Happy first Friday of the new year! Super pumped to have you here for another great book and great discussion! Ok, let’s dive right in:
Chapter 1: Spent
*“We are spent not because we are carrying things, but because we are carrying the wrong things” (pg. 17). Do you believe this to be true? Why or why not? How could this be a transformative truth in your life?
*When you are weary, do you typically go to the Lord first? Or do you find yourself going to other things such as self-care, retail therapy, etc.?
*Alisha lists three questions to ask regarding your soul’s health. They are:
- How many roles can I truly handle?
- How am I nourshing my soul?
- Am I listening to my soul?
How would you answer these questions? Is there one question that stood out to you in particular?
Chapter 2: One Thing
*Do you think true faith is simple as the author suggests? How might you be complicating faith in your own life?
*On page 32, the author lists ways that Mary, unlike her sister, put Christ above all else. Thinking about your own life, how can you replace busyness with a pursuit of Christ? What practical steps might you need to take?
*”God longs to create in us a new heart, but it starts with new affections, desires, and habits” (pg. 41). Where does your affection lie? What do your habits and desires reflect regarding who is on the throne of your heart? What habits might you begin this new year to pursue the “one thing” Jesus spoke about in the story of Mary and Martha?
Chapter 3: Inside Out
*Has worship become a checklist in your life?
*The author states that worship:
- is about becoming like Christ
- includes sacrificial giving
- is a reflection of your inner state
- an attitude and expression of your heart in relation to God
What would your life look like if you were truly living a life of complete worship to God?
*What can cause misplaced worship and how can we correct it?
Scripture of the Week
Matthew 11:28-29
2 Corinthians 4:18
John 4:10
Prayer of the Week
Father God, as we begin this new year may our hearts and lives be full of worship to You – the Alpha and Omega. May we come to You with our heavy burdens and worries and leave them at Your feet. Help us to purse the “one thing” and not all the things that don’t matter. Please help us to chase after You and be sold out for Your glory. We know we will never have peace if we are constantly in the pursuit of our own self interest or the idols we may have in our hearts. This year may we grow ever closer to You. We love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Next Week
*Read Chapters 4 – 6
Lately I’ve been really angry. It stems from annoyance dealing with certain things, but has been trickling into my perception of everything I have to deal with. At times I’m surprised my anger hasn’t made its way to the surface, bubbling up and leaving me foaming at the mouth. Nice image, I know.
The very first sentence of Chapter One sums up how I have been feeling: “You don’t have time for this.” (Page 13) It was both settling and startling to read. Settling because it gave me a sense of comfort – someone gets it!? Startling because it made me question what I actually want to have time for. And answering that reveals things I don’t necessarily like admitting…starting with how selfish I am.
I agree with the author that we’re spent because we’re carrying the wrong things – namely stress in a variety of forms: expectations, peer pressure, marriage, parenting, finances, car trouble, holding grudges, etc. But how do we really let go of all this, practically speaking? I believe God when He tells us to “cast our cares” on Him and also when He says His yoke is easy and burden light. But I am struggling with the fact that there are cares that I have to care about (or even give to Him) in the first place…further evidence of my selfishness, I know! 🙃
I think I’ve definitely been confusing peace with ease. The author mentions, “Ease is comfort and convenience.” (Page 24) That’s all I’m really looking for these days. The other day I heard the phrase, “Do not disturb. I’m already disturbed.” It’s ridiculous how appropriate this is for me right now.
It’s even more ridiculous how God has been talking to me during this time. 😊
Chapter Two starts by saying, “When God doesn’t have your attention, He will disturb what does.” (Page 27) God’s made a few things clear: 1) My attention is not on Him. 2) While I can point fingers at those things I call disturbances in my life, I am in fact the one who has become disturbed. 3) He is allowing me to become disturbed so I remember my satisfaction can only be found in Him.
“Our limps remind us that we desperately need God and that He’s always with us. God’s deliverance is His presence.” (Page 22) When I’m weary (which has been my default mode lately) I don’t always go to the Lord first – at least not to do anything besides complain. What’s crazy is how often my flesh takes over and I choose not to be delivered – not to be in His presence. Instead, I wallow in my negativity because I’m tired of the fight.
But that’s the problem, isn’t it? I’ve made it “my” fight. As the author noted, “We think we have to handle everything on our own. We feel responsible. We see what isn’t fair and complain. We don’t ask God; we tell Him. We forget the power of His presence. And we doubt that He cares for our needs even though He is sitting right in front of us.” (Page 30)
Since I’ve made it all about me, no wonder there’s not any peace! But it’s not my fight…as much as I try to make it so. As Exodus 14:14 states, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” That’s why Mary was all right sitting at Jesus’ feet: she knew the fight wasn’t her own. She wasn’t anxious being still because her affection was placed upon the right thing.
God’s focus is on us. Our focus needs to be on Him if we are to have peace, love, joy – or any real satisfaction. It’s a wonder to me that God doesn’t give up on us – I would which is why I’m so glad I’m not Him. “God longs to create in us a new heart, but it starts with new affections, desires, and habits.” (Page 41) We can’t have it both ways; either He’s in control of us or we are (well, the illusion we are at least).
Oh how difficult it is to pry our hands off our lives!? “We want God, as long as He fits within our desires and expectations.” (Page 51) We think we know what we need and go to extreme lengths to try to make it happen. And when things don’t go our way – even after all our efforts – we’re sadly often still not willing to admit there may be a better way.
“The only question is whether you want to be with Him.” (Page 55) This is so direct, so simple, so real…so needed. It only requires a “yes” or “no” answer which is hard for me to give because I struggle with self and want to put my agenda in the mix:
“I want to be with Him, if my life can be easy.” “I want to be with Him, if I don’t have to work too hard.” “I want to be with Him, if I’m allowed to call the shots most of the time.”
We know this isn’t how it works…but we keep acting like it is. We keep making excuses for this type of behavior and throw our hands up when we’re reminded we can’t – and aren’t supposed to – do life on our own.
“Notice that God puts His Spirit in you not so that you can go do whatever you want – but so that you can walk in His ways.” (Page 56) His ways aren’t our ways as Isaiah says. They can’t be because His ways are perfect and good and holy.
But the miracle is we can learn His ways and walk in them. We do this by refocusing our gaze on Him, amidst our feelings of defeat, depression, and passive aggression. We do this daily. We do this moment by moment. He has given us a “spirit of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) It’s time we took hold of it.