In looking back on past experiences and just trying to get to know myself better I realized I have a hard time taking someone's critique or being told I'm doing something wrong, most likely linked to pride or insecurities. I know my husband gets frustrated that we seem to have the same 'difficult conversations' over and over without much change happening. But I am working on trying to leave the emotions aside and focus on the real issues we are dealing with or the roots of frustrations (disrespect, entitlement, blabbermouth, etc). If I allow my feeling and emotions to flare up I spend the whole 'conversation' trying to prove my right-ness and lick my emotional wounds; but if I can hold my tongue and see the bigger picture it's much easier to see and work on the offending habit/choice/words/whatever. Make sense? That was kind of a rant.
It seemed like I was attracted to the 'solutions' for each of the women described. For Simple Sally Mary says that she must eagerly study the Word. Can I get and Amen here?! Yes please! The more I read the more I want to read, the Bible is just so awesome. The only living and active book, full of new treasures for each day. I wish I could study more but there are the demands of life too. God knows my position and I feel like He honors my desire to know and can teach me in the time I have (so I can stop wishing for a 4-hour stay at a coffee shop table). For Foolish Fran she says she needs to learn to love God's ways and develop self-control. I feel like that nails me to a T. That's right where I am, wanting to know and love Him more, and to curb my flesh and allow Him to work through me more. And oh Scoffing Sue, that was me, I was her. I knew in my head right from wrong but did not care. And then, I did encounter Christ - and the dam broke, floodwaters of doing life 'by myself' flowed out (meaning I cried at lot; actually there was a season I quit wearing makeup to church because I knew I was just going to cry... looking back it was the Holy Spirit sweetly wooing me to Himself). Sadly it still took me a couple years to come around to knowing Him and wanting Him more (I still feel like I'm in the infancy of Christianity) - but boy I am I glad I came to know Jesus for real!
And I love how Mary talks about how the fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom. I do pray for wisdom often but hadn't tied it in with my fearing Him. "To fear God means to be ever aware of His all-pervasive presence, conscious of my absolute need for Him, mindful of my responsibility to follow His way, determined to obey Him, cautious of offending Him, and overwhelmed in amazement and gratitude at His incredible goodness and grace" (pg249) - Wow. And this not being a list of "works" but and total direction of our heart attitude; not something to be striven towards in my own strength but a need to fall on my knees and beg Him to change my desires and understanding.
And Mary ends the chapter talking about Wisdom. A woman in a summer small group (on Proverbs) encouraged us to take time to read Proverbs 8 and in place of the word wisdom read Jesus, and we will see that wisdom IS Jesus, Jesus IS wisdom. The closer I grow to Him the more I will grow in His wisdom.
Lord, I am so thankful for these sweet friends of mine.
Thank you for this book that we've read together. Thank You that Your
Word challenges us to continue to grow, not to get complacent. I praise
You for who You are! Please soften our hearts to Your correction and
instruction; lead us to humility, knowing that we must decrease and You
must increase in us. Help us to not forget these things, but to walk
forward with greater understanding.
Amen
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