Intro to Rhythms of the Word
We started She Reads Truth a year and some change ago with the sole goal of women truly reading the Bible together and allowing the Lord to grow and shift them through it.
When we pick up this amazing offensive weapon (Ephesians 6:17 , Hebrews 4:12) that God has given us to fight for our freedom and for those around us, we have to not only look at it but also look through it and enter into what it says and what it means for us.
These scriptures are some that are super meaningful to our writers, and we want to hear from you – What is God speaking to your heart from them? Our encouragement is to sit in God’s Word – do a little background study, figure out the context, draw it out on paper, meditate on it, talk to your sister or your friend about what it means, answer the questions, or maybe just read it – for the first time or for what feels like the first time.
Get in the rhythm of reading the Word and recognizing that it is His truth for you, today.
Day One: Thirsty for His Presence
Text: Psalm 143
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.
Have you ever been truly soul-weary, parched and desperate for the Lord? How does it make you feel to hear David, a biblical hero and strong man of God, describing these same feelings?
When was the last time you mediated on all God has done and allowed the reality of His good works to quench the dryness of your soul?
If you or someone you love is spiritually crushed and sitting in darkness, won’t you pray through this Psalm of David and ask the Lord to pour out His presence and peace even now? His love is steadfast and His grace sufficient.
Father God – bless these friends on SRT, Teach us to do your will ps 143:10.
Ladies, thank you for sharing. I too have lost my way and SRT is a tool the Lord has provided to begin our journey back home.
Enjoy your day. God bless each of you.
Teresa
Praying for God,s peace in your friends life. May He bring forgiveness and love to her family. Praying He will open their hearts to His love, giving them hope that all things are possible through Christ. Praying that God will show you how to comfort and support your friend and to give you strength as you lift her up. In Jesus name
For some reason, after reading this the song "Your Love Oh Lord" by Third Day popped into my head.
i let the email from srt sit in my inbox for the last day or so somehow knowing that i needed to read it and get back into a rhythm of seeking God's presence throughout my day (before reading this series title). i have also been reflecting on how i have seemed to have lost my footing as of late and am desiring to honor God with where i am while wanting so much to be somewhere else (geographically, relationally, life stage) but being at a complete loss of how to really do that. so ps 143 – particularly vs 10 spoke words of hope, encouragement, and conviction. i have felt drawn to the phrase i have seen around lately about " live expectantly without expectation"…and have been praying for God to show me how to embark on that. ps 143 seems to be an excellent foundation for embarking farther on that journey.
(and to the post above mine…i am also an "ang" and your entry is exactly where i am – freaky!!:))
The last two years have been a whirlwind as a relationship ended yet it has been hard for me to move on and feel peace about it all. Recently I have been in place of loneliness and my trust in God and where He has me right now has made me weary. I so desire to be out of this so called “desert”, for my heart to finally fully heal, for new relationships to be cultivated, and pure joy in Christ to come back into my life. I humbly ask for prayer ladies, which is so hard to ask. I desire what Psalm 143:10 says, for God to teach me to do His will.
I never thought Christians were supposed to get depressed. We have the joy of The Lord,right? But lately I’ve really struggled. Verse 7 really spoke to me. Even great men of God went through times of depression and fear! Lord, I am trusting you! V.11 because of your faithfulness bring me out of this distress. I am your servant. James 4:7 resist the devil and he will flee from you, come close to God and He will come close to you. Thank you Jesus for your word and your promises!
David seems to be in desperate straits and so he cries out to God; he asks God to hear him, to listen to him! And, not only to hear, but to answer. We've all been there, or, at least I have been. He calls on God to answer him, and knows that he can do that because he knows of the faithfulness of the God he serves. I think that sometimes when we are feeling overwhelmed, we have a difficult time remembering that the Lord is faithful ; we have to remind ourselves. I think that David does that here. He says," I remember…I meditate…I muse" and so in his longing for God, he stretches out his hands to God…..in prayer again. I can picture him doing that, arms outstretched, palms up. He needs God! And he needs an answer quickly, he is sinking and he knows it. "Let me hear" from You. How beautiful that he now affirms his trust.
He lifts up his soul to God and says twice in the next few verses " teach me. " And then, " revive me, for the sake of Your name. I see myself in this Psalm. I have been desperate, I need God to teach me; we all need to meditate on the Word of God, just as David did. David knows that he can be honest with God and he is. And, so can we/ I be!
Psalm 143 truly spoke to me this morning. I must remember to be more like David, lying naked before The Lord. He already knows the things we are going through; I sometimes believes He desires to hear that WE NEED HIM.
We spend so much time pretending that everything is fine when it really is not. The Bible tells us that in our weakness He is made strong. I will not try and fix situations that are “God jobs”!
When the enemy comes in like a flood, Jehovah Nissi will be my banner (standard). I thank God for His faithfulness and loving kindness. I can always run to His throne in time of need!
@ Leslie…LOVE THAT SONG!
Praying for my little sisters ([email protected])
that you both will continue to let their light shine. God is most assuredly watching and listening. (Mark 10:14) Word of God says… “and a child shall lead them”. (Isaiah 11:6)
Praying for you Beverly…He knows the plans He has for YOU; to prosper you! (Jeremiah 29:11)
Also praying for you and your husband Nicole.
@Ibukun…praying you also “rest in Him” this weekend and continuing in the days to come.