"Practically Divine" - Week 3

Oh, girls. What a chapter, right? Becca Stevens has a way with words. She has a way with telling stories. I’ve ached over some of her memories. It’s been hard to read others. I’ve wondered (I know I’ve already told you this) if I’ve chosen the right book. Should we have picked a “prettier” story, a more sanitary tale.

But, I keep coming back to the reality that these hard stories are being lived by many women every single day. If Jesus were still walking on this earth, I don’t think He’d turn His head to find the prettier stories. I think He would have searched out these hurting women, pulled up a chair beside them, and offered them healing through the telling of their stories. I bet He wouldn’t even immediately try to “fix” them. That’s a religious idea. In the Gospels, Jesus just lived with humanity. He pitched His tent with the unclean of this world and made them clean with His presence. We don’t have to run from the dirty and difficult, ladies. Christ in us is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), so let’s run to the sick with all of that glory.

On page 29 of our chapter, Becca said, “It doesn’t all have to be fixed and wrapped up with a bow before we can do good works and get out of our own way. We can give ourselves enough grace to make some room for healing. Not fix it, just carve out room for healing to start doing its work.”

I think it would be a good idea for us to pause with these thoughts and do our SACRED exercise again today.

Are you in a tunnel?

As difficult as the tunnel is, are you worried there may be lightning at the end of it?

Could it be that some of your circumstances could get worse before they get better?

And, can you trust that God is still in control, Jesus is still King, and the Holy Spirit will still empower you to handle it even if you experience worse before better?

Please spend some time talking to God about these questions and use our SACRED outline.

S – Still. Sit in stillness, prayer, and reflection. Ask God to speak.

A – Attend. Who is God to you today? Where are you? What do you want?

C – Cruciform. How/what do you need to surrender in order to live the crucified life?

R – Revelation. What message has God’s Word been speaking to you?

E – Examine. What are you afraid of today?

D – Doxology. What can you thank God for today?

Today, say or write out a personal prayer. I have a challenge for you.

If you know someone living in a tunnel right now, plan a way to love her in a tangible way. Maybe you’d like to write her a note and stick it in the mail. Possibly, you’d like to deliver something to her just to say you’re thinking about her. Or, you could call/visit just to pray with her in her time of need. I don’t want to pressure, but if the Lord has put someone on your heart today, answer His nudge.

What if we all invested in one of God’s precious daughters today? Can you imagine what kind of Kingdom impact that would have?