This blog is made up of little "meditations" I've written throughout the years of the worst of my illness that I made into a "book" once. The title to my devotional "book" was "My E. I. Story Through Meditations and Prayers (For Women)".
"Then they that feared the LORD SPAKE often one TO ANOTHER: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that THOUGHT upon his NAME." (Mal. 3:16)
Ask yourself a question about this verse: What do you think the Christians spoke about? Meditate on the last phrase!
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To those of you who have experienced the "GREAT EXCHANGE" - (Our sin on Christ -His righteousness on us) (Term coined by Dr. John Piper):
Dear Sisters,
I believe it was 1996 when I read a book which changed my life, and I was encouraged to do "word studies" and "prayer journaling" on Scripture. It has been such a blessing to me, and I feel that God wants me to share the "blessings" with you.
Many of my prayers are kind of "personal" and show my "sin of fear" as well, but I am
reminded that we are to "confess our faults to one another" that we might be healed. Maybe the Lord knew I needed to go through these "scary" things to deal with this problem in my life...which I am still working on. :) Other prayers are testimonies of God's wonderful grace to me and His answers to my prayers. As I share them, I pray that you will be able to receive them in that light, not in the spirit of pride, but as testimonies of God's wonderful mercy and goodness to me. My written prayers are usually "laced" with special Scriptures that the Lord has laid upon my heart, and because they have "touched" my heart, I hope that they will "touch" your heart as well.
I hesitate to share my "meditations" sometimes. It's always a risk to share one's heart, especially with those you don't know well. I have been hurt in the past by those who have used my "confessions" against me, but I really feel that God wants me to do this....to share my "story" and what God was showing me as I advanced with this "crazy illness". I'm thinking that it just might encourage some of you to know that others have been down the same road.
I believe we can only grow as sisters when we can openly and honestly share our hearts, sins and victories, sorrows and joys! I do hope that when you read of the "victories" that God has given me, that this will encourage you, but please know that I am far, far from being what I ought to be, and that it seems that the Lord is only in the "beginning stages" of teaching me what it means to walk in the power of His Spirit. I am so thankful that God's work in me has truly made me a different person from what I was many years ago before my marriage, but there is still so much remaining sin! God's "searchlight" on me is beginning to reveal the deep pride and selfishness of my heart. My heart is still so wicked! I am always greatly encouraged, though, when I read Psalm 84:11b- "The Lord WILL give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." I have fallen again and again, but I am reminded of Proverbs 24: 16a -"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again..." I am "upright" only because I am covered by Christ's blood, by God's grace, but the promise IS to me! HOLINESS in my life is God's will for me. It is the good thing that I am seeking, by His grace. So the promise is to YOU and to ME. If we are truly in Christ, He WILL increase our
righteousness! What a HAPPY thought! Let's praise Him together! I would be absolutely THRILLED to hear your "meditations" and testimonies, too!
So HOW has God ordained that we should be made holy, purified, consecrated? It comes through the careful STUDY of WORDS - God's WORDS. As we imbibe His words and their meanings, God works surrender in our hearts and a sweet EXPERIENCE WITH HIM. Jesus said, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy WORD is truth"(Jn. 17:17), so those who are
REALLY in the WORD have a special promise and assurance from God that they have an everlasting INHERITANCE (possession) of HIM and that they are being slowly sanctified.
Before we start, let me explain HOW I "meditate". Perhaps you will find my method helpful in your study as well. First, I usually take a passage, and then I take one verse at a time (usually just one or two a day). I have a Thompson Chain Reference Bible, so it has little
topics by each verse about what that verse is about. I enjoy looking up the verses that deal with that topic. You could probably use a Topical Bible to do this as well. Then I look up "Key" words in that verse in the Strong's Concordance. Finding the meanings is REALLY
INTERESTING sometimes! Then I take the verse and pray it to God and usually apply it to my life for that day in whatever I'm going through. Application to life is what makes Bible Study so much FUN, isn't it?
The best way to get the most out of this is to open your own Bible and read the verse or verses and look for the KEY words and "meditate" or "chew" on those words yourself BEFORE you read how God has blessed me with them. I would love to hear some of your
thoughts and how God is applying them to your life as well today! Originally I walked through whole Psalms, and it seemed like God kept bringing circumstances in my life to line up exactly with the verse for the day. It was amazing! But then we DO have an amazing God! :) Don't we?
I will try my best not to overwhelm you with too much at one time. I will post some excerpts (special verses) from the Psalms, but sometimes I'll need to post whole Psalms as the "meditation" is a unit of thought.
I have been told that it is not proper to use capital letters in e-mail, but I humbly ask that you will please pardon me here for doing so. Know that I am not screaming, but I use the capitals to emphasize certain words...especially "key words" that we will be meditating on. And since this is the way I wrote them and typed them up, it would take me "forever" to "fix" them. :)
Love in Christ,
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