Staying Power

So do not worry, saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we during" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all those things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:31-34

The hairs were moving out, leaving my scalp like a trapped multitude leaping from a burning high-rise. Anxiety was moving in.

“I’m concerned it’s male-patterned baldness,” the dermatologist told me.

My father is handsome and bald, yet I had no desire to look that much like him. I was panicked.But then I read:

My grace is sufficient for you…..I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 

Suddenly I was aware that anxiety would not be moving in after all. The hairs might be leaving but were making room for the power of Christ to settle over me. Immediately peace whispered Gods’ love to me. Hair or no hair, God would give me strength and courage to handle anything I saw in the mirror.

Thankfully, the hair loss issue came to an end, but, praise God, the love of Christ didn’t and won’t. His mercies really are new every morning.

DEEP Outline - Part 2 (Explore)

Welcome back! We're walking through my DEEP formula for Blessed Quietness. 

A study time can be DEEP and still be easy. My DEEP formula for Blessed Quietness study follows four stages.

D - Devotional - selected reading

E - Explore – further Bible Study

E - Express – journaling your discoveries

P - Prayer – listening prayer as you allow God to speak to you through the time you've spent

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E is for Explore

Read any verses noted in the devotional reading, then read other verses cross-referenced to it. Write out verses that stand out to you and note key or repeating words. Use an online resource to take a deeper look at these words in their original language and note their meanings.

If you'd like to go DEEP in your quiet time, contact me (Contact Me button in drop-down menu above) to receive a free Blessed Quietness Journal printable that you can start using right away in your devotional moments

DEEP Outline - Part 1 (devotional)

Familiar routines are woven throughout our days. We start with coffee, the news, exercise, or a walk. We shower, brush our teeth, do our hair and makeup, and rush out the door.

Quiet time is often a part of our routines, too, whether in the early morning, later in the evening, or anywhere we can squeeze it in between. Some days we can't squeeze it in at all despite our best intentions.

A routine for our quiet time focuses our thoughts and gets us started on autopilot.  

A study time can be DEEP and still be easy. My DEEP formula for Blessed Quietness study follows four stages.

D - Devotional - selected reading

E - Explore – further Bible Study

E - Express – journaling your discoveries

P - Prayer – listening prayer as you allow God to speak to you through the time you've spent

**************************************

D is for Devotional

Today's post covers the beginning of Blessed Quietness. First, come to this time with Lord expecting His Spirit to open the eyes of your heart to His Truths, asking in prayer for Him to focus your thoughts. Using the devotional reading of your choice, read the selection for the day, making note of any themes and verses that speak or stand out to you.

Read it a second time, more slowly this time. Sometimes the first reading doesn't catch recurring themes or key words that you see this time.

Take note of whether or not you sense the reading speaking to anything particular in your life or current studies. 

Don't think you have to limit yourself to one devotional. I often read from two daily devotionals, or I read a chapter of a devotional or inspirational book.

Some days a quick devotional reading is all we can manage, and that's OK. Other times we can't even squeeze that into the day, and that's okay. There's grace for that, too. For me, the more time I've managed to spend, the more my heart longs to make room for more -- and still, I miss days. 

Join me tomorrow as we look at further exploring what we've found in our devotional through Bible study.

If you'd like to go DEEP in your quiet time, sign up for the Blessed Quietness newsletter and receive a free Blessed Quietness Journal printable that you can start using right away in your devotional moments.