SS28: Ancient Practices for a Whole New World

Wow, Sisters. Less than three weeks have passed since I shared our last Sister Studies post on March 6, and yet it feels like our whole world has changed since then. Back then, our kids were still going to school and COVID-19 still seemed far away. We knew it would get here eventually, but I'm certain the majority of us were totally unaware it would so quickly change the way we were living.

I spent much of last week trying to wrap my brain around the changing circumstances we are all facing. I did too much research and watched too many press conferences. Anxiety clouded my judgment and emotions. It wasn't very pretty.

How did you do?

I keep recalling Pastor Scott's message last time we were at church together... He asked us,"What do you reach for?" Such an important question. When we are losing our balance or our peace and stability, what do we reach for? Do we reach for more information? More groceries? More toilet paper? More opinions and connection on social media? Or some kind of distraction (food, games, Netflix) to help us forget for a little while what all is going on?

Let's keep reaching for God. He is the Rock we can stand on when the storm rages. One day at a time, by the grace of God, I've been reclaiming my sanity and my peace by reaching for God. Here's how the spiritual practices we've been studying in Sister Circles the last months can help us do that.

MEDITATION: So many of us are afraid of what's going on and what is to come. Meditating on the truth of scripture, remembering God's character, and grounding ourselves in God's promises will not only help us keep a right perspective, but it will literally lower our brain's anxiety levels. (It's research proven truth!) Hallelujah! Pay attention to what your mind is stuck on and if it's not good, replace it with this: God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good. (REPEAT!!!)
To watch the video, see the study notes, or review the slides on MEDITATION, click here.

PRAYER: We need to be talking to God about so much right now - asking God to give our leaders wisdom and to protect us all from illness, and coming to him to confess our struggles, asking for help and listening for direction. God is with us every moment and we can both complain and express gratitude to him, ALL THE TIME.

To watch the video, see the study notes, or review the slides on PRAYER, click here.

FASTING: I decided back in December to fast from Instagram and for Lent I've been fasting from Facebook. God knew it was what I would need right now! Fasting from food or other activities might be another way God wants to lead you. Also? Reflect on what you are fasting from because of social distancing and shelter at home orders! Whether we would have chosen it or not, we are all fasting from gathering together (or sending our kids to school!) What might God want to teach us from this?
To watch the video, see the study notes, or review the slides on FASTING, click here.

STUDY: We have to stay in the Word right now. It may be tempting to binge the world's news and hoard information, but for thousands of years, God's Word has remained through pandemics and disasters and will sustain us through this one, too. Also? Satan is not taking a vacation right now, but is working to create as much fear and chaos as possible. God's Word strengthens our spiritual immune system, so keep your spiritual armor on and your mind and heart protected!
To watch the video, see the study notes, or review the slides on STUDY, click here.

SIMPLICITY: The timing couldn't have been better for this chapter. We are ALL being challenged to live simpler lives, to trust God to provide in every way, and to share and care for those around us. It does NOT necessarily come naturally, however. The temptation to hoard and self-protect rather than share and trust God is REAL. I'm so grateful God's grace is also real and will never be in short supply!

To watch the video, see the study notes, or review the slides on SIMPLICITY, click here.

(It almost makes me laugh that our next chapter is SOLITUDE. But we'll get into that one in a couple of weeks.)

Sisters, these practices mean so much right now. Habits that bring us back to the feet of Jesus, that remind us of God's goodness, that help us rest in his promises, provision, and protection are ESSENTIAL right now. When our routines are all messed up (which has happened for just about everybody, young and old) there are still routines we can and will do well to cling to. We can't send our kids back to school, but we can take time every day to do our own studying of the Word of God. We can pray. We can worship. We can literally count our blessings! We can't control the headlines, but we can control how often we look at them. We can do more than we think because our God can do more than we can imagine and he is at work in us. (Eph. 3:20-21)

Final Thoughts and Invitations

READING PLAN: Easter is still coming, even if our celebrations are different this year! In preparation, I'm reading through the Gospel of Mark. (I'm noticing new things like how there was no social distancing when the crowds were around Jesus! Haha!) It's only 16 chapters long and so if you start now and read about one chapter a day, you'll finish just before Easter. Want to join me? I made a handy checklist you can print to keep track of your progress and to give you some questions to think about as you read. You can print the Reading Guide in either size and read along with me by clicking here.

I HAVE A NEW BLOG! I'm not sure if it falls under meditation, prayer, or study, but writing is one of the ways I take my thoughts captive and correct my thinking. It's a way I can study, pray, and soak in a truth, sort of all at once. It also gives my mind something better to do than worry or obsess about current events. I write often in my prayer journal, but I've been wanting to share more again, in case what's helping me might help someone else. Because you didn't all sign up to listen to ALL of my thoughts, I created a new blog where I'll be sharing things I'm remembering and learning in the weeks and months to come. If you'd like to check it out, go to www.melissaens.com.

Remember that no matter what comes, our disciples alone aren't what will save us. God is the one who is with us and for us. Our spiritual practices are meant to lead us back to him. May you find much grace and peace this coming week as you turn your eyes to Jesus, remind yourself of God's faithfulness, and trust in God's goodness. He will carry us through.

Grace and Peace to you, Sister.

Love,
Melissa

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