…." Huh. Perhaps it is because I always empathized with Martha, I tend to focus on a different part of the scripture versus this one, such as "my sister has left me to do the work by myself" and "you are worried and upset about many things." So today, when I saw, "but only few things are needed - or indeed only one," I saw this error in myself.  I focus on the many, but often forget about the one. Like starting my day asking God, "In all the many things I could do today LORD, what is the one you want me to do?"  Or, "I have been asked to do many things by many people, but what is your hope and plan for my future?"  My husband just had his 50^th birthday. We had a great time celebrating with just a few friends. Well, they did, because I was so busy being a Martha, I never stopped to talk and introduce people, bringing together loved ones of different parts of our lives, and helping them to get to know each other. Did I stop to ask, God, what is your purpose for this gathering? Sadly, I did not. I know people had fun. How could they not, my husband is a hoot and an entertainer. But Christ's words made me think…."but [only] a few things are needed – or indeed only one," It drives me to ask, Lord what is that for me, today?

Phil 4:7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand,  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. NLT
Again, a scripture I am very familiar with, have even studied, but Renee writes on page 172, "..God doesn't promise understanding; He promises peace in the midst of not understanding." I agree with this statement. I had just never read it that way. So I had to ask myself, how did I read it? Well, I guess I understood it more in an ethereal way. Where if I live in Christ, obeying his ways, I will have peace, and I may not always understand everything about why I go through what I am going through or understand how he gives me peace but, He is God, I take it on faith. But I love this, more "down to earth," concept. The meanings are similar, but I guess when I read this today, it was almost like "I'm not gonna get it," and sometimes, I'm not meant to. Like death, that is just one thing that on this earth that we are not going to fully understand.  We are in a fallen world and unless we are completely focused on the ever after; even then, we are going to struggle. But after reading this wording today I grasped, I may not always understand, but you know what? I am still promised peace by God.

Ps 103:1 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
I love this! There are so many scriptures you can pull from in Psalms that lift you up and praise our Lord. I so enjoy, reading these and just resting on what those who came before us had to say. They struggled with the same issues! Don't you in some weird way find that comforting? Sorry, but I do. In this part of the book, page 173, Renee is again referencing Mary and Martha and discusses how Martha, bosses Jesus around by saying, "Tell her to help me!" That takes nerve, don't ya think? The key point that Renee goes into is that when we get nervous or anxious, we have a tendency to boss others around, lose our cool, as you see here with Martha and Jesus. But what she says we should do is boss our heart around, case in point, what David does in the above Psalm: "Praise the LORD, my soul." She says, David here when he, perhaps doesn't feel like praising, tells his soul to do so. Just as he does in the next phrase, "All my inmost being, praise his holy name." Here he is again telling his inmost being to praise his holy name. She adds that we have to choose time to be with the Lord. Not just find time, but choose time. All of this adds up to intentionality with the Lord, which I thought I understood, but today, I had to reevaluate. When I am down, perhaps like the last couple of days, don't knock myself for wavering, being sucked in my the evil one. We all will falter. It is more about, picking myself up, quickly turning back to God, and I love this, as Renee says, "tell [my] heart and soul what to do." Praise the LORD [BOLDLY], my soul!