Followup Thoughts

After our last Friday's Lunch Zoom meeting a few things stuck with me which I want to address briefly.

1. Never feel like you have to compare yourself with each other. Each of you are uniquely made for the glory of God and the benefit of each other. Don't allow the enemy to make you feel less than because a sister is successful in her life endeavors. Rejoice with your sister in Christ for all God has done in her life! Lean in and learn from her. Count the blessings in your life and all the Lord has accomplished in you. Be gracious and

I have been thinking much about you. I truly enjoyed our conversation with all of you yesterday.

kind in sharing your gifts and talents with the rest of us!

WE ARE NOT IT COMPETITION WITH EACH OTHER! One of the things we are here to do is walk alongside each other in love and encouragement. Look at our amazing God in all He is and has done! That is a solid foundation that never changes.

2. Alena asked how we find the time to have daily devotions. I would like to give a more specific answer. And Ivy asked for specific recommendations for devotional reading. I've included some links to suggestions.

DAILY DEVOTIONS are pivotal to a thriving christian life. We must create space and time for this to happen. We must be intentional about this. Don’t wait till you feel like it. Schedule it and make it a part of your daily routine. REMEMBER, the purpose of “Personal devotions” or “Quiet Times” with Jesus is to get to know your God and Savior more intimately. Just like with any relationship, you get to know a person better by spending more time with them. As Christians there are different ways you can do this in your relationship with Jesus. This is not an exhaustive list, but a good starting place. Remember it’s not about being legalistic, but a heart’s desire to be with the One you love in order to know Him better so you can come to love Him more.We are talking about Jesus here.

1. SET A TIME AND A PLACE to have your devotions - what time works best for you to do this. Morning, afternoon, evening! I do mornings because that’s the example I see in Jesus’s life. But it hasn’t always been that way and it has changed over the years depending on the season of life I was in. So choose a day and time that suits your season of life and you can be consistent in. Life changing habits are formed through rhythm! Set you rhythm and keep it.

FOR EXAMPLE:

WHEN: Daily @7am

WHERE: on Back Patio,(with Tea and crumpets)

WHAT: going through “Knowing God” by J. I. Packer

We can talk about more specifics of what a quiet time looks like if you like. You can also take a listen to the workshop I did at the Garden Fellowship Women’s Retreat last year on “Pressing Into Jesus” https://subspla.sh/bpq56zb

It begins with me in the midst of my devotional prayer time. It concludes with me walking the ladies through the parts of what I did and then a Q&A with the ladies in attendance.

2. Choose WHAT will be your tool to help you know Him better through His word. Here are some DEVOTIONAL BOOKS to consider for your devotions. There are many books by Kay Arthur that would be wonderful for you to go through. I unreservedly recommend Kay Arthur, any of her books or bible studies through Precept Upon Precept. Precept upon Precept is challenging to many people as it is an Inductive Method of studying the word of God similar to what they do in seminaries. Very time intensive. If you are up for the challenge I highly recommend it. If you would like something meaty but not too time intensive any of her “Lord… series of books are also wonderful!

Lord, I Want to Know You: A Devotional Study on the Names of God BY Kay Arthur

https://a.co/d/1kunyoT

Lord, Is It Warfare? Teach Me to Stand: A Devotional Study on Spiritual Victory https://a.co/d/gs0tWjB

Lord, Heal My Hurts: A Devotional Study on God's Care and Deliverance https://a.co/d/32DjYPA

Will share more next week!

Love you all so much!

You are precious to me! 😘❤️🤗

Now make a plan for your daily devotions!

Share thoughts, ideas and comments with the group here 👇.