If you are joining us for our journey through the Thin Within book, you may want to get a journal so you can respond to the Lord and all he shows you. It is a wonderful way to chronicle your journey. I use a spiral bound notebook and pen to write down my prayers, thoughts, bible verses or things that strike me as I go through the book. You may want to do the same.
Of course, you can also use a blog to do basically the same thing–though my journal has thoughts that are private in it…obviously, an online blog is visible to the world.
Regardless of the tools you choose to take with you for our trek, there is adventure ahead. I really believe this with all my heart.
The psalmist anticipates the same!
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
Psalm 84:5-7
As the Lord leads you in the time between now and Monday, June 1st (or whenever you will be starting your study of the Thin Within book), take some time to prayerfully journal your responses to the questions I have posed here .
Additionally, let’s focus a bit on a couple of the verses mentioned above. Please respond to the following:
1. A “pilgrimage” implies a place of departure and a chosen destination (with lots of things to experience in between!). Ask God to show you a truthful description of where you currently find yourself…that place from which you wish to depart…what you want to leave behind you. (Please do NOT use this to bash yourself. If it would help, ask God to phrase it as if it were HIS words to you!…a love letter to you challenging you about the “land” you will leave behind…what it represents, what is there…) You can use the comments section here to answer, if you like, but I do encourage you to have a record of your thoughts in your personal possession–not just here at this blog site lost over time as tiny little bytes on the World Wide Web!
2. According to the passage above, what does God’s Word say about the person who sets their heart on moving forward with Him?
For your consideration: The word “blessed” is a word that can actually mean “enjoying spiritual happiness and favor of God.” God desires for us to have a happiness that bubbles up from deep within us! If we focus on the Lord and HIS strength, rather than our own strength or failures, we will experience this joy and happiness that is captured in the word “blessed!”
3. Respond to these thoughts.
4. Don’t miss it…where will we find our strength? How does this differ from your past experiences?
For your consideration: In Psalm 84:5-7, the word “strength” appears three times. The first time it is used to refer to strength that is found in the Lord. This is the Hebrew word “oz,” meaning “strength, might, fortress, stronghold.” We will hide ourselves in the Lord for protection, refreshment and nourishment. We will shed other strongholds in favor of Him! He is our strength!
More on this passage tomorrow…we haven’t yet begun our study, but I do want to lay some adequate groundwork for any who may be “chomping at the bit” to get started! I will be journaling right along with you. Again, feel free to respond here at the blog if you like–best in a condensed version of whatever you are journaling about or talking to God about in your time with him.
I’m testing to see if I can post from my phone. More later.
I’m testing to see if I can post from my phone. More later.
Yeah! I am so relieved that I will be able to post from my phone, because I will be traveling for a good bit of the month of June and won’t have access to my computer.I do like keeping my journal, but I also find a lot of power in the shared journey, in any sense of companionship.The place that I am in, and have been for years, is a place of ambivalence. It is so uncomfortable. I am torn. I waffle. I am sure, but then I change my mind and become sure about something else. I realize we’re not here to debate alternate approaches to dealing with our food, but I have been using Weigh Down materials recently and have found them very compelling. And maddening. Right. And wrong. I say to myself, “it’s okay, just do Thin Within” and then I get surprisingly quickly into the “if God forgives, then I can just have a little bit more and I’ll be forgiven,” or, where I am at the moment of feeling that before I start on this big pilgrimage, I should have one “last” blow out binge. The number of times I’ve done that is countless. And generally, the “last” binge only leads to more bingeing, which I really don’t want to do. So….I want to move out of this place of ambivalence and into a more committed, or faithful, or something (anything!) place.
Yeah! I am so relieved that I will be able to post from my phone, because I will be traveling for a good bit of the month of June and won’t have access to my computer.I do like keeping my journal, but I also find a lot of power in the shared journey, in any sense of companionship.The place that I am in, and have been for years, is a place of ambivalence. It is so uncomfortable. I am torn. I waffle. I am sure, but then I change my mind and become sure about something else. I realize we’re not here to debate alternate approaches to dealing with our food, but I have been using Weigh Down materials recently and have found them very compelling. And maddening. Right. And wrong. I say to myself, “it’s okay, just do Thin Within” and then I get surprisingly quickly into the “if God forgives, then I can just have a little bit more and I’ll be forgiven,” or, where I am at the moment of feeling that before I start on this big pilgrimage, I should have one “last” blow out binge. The number of times I’ve done that is countless. And generally, the “last” binge only leads to more bingeing, which I really don’t want to do. So….I want to move out of this place of ambivalence and into a more committed, or faithful, or something (anything!) place.
I’m really sure you want to hear from me again. Sorry for all the postings. I feel really pulled between WD and TW. I asked God to send me a dream last night to guide me. Right before I woke up, I had a dream about Gwen encouraging me, wishing me well on my journey. So I feel like I’ve got to pay attention. I feel like God is directing me to WD for now.
I’m really sure you want to hear from me again. Sorry for all the postings. I feel really pulled between WD and TW. I asked God to send me a dream last night to guide me. Right before I woke up, I had a dream about Gwen encouraging me, wishing me well on my journey. So I feel like I’ve got to pay attention. I feel like God is directing me to WD for now.