Week Five: I Need What You Have
This Week’s Readings
Day 1: Matthew 1-3
Day 2: Matthew 4-7
Day 3: Matthew 8-11
Day 4: Matthew 12-15
Day 5: Matthew 16-19
Day 6: Matthew 20-22
Day 7: Catch up
Reflections
What gifts do you bring to the table?
What are your strengths? What do you do well?
What has hindered you from using your gift?
Reflections from The Bible in 52 Weeks by Dr. Kimberly Moore
GraceNotes - My Reflections
Who Can I Run To?
Matthew 6:25-34
I’m convinced that to some degree, worrying is a common action for everyone at the core. I have trouble believing that a common statement in the Bible is “do not worry,” if we didn’t all suffer with worrying in any way shape or form. I, myself, have struggled with worrying all my life even to the point of needing medical help (which is fine and I’m not ashamed of having to use the wisdom of doctors in the season that I needed it). But after reading through Matthew 6:25-34 for probably the 1763rd time in my life, I realized that Jesus gives us thr true antidote to worrying. The antidote is not the knowledge that if birds know that God will feed them and flowers know that He will make them beautiful so as His child, He will do much more than you could imagine. The real antidote is seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness.
It’s so easy to lean into the human way… “how am I going to make this happen? How am I going to accomplish this goal? How will I provide for myself and my family? The list is endless… but what I’m learning truly cures worry, is seeking God first and also leaning into praise and praising the worry away.
A Good Old Sunday Nap
Matthew 11:28
Rest is a weapon and will build you up and bring you peace. Jesus says “come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” How important is it to really just have a good nights’ sleep to recharge and be able to address the day to day with a fully rested mind, body, and spirit? Personally, I’m no good if I don’t get a true 7-8 hours of sleep - I’m cranky, I’m slow to being proactive with anything I have to do, and I honestly feel sick to my soul.
Rest is so important, which is likely why honoring the Sabbath was law - God wanted us to trust Him to know that we could truly cast everything on Him because He knew we needed a recharge. Resting in the Lord is true worship. To be able to stop all of the ripping and running and give your burdens to Him shows true faith.
After the Hurricane
Matthew 8:24-27
I was on the Peloton doing a Gospel Ride with Cliff - do any of y’all know him or do the workouts? Very fulfilling even though I don’t know but 13 words in German. However, as I was riding, Kirk Franklin’s There’s a Blessing in the Storm came on. At one point in the song, Kirk said something along the lines of “some of us wouldn’t pray if we didn’t go through something.” And I was literally like… wait, this is so right. I was also thinking about something a pastor said, “everyone is either going into, going through, or coming out of a storm.” And it made me think about Matthew 8:23-27, when Jesus calmed the storm and the disciples were stunned that the winds and waves obeyed him! Two fold here - sometimes God will allow the storms to come and us to be helpless and seek Him because He wants us to remember that He is the calmer of storms. Being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from storms, however, it gives us confidence that we serve “I Am,” who can and will call the storm.
Hey Ladies! Drop your revelations, thoughts, and those lightbulb "aha" moments right down there in the comment section! Let's create a space to spill the beans on how God is throwing us some divine vibes as we dive deep into His word. Time to share the spiritual tea!
