Ladies Bible Study

I'm not sure if I've told you before, but I attend a ladies Bible study on Tuesdays.  We have a small group of women who come for prayer and study, and we've been in Revelation.  It's been pretty exciting!

Today the study was different, though.  My friend Judy leads it, but she was sick and couldn't make it.  I don't think that has ever happened before.  When I found out she wasn't going to be well enough to teach, she said I could go ahead and have the group pray as usual and then read some scripture and discuss.

Currently, our church is focusing on the book of Colossians as a daily reading.  So that's what we did in place of a study.  I had no idea what we would talk about, as I had not prepared anything.  All I knew is that we would read the book of Colossians and then discuss the things that grabbed our attention. 

It was a very special time, and we had a terrific discussion.  My favorite section of the book is the passage in Colossians 1:9-12 that says,

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

I like it because Paul says how he has prayed for the church, and this is how I ought to be praying not only for myself, but also for others.  I can be sure I'm praying according to God's will for others because this is what He wants for us:

1.  Be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

2.  Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him.

3.  Be fruitful in every good work

4.  Increase in the knowledge of God.

5.  Be strengthened with all might to be able to experience joy in suffering.

6.  Give thanks in all things because the Father has made us partakers of the inheritance.

We need these things prayed over our lives that we might become mature, and I encouraged the ladies to be praying this way for each other.  No matter what adversity we face, God can always answer this prayer with a resounding YES. 

A Day of Study

Since my friend is out of town who usually leads ladies Bible study on Tuesday, I have the privilege of leading it next week. Usually I do a book study, typically from my favorite preacher John Piper. This week I felt led to leave that book and do a study on Psalm 27 because it's special to me. There's a lot there that I think we miss if we just read over it and not understand it's deeper spiritual meaning.

So I've been studying this morning. From scratch. I am creating my own questions and reading over various commentaries... whew, it's tough. It's been really productive, though. I am enjoying the things I've already learned that go a little more beneath the surface stuff than I had already seen in months of meditating on it by myself.

One of the first observations that finally clicked in for me is the pattern that is laid out for being victorious in trial. First David preaches to himself. Then he prays for help to maintain his faith. Then this results in hope as he trusts the Lord and waits on Him. In all the times I've read Psalm 27, I never saw that progression before.

Maybe I'll share the rest in an upcoming blog another day. Only after the study on Tuesday is finished, of course. I can't be giving away any of the answers. :)

I better get back to the books now.

My Favorite Psalm

I love Psalm 27. It's probably my favorite. I was reading it again this morning, wondering when I will ever learn to abide in the safety of God's tabernacle, His presence, where true joy, contentment, and peace remain. I want to dwell there constantly, not sporadically. As I'm getting ready to prepare a Bible study for Tuesday, I sensed that this Psalm is what the Lord was laying on my heart to teach. I've gathered materials today to begin studying. I'm excited about what the Lord will teach me and what I'll get to share with the ladies.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident.

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.

5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek."

9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!