One of the things that blows my mind about God is that we are given access. To Him, to his Word, and to the gifts and promises he holds out. Sovereign God that he is, he still allows us to encounter Him. And not just for the easy or the inquiry. He receives us when we are troubled, or dismayed. Nearly 1/3 of the Psalms are laments — people coming to God with deep grief and enduring terrible trials. We also know that God wants to be known, and so he invites us to look into scripture and search for who he is.
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” — Proverbs 8:17
We get to encounter God through His Word to us in such a way that we are given insight and discernment into life. And not just life endured, but life at it’s fullest measure. It isn’t just any book… it is used to search us, to reveal truth, to interact with our hearts in ways no other book can do. In fact, it is living. It breathes truth into our hearts and we are not the same without it.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” — Hebrews 4:12
Christina Dart is a very dear friend of mine who loves helping people encounter God. So much so that she points to Him very well — with questions and dialogue and truth-searching and prayer. It has sharpened me and many others with regularity in ways few people have. She is not showy or intimidating, but she studies the Bible with such simultaneous strategy and personal vulnerability that the truth is she is regularly encountering the God of the Bible herself. And those who get around her do too. The fruit is there. And honestly… any of us can do that if we want to. I believe that holding a Bible and opening it up is all that you need to listen to His gentle whispers. But I also know that we are a people who benefit from intentionality, from strategy — just as a deep friendship or an excellent marriage benefits from time together and thoughtful pursuit, so does this relationship with a Holy God.
So I am delighted to announce that Christina has developed the S.T.A.R. resource — which is now available for you to download. It has already been tried and tested by women’s groups for several years, and it’s not magical, but it will drive you to consider what you’re reading, and notice things, ask some good questions, and slowly and beautifully interact with scripture in a way that’s hard to do alone.
The acronym guides your journalling and/or reflection of scripture; and perfectly pairs with any Bible reading plan (or whatever scripture you chose to engage). There is further explanation within the download!
S — Scripture
T — Truth
A — Application
R — Respond
Let’s be a people that takes hold of a gift that has been freely offered by our God — the ability to encounter him. Let’s access his Word, sharpen our character, and become more firmly planted and fully supplied to do life well. Feel free to pass along the word — I can’t wait to hear what you think…
Fill out the information below for the free S.T.A.R. download… and enjoy!