I did week 3 day 5 of the study guide back on November 5, 2015. This was a huge break-through day for myself as I discovered some things God was showing me. I literally snapped out of a very depressive state. It was one of the greatest feelings I’ve been through and grateful the Holy Spirit worked through me the way He did that day. Now I’m going to share it with you what I wrote that day.
We are asked to turn back to Psalm 68:5-10 for week 3 day 5, only we’re going to use another study technique.
- “Today you’ll use a dictionary and thesaurus to enrich your understanding. Reread this passage and sum it up in one sentence.”
God is the ultimate example of someone taking care of those He loves, dealing consequences when they are needed.
- Jen had us choose one word from a list of different words found in the passage. I was to consider it as I journaled, and then “apply it to the verse and context of [the] passage.” I’m to let the Spirit help me broaden my insight into what’s there and go beyond what is obviously there.
The word I chose was defender. Here is what Jen has in the book, which she found on www.dictionary.com:
“defender [of widows] (verse 5, NIV): 1. a person who cares for persons or property 2. a fighter who holds out against attack”
Defender. How many of us actually have a defender that would be willing to come to our aid no matter what happens here on this earth? That should be a simple, yet easy answer to give. Yet, for so many, it’s not because they don’t know Jesus as their personal Savior.
When we are happy and everything is going well, so many Believers take for granted that our lives are as they are because of Him. However, if adversity, hard times, come along in any form and in any degree of intensity, we immediately call out to our Heavenly Father. We start to question why. Even through our lowest moments, God never leaves us. No matter how we might think, act, or feel, God never turns away. He protects us. He is the ultimate defender of the weak.
Would we prefer to always have an easier life? Absolutely, but the reality is just not so. Hard times will come whether we want them to or not. The thing to remember is God is the consummate Defender. He will do everything to protect and take care of ALL His children.
- Now we are to pick from a list of synonyms or antonyms that Jen found on www.thesaurus.com and apply them to the passage as well. What do I see? What is the Spirit showing me here?
“lonely (verse 6, NIV): abandoned, apart, comfortless, companionless, destitute, empty, isolated, outcast, rejected, unattended, uncherished.”
Here recently I’ve been feeling lonely. Am I truly alone? No. First, the logical side of my brain knows I’m not. I have God. Keith is here. We’ve been married over 21 years. Athena is here. While she may not have been born our daughter, over four years ago she came to live with us and has become one. I have people at church. Family far away. Those who’ve known me for years. Lots of people who care. Above all is God who’s always there right beside me. I am blessed.
However, my feelings are still there, whether legitimate or not. Here recently I tend to feel lonely, like I’m going through so much alone.
This is straight out a LIE. This is Satan using my grief for Mari and how Athena got so sick against me. Yet, in the moment when I’m at my worst, Satan creeps in, slithers toward me, telling me his lies. He wants me to believe I’m lonely.
Look at everyone who’s in my life who loves and cares about me and what happens around me. If I have a prayer request, I already know there are tons of people ready to pray. It’s like I have my own personal prayer chain to where I can knock on a door and the first one answer and it continues down the line. It’s like it’s never-ending. If I have this how could I ever be alone? Can I say rhetorical question.
Above all this, and the most important of all is that God has never once left my side. He’s an ever-present part of my life. For that I will always be grateful.
Again, the word “blessed” comes to mind. It means “2. worthy of adoration, 3. fortunate.”
I look at the words “worthy of adoration” and “fortunate” and I don’t see myself as either. Again, this is my feelings. I believe in God’s eyes, how He see me, that I am. I wish I could see this for myself.
Fortunate. In no way do I feel this way. Yet, I know to be a child of God that I am. My heart is open to His message. I do the best I can and God then adds what is needed to my humanness. It’s through Him I am where I am today as well as being who I am. Now that is blessed.
What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on what's been said. Thank you.