Purpose in the Wait

 By: Joanne Viola

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NASB)

Prayer has remained a mystery down through the ages. It can simply be explained as “talking to God” and yet so many questions remain.

Some prayers are answered quickly, and others, seem to take longer than we would like. We long for an answer, a resolution, a healing, or an outcome. We pray day after day, and nothing seems to be affected by our prayers.

In these times of waiting for an answer, it does us well to remember Daniel. He prayed for twenty one days and no response came from God. He continued on with his prayer and fasting, until an angel came and told him:

“Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.”
(Daniel 10:12, NLT) 

Daniel’s prayer was heard the very first day he uttered his words. The answer was on its way but was prevented from being received:

“But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way.” (verse 13, NLT)

The mystery of prayer lies in part in the activity which remains unseen to us. We are wise to keep on praying, seeking and trusting God to do what only He can do to bring answers to our prayers.

As we wait and continue to pray faithfully, we will come to discover:

• The wait causes our desire to grow deeper and stronger. We learn to persist in prayer, to not give up, or lose heart.
• We come to experience the closeness of God. Our times of prayer awaken our awareness of God. We realize He draws close to us as we draw close to Him.
• We learn our prayers will not go unanswered. Even in the delay, God is at work. We must not get tired or discouraged when the answer is not immediate.

“God does not delay to hear our prayers because He has no mind to give; but that, by enlarging our desires, He may give us the more largely.” (Charles Spurgeon)

“Delayed answers to prayer are not only trials of faith; they also give us opportunities to honor God through our steadfast confidence in Him, even when facing the apparent denial of our request.” (Charles Spurgeon)

There is purpose in the wait,
keep on praying!

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5 Beginner Bible Study Tips

By: Melanie Moore

Do you want to begin to study the Bible but are unsure of where to start? I’m so excited that you are interested in digging into God’s Word! I know that because the Bible is a very large book, it can be very intimidating to new readers. Here are some ideas and tips that I hope will help you as you start to read and study the Bible!

1. Read it through front to back or chronologically

One way to begin to read the Bible is to simply read it from cover to cover, starting at Genesis and reading to Revelation. Another way to read the Bible is to purchase a “Chronological” Bible which arranges the text in the order that the events actually occurred. This has been helpful for me to understand the timeline of events in the Bible. Both of these ideas help you understand the overall “big picture” story of the Bible and how all the events in the Bible point to Jesus and God’s beautiful plan of redemption.

2. Start with one book

If reading the entire Bible cover to cover seems too intimidating, I would recommend just starting with one book! The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are all wonderful books to start with, and it’s very exciting to see and hear Jesus in these books! You’ll be able to experience His teachings and miracles, and it is a wonderful way to get to know who Jesus is.

3. Use Bible Studies, maps, podcasts, etc. as supplements

We are so fortunate that so many wonderful Bible study tools are available to us – and many are free online! I really enjoy using BibleGateway.com as a learning resource. There are also many different podcasts, maps, and Bible Studies available to help you understand the Word of God. I encourage you to supplement, but never replace, your own Bible reading with these great tools. 

4. Pick a topic and study verses related to that topic

Another great way to start reading the Bible is to pick a topic that you are interested in or have questions about, and do some investigation into what the Bible has to say on that topic. Perhaps the topic is Forgiveness, Giving, or Prayer. Studying a specific topic in the Bible will help you gain exposure to many books of the Bible and deepen your understanding of God’s view on the topic you are studying.

5. Pray and ask God to help you understand

Most importantly, when you start to read the Bible, pray that God will open your heart to help you understand what you read. I believe that when we seek Him with our whole hearts, God is faithful to empower us to know Him.

May God bless you richly as you dive into His Holy Word! 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” ~ Psalm 119:105

What other tips would you add to the list for a new reader of the Bible? What questions do you have about Bible study? I pray many blessings on your life as you seek to know God and that our hearts would become more like Him each day.

Why Pruning Is Necessary

 

By: Sarah Geringer 

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

John 15:2 NIV

I love buying flowers in the winter. They cheer me with their beauty on cold, grey days. Some of the bouquets I buy have a few lovely roses tucked in.

As an adolescent, I was responsible for maintaining my mom's rose bushes. I'm now an experienced gardener, and I can say with authority that there are no other plants that require more maintenance. They need to be sprayed regularly with fungicides and pesticides, watered at just the right intervals, fertilized with the best materials, and exposed to the exact amount of sunlight for maximum growth.

Roses also must be pruned to bloom in their full glory. I now have a wild rose bush that produces myriad blooms on its unpruned boughs. But the simple shape of a wild rose flower cannot compare to the full, gorgeous, multi-petaled tea roses we all know and love. The reason the cultured roses are so much prettier is because their rose bushes are meticulously pruned to produce only a few choice flowers at a time.

This week I've been reading Dr. Henry Cloud's book, Necessary Endings. He has a whole chapter devoted to this metaphor of pruning. It reminded me of my days of caring for roses, and rang true with some recent changes in my life.

Dr. Cloud says that superfluous, sick or dead parts of a rose bush need to be pruned for the best possible results. Likewise, the less-than-best, sick or dead parts of our lives need to be pruned out for our greatest personal growth. This is exactly what Jesus instructed us in his famous teaching recorded in John 15. He prunes off these parts of our lives for the greatest possible growth.

Pruning is not fun. It hurts! But it is truly for our good. Pruning is necessary, not optional, for the best life God has in mind for us. In fact, in another excellent book, Gary Thomas argues that even Jesus delivered his very best teachings after Judas left the group. Those gems of Jesus' teachings and prayers are recorded in John 14 - 17, right after Judas departs in John 13. When Judas was pruned from the group of disciples, Jesus' greatest teachings could flow like never before.

If Jesus submitted to being pruned by his Father to produce the greatest possible results - salvation for all the world - surely the pruning we receive from God is priceless in value. Jesus was so kind, loving and generous to be cut down in death for us. He had no sin in him, though we all have something less-than-best, sick, or dead that needs to be cut from us. If we submit to this pruning, we can glorify him in even greater ways than we do right now - perhaps in the greatest ways so far in our lives.

Consider these truths as you look at the roses in grocery store bouquets, in a bouquet you purchase for yourself, or one you may receive for Valentine's Day. Think about the hard work that went into cultivating them so they could become so beautiful. Ask God to show you what needs to be pruned in your life, submit to his cutting, and trust that his beautiful glory will shine through you in new ways, after the pruning is complete.

Looking for more encouragement? Check out all the posts I've written for Woman 2 Woman Ministries HERE.

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Have a blessed weekend!

Sarah Geringer
Finding Peace in God's Word

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Seize the Promises of a New Beginning

 

By:Donna Bucher

I like new things don’t you? Many of us received new items as gifts for Christmas, new clothes, new appliances, new books and new, fun gadgets. I love the excitement of using a new appliance for the first time and my heart thrills settling in with a new book.

It’s not that I never held a book before, but I have never held this book before. The New Year ahead feels much the same. Twelve full months, 365 twenty-four hour days, same as the last year, but I have never seen this year before.

With the turn of a page and a click of the clock, a new, fresh beginning sits before me full of promise!

Yet, like many of the gifts received at Christmas, the shiny newness wears off before long. Despite resolutions, goals and hopes, the excitement of another new year becomes but a faded memory.

 

“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new. Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21:5

 

Jesus speaks these words seated on the Throne of Heaven as the Apostle John sees a new heaven and new earth come down. We know all things will be made new at the end of time, but God makes all things new even now.

 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. God transforms us at salvation from the inside out.

 

Starting with salvation, God gives us new life within, which then overflows, making new our lifestyle, our words, our thoughts, and our desires. The process of sanctification continues making all things new as we mature in Christ.

 

Sometimes the renewal process provides a joy-filled experience of transformation like a beauty make-over or redecorating a room. While at other times spiritual renewal feels like a full house renovation, complete with demolition!

 

Either way, God makes us new creatures in Christ, and the journey becomes a marvelous one if we choose submission to His ways.

 

In the same way the process of sanctification contains unknowns, trials and wondrous moments of transformation; a new year offers its own surprises. At first I thrill with the anticipation, but soon grow weary with the unknowns, hardships, and constant change.

 

How can we maintain the excitement of the new when the paths grow rough and dark?

 

By seizing the promises of a new beginning.

 

At salvation we received the promise of God’s Presence, the promise of God’s preparation for every trial and service and the promise of God’s purpose for our lives.

 

As my heart thrills with the excitement of a new year, fear pokes its ugly head in, reminding me a new year holds many unknowns and surely a rough path or two. But the same promises greeting me at salvation’s new beginning, greet me at the dawn of this New Year.

 

The Promise of His Presence. At salvation, God came to stay. As Joshua 1:9 promises, He is with you wherever you go. And not only that, but “he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14.) His Presence goes with you into the New Year.

 

The promise of His Preparation. At salvation, God began a good work in us preparing us for the day we would be like Christ, dwelling with Him forever. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us God prepares us for good works. But He also prepares us for hardships, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;” (Psalm 23:5). Step into the New Year knowing His Preparation is sufficient for everything before you.

 

The promise of His Purpose. God’s good purpose to restore the Divine image marred by sin begins with salvation. Working all things together for good for this express purpose of conforming us to the image of Christ. (Romans 8:28-29). His Purpose for you will be accomplished in all you encounter in this New Year.

 

 

Seizing the promises of a new beginning enables you to embrace the excitement of a new year, confident of God’s sovereign care for you. Which of these three promises challenges you most? Please let me know in the comments so I can pray for you!

Find more encouragement and FREE Resources at Serenity in Suffering!

 

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Protecting Your Christian Life

By: Jenifer Metzger

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but
let God transform you into a new person by changing
the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s
will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2

As Christians we are continually in a fight to protect life. We know that life is sacred, a gift from God. We stand up against murder in all forms, including abortion. When we hear of an abortion, our hearts ache at an innocent life lost before there was even a chance to breathe. This is a fight that we should always fight. A life created is a life given by God.

But when it comes to the Christian life, we stop fighting, we stop protecting.

We hear cursing on a TV show or movie, we know cursing is wrong but we give in for an hour or so of entertainment. When the offering plate passes by, we know the importance of paying our tithe but we let it pass by so that we have a few extra dollars in our pocket. We know how important it is to read our Bible and pray, but we choose to scroll through social media instead. We know how gossip can hurt and destroy others, yet we listen as loose lips rattle on instead of walking away.

We copy the behaviors and customs of this world instead of standing up against what is wrong. The Bible tells us to be transformed. This transformation is something we have to fight daily for, standing up and protecting our Christian life.

We can protect our Christian life by transforming our thinking, by avoiding the behaviors and customs of the world. and by living by the Word.

Is your Christian life worth fighting for? Is eternity with Jesus worth fighting for?

It's time for Share A Link Wednesday! Each Wednesday we invite you to leave a link to your latest blog post in the comments. We still desire to connect women of God with one another and encourage each other in Christ. So grab a cup of coffee or glass of sweet tea, sit back and visit a few blogs. Be encouraged and share your own stories.

The Surprising Side of Suffering

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy Of: Milada Vigerova

 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing. Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring. It is clear evidence of God’s righteousjudgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus."

~2 Thessalonians 1:3-8

Never one to shy away from an uncomfortable topic, Paul begins his second letter to the Thessalonians by writing about the persecutions and tribulations we will endure in this life. His choice is not terribly shocking; in fact, trials and tribulations are common topics throughout the New Testament, and believers are repeatedly instructed to delight in these hardships for the godliness they produce in us.

What might be a bit shocking, though, is the specific words Paul uses in 2 Thessalonians 1 regarding these sufferings. He says that our hardships are “clear evidence of God’s righteous judgement that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you are also suffering.” 

Did you catch that? Our trials, tribulations, persecutions, and sufferings in this life are direct evidence of the righteous judgment of God!

They are actually direct evidence that He is considering us worthy of the kingdom of God!

That’s a big deal!

So, dear sisters in Christ, please do not lose heart!

Please do not fret or wring your hands or get worried and worked up, not even after the two years we have all endured.

No. Instead, rely on your faith.

Remember what these trials are proving about your faith.

Live it out.

Test it.

Prove that it can withstand hardship. And excitedly watch God work!

Meditate Day and Night

 By: Joanne Viola

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2, NASB)

Sometimes we need to be reminded to read God’s Word daily. Other times, we need to be reminded just how we are to read His Word.

Reading Scripture should not become rote, or habitual, in the sense we become casual with the words. Familiarity can cause us to gloss over them, skimming quickly, and we miss the depth of meaning we need in order to apply them to our lives.

Lately I have been asking myself this question – “How are we to read and approach Scripture reading each day?”

• Delight. God wants us to enjoy His Word; to look forward to meeting with Him each time we open the pages. Are we delighted to read His Word? Is Scripture our delight?
• Expect. We must expect to receive from His life giving words as we read. God’s Spirit will bring God’s Word alive in our hearts as He applies it to our daily circumstances. Are we expecting to hear from God’s Word when we open the pages?
• Commit. We need to determine to keep the words we have read in our hearts and minds. As we understand and meditate on what we have read, we can pray, asking God to help us to obey His Word. Are we committing to obey and keep His Word?

We are told to meditate on His Word day and night. “Meditate” is defined as “engaging in thought; considering its intent and purpose” (dictionary.com).

“To meditate on Scripture is to allow the truth of God’s Word to move from head to heart. It is to so dwell upon a truth that it becomes part of our being.” (author unknown)

Let’s evaluate how we are reading Scripture. As we ask ourselves the above questions, we will be blessed by the Scriptures we read.

“Scripture suggests that meditating on the Word of God can have an always-on effect of peace and strength in difficult times.” (David Jeremiah)

 

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Does Your Soul Need Rest?

At the beginning of this week, I had a wonderful plan. I absolutely love paper planners, and my week was organized down to every last color-coded detail. My appointments were lined up, work meetings were prepped, and my chore list would have made Martha Stewart envious.

Unfortunately, the week didn’t turn out as planned.

If I’m being honest, only a very tiny percentage of the plan actually happened… and it wasn’t pretty.

Sickness, weather, chaos, and stress decided to take over the week’s calendar, and at the end of the week rather than patting myself on the back for a job well done, I am crawling toward the finish line.

I hope they serve chocolate at the finish line.

Do you ever have weeks where things just don’t go as planned no matter how hard you try?

Does your soul need rest?

I think about Jesus speaking to the crowds. Can you imagine how it felt to hear Jesus in person? I can imagine walking for miles to see the one who everyone has been talking about, this man who is able to heal the sick and raise the dead. As the crowd pushes closer to hear Jesus speak, I imagine the words my soul longs to hear:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

Rest.

Jesus isn’t asking us to figure it all out on our own. He’s not shaking his head in disappointment when we mess up or when our days don’t turn out as planned.

I picture his arms outstretched as he gentle whispers, “Come to me… and I will give you rest.”

At the end of the long week, let’s pause together to seek Jesus, to come to Him and accept the rest that only He can give. We don’t have to have all the answers. We depend on him to calm our souls in the midst of chaos or failed plan.

I pray today you’ll see his arms outstretched to you. Will you come to him and accept the peace and rest only He can offer?

The True Colors of Your Faith

  

By: Sarah Geringer 

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:2-3 MSG

Are you facing tests and challenges in your faith right now? I am dealing with ones I have not faced before this month. It's not the greatest way to start out the year. But the tests and challenges are worth something valuable.

In the highest-pressure moments, our true colors show. Yes, we are all human, and tend to head toward fighting, taking flight, freezing or fawning under intense stress. But when the momentary crisis subsides, our true colors come to the surface.

At certain times, my true colors of faith were murky and dull. The trials pressed upon me, and ugly things were revealed. I think we have all had times like this, when our selfishness blocks the way of better colors.

At other times, my true colors of faith were bright and vibrant. Against the darkness, my faith blazed even brighter. This is all to God's credit, who showed me how to persevere with integrity, rather than complain and wallow in self-pity.

This month, our true colors of faith can come to light in new ways. A new year brings new opportunities for faith to grow. Whether we face tests and challenges from all sides, or pressure that unbearably presses down, God will use these trials to press beautiful colors of faith from us, if we submit to his plans.

Hardship forces our faith out into the open, where it can no longer hide in the darkness. Our faith shines out not only before other people, but before angels and all the universe in the spiritual realm (1 Cor. 4:9). It's God's design to use trials to bring us to spiritual maturity. They really are for our ultimate good!

When it comes to the true colors of your faith, which ones do you want to display to the universe? Consider this:

Red of Jesus' blood covering you, saving you from sin (1 John 1:7)

Yellow of the light of the world shining through you (John 8:12)

Purple as a sign that you are now a member of God's royal family (1 Peter 2:9)

Green as a picture of new life and new hope in Christ (Rom. 15:13)

Which other colors of faith would you like to display, and why? I'd love to hear your answers in the comments below.

Looking for more encouragement? Check out all the posts I've written for Woman 2 Woman Ministries HERE.

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Have a blessed weekend!

Sarah Geringer
Finding Peace in God's Word

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A Helpful Way To Review God's Faithfulness in Past Moments

 

By: Donna Bucher

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

1 Samuel 7:12

 

Delighted with the view of a fresh new year before me, thoughts of doubt tarnish the brightness. Despite tracing God’s faithful hand through the past year, my review also reveals hardship and personal failure.

Each year radiates God’s faithfulness; but the shadows have me second guessing his continued faithfulness in the unknowns ahead.

 

How can a retrospective view give me the confident hope needed for trusting God for the new path ahead?

 

As a magnificent shaded path lined with stately oaks, a glance backward reveals a beauty unseen, while traversing the path. Only a retrospective view gifts the treasure of the whole journey.

 

Looking back through the perspective of God’s faithfulness, exposes the strong pillars of God’s lovingkindness, mercy and provision all along the path. Some embraced in the moment, while others wholly unnoticed; clouded by suffering.

 

Lingering, I find joy in the journey. Shared joy with others, joy in new growth and joy in the confirmation of God’s sovereignty covering every part of my path.

 

Yet, my survey reveals my failures in loving God, husband, family, others along my path. My eye drifts over temptations, sin and overwhelming spiritual battles. Bravely I review defeats; and savor victories.

 

All while following the golden thread of God’s faithfulness interwoven throughout; strengthening, redeeming and transforming my life.

 

Thus far the Lord has helped us. These words compel a look backward towards the many ways God provided, showed mercy, stood faithful. But these few words also point forward.

 

1 Samuel 7 reminds us, the Israelites faced battles and defeat. Continued uprising by the Philistines brought discouragement. But Samuel the prophet urged the people to repent and remove the idols from the land. He prayed God’s protection upon the people, and for his entire lifetime the hand of the Lord defeated the Philistines.

 

Samuel raised a memorial and reminded the people, “Thus far the Lord has helped us”. In essence he told them, look back and see God’s faithful hand, then look forward strengthened by the promise of God’s faithfulness for the future.

 

While a practice of viewing the past year through the lens of God’s faithfulness equips you for moving into the unknowns of a new year, the same practice fortifies your faith at other times.

 

Imagine meditating on God’s faithfulness “thus far” at the close of each month. How about a Friday “Happy Hour” ritual of soaking in God’s faithfulness at the close of your week? And consider one of the best remedies for anxiety at bedtime: a careful review of God’s faithfulness throughout your day.

Viewing the events of your month, week or day with a backward glance tracing the hand of God in your blessings, trials, defeats and victories curbs fear of the unknown, infuses hope into hard situations and fosters repentance and spiritual maturity.

 

Equipped for facing each new beginning in your life strengthens your trust in and submission to God’s sovereignty in uncertain times.

 

Then go one step further. Imagine the impact on others practicing the same principle corporately. What if you looked back over the past year, month, week or day tracing God’s faithfulness as a couple, family, small group, team, or women’s ministry?

 

Just as taking time for a retrospective view of my year encouraged me with God’s numerous blessings and joys, it revealed God’s Presence with me in suffering and on the hard paths. I saw His mercy, forgiveness and redemption in the defeats, all breathing Light into the dark, weary places, paving future uncertainties with hope.

 

We have the ability for breathing the true Hope of God’s faithfulness not only into our own journey, but into the journey of others.

 

“Thus far the Lord has helped us”, reminds us our journey yet remains unfinished. Each year, month, week or day, God’s faithfulness in moments past points us to the promise of a glory yet to be revealed.

The treasure of God’s faithfulness extends beyond this life journey. Because He has helped us thus far, we have the assurance He will see us through to eternity with him.

Find more encouragement and FREE Resources at Serenity in Suffering!

 

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Social Media and Our Calling as Believers

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: Georgia de Lotz

“But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” 

 ~1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think Paul would be a fan of social media – at least not the way we too often use it!

While it is certainly true that social media can be - and often is! - used to advance the gospel, further the kingdom, glorify God, encourage the saints, and spread truth, it can also too often become a dumpster fire (I mean, have you been on Facebook during an election year?). Personal attacks, name calling, and divisive debates run rampant - even among professing believers!

I wonder if we don't need a mental reset right here at the beginning of a new year when it comes to our view of and interaction with social media?

Not only that, but you may be wondering why I brought Paul into this at the beginning. He obviously didn’t live with anything even close to resembling social media, right? Well, that is right….and also wrong. 

While Paul didn’t have the internet, let alone social media, the problems of gossip, jealousy, and competition which we find to be so prevalent online were not problems birthed by social media. They were merely magnified and expanded to a far larger scale by it.

In that sense, Paul was battling many of the very same issues we are battling today. Because the sins of pride, jealous coveting, sinful anger, personal attacks, and gossip begin in the human heart and not on any computer or phone, Paul had much to say about these very same issues in his day. 

Consider, for a moment, his words in the following passage, and tell me if they don’t sound like they could apply to our behavior everyday on social media!

 “They learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.” ~1 Timothy 5:13

Do you see why I say Paul wouldn’t much for social media in the ways we so often allow ourselves to behave on it? Compare that passage with the one quoted at the beginning, and an eye-opening theme begins to emerge.

It’s so vastly different from our typical daily life, isn’t it? Leading a quiet life as opposed to wandering about from house to house (or social media account to social media account!), minding your own business as opposed to being gossips, working with your own hands as opposed to being busybodies, walking properly as opposed to saying things you ought not say.

The Greek word translated "to lead a quiet life" is hēsychazō and literally means "to keep still (intransitively), i.e. refrain from labor, meddlesomeness, or speech: cease, hold peace, be quiet, rest."

We as believers can still be present on social media and harness it for good and for the advancement of the kingdom! But only so far as we lead the quiet lives we have been called to live as believers. It has been said before that the internet never sleeps, meaning that we could easily hop on the social media platform of choice at any time of the day and night and see what we can learn about people, what we can pick apart about them, and all the ways in which we “should” hustle to be like them. That is the common temptation, right?

But we have been called to live quiet lives. Lives where we willingly work with our own hands, are concerned about our own affairs, and prioritize rest. 

May we purpose to do those very things in this new year, and thereby be a shining light to the watching world – including the watching world of social media!