A few weeks ago, I posed a question – What is the most difficult thing about living a Christian life?

 

I got several responses through the site and Facebook, and I was surprised to see a common thread. In my nonscientific informal survey, the most difficult thing we face as believers is… other believers.

 

We are each other's biggest difficulty. How does that happen?

 

We get satisfied.

We lose grace.

We have more self-righteousness than Christ's righteousness.

We become prima donnas, more concerned about being served than serving Christ or others.

We forget what were saved from.

We forget that we are fellow soldiers and not empire builders.

We prize our agenda about the Kingdom.

Or a host of other possibilities…

 

 

It reminds me of a poem my husband heard his pastor quote when he was a kid-

 

 

In the hours before Jesus' crucifixion, He prayed that we would be one. Not that we would be the same, but that we would be united. Jesus knew all about our foibles when He saved us, and He intended for us put those to work for Him. His own disciples wrestled with this. Simon the zealot belonged to a political party sworn to assassinate guys like Matthew for being Roman collaborators. They worked it out because they bought into a greater vision.

 

One of my favorite Psalms is number 18. Buried within it, in verse 17 is a line that says "He delivered me from my strong enemy." You see, I have a strong enemy. Its name is depression. It slips in, and usually I don't recognize it until it's settled in and made itself at home. I've struggled with it my whole adult life. In fact I'm struggling now. 

 

The battle is exhausting. It saps my energy and creativity. It distracts me from every good thing in my life. That's its strategy- to pull my focus away until I'm consumed by what I feel. Maybe you can identify. 

 

I've learned a few things over the years. Medication can be helpful. Caring, praying friends are priceless. My husband is a Godsend. But Truth… that's the key. 

 

Here's what I know, also from Psalm 18- 

 

"He delivered me, because He delighted in me." (v. 19)

 

That's what I'm working on, sometimes hour by hour, immersing myself in that assurance. In spite of what it tells me, depression is temporary. Truth, especially the truth in Psalm 18, is eternal.

 

 

 

 

I'm considering 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles together because they cover the same main subject – the life and times of David. Volumes have been written about David and I can't possibly cover him in one quick blog post. However, if you undertake this study there are a number of different ways to approach it.

 

Character study – David's life divides into three phases: Shepherd, Renegade and King. What kind of man is he? How does he grow and change through each phase? What is the dominant aspect of his relationship with God during each phase?

 

David's triumphs and failures – He had plenty of both. Note how he responds to God in each situation.

 

A who/what study – Who does David come in contact with? What happens? What does he take away from the encounter?

 

David's prayers – What prompts the prayer? What does he say about God? What does he ask for?

 

Consequences – None of these books shy away from portraying sin or its effects. Keep track of the sins – not only of David, but others like Eli, and Saul – and how the individual sins impact others and even the nation itself.

 

 

If you're really ambitious, follow your footnotes and read the Psalms that are cross-referenced to the events in David's life. This gives a uniquely intimate look at his relationship with God. I love being able to look at his "journal". Also the range of emotions he records is reassuring. 

 

David's walk with God wasn't all hearts and rainbows, and by allowing us to see his failures as plainly as his great victories, we see God's mercy and grace on full display.

 

 

After Wednesday, and the end of NaNoWriMo, I'm mentally exhausted. 54,000 words in 30 days. (74,000 in 40 days.) I'm not sure I could string 3 creative words together today. It's a good tired, though. A satisfied tired. This was a tremendous book. I learned so much from it, and it touched me deeply. Perhaps more than any of the others. It was meant to be. I look forward to sharing to with you.

 

It's so very easy in our culture to pour ourselves out and never take the opportunity to recharge. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks leading up to Christmas when I can regroup, reconnect and relax. Then with my fingers, eyes and brain recharged, we'll be ready to tackle major edits on the first book in a new series.

 

So I have a few questions for you-

 

 

 

 

Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. Psalm 116:7

There are times in Scripture where God helps us out, highlighting His word for us. The highlighter used most often is 'behold'.

 

 

I don't typically use that word in my everyday conversation, and except for Phineas and Ferb, I don't even hear it on a regular basis. In Scripture, when God uses it, He's drawing special attention to what He's saying or doing and that deserves a closer look.

 

In Luke 2:10, the angel says, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." Behold. Get this. Pay attention. The shepherds probably needed a little focus after the whole miraculous, angelic appearance thing. (Just guessing, but I figure they were a little freaked out.)

 

In Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and will call His name Immanuel."

 

Psalm 33:18 "Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy." Behold. You can count on this. I'm telling you…

 

As you study, watch for the 'prehighlighted' verses, slow down and catch what God has for you in them.

 

 

 

(This is a repost for NaNoWriMo. New study tips return next week.)

 

 

Something I've noticed in the course of reading and studying Scripture is how often God goes to extremes. By that I mean, when God says or does something, it is "all" or "none" or the "most" or the "least". Paying attention to those little words are tremendous food for the soul.

 

Try it on familiar verses like Isaiah 53:6 – "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

All of us are sinners. I cannot justify or excuse what I think or do. I am part of that 'all'. All of us have rebelled and God laid the guilt, the consequences and the judgment on Jesus Christ. Not some, or even most. Every last one of us. No one is beyond the reach of Christ's blood.

 

Psalm 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

No evil. None. Not even the most terrifying, threatening, stomach-churning, heart-pounding evil. I will not fear it. That's mighty big faith… but He's a mighty big God who is there with rod and staff to comfort.

 

And one of my personal favorites- Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;"

(Middle of a sentence, I know, but I'm trying to stay focused here.) Worry about NOTHING. Pray about EVERYTHING. There are no exclusions. Worry and anxiety is a sign that we don't believe God is in control. Of everything. Nothing has escaped His notice, and everything is part of His plan. But, none of our concerns are too small to bring Him. He is always ready and willing to hear our hearts.

 

So as you study and read, watch for extremes- all, nothing, everything, nothing, none, every…  and be assured that God never does anything halfway.