And yesterday I finished it.
I never, in my whole life, have been truly sad for this study to be over. It feels like I'm leaving a friend- a companion in life.
And to some of you that might sound ridiculous, and to some you know what I mean. But for those of you who don't- I'll share with you some of her writing, so you can get a taste of what I've been feeling for the last seven weeks.
"Let's receive the Word like medicine to souls sick with selfishness and begging to be put out of their misery."
"Christ has used His implanted word to rescue my life so many times. Yours, too? He is so faithful, Sister. Let's move our hand away from the rich soil of our heart and welcome seed that sows salvation 'to the uttermost.'"
"Harsh people are never wise people. They may be smart. They may even be right. But they are not what the Bible calls wise."
"Put your sweet self under God. Entirely. No arms and legs kicking out to the sides. Knees to the floor. Eyes to the skies. Hands open wide. Death to your pride. Here we run aground on the reason the Devil flees."
"God knows how everything will turn out. And, for every single person who belongs to Him, it turns out well. We are not the exceptions."
"If we're willing, God is our song when we are happy, our escape when we are tempted, our hope when we're despairing, our joy in tribulation, our strength in weakness, and our immortality in dying. Ultimately, He Himself is our health."
"The second person I wish to thank is you, Sister. My heart as been so moved it hurts. Bless you for the gift of companionship. Without you on the other side of it, I wonder if I'd ever had finished it. Stay in the Word, Sister. Knees to the floor, eyes to the skies."
And that's Beth Moore for you. She is so personal it feels like she's sitting next to you.
But this book of James- oh James- has tested me, shown me so many things and simply changed me forever. All of the quotes above we written about this five chapter book. This amazing book. Better than anything anyone could ever write.
So- thank you Beth Moore for writing this for me. For helping me understand so much.
But really- thank you James for giving me those words. For prying my heart open to hear God's voice in hard times.
I encourage you to read the book of James. To hear from God like you haven't before. It will be worth it. I promise.
Thank you, Beth Moore. Thank you, James. Thank you, God, for everything.
"If we're in Christ, the Devil cannot have our souls. Because for us, our eternity is settled."
~Bailey
