Chapter 15 :: How Do We Interact With the Word?

Gals, I hope this finds you doing great, but also trembling. Trembling a little like me because of sentences in this chapter like this one... "Many believers, especially Christian women, are not confident in their personal study of the Word." Think about that. How does that sit with you? It makes me sad, feel icky, and makes me want to kick myself in the pants! Seriously. For as many bibles as I have in my house and on my iPhone (and lets be honest, have had around me for my ENTIRE life), I should know the bible A LOT better than I currently do. What grace He has towards me... towards us!

I'm not here to beat anyone up, but lets sit ourselves down here. If we really want to know God and know His Son, why do we NOT know His Word-- breathed by Him-- better? Wendy mentions this (and I FULLY agree), "Many of us use the demands of our stage of life as an excuse against any bible study." I don't even have kids yet, but I can TOTALLY say that in every stage of life so far, I've thought I was "really busy". Sarah, really? You're too busy to read the book tat the God who breathed life into you wrote? The one who saved you from the pit of hell? The one who knows EVERYTHING not only about you, but about EVERY situation you'll every be in, not to mention EVERYTHING about the ENTIRE world? That's a bummer for you that you think you're too busy.

In this chapter Wendy also mentions...

"Although we want to understand all of Scripture, the Bible would not be the eternal, living Word of God if we could not get our minds around every concept in it. Do I want a God who is no deeper than I am? Do I want a God who doesn't transcend my ability to reason?' 

"The written Word of God is his logos-- his written expression of his character and purposes." 

Girls, it has been such a blessing to be on this journey with you over break. Reading this chapter not only challenges me, but encourages me because I KNOW the Spirit IS at work in me and throughout this chapter seemed to scream....Yes! I have also had some real rich times in the Word where I have found answers through other scripture, as Wendy mentions and have been proactive to be in the word. Perfect? No! And even if I totally blew it all break, can I start fresh now? Oh yes, dear girl! Do I want to know and follow hard after Him? Yes, I do and I can. I can because He is in me giving me the desire to want to. Not only that, but in the seasons of life where I have upheld, studied and valued His word, I have been so satisfied with Him and have felt so close to Him! Getting to know God is one of the options I have EVERY day and not only that, but He wants RELATIONSHIP with me... you and me! How exciting! What a privilege!

This also reminds me of C.S. Lewis's quote from Chapter 2...

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." (Pg. 39) -C.S. Lewis

Please, please, please, end your time by asking God to "Open your eyes that you may see wonderful things in His law" Ps 119:18 (emphasis added). Ask Him to give you a deep seeded passion for Him and for His Word, so that you'll fall more in love with Him and obey Him for the right reasons so that He gets great glory. Ask Him to give you one pure and holy passion to know and follow hard after Him-- not the things that seem pleasing in the moment. Pray that He will help you to not become weary in doing good (studying His Word), but that you will produce a harvest if you don't give up (Gal. 6:9).