Sunday Stillness – How to Team Up with God
If you read this week’s Friday Features you will know that I am excited again to be working through an excellent book and reading my Bible and praying at the same time.
Ed Hird has written his second book called, Restoring Health – Body, Mind and Spirit, based on Titus. His first book, Battle for the Soul of Canada, based on Timothy, inspired me in such a way that I wrote a Bible study to go with it.
The theme of Ed’s new book is exactly where I am at in my life.
My hubby and I are working on doing regular exercise, we are eating a different way, and I am focusing more and more on what the Bible says through my SIMPLE study.
So I decided to work my way through Titus, one or two verses at a time, along with Ed’s book and the SIMPLE method. For the next few weeks I will share snippets of where God is leading me as I read and study Titus.
I also have decided to try my memory work again.
A couple of years ago I joined Ann Voskamp and her challenge to memorize Colossians. A few days ago I found my video of that exercise and I felt a sense of accomplishment as I watched it. Each week I will work on memorizing a few verses from Titus. I would love for you to join me. I am sharing my video with you now from Colossians.
Here are my thoughts from the first verses in Titus.
S – Say the passage aloud.
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness – a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time (NIV).
I – Identify the characters, the setting, and the circumstances surrounding this passage.
Ed does a great job explaining the background to Titus’ trip and his working in Crete. An island of pirates, who worshipped gods and goddesses, this was quite a task set before Titus. Paul had worked there previously and knew the deplorable moral level of the people. But Ed explains very well how pirates can become the best leaders when their focus is turned toward God, with righteousness and truth.
M- Make a list of the thoughts, questions and ideas.
I love the fact that knowledge and faith are tantamount to Paul. He knows the truth can be life-changing.
Truth is conceptual and experiential. The truth is meant to be known both objectively and subjectively (Ed Hird, page 25).
Godliness is biblical healthiness. Godliness is meant to make you more, not less human (Ed Hird, page 25).
So to be Christ-like I have to do that in my body, my mind and my spirit.
Integrated health and godliness are apostolic priorities (Ed Hird, page 26).
I love the hope – and the promise of eternal life. And God “does not lie”. We can trust Him in what He says. I cannot stand lies. I think that is one of the worst things we can do – to ourselves and others.
Imagine what a newfound honesty could do in restoring godliness and health to our North American business and governments (Ed Hird, Page 26).
Satan’s plausible lie is that I do not have time to be holistically healthy (ibid.)
Why do I resist getting well? Are there things more important than my body, mind and spirit? If so, what are they? And how can I affect a change?
P – Pray again for God’s guidance.
L- Life – How can I apply what I have been studying to my life?
This has to be a team effort for restoring my health and my hubby’s. With the team of God and us – things can be changed. But we have to encourage one another. It is not just food that will make the necessary changes. We must change our mind sets – to know we are working toward a more healthy way of life. We do a lot of walking but maybe we need to incorporate another type of exercise. And we continue to feed our spirits through discussions, prayer and church services.
E – Exit the passage with a prayer for God to help you.
Lord, help us focus on what you want us to focus on. Show us how we can change in our bodies, our minds and our spirits. I thank You for leading us and guiding us to a better understanding of our whole health in order to serve You in the best way possible. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
Let this life be a team effort – God and me.
linking this week with Titus Tuesdays, Still Saturday, Playdates with God
Tweetables:
Satan’s plausible lie is that I do not have time to be holistically healthy. (click to tweet)
Let this life be a team effort – God and me. (click to tweet)
Today is Sunday Stillness – Join us – spread the word and the Word.
