A Woman After God's Own Heart #2

A Heart Abiding In God's Word

Elizabeth George begins this chapter by comparing Christians who do not spend time in the word to a plant with no roots. Just as a plant cannot live and thrive without a healthy root system, a Christian cannot thrive without being deeply rooted in God's Word.

She also says our Christian life should be like an iceberg. What other people see and our outward ministry to others should be only a fraction of our life. The greatest majority of an iceberg is under water, and the greatest majority of our walk should be time with God in His Word and prayer.

Here's how:
1. Develop the habit of drawing near to God. Only through routine, regular exposure to God's Word can you and I draw out the nutrition needed to grow hearts of faith. This is one of the hardest things for me, as I have a difficult time setting routines and good habits in all things. I appreciated this statement from Elizabeth, "I have to be firm with myself and aim for habitual, scheduled time with God whether I feel like it or not, whether it seems like the best use of my time or not." I so often let other, more urgent or seemingly more interesting things crowd out my time with God. We must say 'no' not only to things which are wrong and sinful, but to things pleasant, profitable, and good which would hinder and clog our grand duties and our chief work(C. A. Stoddards).
2. Design a personal time for drawing near to God. Consider when, where, and what aids are needed. Keep in mind: Something is better than nothing. Choose a time that works best for you, change it to fit your schedule if need be, but schedule it in on your calendar. Where is also important. Some women have made themselves a special little nook or desk. I know that I cannot do it on my bed or a soft chair, because I will fall asleep no matter what time of day it is. For me, the kitchen table works best, after my hubby is gone and before the kids are up. The aids include, of course, your Bible, highlighters, pens, notebook, sticky notes. You may also want tissues, a hymnal, praise music, study or devotional book, reference books. As you notice something you need, add it to your stash. You might keep this all in a basket or bag if you can't keep it all gathered in the place you use.
3. Dream of being a woman after God's heart! Motivation is key when it comes to nurturing a heart of devotion, and dreaming helps motivate us. Describe the woman you want to be spiritually in one year. What can you do to help that happen? Read through the Bible in a year, memorize a set number of verses, complete a Bible study, find a woman to mentor you. Dream on--and do it! Now describe the woman you want to be spiritually in ten years. Consider what your life will be like in then, more kids, a new career, a marriage, a grandmother? Whatever comes, you will need God to help you.
You determine some elements of the heart. You decide what you will or will not do, whether you will or will not grow, and the rate at which you will grow. You decide how deep you want your roots to go.

My favorite quote:
I exchange my weariness for His strength, my weakness for His power, my darkness for His light, my problems for His solutions, my burdens for His freedom, my frustrations for His peace, my turmoil for His calm, my hopes for His promises, my afflictions for His balm of comfort, my questions for His answers, my confusion for His knowledge, my doubt for His assurance, my nothingness for His awesomeness, the temporal for the eternal, and the impossible for the possible.
How can I consider letting my time with God slide when I look at it as giving up all of this?!