Paul Tripp has been a mentor to many of us, so I’m excited we will do his 40 day Lenten devotional together. This time I’m jumping in as a participant and I’m excited! You will need this book:
We will officially begin this Ash Wednesday, but Monday and Tuesday I’ll have you read on the introduction of his book. It is forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, not counting Sundays. All we will do on Sundays is have you share a “God Hunt” from the last week. That will help you be alert to His presence all week. God is always with us, but we fail to see Him so often because we aren’t alert and aware. All during Lent we are going to help one another be more intentional in “spying” Him at work.
HOW? Be alert to these things:
- A passage in Scripture becomes “radioactive,” giving you the wisdom, comfort, conviction, or just a push you need that day.
- A clear answer to prayer
- Unusual timing or circumstances that make you see His fingerprints
- Help to do His work in the world
- Something in His creation that puts you in awe
- Kindness from His children
- A sense of His presence
I’m going to start and since I can add pictures, I will explain these two pictures:
Annie (Dee’s daughter), Dee, Bing, and Christy (Dee’s friend and assistant) at the retreat this weekend in Manhattan, Kansas.
The beautiful little pouch Bing made filled with notes to me from so many of you!
Sunday:
- Share one way you spied God in your life this last week.
Monday/Tuesday:
2. Read the introduction to Journey to the Cross.
A. How does Romans 8:20-22 describe the sad condition of our world?
B. What do you think Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are those who mourn?”
3. What suggestions did Tripp make for making this journey meaningful?
4. As you pray, are there any you might embrace this Lent?
Ash Wednesday – Day 1.
5. How did God help 9-year-old Paul come to a knowledge of his sin? How did he respond? And what happened?
6. Look at the three questions at the end of Day 1 and choose one to answer here.
7. Meditate on Psalm 51:1-12, using it as a template for confession.
Thursday – Day 2:
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
10. Use Psalm 30 as a springboard for prayer.
Friday – Day 3:
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you?
12. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
13. Read Psalm 74 and write or speak your own private song of lament including private confession and need.
Saturday – Day 4:
14. Read through the chapter and share what stood out to you about letting go.
15. Read through Luke 9:23-25 and Romans 6:1-14 for guidance on question 3.
16. Answer question 3 here.
314 comments
Ash Wednesday – Day 1.
5. How did God help 9-year-old Paul come to a knowledge of his sin? How did he respond? And what happened? – God knew exactly what and who Paul needed at that time of his life. He placed a wise man of God in his life to direct him to what he really needed, the truth of his on sins. Paul realized at 9, just how bad a sinner he was that he let go of all he was holding on to, took the chance of others seeing or hearing him and got out of his bunk and prayed. he accepted his sin as his own and thanked God for his forgiveness.
6. Look at the three questions at the end of Day 1 and choose one to answer here. – All 3 questions are good, but I’m going to take 1, which is going to be the hardest for me but I pray will help me start being more aware. I’m aware of my sin but I never thought about how deep they are. And I say are, because I still have them to deal with unfortunately. I can’t remember a time that I cried over them, I think I more find a way to justify them like Paul Tripp was doing. This first day made a lot of good points that I really need to block everything out, and cry out to the Lord to help me, to reveal to me, just what my sin is doing to Him and ask for him to help me STOP.
7. Meditate on Psalm 51:1-12, using it as a template for confession. – Lord, I know, as David did, that I am a sinner. I turn away at times from my own sin, because I think I’m justified, but don’t turn away from the sins of others. Hold me accountable Lord as you do everyone and help me to see how to get out of my sins that I carry. Help me to have a pure heart and see everyone like you see me, with loving eyes even when things are not right. In Jesus name AMEN!
5. How did God help 9-year-old Paul come to a knowledge of his sin?
He gave him a camp counselor who studied Roman’s 1-5 with the boys. One night Romans 3:23 hit him hard; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
How did he respond?
He cried. He couldn’t stop crying.
And what happened?
He got out of his bed, got onto his knees and prayed to God. He asked God to forgive his sin and put his trust in Him.
6. Look at the three questions at the end of Day 1 and choose one to answer here.
Question 1. I am aware of my sin several times during a week. I have been very sad about my sin as recently as last weekend. I confessed it to a friend and cried over it sometime last fall.
2. Read the introduction to Journey to the Cross.
A. How does Romans 8:20-22 describe the sad condition of our world? It is bearing the destruction and slow death of sin. We are a hopeless creation without the redemption of Christ. We are part of the world God created, and we groan as well for our rescue from the sin around and in us.
B. What do you think Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are those who mourn?” It is the darkest places in my life that have been my sweetest with the Lord in the middle of my grief over losses of opportunities, relationships, a disabled child, finances, because my world stops long enough to cry out for the balm of His presence. This is the same when I am aware of my sin. My default is to beat myself up and to be self-deprecating, but that response is from Satan himself. A godly response is to mourn over the hurt I’ve caused my Lord, but to rejoice that His grace has pointed it out and that there is a remedy.
3. What suggestions did Tripp make for making this journey meaningful? To open my heart and my hands and let go of the things that I not only hold but have ahold of me. It is my fault that I do not redeem the time as I should. While I love this format, I do wrestle as being on the Internet is something that easily drains time from my life that is not profitable.
4. As you pray, are there any you might embrace this Lent? I have one specific idol that I have had over the past decade, and I pray that God would give me the desire and power to demolish this. It’s exhausting and I know the Lord wants better for me.
Denise — so glad you are back — you are a mature wise woman of God who articulates so well.
Denise, I love this- “It is the darkest places in my life that have been my sweetest with the Lord in the middle of my grief over losses of opportunities, relationships, a disabled child, finances, because my world stops long enough to cry out for the balm of His presence.” Thank you for sharing,
5. How did God help 9-year-old Paul come to a knowledge of his sin? How did he respond? And what happened? He used the bald counselor! He used His word to convict him of his sin…gave him insight he never really perceived in his early years in a Christian home. Paul could not rest, he could only cry over His sorrow. He prayed for forgiveness for his sins for which he was truly sorry. I grew up in Akron, Ohio and still live in a suburb. A. W. Tozer heard the word of God from a street preacher in downtown Akron in 1914 on his way home from work at one of the big rubber companies. He was only 16 or 17. The preacher said if you don’t know how to be saved, just call on God and say “Be merciful to me a sinner.” Tozer went home and climbed up into his attic and did just that. It was the Word of God. Tozer is buried walking distance from where I live.
6. Look at the three questions at the end of Day 1 and choose one to answer here. Answering #3: It is a regular discipline of time in the Word and in prayer that keeps my heart tender and open to the Holy Spirit’s gentle conviction of sin, prompting confession.
7. Meditate on Psalm 51:1-12, using it as a template for confession. One of the comforting things about this Psalm is how this was David’s response to his grievous sins of adultery and murder. Despite his failures, God forgave and he continued to be a man after God’s own heart.
5. How did God help 9-year-old Paul come to a knowledge of his sin? Romans 3:23 became radioactive for him and he became convicted of his sinfulness. How did he respond? At first he tried to fight it, but eventually after many tears he knelt down and confessed his sins and put his trust in Jesus. And what happened? He was given peace and was able to sleep.
6. Look at the three questions at the end of Day 1 and choose one to answer here. Do you usually use the conviction of the Spirit as a blessing to be pursued or a burden to be avoided? I look at it as a blessing, because unless I am perfect (which I’m not), I am sinning so I need to welcome whatever convictions of sin that I receive. Why? If I think that there is nothing in my life that needs to change then I am being sinfully prideful. I was listening today to Tim Keller’s message called “The Fellowship of the Gospel” and in it he quoted George Whitefield saying that everything that we do is in some part sinful. Every prayer, every sermon, everything is corrupted by our sin nature. If I can be convicted of anything at all, I consider it a drop of water in an ocean of sin.
Dawn, that quote from Whitefield reminds me of a quote from the book Gentle and Lowly. Ortlund wrote that if sin were the color blue, everything we do would be tainted with the color blue.
Great quote, Susan.
Hi Dee, Would like to join you for Lent Season
Welcome!
You are in Maritaeve — and we are glad!
Thursday – Day 2:
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?
These are some of what stood out for me:
We quit pointing fingers and ask for help
We are free to keep needing grace
God is unrelentingly merciful
I thought of something that Alasdair Groves once said in a conference session. Paul’s statement that he was unashamed of the gospel of Christ we understand as he was unashamed to proclaim the truth to others which isn’t a wrong way to understand the text, but that Paul was also saying he wasn’t ashamed of his ongoing need of the gospel in his own life. That has stuck with me. I can endeavor to be unashamed of my need too.
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
3)
What I need spiritually & how placing myself in the shadow of the cross may inform or place perspective on my needs.
I need to trust God and my counselor says I need to acknowledge my emotions without deciding if they are good or bad or if I should allow them to be.
Believing in the the unrelenting mercy of the Father and that it is okay for me to be who and where I am, these could inform and place perspective.
So good Chris: Paul was also saying he wasn’t ashamed of his ongoing need of the gospel in his own life.
Thank you Chris for pointing this out:
Paul was also saying he wasn’t ashamed of his ongoing need of the gospel in his own life.
The perfectionistic part of me needed this.
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?
The thing that resonated with me is that under the shadow of the cross there is a place of peace and protection found nowhere else. Tripp says sin is within and follows us everywhere. We cannot escape it. That is suffocating, as a thought, to me. It makes me feel like I can’t breathe. To know there is a place where I can be protected from that feeling is freeing.
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
Question 2: I do think my greatest problem is my sin. If I could rid myself of this sin then I would be a freer, cleaner person. I would feel good inside and out. I’m thinking of a particular sin, however I think it would be that way for any sin (to be freed). A clear head, a clean heart; peace and enjoyment of life, a fuller life. I have had a taste of this in the past and oh! how sweet it is!
10. Use Psalm 130 as a springboard for prayer.
Oh Lord! I come to you in great need of healing. Thank you for Your forgiveness of my sin. Thank You for washing me clean. You are good to me. I am yours and will always be faithful to you. If I extend these thoughts to our world, please heal. You are the One who can save all. Help those in need of You to know this. Amen.
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?
My greatest enemy is not without but the sin within. I have a frequent struggle with someone in our church and it is easy for me to think the problem is him. Create in me a clean heart O God, search me and know me, and see if there be any wicked way in me.
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
What actions in your life betray the fact that I don’t really believe the problem is my sin. The fact that I’m dwelling so much on this person and have a penchant to go over his wrong. Help me, Lord.
10. Use Psalm 30 as a springboard for prayer.
Oh Lord, You have restored my life, been so faithful to me, and forgiven me. May I walk in forgiveness toward others. The enemy is prowling in our little church, and I can fall into his evil hands. To You I cry for mercy, You are the One who can turn our mourning into dancing. Guide me, and help me not to be like a mule with no understanding. In Jesus Name
Thursday
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?
To sit under the shadow of the cross teaches me who I am, stood out to me. Being a Christian for so long I find myself getting comfortable with thinking I’m okay, which as Tripp says “in one sense I am, because salvation is sealed once and for all. On the other hand, as long as sin still lurks inside me, I’m not okay and still in constant need of redeeming grace.” I need the reminding , to be “humbled anew.” “I’m still in need of what originally brought me to Jesus: divine grace!”
Sharon, it is good to be reminded that we are still in constant need of redeeming grace. As I woke up this morning, my mind wandered to things that I had to shake off as they were from the enemy. The temptation to think of negative things is always there. I am thankful that we are not alone in the battle for our minds. We have been saved not only from the penalty of sin but from its power. This song written by Ira Stanphill is so good. https://lyricstranslate.com
The cross upon which Jesus died
Is a shelter in which we can hide
And its grace so free is sufficient for me
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.
There’s room at the cross for you
There’s room at the cross for you
Though millions have come, there’s still room for one
Yes, there’s room at the cross for you.
Thank you. It is just what I need during these days of uncertainty.
Thursday – Day 2:
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?
In section #3 Tripp says “The Cross preaches God’s saving zeal, his boundless love, and his willingness to unleash his almighty power and unlimited sovereignty to draw rebels to himself. The teaches us that God doesn’t look at sinners with disdain or disgust, but with generous and tender love.”
This fact about God brings incredible hope to me personally in my own sin but also hope as I pray for a wandering granddaughter whom I love dearly.
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
3. Think of some of the things you need right now, either materially or spiritually. How might placing yourself in the shadow of the cross inform or enhance your perspective on those needs?
Spiritually I need wisdom as I am entering into a walk of reconciliation and deeper bonding with my oldest daughter. She has started the conversation with her dad and me and it is never easy to be faced with some of the hard realities in a family relationship.
Placing myself and my thinking in the shadow of the Cross is exactly where I need to be in order to humble myself to some of the realities of my sins and failures that have affected our relationship.
10. Use Psalm 30 as a springboard for prayer.
I used Psalm 130?
Lord! It is from a low place I call out to you. From deep within my heart. Please listen and hear me. I ask for your mercy to be on my life.
Lord if you kept track of all my sinning or held up my sinfulness I could not bear the weight of it or in anyway defend it. No one could. But! Hope comes in your forgiving me. I am in awe of You for that forgiveness.
I come now and sit before you Lord waiting. In my heart I wait and put my hope in what you have to say. It is your Word that matters. The longing I have in my heart to hear you is like someone who is standing guard waiting for morning to come. There is an anticipation in my heart to hear from you.
With you Lord, there is a rock solid love and a very great provision for my rescue. For my being made right and put back into right standing. All! Not just part but all of my sin is taken care of by you! You Lord save me from my sin.
Thank you Lord for the realities of this truth from your holy scriptures.
My sin is not held against me. But You have provided forgiveness and You are my redemption from it. And not just part of or some sins but from sin itself in my very being. From the depths of my soul and in my inner being I call to you and you forgive. Completely! It’s hard to believe but it’s true of You! It still amazes me. I love you Lord and I long for You. My hope is in your absolutely secure love for me. I have been, I am and I will be saved out of my sinfulness.
I appreciate this Lenten study.
Glad you are here, Sharon!
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?
– Mr. Tripp says, “The power of the cross powerfully reminds me that I need much more than situational, relational, financial, or physical change.” This is electric to me, because too often have I found myself unhappy, unsettled, disquieted and seek to identify what “outwardly” change needs to happen to “cure” what ails me. Of course it never does, because these are misdiagnosis. My sin is THE problem and only through grace can that be cured. It’s lesson I have to learn over and over.
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
#1 What do you think it means to live under the shadow of the cross? What are some practical ways to get yourself there? : I feel that living under the shadow of the cross is a life acutely aware of my sin, God’s love, and His sacrifice so that I may be able to have a relationship with Him and worship Him how I was intended to. It requires me to seek Him DAILY and accept his grace, to humbly ask for His daily guidance, and to transform my heart. I need to set aside special, uncompromised time to seek Him in the morning, to pray, and to sit under shadow of the cross.
10. Use Psalm 30 as a springboard for prayer.
Thursday
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?To sit under the shadow of the cross teaches me who I am, stood out to me. Being a Christian for so long I find myself getting comfortable with thinking I’m okay, which as Tripp says “in one sense I am, because salvation is sealed once and for all. On the other hand, as long as sin still lurks inside me, I’m not okay and still in constant need of redeeming grace.” I need the reminding , to be “humbled anew.” “I’m still in need of what originally brought me to Jesus: divine grace!”
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to you concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross? Why did it stand out to you? “It’s … prideful to be unprepared for the battle with sin.” The cross is testimony for what it took to battle sin and the evil one – it took a lot. I cannot approach daily life the same way I approach a difficult hike – “I will probably make it to the top ok.” If I take on daily life without preparing for the battle I am pridefully thinking that I do not need HIS power, I am pridefully thinking that I can do it without Him – I’ve done enough to build up enough spiritual muscle that I can probably make it through the day. What have I missed by having this attitude? The cross was needed for this battle – therefore I need Him for this battle – daily life.
9. Do you agree that your greatest problem is your sin? What attitudes of actions in your life suggest that maybe you don’t truly believe that? I DO agree – every time I take matters into my own hands and, as Tripp said, shrink the universe to my desires, this is sin. I see me waltzing into situations left and right thinking that I can handle it – that I am competent and can wing it. I do not seek Him humbly for HIS direction and HIS glory. I still am operating as though the problem is others in life and if people would just let me do it my way all would be well. Yikes.
This is not strictly following the questions here; but I was reading Numbers 5: 5-10. Verse 5 says, “When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin … and he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him whom he did the wrong” or, if there is no one to restitution to, he shall make restitution to the Lord through offering a sacrifice via the priest. These verses got me wondering if we take confession too privately and if there is biblical precedent here for making verbal confession to someone and also making restitution.
I think sin puts a barrier between ourselves and God, but it also puts barriers between ourselves and others (and not just the person we have wronged). It hinders trust, joy and honesty in relationships, among other things. If we took seriously what confession means, and did it verbally, I think our relationships would be a lot healthier. We need to learn to say we are sorry, not just to God, though that is THE most important, but also to each other.
Good questions Diane. I just listened to the last Bible study from 1 Samuel by Paige Brown on the responsive heart of David. I don’t know if you have followed this study or not but I think this last lesson number 8 would help clarify your mind a bit regarding this. Her teaching on what repentance truly is in light of David’s great sins and his confession in Psalm 51 is excellent. I know the lessons are long and finding time to listen to the teaching isn’t always easy but boy is it worth it.
Bev, I have been listening to Paige Brown’s teaching on 1 Samuel (she is an amazing teacher) but have not listened to her last lesson yet. I’ll be sure to do that! Thanks!
Thursday
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
Do you agree that your greatest problem is your sin? Yes.
What attitudes or actions in your life suggest that maybe you don’t truly believe that? An attitude of complacency which comes through in my actions of being smug or having uncritical satisfaction with where I’m at relationally with the Lord. I really can’t afford to be complacent in regards to sin as it puts me in a place of self-dependence. As Tripp says, “the cross teaches us to be humbly ready and to start everyday with cries for divine rescue and strength.”
10. Use Psalm 30 as a springboard for prayer. I will use Psalm 130 as he suggests in the book.
May I desire and humbly call for Your help from the depths of despair each and every day O Lord. I ask You to hear my prayer as I can’t imagine if you kept a record of my sins, how could I survive? But I am thankful that you offer forgiveness, that I might learn to fear You or stand in awe of who You are. I put my hope in Your word, Your unfailing love and thank You for Your redeeming love which overflows and redeems me from every kind of sin.
Ash Wednesday – Day 1.
5. How did God help 9-year-old Paul come to a knowledge of his sin? How did he respond? And what happened?
God helped Paul come to the knowledge of his sin through His word in Romans 3:23. It cut to his heart and even though he received a conviction of the heart, he fought it. But then the weeping came and 2 things gripped his heart: awareness of his sin and the knowledge of a ready, willing and capable Savior. As a 9-year-old, he did not understand all the ramifications but knew he needed to pray and confess. And he did just that getting down from his bunk, kneeling on the stone-cold floor, and praying and confessing his sins to God.
6. Look at the three questions at the end of Day 1 and choose one to answer here.
In a typical week, how aware are you of the depth of your sin? When was the last time you wept over your sin?
Our study in Romans with Paige has started me on the course of godly introspection and a deeper awareness of the depth of my sin. I am finding that the more aware I am of my sin, the more wondrous Jesus’ death is for me and the more I love Jesus (see Him more clearly, love Him more dearly, follow Him more nearly).
7. Meditate on Psalm 51:1-12, using it as a template for confession.
Paige’s session for this week included Psalm 51 as well! Wow-God’s timing. It is no coincidence that Psalm 51:1-12 is ever before me, Lord. I see it as a gift-a tribute to your patience in letting me see that your Word is indeed the truth and that by this truth, I am set free. Your mercy is overflowing and in confessing all that you bring to mind, including those “little’ foxes (they are never little-they do morph) that ruin the vineyard, you bring restoration in my relationship with you. You will restore the joy of my salvation and my spirit is renewed. Help me, Lord to be a willing repenter of my sins and a willing acceptor of your forgiveness and grace.
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross? Why did it stand out to you?
Tripp said that the shadow of the cross is a place of peace and protection. It’s the place where we learn that God looks at us with generous and tender love. This stood out to me because the picture of resting in the shadow of the cross reminds me of “My lover is like an apple tree among the trees of the forest and I delight to sit in his shade” from The Songs. It really could empower me to live differently if I could, as it were, look over my shoulder and see the cross, because it isn’t a place of condemnation for me.
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
What does it mean to live under the shadow of the cross and how do I get myself there?
It’s living with a right understanding of God; that He is not an angry God just waiting for me to mess up. He’s not “casting a shadow” of gloom and doom over me, or making me live under the threat of punishment. Seeing God correctly means I must get to know Him more deeply.
Susan, I love your reference to the song of songs. Such a wonderful complement to the shadow of the cross. And such an enigma- an apple tree and a cross. Love and sacrifice.
Thursday – Day 2:
6. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?
There are several things that stood out concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. I chose this one: “The shadow of the cross is a place of protection and peace that can be found nowhere else.” There is no place I would rather be.
7. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
Think of the things you need right now, either materially or spiritually. How might sitting under the shadow of the cross inform or enhance your perspective on those things?
I am learning to see the futility of seeking after material things (Matthew 6:33), as the very thing that is needful for life and for its enjoyment is available at a great cost but willingly paid for by Jesus Christ.
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
Everything is necessary that God sends our way; nothing can be necessary that he withholds. -J. Newton” (either materially or spiritually)
10. Use Psalm 130 as a springboard for prayer.
I have found this book by Donald Whitney called Praying the Bible. I have enjoyed it so much and have started incorporating it into my prayer times. I just wanted to share it with my sisters here using Psalm 130 as a springboard. Perhaps, many of you are already praying in a similar way using the Word of God. Dr. Whitney’s book just happen to be very timely for me. I am excited to experience our walk with one another as we journey to the cross together.
Lord, I can be at my lowest but your eyes see me. You are El Roi, the One who sees. The One whose ears never fail to hear when I cry to you for mercy. Around the world, many of your people are calling out to you. (Ukraine especially at this time)
Thank you that you do not keep a record of sins or I will be no more. You give forgiveness, you give it again and again. (for my daughter)
How can my whole being wait, Lord? I am used to microwave requests and answers. But the psalmist encourages us to wait for our only hope-You. Even in the watches of the night, I can wait for you. Let me not resent the early awakenings but be expectant of your company, your listening ear, and your guiding words. (when sleep eludes me)
My soul, put your hope in the Lord for HE is your only hope. His love knows no limit, His redemption is full, the cross is enough. Only you can redeem me/us. You have called each one by name. (praying for my church and my blog friends)
13. Read Psalm 74 and write or speak your own private song of lament including private confession and need.
How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?
Is the enemy to revile forever?
Why do you not act?
Why do you not take your hand from your pocket and destroy the evil-doers?
Yet, you created the earth.
You set the stars in place.
You set boundaries for the streams, lakes and oceans.
You give us winter and summer.
You are not asleep.
You have reasons that we do not know.
Hear us as we cry to you.
Destroy the evil leaders of the nations.
Let not their plans succeed.
Rescue the crippled, the children, the sick.
Protect your children who are trying to live in peace and do your work.
Give us this day our daily bread – food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, safe places to live
Let your true children be as light in the darkness
Let your name be glorified
Let the nations bow down before you.
Deliver us from temptations within
And evil without.
Save us and rescue us
We submit to you.
Praise your holy name.
For yours is the earth and everything in it
Yours is the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Here is an old hymn that speaks of standing under the shadow of the Cross:
Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand
The shadow of a mighty rock
Within a weary land.
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.
Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me.
And from my stricken
Heart with tears,
Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of redeeming love
And my unworthiness.
I take, O cross, thy shadow
For my abiding place.
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His face.
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss.
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross.
Diane, thank you so very much for sharing the words for this song. Yes, so appropriate during Lenten season. “I take, O cross, thy shadow For my abiding place…” I want to abide in the shadow of the cross.
Thank you Diane, I grew up singing and knowing the old hymns. A blessing to be reminded of this one.
Diane, Thank you for sharing the words to the beautiful old hymn. This hymn will be in my head all day and I love it. It is such joy to remember the words and the melodies that truly speak to our hearts of all that Jesus has done for us.
Thursday – Day 2:
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you? – As I started reading day 2, I felt right away the presence of God with me. I pictured a huge shade tree giving me protection from the elements of my own sin. It’s so important to live under the shadow of the cross and not to just visit when I need help. As Paul Tripp started out, his sin, like my own creeps back in without warning. We think all is fine, like we have conquered our sin, and in an instant it is back. I need to right down and keep all 6 of his points of what the shadow of the cross means and keep it close so I never think I’m free of having to ask for forgiveness, mercy and grace.
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here. – 2. Do you agree that your greatest problem is your sin? What attitudes or actions in your life suggest that maybe you don’t truly believe that? – I absolutely know my greatest problem is my sin, but yet I still do it. I go around pretending at times that all is ok and instead of reaching out for help, to find out the root of my issues of sin, I let it go and grown in my heart. I need to truly just spend time with God and have him reveal to me, though I know this will be hard, just what I’m doing to him. I need him to tell me how I’m hurting him and others and to give me direction on how to stop.
10. Use Psalm 130 as a springboard for prayer. – O Lord, hear me please. Help me Lord to follow your direction. I know Lord you forget and have forgiven me but help me Lord to forgive and learn to see others as you see them. Help me Lord control my sinful nature. I will continue to follow you and your Word because I know it is the best direction I will find. Help me to absorb it all so it just flows freely from my mouth and lives in my heart. Help me be under the shadow of the cross at all times. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Julie, all of your answers resonated with me. I like the picture of a huge tree “giving me the protection from the elements of all of my sins”.
Julie, your answers are so much the way I feel so often. I truly need to spend quiet time with just Him, daily. It so helps me see my own sin and I can repent and restart. We truly have a God of mercy and grace, who is so available to listen and forgive. I was up for a whole hour this morning before I realized that I needed my “attitude check in” the Jesus. I need to start each day with Him first.
It’s good for me to be a participant for I think it will give me more compassion and insight as a facilitator. Yesterday was wild and so I just read — and skipped to today this morning!
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you?
Differences in groaning — “My Kingdom come” versus “Thy Kingdom come.”
12. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
How could I more effectively groan over sin? Instead of always asking God to change the person in my life with whom I struggle, please purify my heart so I can see this person as you do, so I can overcome Satan who is endeavoring to divide our church. Father, give me grace as You have poured out on me. Help me believe the best about this person, help me see as You do, help me overcome the evil one by overcoming evil with good toward this person. And if this person is threatened in some way by me, help this person to feel secure in You.
13. Read Psalm 74 and write or speak your own private song of lament including private confession and need.
The enemy wants to destroy our fledgling church, and he wants to use me — help me be a better woman, filled with grace, love, and patience. Help me not to spread discord, which is so tempting to do, but then I would fall into the enemy’s hands helping him destroy us.
Oh Lord, You are so great, this problem is not too big for You. Even the hatred of Putin is not too fearful for You — You laugh at Him. You love Your children in the Ukraine. Please come rushing to help them and may they see it is You. Arise, O God, define your cause. In Jesus Name I pray.
Dee, I envy your ability to be succinct in answering these questions. (-:
But I want you to know I will pray for you and your struggle in a particular relationship and also your concerns for your fledgling church. My husband and I have been part of two different church plants in past years and I understand the unique struggles that come with that. What you said resonates with me.
Oh thank you so much, Bev.
Friday – Day 3:
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you?
We are given permission to groan but it needs to be healthy groaning. I was struck by the selfish side of groaning. As Tripp outlined that way of groaning I realized my own bent to go there. Like he said “it is a symptom of our continuing desire to be sovereign so as to guarantee that we will get the pleasures, treasures, and comforts that we have set our hearts on.” And that becomes “self-oriented frustration”. Tripp says we have reason to groan because of the destructiveness of sin. His comments on sin are excellent. But then I was encouraged by his causing me to think about when I typically groan and that it is good to groan about the right things which are things that are basically the result of sin’s affect on this world and all of God’s creation. He pointed out it is good to give ourselves to a season of the right kind of groaning because “After all, you do live in a groaning place.”.
12. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
3. How could you more effectively groan over your sin, and what spiritual benefits might that offer?
Tripp said “So, stop and groan.”. I rarely let myself groan for any length of time. As I read his comments I am ashamed to now admit I avoid the weight of it. I have a friend who has often reminded me it is not a sin to be sad but I realize here how much I don’t allow myself to stay there very long. Partly it is not my nature but in greater measure I don’t like “feeling” that way. How selfish is that! My sweet friend who has suffered great pain in her life physically, emotionally and spiritually since coming to Christ at age 33 has cried a river of tears out to God and I’ve watched her go deep with God and she has great joy in him. I have been fascinated by the beauty of her relationship to her Savior. She takes it all to Him. I now understand that aspect of her much better and I can learn from her and Tripp.
13. Read Psalm 74 and write or speak your own private song of lament including private confession and need.
I will do this but will probably not post this one because I know it will be very personal and lengthy.
Good from Bev (and Tripp!)
As Tripp outlined that way of groaning I realized my own bent to go there. Like he said “it is a symptom of our continuing desire to be sovereign so as to guarantee that we will get the pleasures, treasures, and comforts that we have set our hearts on.” And that becomes “self-oriented frustration”. Tripp says we have reason to groan because of the destructiveness of sin.
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you?
I learned that groaning is not a useless activity or action. It is engaging with God who wants us to interact with Him. He hears us and answers us.
12. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
Question 3: I can more effectively groan over my sin by having an expectation that God is listening and will answer me; an awareness that He is with me. I can groan with the knowledge of Jesus’ pain and suffering on the cross. He groaned there too.
2. Read the introduction to Journey to the Cross.
A. How does Romans 8:20-22 describe the sad condition of our world?
Subject to futility; in bondage to corruption, in the pains of childbirth
B. What do you think Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are those who mourn?”
Mourning leads us to cry out for help, rescue, forgiveness, deliverance.
3. What suggestions did Tripp make for making this journey meaningful?
Humble and thankful mourning, confess sin, fast from comforts, give self in a focused way to prayer.
4. As you pray, are there any you might embrace this Lent?
I feel convicted of the need to be more aware of my own sin and confess.
5. How did God help 9-year-old Paul come to a knowledge of his sin? How did he respond? And what happened?
At camp, God used Romans 3:23 to bring Paul to an awareness of the knowledge of his own sin and of Jesus as Savior. He was broken to tears and repentance, prayer.
6. Look at the three questions at the end of Day 1 and choose one to answer here.
Question 1-how aware am I of my own sin, when did I last cry over it? Well, I am as I type this because I feel very convicted that I do not allow myself to feel the weight of my own sin. I too easily fall into works mentality, my good deeds, my ugly self-righteous older brotherishness. Forgive me Lord.
7. Meditate on Psalm 51:1-12, using it as a template for confession.
8. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?
Under the shadow of the Cross we are humbled anew at who we are and our need of Him, what He offers us, and we are forced to admit that the greatest enemy we face is not outside of us but within us.
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
Quest. 1-I would like more practical ways of living under the shadow…meditating on Scripture, scanning my heart, confession and repentance…
Quest. 2-I know in my head my greatest problem is my sin but I think lately I haven’t allowed myself to feel the weight. It’s a bit overwhelming, but I know His grace will meet me.
10. Use Psalm 30 as a springboard for prayer.
11. Read through the chapter, What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you?
Groaning is either self-focused complaint that I didn’t get my way, or a cry for our Holy God to have His way. We are always tempted to avoid groaning over our sin. I feel that, a fear of going into a pit and not getting out, but when I groan over my own si I can trust that His grace will pull me out, uphold me and renew the joy of my salvation.
12. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
Quest. 3-How can I more effectively groan over my sin? I think by setting aside time to meditate, asking God to really show me my sin, asking hard questions…confess and repent.
13. Read Psalm 74 and write or speak your own private song of lament including private confession and need.
14. Read through the chapter and share what stood out to you about letting go.
Turning to the only true Comforter instead of all the ways I try to find comfort here.
15. Read through Luke 9:23-25 and Romans 6:1-14 for guidance on question 3.
16. Answer question 3 here.
What will I give up?-It’s hard because growing up Catholic I always gave up a certain food item, or something like that. For me now, what I need to give up is harder to quantify? I want to repent and give up being judgmental of others, falling easily into listening to gossip, or criticism of others, thinking I know best about family decisions, nursing grudges, seeking admiration, acceptance, being easily hurt and having a tendency towards envy or self-pity for the things I’ve lost. I’m typing all this here because I do want to daily reflect on these areas of pride and vanity and confess my sin of falling into it, seek His grace and forgiveness, and washing of my heart. I want to die to Self.
Oh my, Lizzy. Love your heart. I chose one sin to concentrate on — that’s challenge enough for me. Yet so good to daily reflect on all these things.
Friday – Day 3:
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you? –
It’s ok to grown but why I’m groaning is also important. I need to search the reasons that I groan. What is my motive behind my groaning?
Do I want my way, or do I want to groan for God’s justice?
12. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here. –
1. Thinking of both the subject of your groaning and its effects, how can you tell whether your groaning is spiritually healthy or spiritually
unhealthy? – When I really search my groaning, the effect of it is if my attitude is bad toward someone, which it usually is a clear sign I’m
just pouting and want my way. Lately my groaning is spiritually unhealthy, and I won’t bring my lawyer self out to explain why, but it is just
me wanting my way. It has nothing to do with the justice of God. I want to get to the point and turn it around where my groaning is healthy
and for the cause of the Lord.
13. Read Psalm 74 and write or speak your own private song of lament including private confession and need. –
Lord, I feel that don’t always hear me when I cry out to you. I ask for your help Lord, but nothing changes. Is it because I’m asking in the wrong way or for the wrong thing? Do I need to search myself for the change that is needed? I know you are good Lord, and you can change any situation and any heart. Help me Lord to change mine. I want to be able to rejoice in your Name that I was changed by you. Your love is never ending and I’m grateful to you for that. I know I can be unloving, and you love me any way. I thank you for always being with me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
A true lament from Julie: Honesty, Listening, Asking, Remembering His goodness
Thursday
8.. What particularly stood out to concerning why it is valuable to sit under the shadow of the cross. Why did it stand out to you?
It stood out to me that in the shadow of the cross we should learn to learn be humbly wise. The thought that it is wise and humble to live prepared for the battle of sin, by praying for eyes to see and hearts that are attentive to the enemies ploys and temptations. Mostly because I don’t often pray this way. Too often as previously mentioned, I can be surprised by my sin and it’s so important to be always need to be at the feet of Jesus aware of our poverty and our need for Him.
9. Question number 2: Do you agree your greatest problem is sin? What attitudes or actions in your life suggest that maybe you don’t truly believe that? Honestly I had never considered my greatest problem… my sin, my greatest problem…something in me resists this statement. I will have to ponder this. It’s not that I disagree, it’s just something I have to wrap m mind around. In the mean while actions in my life that would signify that I don’t probably would be my prayers, I probably pray as much against spiritual ware-fare as I do confessing my sin. So maybe I thought it was equally my problem, the enemy and my flesh.
10. Use Psalm 30 as a springboard for prayer.
Oh Heavenly Father, out of the dark recesses of this world’s curse and the curse of sin in my life, I plead that you would hear my cry! Out of your great favor that I do not deserve, please meet me in the knowledge of my fallen desires and actions. If you oh God were to hold me accountable for all my wrongs in thought or deed, I would no longer exist, I would be dust. I will trust and wait, I will trust and rest in the salvation that my God will bring. Oh God strengthen me, to wait on You, my hope and my salvation.
Good prayer, Tammy.
Friday – Day 3:
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you?
”Your groaning is either anger that you’ve not gotten your way, or a cry that God would get his holy, loving, wise, and righteous way.”
12. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
How could you more effectively groan over your sin, and what spiritual benefit might that offer: I can always start by praising and thanking the Lord, even for the things I don’t understand and/or don’t like: the very thing I’m about to groan over. By orienting to God and His ultimate hand, rather than my own petty issues, my groan becomes a longing for His way, His path.
So good from Brynn:
How could you more effectively groan over your sin, and what spiritual benefit might that offer: I can always start by praising and thanking the Lord, even for the things I don’t understand and/or don’t like: the very thing I’m about to groan over. By orienting to God and His ultimate hand, rather than my own petty issues, my groan becomes a longing for His way, His path.
Friday
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you?
”We groan to someone who has invited us to groan, promised to hear and to answer, One who is in us, with us and for us, who has blessed us with life-altering promises, Who will not quit working on our behalf until we have no more reason to groan, Who has already won the victory over everything for which we groan and will not rest until His children are experiencing all the fruits of that victory.”
The above statement reminds me where my focus should be in my groaning, not a groaning for the wrong reason but “crying out to the only One that has the power, authority, wisdom and grace to come to my aid and give me what I really need.”
9. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
I could more effectively groan over my sin by letting sin’s sadness drive me to the cross, to let sin’s sadness sink in. I often am tempted to avoid groaning because I don’t want to be sad but then I would miss out on the spiritual benefit of redemption’s celebration, joy and peace.
Psalm 74…will do this privately.
Friday – Day 3:
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you?
I have not paid much attention to my own groaning. Groaning is either, “Will my kingdom ever come?” or is it, “Your kingdom come.” I need to have the right kind of groaning…It takes grace to groan over sin internal and external.
Groan because I have been blessed with eyes to see clearly, a mind that thinks wisely, and a heart that has been made tender by grace…Rejoice that God meets me in my groaning.
Let your heart feel the burden of the full weight of sin both internal and external.
12. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
In what ways do you find it challenging to engage with spiritual lament? The lack of time (tyranny of the urgent); Spiritual lament has not been a daily practice for me so it is an uphill battle but I will not give up.
13. Read Psalm 74 and write or speak your own private song of lament including private confession and need.
You are never far from us, O Lord. You will uphold your cause and you hear the cries of the needy and afflicted.
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you?
Our groaning is either anger because we’ve not gotten our way, or it is a cry that God would get His holy, loving, wise and righteous way. Our groaning can be nothing more than expressing frustration at not getting our way.
12. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.
How can I tell if my groaning is spiritually healthy or unhealthy? By looking at the end result. If it leads to feeling discouraged, despondent, angry, or bitter, then it’s not healthy and likely I am groaning about an idol being threatened. If it leads to drawing nearer to God, feeling hopeful and even joy, then I am lamenting, not just complaining.
14. Read through the chapter and share what stood out to you about letting go.
Letting go of approval of other people is my challenge — had a man in church blow up at me and it really shook me — he had misunderstood something but still, it shouldn’t have shaken me so much for I know God dances over me with singing. Help me, Lord!
15. Read through Luke 9:23-25 and Romans 6:1-14 for guidance on question 3. (Whoever would save his life passage and consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God passage)
16. Answer question 3 here.
I loved what Paige said about how people often see giving something up for Lent as a way to get God in their favor and do something for them! Instead, this is about less of us and more of Jesus. When attacked I realize my reputation is important to me . Help me, Lord, die to the approval of others. Help me know that if I remain silent, as Mary of Bethany repeatedly did, You will be my defender. And help me “let it go” — forgive from the heart. When judgmental thoughts come, let me see the log in my own eye, let me turn those thoughts into prayer for my own heart and for my attacker. Let me practice this every day through Lent.
Dee, I feel for you. As an idolater ( the idol of approval is strong with me as well), I get it. I have had one student blow up at me and my response was similar to yours. Shook up and felt attacked and felt like my reputation just went down the drain. How dare she? Does she know I have the power to decide whether she passes the class or not? I feel ashamed to have some thoughts. Paul Tripp is right-just when I thought I was out of sin’s way, it crept back without an iota of warning.
Praying for you as you relate to this man. And also for myself to see God as my defender and to be quiet before Him and to trust Him to work things out for good.
Oh thanks, Bing. Yes, you get it, dear one. Love your vulnerability. And I’m savoring your gift to me from the women.
Friday – Day 3:
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you?
This stood out to me “It is tempting to work at not groaning”and that sin has the ability to make something destructive look attractive.
I think I am guilty of working at not groaning. I want to grown in acknowledging how incredibly monstrously difficult it is living in this fallen world.I also felt convicted that my desire not to be wounded leads me to withdraw from relationship and from community, withdrawal feels safe, but is ultimately destructive.
12. Choose one of his three closing questions to answer here.2) In what ways do you find it difficult to engage with spiritual lament?Well, when we did the lament study here on the blog, I was initially excited, but then ran far away. I am not sure I can pinpoint why lament is hard for me, but I sure know that it is.
Chris — I remember that struggle. Perhaps because you are lamenting the horrific death of your son? I wouldn’t want to keep going back there. I don’t know. Is all lament hard — or just that in particular?
I love this from you:
withdrawal feels safe but is ultimately destructive
Saturday – Day 4:
14. Read through the chapter and share what stood out to you about letting go.
“Sin reduces us all to idolaters.”“Creation was made to point us all to the one alone who has the power to satisfy. He is the bread that will satisfy our hunger. He is the living water that makes us thirsty no longer.”
Letting go of the ways I seek comfort in escape will make room for seeking comfort from the only One that really holds promise.
15. Read through Luke 9:23-25 and Romans 6:1-14 for guidance on question 3.
16. Answer question 3 here.
I have given up a favorite game that I play on my phone. I felt convicted that I spent too much time on it. I have even spent money in the game, not a lot but still- it’s just a game, spending money on a game isn’t like me and an indication that it has too much power over me. I us it as a way to escape…too much. So I deleted it off my home screen. I will decide after Lent if I will delete it permanently. I did that and I am here doing this study with all of you, to help root out my heart idols and find comfort in Christ.
Was it Words with Friends? I’m going through the same thing!
Saturday – Day 4:
14. Read through the chapter and share what stood out to you about letting go.
”Idols never just disappoint us; they addict us.” “Good things become bad things when they become ruling things.” Sometimes we aren’t even aware of the addictions that have a hold on us.
15. Read through Luke 9:23-25 and Romans 6:1-14 for guidance on question 3.
16. Answer question 3 here.
I was initially ready to give up sugar, because I’m addicted to it, crave it, and thought, “what a great thing to give up for Lent.” How foolish. It’s so much deeper than that. Yes, I do need to slay the sugar dragon, but I need to give up something much more dark, something that has it’s claws in me much more deeply, something that does far more damage. I need to give up my idol of approval. I need to stop toiling over the “right” actions so that other people will like me, approve of me, praise me, respect me, love me. With that I believe many other idols would also be weakened; control, security, comfort.
So true, Brynn – and well put.
Friday – Day 3:
11. Read through the chapter, underlining, asking God to meet you. What did you learn about groaning that stood out to you? There is the reminder, to stop using the things of the world, social media, relationships, things, to numb the pain of hurting people, and things that should be groaned over. It stands out because its one reason I sometimes drag my feet to my prayer time. When I spend time in prayer, I can’t help come face to face with my own emotions. With my sadness or anger over those I love who are hurting or my own grief, over sin effect in my life as well as others.
12. Question #1: How can you tell whether your groaning is spiritually healthy or spiritually unhealthy? I think you can tell the difference in that if what your groaning over was resolved would it just benefit you, or the kingdom of God, and then even if it does benefit the kingdom, would the resolution lead you closer to God or away from God. An example would be if a young woman wanted to be married, but was not and groaned over it. If God would resolve that with a husband, it could be argued that it was for the kingdom, and ministry, but if it led the young woman deeper into idolizing of marriage or the young man, it would be unhealthy groaning.
14. Read through the chapter and share what stood out to you about letting go.
What stood out to me about letting go, is that by doing so, letting go of things that bring comfort we make room for seeking and desiring Jesus’s comfort.
16. Answer question 3 here. I guess my idol is three pronged, 1. My reputation, I want to be seen as a helper, and encourager. I want to lauded for my good deeds, God foils this for me by asking me sometimes to exhort, and currently is calling me to reach out to a neighbor who claims Christianity but has a serious drinking problem. 2. Comfort: warm baths, comfortable relationships, (not building friendships with people I don’t like), books, movies, shows, sugar, avoidance of chores, and social media. 3.Spending time with family, my friends, people that bring me joy and comfort to be around. I am not saying that there are not numerous ways God works on me in these areas, or that I don’t work against them myself, but these tend to be my cloying, clingy, dispositional sins.
I will give up reading/movies/shows/social media/sugar for pleasure. Also obey God by having hard conversations and working regularly on chores.
Whew, Tammy! You’ve raised a very high bar for yourself which is both admirable and possibly too much. I’m praying for wisdom for you – I wonder if just concentrating on the heart hour by hour would be less daunting and more helpful. I’m not sure, dear one, but I’m praying!
Saturday – Day 4:
14. Read through the chapter and share what stood out to you about letting go.
His opening statement that “God intends for suffering to pry open our hands so that we let go of things of this earth and hold more tightly to Jesus”. The reality that my hands have to be pried open. They have to be unclenched. That I hang on for dear life to things that don’t matter just to satisfy my own selfish desires.
Also the diagnostic questions were deep and penetrating to my soul. I will have to ponder much of that again.
I highlighted a lot in this chapter.
15. Read through Luke 9:23-25 and Romans 6:1-14 for guidance on question 3.
16. Answer question 3 here.
3. Now you are ready to answer the real question: What do you need to give up, for a season or more permanently, to root the idols out of your heart?
This has been addressed by many of you in the past as a problem for you but I refused to go there
because I felt like such a failure.
One of my greatest nemesis over the years has been my relationship with food. A number of years ago I just gave up and decided my weight would become a non-issue for me. I realized it was wrong to have my identity wrapped up in what I weighed so I just allowed myself to eat as I pleased and not do battle with my cravings for sugar and good food.
But in early 2020 my blood sugar levels jumped significantly and I was faced with the reality of being a Type 2 Diabetic. My doctor wanted me on some high powered and expensive meds. I came home and got quiet with the Lord for about a day and a half. I felt the Lord spoke to me in my heart and said if I would give up the sugar I could bring my numbers down without the meds. I did not do this lightly or just disregard my doctors advice. My husband graciously came along side of me and we completely changed our eating habits and educated ourselves on a better way of disciplined eating. He is a disciplined kind of person and I am not. But God blessed my serious efforts and with Terry’s help I brought my A1C down 10 points back into normal range. But last fall with the holiday season I started slipping back into old habits and allowing myself too many “treats” and my weight had started to creep back up. The idol here for me that has again to be addressed is that food was my comfort and my identity for many years and I need to give up that seeking to satisfy myself and my heart’s need with food. I am a good cook and I am known as a good cook. And I grew up with Grandmothers who were good cooking mentors and the memories associated with food are many and sweet. (Pun intended). But really this isn’t about giving up food for lent. It is about as Tripp says “letting go” of old comforts, things that have comforted me too much, so my heart is free to seek a better comforter. To find my lasting comfort in my God.
This scripture stood out to me as I considered the Romans passage.
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 ESV
I identify with this battle. I’ve had some victory in the last ten years, but as Calvin says, are hearts are idol making factories, so it keeps coming up. I received an angry e-mail this week from a woman doing my study on Ruth where I commented on Ruth 2:18 where Ruth ate until satisfied and then brought the rest to Naomi. I think when I eat past full I am sinning. Anyhow she told me I was shaming women who already had too much of their identity in their weight. I’m still pondering her thoughts.
Saturday
14. Read through the chapter and share what stood out to you about letting go.
”Good things become bad things when they became ruling things.”
15. Read through Luke 9:23-25 and Romans 6:1-14 for guidance on question 3.
“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”Luke 9:23-25
“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”
Romans 6:1-14
16. Answer question 3 here.
I am giving up Facebook and Instagram for this season. They are both “good things” that I have allowed to become “bad” as they have become “ruling things” in my life!
Let us know how that impacts you!
Saturday – Day 4:
14. Read through the chapter and share what stood out to you about letting go.
God intends suffering to pry open our hands so we let go of the things of this earth and hold more tightly to Jesus.p.29
It just dawned on me that when I raise my hand either above my head or at a right angle to my shoulder to praise God, my hands are open. It is a picture of surrender. I cannot fully praise God when my hands, and heart, are closed, balled into a fist.
Good things become bad things when they become ruling things. P.31
Ouch! I have a few things that are good things that can easily be ruling things in my life. The idol of approval is still very strong and it translates to how I do things. When things are not perfect, it is so easy to put myself down. I feel like a mouse on a treadmill. Very exhausting.
What holds our hearts will dictate our words and behavior.p.31
15. Read through Luke 9:23-25 and Romans 6:1-14 for guidance on question 3.
I highlighted the following from the passages that spoke to me: a. deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. b. we too may live a new life. c. that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. d. but the life he lives, he lives to God. e. do not let sin reign in your mortal body rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
16. Answer question 3 here. Question # 3. What suggestions did Tripp make for making this journey meaningful?
It is so hard to let go of things; to deny oneself, to take up my cross daily does not come naturally. The questions on page 29 are sobering prompts to ask myself. Question 2: What has the ability to make or break your day? Oh, Lord. It is not about having a perfect life but having a surrendered life. A life that can take both sorrows and joys, successes and disappointments, ups and downs as ordained by you. Everything can be seen as a gift if my eyes are focused on you. What you withhold, I do not need; what you give, I owe to you. Show me what holds me in its grip aside from what I already know. And may I be made willing to let go.
14. Read through the chapter and share what stood out to you about letting go.
I have heard this before in one of our studies and it resonated so much for me; that everyone one on this earth has been born with a hunger of God inside of them. They just may not know it. I love this idea! They just need to tap into it.
Lent is a good time to revisit the idea that creation is just that, creation. We can allow it to take the place of God if we aren’t careful.
15. Read through Luke 9:23-25 and Romans 6:1-14 for guidance on question 3.
16. Answer question 3 here.
“Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.”
Romans 6:13 NLT
Wow. We are His. He does not want us to be slaves to sin. He wants us to be free and joyful. Do the right thing so as to enjoy the freedom!
I think I have discovered that I have a deeply rooted idol that I need to get rid of, when I have thought I had others that needed tending to first. These others are really superficial idols that mask the real issue for me. I would rather not explain here, just suffice it to say that I am shifting my thinking to try to rid myself of that idol first. I will only be able to do this by total focus on Him.
Dear Dee,
I would like to catch up. I will work through the next two weeks and get to the week #3 so I can do that this week….. Thank you!!
It seems I’m already on your email list, but I want you to know I want to do this Lent series with you and the others.
God bless you and thank you for leading this and encouraging us. In Christ, Dawn
Good to have you jump in, Dawn!