My Journey Back - May 1

While today's devotion is more about a spiritual journey back, I want to focus on the journey back to my life.

The two are connected though.

I wrote earlier about being baptized in 2002.  My life changed greatly that day, for even though I have always been a believer, I was never one to read the Bible daily, to pray consistently, or to participate in any kind of Bible study group, even though I thought all of that sounded like a good idea.   Bible study has been fascinating to me.  At first I was thinking that it was because I was a teacher, an English teacher at that, but it was more.  I was always amazed, and still am, with people who can reference the Bible, quote scriptures, and know just where to find certain passages applicable to daily life.  I wanted to be like that---or close to it.

Several years ago I  noticed that Proverbs 31 was offering an online Bible study, and I though that would be just what I needed.  I can't even remember the book, but I do remember the study and how disjointed it was.  I think it was the first one, wasn't organized very well, and not planned so the execution of it was, well, less than good. Melissa, the leader, would start the week with an apology that she just had been busy or something in life had gotten in the way and the plan for the week just wasn't available yet.  If you have read any of my previous posts, you know that I like to be organized.  There have been a few times where I have walked into a classroom or started a week with the online materials not posted or ready, but those I can probably count on one hand.  

I continued off and on with several online studies through Proverbs 31, and the same thing happened.   Not on their end, but on mine.  Something would get in the way, usually grading or visits with the kids, and I wouldn't finish.  Or I would be going strong, then school would start.  Or there would be a vacation.  Or some type of disruption in the routine. 

It wasn't until just before I retired that I actually participated in an OBS and finished it.  Since then I have started---and finished---four, and I am working on #5.  My participation on the Proverbs 31 FB group was frustrating due to lack of participation and lack of leadership, so another woman from Texas and I decided to start our own private group.  This has grown to four of us who are studying and learning together.  We share. We read.  We discuss.  We ask questions.  We provide answers.  We support each other.  Most of all we are friends through Christ and in the process we are growing closer to God.

So that brings me to the prompt in today's devotion:  "Sometimes we just have to take the next step, even when it doesn't entirely make sense. What would the next step in your spiritual journey look like?  What's keeping you from taking that step? "

Rhonda and Debbie have suggested this, but even before they did, my sister came up with the idea and we talked about it when we went to the Beyond conference in August.  I would really like to lead a Bible study group.  Yes, I know that Rhonda, Debbie Sheri, and I are a group and we have been reading and studying together.  But I would like to expand on that.  They have suggested that I contact Proverbs 31 and volunteer to be a group leader on FB for one the studies.  I would like that.  But I would like to do more.  I like to write.  I like to share.  I like to listen to the views of others also.  This doesn't mean in an argument setting.  Just sharing the scriptures, our interpretations, responding to devotions, that type of thing. 

So...what would the next step look like?  I would be a Bible study leader, a writer of devotions, or do something online to draw more women to Christ and feel comfortable in their journey.

What's keeping you from taking that step?  Fear?  Not sure how to go about doing it?  Not sure how my offer would be received?  All of those?  

The best thing to do is pray about it, right?  Put it out there in front of my prayer requests and ask God to lead me in that direction, put some doors in front of me, and open them if that is the direction I need to go.