1) Brianna shared an intensely profound thought on Monday that deserves slow savoring, “The intent of theology, our study of God and His nature, is to expand our heart, enlighten our minds, and grow our love and devotion toward God.” Think of all the reasons someone, maybe even you, might choose to study God. For many, myself included, it can be about appearance or self-proclaimed righteousness. There’s little else as enticing as the idea of making yourself feel good about impressing others, even more so if there’s a chance you could impress God. Others might at first begin pursuing God because others around us are doing the same, and we don’t want to stick out as awkward or shallow. Or maybe, we once loved Him passionately, but somewhere along the way, studying Him became rote, more like a checkbox than an act of adoration. Pray with me, will you Sister? Pray with me for the Spirit to convict our hearts, yours and mine, to bring about true revival so we may lay aside all that hinders our worship and grow deep in our love and devotion towards this God who loves us so magnificently!

2) It’s easy to find our hearts questioning God, isn’t it? Give yourself permission to take a few minutes and explore the corners of your heart without judgment or self-condemnation. Which scenarios in life have brought up your most intense questions or emotions towards God? What motivated your wonderings? What was the undercurrent emotion of your questions? Don’t back away from the emotion stirring in your now as you recall those events. Perhaps, as you look back, you don’t feel you’ve ever really questioned God. Did you ever feel you had the freedom to actually question Him? As Sarah shared on Wednesday about the questions she’s asked the Lord, she reminded us of an unchanging truth, the Lord never changes. He is both the center and the sustainer of all things. His magnitude is unmatchable. There is none like Him. He is not only big enough to handle our questioning, but is also kind, humble, and lowly enough to answer us with tender compassion. If His embrace is strong and sure, what questions will you bring?

3) Raise your hand if you’ve felt overwhelmed in the last 48 hours. Oh, you’re laughing? Last 24? Raising your eyebrows and smirking, I see? Fine, fine, last 10 minutes? There we go, now we all confidently assert we are on the same page of freaking out thinking of all the things. Hold your breath, I’m going to flip the coin. When were you last overwhelmed with the glory of Christ our Savior? A quiet fills the space here between us, doesn’t it? Some of you are smiling, remembering the sweet satisfaction of a holy moment in the not-so-distant past where we encountered the living God that marked you. Some eyes are glazing over as you work to control the outward eyeroll. Others are realizing it has been years since we felt our souls tremble in the presence of the Living God. Wherever you land, let this be a personal invitation to you to go farther than you are. Go deeper. Explore the God who loves intimate connection with you. Explain your doubts, your hurt, your distance, or your love for knowing Him. Lay it out, and ask for Him to make Himself known to you. Listen in, He wants to overwhelm You with the fullness of Himself!