The start of a new year begins with a return to the devotional “Settle My Soul” by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk. Our group will finish this devotional book and I truly cannot recommend it enough.
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We began with reading Psalm 119:71 and Hebrews 5:8:
“My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.”
“Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.”
Pain and refinement – the topics most of us like to avoid.
The psalmist tells us suffering is good for us – it teaches us to pay attention to God’s decrees. The writer of Hebrews reminds us Jesus walked all the way to the Cross in submission to the Father’s will. He chose to obey His Father.
It falls upon us to make the right choice if we are truly desire to grow.
The choice is ours – resist or embrace.
“He [God] is teaching us to anchor our lives to what matters most, in what truly lasts.” (from page 151)
He alone is what truly will last. May this coming year, 2020, be the year we let Him teach us to anchor our lives to Him. May it be the year of better choices, right choices, so that we experience growth in Him.
The study asks two poignant questions:
- Where are you most tempted to doubt God in your suffering?
- How can you practically surrender or cooperate with what God is really doing?
Prayer: Dear Father, we come before You at the start of this new year. It lies before us like a clean slate filled with possibilities. Help us to stay anchored to You and Your Word. Help us to make right choices on those days when it is hard, when we are filled with doubt, when the burden is too much. We thank You for You are committed to each of us, desiring to complete the work You have begun. In Your Name we pray, Amen.
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“I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you.” (1 Corinthians 11:1, NLT)
We need friends in our lives, no doubt about this. But the question is: What should be the real goal of our friendships?
“So don’t lose sight of the real goal of friendship – becoming more like Christ.”
(page 155)
Friendships need to be a two-way street. Mutual growth occurring in both lives as we encourage and spur one another on in life.
Jesus did this with those He was closest. He prayed for them. He encouraged them. He cried with them. But He also rebuked them when necessary.
Through His exemplary life, others desired to leave everything and follow Him.
The study asks two powerful questions:
- Where have you noticed the tendency to become too comfortable in friendships?
- What needs to change most right now in order for you to become a friend worth following?
Think on these for a bit as it will help develop more healthy friendships.
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Better choices.
Better in friendships.
A better year!
Photo 1: by cetteup on Unsplash
Photo 2: by Joris Molenaar on Unsplash
Today I am joining … Woman to Woman and Recharge Wednesday .
It sounds as if you have gained so much from this study.
And your post reminds me of that verse in Hebrews about hope–the anchor for our soul. We need reminders like this at the beginning of a new year.
We sure do, or at least I do! Staying anchored from the start makes for a less rough journey. We may get rocked a bit, but we won’t drift!
Too ill for a sonnet, but I hope you like this haiku.
In the deep-fallen snow
we may not feel the green warmth
of coming spring.
Andrew, praying for you. Even though it is the middle of winter, may you experience the warmth of Jesus in your heart and mind. Praying for you tonight.
Your study group sounds wonderful. You really ask the hard questions. I love this one: “Where are you most tempted to doubt God in your suffering?” It’s something I think about often.
I have learned to keep friends who encourage me to be more like Christ very close to me. These people are my true friends.
Laurie, those who draw us closer to Christ are indeed our true friends. Sometimes we need the hard questions posed to us so we grow in areas we would avoid.
I’m glad I came over. I know just the person to send this book to.!
I am so glad, Susan, as this devotional has been such a blessing to our entire group.
This sounds like a great study. It’s always good to be reminded to stay anchored to God.
Staying anchored will keep us from our tendency to drift.