September 5, 2012
Dear Barbara,
One of my assignments in the assignments in the Satisfy My Thirsty Soul Bible study is to write a letter to a friend describing what God has taught me about worship.
I don’t know about worship, but I have learned that I am not a restful soul. Whenever
I sit down for my quiet time, I always think of other things I should be doing. The obvious thing is that they are NOT what I should be doing at all. I should be composing my mind to worship and to hear what God has to say. When I keep my grandson, I think of what I could be doing on the family business. When all is quiet, I read a fiction book and don’t work on the business at all. I do not sit still long enough (even though my body is actually still, my mind isn’t) for God to tell me what He wants me to do that day. I keep saying I should set aside an hour every morning and spend the entire hour in God’s presence so that my quiet time/Bible study is not just something to cross off my To-Do list. I have been trying to do this for two years!
What I really liked about this book are the chapter names in part two.
I bow my life.I bow my words.I bow my attitude.I bow my work. (My work is my mom, my grandson, and our business, in that order. My husband takes care of himself.)
Laborare est orareOrare est laborare(This is a fine point that almost everyone misses.)
I bow my times of waiting.I bow my pain.I bow my will.Drawn into His presence
All of the above, both the positive and the negative, belong to God.
It has been a good study even though I have not been able to incorporate it all into my life. It is supposed to be a 12-week study but I cannot apply that fast.
Have I actually learned anything? Can’t tell it by me.
Love–Susan
**note–It has been almost two and a half years. I have set aside that hour every day and I sit for it. Still working on the composing of the mind though. I am slow at application. I should go through it again.
Does anyone else have this problem?
The book is Satisfy My Thirsty Soul by Linda Dillow, published by NavPress 2007.
Oh, Susan, I know what you mean. Some days I can sit and pray and read and listen, but most days it’s still a challenge. There are bills to pay, wounds to dress, cleaning to be done, kids to worry about, etc. sigh. I’m proud of you for spending that consistent hour, though.
Love,
Barbie