ReMarkable Woman
August 11, 2009 | Faith: Knowing Christ, Ministry Life
Lysa TerKeurst spoke the first night at She Speaks, and her message hit me square in my heart. It was called ReMarkable Woman.
She said there were four things we should always do: The first thing. The next thing. The most important thing. The last thing.
I was doing the next thing, and the most important thing, and the last thing, but the first thing? Not so much.
It’s a word I once embraced, but in the past year it has slipped away: discipline.
Really, Suz? You seem pretty disciplined to me.
You’re right. I do. I have my list. I work hard. I turn in deadlines on time. My lack of discipline had nothing to do with work or family.
It had to do with hanging out with God. Real time with Him. Not just hurried Bible studies. Or prayers prayed on the go.
It is the “one thing” that is the foundation of what I do, whose I am, where I go…
I had taken that time — precious time — where He and I used to commune, and filled it with other things. Mindless things like watching hours of HGTV that filled the time while Richard was in school.
It was the ”one thing” that I felt He was asking me to give up.
Before that night I would have thought it a sacrifice. After all, it was harmless. Right?
But Lysa went on to share the story of the rich young ruler. How Jesus asked him to give up the “one thing” that stood between him and what he desired. For that young man it was riches. For Lysa, it was something else. For me, for you, it will be something entirely different.
This wasn’t about legalism. I will never ever be about that. I’m a grace-kind-of-girl. Giving it up, being disciplined, was less a sacrifice and more an invitation to know Him all over again. To take it deeper.
It’s day 8. I thought I would miss it more, those hours wrapped in my OU blanket, watching What Not to Wear, Deal or No Deal, House Hunters.
But I don’t. Because I’ve realized one very important truth: communing with God is a precious gift and it transforms my life.
I can’t minister and write if the content of my life has nothing to say and being with Him gives me pages and pages of words in my heart.
I get it, Lysa. Your message. To be a ReMarkable woman simply means that we are marked by Him and His presence.
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That first one is EXACTLY where I struggle too! Right here with you on this one. I’ve been pondering and praying over where I need Him to start first…
Love,
August 12th, 2009 at 1:36 pmLauraLee
This was an astounding word! You are so right on with this, Suzanne! Thank you for the great reminder, and for showing the difference between sacrifice and an invitation to come closer to the Lord. I really appreciate your willingness in sharing this for us to read.
Love,
August 13th, 2009 at 11:09 amAndrea
I am there, too. I used to get up early to enjoy the sunrise while communing with God and reading His word, but over the last couple of years, I find myself sleeping later and later. This of course causes me to be in a rush to get ready and get my daughter up and going and many time I have found myself sitting at my desk without having had so much as a prayer. I do miss those mornings when I gave the first part to God. Thank you for this great reminder!
August 13th, 2009 at 12:23 pmSounds like we can all encourage each other to rediscover His presence. : )
August 14th, 2009 at 5:47 pm