Week 1: Days 1,2,3,4
WE ARE UNDERWAY!
As of today, we have completed 4 days out of 40. I pray that your devotion time falls into the “so far so good” category. Hopefully, you are getting the hang of the technology that is stretching some of you. I’ve heard from many of you personally. THANK YOU.
If the first week of this lenten reflection series had a theme it would be PREPARATION. My goal was to lay a foundation for you to have maximum impact for the rest of our forty days together. Did that happen for you? Do you sense that your communication with the Lord is unhindered? Can you embrace both His Almighty Lordship and His tender care for YOU? It is my hope that week one has provoked you to till the soil in your heart such that planting and growth and fruit can happen. If you struggle with the answers to those questions, please ask a trusted friend to pray for you. If you don’t know who to ask, please let me know. It would be my privilege to do so.
A participant shared this fabulous tattered peanuts comic she has tucked away in her devotional. Too wonderful not to pass along to all of you.
More on Being Still
A participant wonders.. When you are still, what is your mind doing or thinking? Is it blank (thinking nothing) or are you talking to Jesus? Is there a right way to be still?
ANSWER
First, I am NO EXPERT when it comes to stillness. But I have made baby step progress. And I’m quite certain there is no “right way” to be still.
When I begin my time, I remove all distractions. I don’t look at my phone, don’t pet the cat, don’t have my computer open, I pray very simply, Come Holy Spirit and I’m quiet. I attempt to JUST BE. At first, this feels impossible. But in my experience you do get better at emptying your mind. Inevitably what weighs heavily comes to my mind. When it does, I don’t rush to ask or solve or do. Instead, I DON’T pray to Jesus, rather just focus on Him and His character, opening my mind to hearing from Him. In the silence, I attempt to have Him direct my thoughts. When He does speak to me, it isn’t audible. It is usually just a sense. I hope that helps.
I forgot to reference this recent blog article for reinforcement of Being Still, and Psalm 46:10. MUTE!
If anyone else can share their silence experience, please do.
To leave your comment or question for our lenten community…. simply scroll to the very bottom, beyond any other comments, and you will see a white box labeled… leave a reply. You write what you’d like in the box then hit the tan tab (this color) that says POST COMMENT.
Together, let’s approach week two with the same enthusiasm we started with. May the Lord richly bless your obedience to keep your divine appointment.
For His Glory, Debbie Hucke
Peggy who tried to write but the link wasn’t working says… Did not find check in page:
Week one..highlight for me…the Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing! I recall something I read or something said from another time…God will provide strength in measure to the difficulty…so that we continue to lean on Him! How true this has been for me in recent times. Or how I have recognized it in recent times. What an awesome God!
Deb,
These first 4 days of Lent have been good to me and for me. I am keeping a notebook, at your suggestion. I am feeling God’s love for me and concentrating on being still and listening to him calling my name…
Thank you for your knowledge of the scriptures and sharing each day with us throughout the country. I am keeping copious notes that I plan to refer to and share with my bible study in the future.
Blessings, Marilyn Wright
May God bless your obedience! This report blesses my heart!
Rachel wrote… I definitely heard God. First it was you silly child 2 minutes now not enough for your wandering brain hush now and relax. And then it was a needing to accept that in some situations it is a sin-sin situation. My own hurt keeps me afraid of being hurt again fear is a sin and so is cutting off my heart and holding a grudge. The fear is maybe easier to deal with than the grudge holding. Well healthier definitely but not easier. Everything with god is both difficult and easy.
Ann wrote…
Just enjoying your every day reads so far
So glad to be a part of this study Deb
Thank you. Ann
Mary wrote,
powerful and HELPFUL in these trying times! You are a blessing in my life! You help me “stay together” more than you’ll ever know!!!❤️????????????????????❤️????
Cheryle wrote,
I have been singing with my five year old granddaughter, Jesus Loves Me, and she has been singing it around the house for four days. I wish I could put my arms around you, as you watch
these last days with your mom.
Mrs Sanchez wrote… Thank you for including me, it’s nice that you have these reflections. On days that are trying we really need something like this amen
Cecelia wrote, I am thankful that I could join you.
Really appreciate the reminder of stillness, silence which is so hard to do with all the extractions. It’s been even harder with a husband retired at home with his own agenda. Not criticizing just the truth. Then I remembered a wonderful lady from our church who talked of a time she actually went into her closet. I love that. Truly, where there is a will there is a way! We stumble but these reminders from you & others are encouraging to keep on keeping on!
Amen Karen.
I am keeping a journal like I did last year. It’s interesting to go back and read entries from a year ago and realize how much God has blessed me since then.
I love the silence time but find it difficult. My mind is so busy. I must use the time of silence to ask God to still my agenda and listen for his voice! I want to be God-centered and not ME centered. I guess this conflict reveals my sin of not loving God with all my heart, strength and mind. I’m going to try to focus on quiet praise if I cannot empty my thoughts in the silence.
Quiet praise. That is a challenge. May God bless your earnest desire.
I am grateful to have this Lenten community of women! Thank you, Debbie, for doing this. I loved the study on “Create in me a new heart” and reflecting on how God as the Creator is more than capable of doing this. Dragging my sin and shame around is not necessary or honoring to Him. Like others, I struggle with being quiet in my mind. I write everything (prayers, what I’m learning in Scripture) because it helps me focus, but I so want to increase the time I spend listening to God. It’s so easy for me to forget to be intentional with that. Very happy to be grounded in this study as we move forward together!
Thank you for adding your voice! So pleased you have approached this Lent with discipline. Praying God will bless your obedience.
I have found that my best time to be quiet is when I walk. I pray and try to listen.
I’ve done a lot more walking during this pandemic. Creativity often stirred when I walk. Keep walking Mary. Helpful on many levels.
Thank you Deb for including me in this Lenten reflection. Day 1 I really enjoyed the biblical list of all of Gods primary attributes. It is a reminder of how awesome and Great God truly is! I also was reminded of a book I have from Day 2. It was written by Max Lucado titled Safe in the Shepherds Arms. I read it over and over to my husband who passed away of Cancer over 14 years ago. It breaks down Psalm 23 and helped me a lot during that time. I am reading thru it once again. I know I fail at being still and will work on that this next week. Have a blessed week ahead!
Thank you Diane for weighing in. I love to hear of other writings that have been helpful. Isn’t it wonderful to utilize His word so practically?
I’m so grateful to be part of this Lenten series. Before I start my stillness I play the song Holy Spirit you are welcome here. It helps to clear the mind and focus on being with God. Thank you Deb for your many insights on scripture.
Come Holy Spirit. His presence is key. Thank you Kathy.
My son has been serving as a Missionary in the Czech Republic for the past six, almost seven, years now. It’s interesting when we visited about the “be still and know that I am God” passage. He shared the teaching there is more of a command, more of saying, “Enough! Stop! Know that I am God.” It’s not meant to be harsh but more relying on the promise that God is who He says He is: God. Sometimes I have to stop my thoughts and say, “Enough! Do not go there in your thoughts. You KNOW HE is God and God alone.”
Oh Leslie… I LOVE this. Yes! Enough already…. you fickle followers. I am God! Thanks for sharing.
Week 1 was an amazing reminder. So many good nuggets to chew on all day. Nothing so huge it felt overwhelming. Just lots of refocusing which is what I didn’t know I needed. One day in particular I was reading your example of how to pray. I started to pray and I was thanking God for his faithfulness in the area of finances. He has proven himself so extremely faithful in that area for me my entire life that I can genuinely say I never worry about it. As soon as I was thanking Him for that I heard in my spirit…..”then why don’t you trust me in THIS area”. It was some things I have been struggling in and I needed His reminder that he is just as faithful in EVERY area. Put me back on track and I am thankful.
I love how you paid attention to His redirect. I wonder how often we miss it because we’re not in His presence consistently. Thank you for sharing.
Once again you say the correct words when you talk about your son. Keep up the good work.
All my love, Debra Harbaugh
You’re such an encouragement. Thank you.