Bible

Read your Bible. Read it every day, in any order. Just open it and read it.

What I’m sharing here is my Bible study from this morning. I like the SOAK method, which is also referred to as SOAP. The “S” stand for scripture, the “O” for observation, the “A” for application, and the “K” for kneeling in prayer (or “P” for prayer). If you want to learn more about this method, or color-coding what you read, a good place to visit is the Women Living Well site.

Colossians 3:19-20

S: Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

O: Why must husbands be reminded to “love…and do not be bitter” toward their wives? What form of love is being referenced here? It is natural – though unacceptable – for a wife to take the lead over her husband or for a child to disobey. Is the implication then that it is natural for a husband to be bitter, harsh, resentful, and/or unloving toward his wife?

A: Being neither husband nor child, these verses don’t seem to apply directly to me at first read. However, seeing what my husband and children are being instructed to do, I can support and encourage them. I can encourage my husband in being loving by being generally lovable. I cannot control his thoughts or feelings, but I can control my end and not make things difficult on his end. I can also model discretion and gentleness in my speech as often as possible. By being a consistent example in our home, I can set the tone for all of us to avoid being harsh toward one another. As for bitterness, I suppose I can, in conversation and prayer, work through any feelings I have that might lead to bitterness, regardless of where or to whom they are directed. That practice could lay the groundwork for my husband to feel safe doing the same. Concerning the children and their obedience, I should always be a clear communicator, and make sure that expectations are age and ability-appropriate. I should also be as consistent as possible, and ask for forgiveness when I make mistakes.

K: My God, you are an awesome God! You reign over Heaven above with wisdom, power, and love. You are an awesome God! I ask that you forgive my slip-ups and willful sins. Forgive me for my impatience, for the times when I have considered taking the lead over my husband, in any form. Please, forgive my lackadaisical and inconsistent manner of training my children to biblically obey. I thank you for your daily providence, for your grace, and for your perfect example of what real love looks like. According to your Word, I can ask you for your wisdom, and I pray you will grant it to me according to your Will that I may bring you honor and glory in all I do. I pray for your protection over the hearts of my family, especially my husband’s at work, and my children’s as they spend more time among those who don’t follow you. In the name of your beautiful Son, Amen.

Praise and glory to God alone, I am not only able, but also willing, to wake up with my husband each morning, a good two hours or more before the kidlets rise. This time has become precious to me over the past weeks, as I am able to accomplish things that are important to me, in a way that I am comfortable doing. Today is fast becoming a typical morning: Wake at 0500, shower and dress by 0530, get J-Dub his breakfast while he gets his things together for work, chat for a few before he leaves, Bible study/devotional/prayer, read a section of a book, set up for the day’s activities, and if I’m super lucky I will have finished an entire cup off coffee by this point.

Now about that devotional. I use the YouVersion app on my phone, which is simply loaded with all manner of devotionals, though one must take care that what they are studying through is biblical. I am currently going through the Made to Crave: a 21-Day Challenge devotions, though I haven’t read the book by Lysa TerKeurst (www.madetocrave.org). If you are tempted to overeat, or really over-do anything that is good in moderation, I encourage you to check out the materials. Something that stood out to me this morning was the question of how often I have given into a short-term desire that worked against a long-term goal. This thought goes so much further than eating too much junk. How often do we act on impulse? How often do we cause our own setbacks due to our unwillingness to tell ourselves “no”, and pray for help to focus on that which is superior to instant gratification?! Please leave a note below, I welcome you to share your point of view.