Preparing My Heart

Yesterday, I had a friend text me. She was looking for recommendations for devotional books to keep her on track. I knew that my answer required more than I could give her in that moment, so I let the text sit unanswered and that moment turned into letting the day slip away without getting back to her.

It was a super busy day, it's a super busy week but perhaps it was deeper than that. One of my goals for this year was to read through the New Testament. I opened my Bible to Matthew 25 this morning. Clearly her question was one that I needed to answer for myself. Matthew 25 is the parable of the 10 virgins. I love this parable. 10 brides are waiting for their groom. He takes a long time coming and half of them run out of oil and are off getting more when he finally arrives and miss out. I have always identified with the women who had an abundance of oil with them. I am a type A. I carry a gigantic bag with everything I could possibly ever need and more. I am a planner. But this parable isn't about my gigantic bag or my well organized calendar. This parable is about my heart. It's about my relationship with Jesus being ready for his return. Like an engaged couple in premarital counseling, I should be spending time with Jesus, preparing for him to return.

I have seasons where I am so good at this. At spending time with Jesus, at listening to his voice, at trusting him with the big and small and answering his call on my life. And then there are seasons where I let life creep in and steal that time and the intimacy that time with Him brings. Slowly these busy seasons lead to the point where I sit on my couch scrolling social media with my cup of coffee instead of having my coffee with Jesus.

So back to my friends question... my question. What can I do to get myself back on track? What are my favorite tools available?

1.  Journal the Word Bible  I tend to switch my Bible out every few years or so. I have had this one for a few years now and I love it's extra wide, lined margins for notes.

2. God of the Word Studies Full Disclosure... this is my mom's website. She wrote this amazing verse by verse, Genesis to Revelation Study. I'm not recommending this for that reason though. This is one of the most thorough and comprehensive studies that I have ever seen of the Bible. People pay a lot of money for seminary classes that teach what she offers for free. I have led groups through sections of this study as well as used it on and off for my own personal study for years.

3. Accountability  There is no way around this one. I know that I need the accountability of sharing with others what I am learning regularly. For lots of folks, that means being part of an organized Bible Study. Some seasons allow that and some don't. My current season does not so I am going to need to get creative on this one. Maybe that means doing something with a friend or my husband. Maybe that means doing an online group in my pjs every week. This has looked different for me in every season but I know that I have to find it.

4. Book Studies I know some people love having a book in your hand. I get it. I have done lots of studies over the years that have shaped my heart. Books are fantastic but be careful with letting others words feed your soul instead of allowing God to whisper to you and feed you through His Word. That being said, a few of my favorites are:

The Best Yes 
Stronger than the Struggle: Uncomplicating your Spiritual Battle
Grace Based Parenting
Women Living Well: Find Your Joy in God, Your Man, Your Kids and Your Home

I think I'm ready to return that text now and to recommit to becoming more and more ready every day for Jesus return. Will you join me?