Finding I Am - Lysa Terkerust Week 3

Last week my Online Bible Study from Proverbs 31 was a little bit off kilter.  Since we were in Wooster, I had no internet access other than my phone and my iPad.  Not usually a problem, but during the drive over on Sunday afternoon, Verizon sent me a text saying I was down to 10% of my data for the next three days. Being paranoid about going over my allotment, thus being afraid of incurring an additional $15 minimum fee, I really limited my phone use to calls and texts and put the iPad back in the tote bag for the duration.


Instead of checking the daily emails and watching the videos for the week, my focus was the book, and only the book (well, the Bible too, of course).  The 'statement of the week' were actually two:  From John 10:7-- Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.  and from John 10:11 -- I am the good shepherd.



No distractions!  I sat in the living room or at the dining room table each day and explored daily scripture readings, read the narrative, and answered the questions. No post in the two online groups on Facebook.  No videos to watch.  Just me, my books, and the Bible.  Sweet!

Several things impacted me this week.  First was the fact that I am indeed a sheep.  I tend to follow the crowd.  I become lost if I am distracted by outside influences.  In some cases I am defenseless.  I have poor eyesight - both literally and figuratively.  I am stubborn.  I also need a Good Shepherd to lead me.

Second is that there are five keys to hearing God's voice:

• scripture - reading the Bible, not just on the surface, but really digging into the words and their meanings. plus the message
• peace of God - found in the Holy Spirit
• Godly Counsel - which is where my FB small groups come in plus my Christian friends like Tina and E. Anne.
• Listen  - shutting out the distractions and really listening to God's voice
• Obey - following God's voice and his commandment 

Third is this passage about the thief who tries to lure us away from the Good Shepherd.  

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.”
Sometimes, it can be a subtle thought we begin to dwell on. Then one thought multiplies into more, and before we know it we’re stressed out, confused and depressed. The enemy plays sneak attacks against our minds. Attempting to steal our joy and peace.

Look at that passage from Lysa.  "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy."  In the case of a sheep during Biblical times, the thief could have been a wolf or other predator to the sheep.  It could have been someone roaming in the hills trying to steal the sheep away from the shepherd. It could have been someone searching for food and mutton would be a perfect main course for the evening meal.  For me, though...something different.  Look at the rest of the passage - 'a subtle thought'  one that flickers across the mind and settles into it, taking root, then growing because it feeds on fear or frustration.  It could be a fear or an expectation, one that has taken root in the mind and then expands because the thief manipulates it.  Before long, the thoughts grow and multiply, and the thief has been successful.  No more joy, only sorrow and frustration.  No more peace, but depression and stress.  No more calm and contentment, only agony and nervousness.  It can happen. A word or phrase or simple conversation can do it.  One's state of mind can do it.  Being tired or going into a situation already anxious can make the trigger quick and sneaky.  "The enemy plays sneak attacks against our minds."

Even though I had no videos or conversations in my FB groups last week, these three points made an impact on me.

Yes, I am a sheep at times.  I can stray, I can become lost, and I can follow the crowd.  But I can also be determined to stay the course, think for myself, and focus on a long term goal. I have a Good Shepherd to keep me focused.

The five keys are important to me.  I have come to really enjoy reading scripture - more underlines and orange highlights are appearing in my Bible.  This morning I spent a lot of time sharing ideas and discussing the chapters with my FB OBS sisters and it felt good!

Finally, knowing that I need to work on staying positive in many situations is a key to emotional and spiritual well-being.  The 'thief' can come in many forms - not just a wolf or a predator.  It can a person, technology, a hobby, social media, television, work, or family responsibilities.  The trick is to remember to stay positive and not allow that seed of frustration to become fertile, grow and expand, and take over one's spirit.  No good can come of that!

This has been one of the best OBS I have ever done.  I am learning so much, not only about the Bible and Jesus Christ, but also about myself.