40 Days in the Word

Last spring I took a huge step out of my comfort zone and agreed to be a group leader at my church's ladies Bible study.  Some of you may think that this isn't a big deal, but trust me...for me it was.  I had actually been feeling led to lead a group for some time, but I ignored God.  I'm bad about that sometimes. Not something I'm proud of, but it is what it is.  I made plans to attend the Bible study last spring and the fact is that I should have been leading a group, but I never said anything.  Even when I heard that leaders were needed and I was "qualified", I didn't say anything.  I walked in deliberate disobedience to God, and it was NOT a good time for me.  To make matters worse, my best friend DID obey the Lord and agree to lead a group.  So I opened my email one day to find a message inviting our homeschool group to come to the study and be in her group.  Salt in the wound!

Leading a study may not seem like a great significant thing, but my disobedience to God WAS a big thing.  I was really convicted and exhausted every reason I could think of to excuse myself from answering God's call.  I thought things to myself like:

*I'm not a "people" person.

*I'm not "holy" enough.

*I don't know enough about the Bible.

*My family is out of control so what business do I have being in any type of leadership position?

*I don't like meeting new people.

*I'm an introvert.  Meeting new people stinks!

And so on and so on.  But still, I felt like I should lead.  As lots of preachers say, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called".  And I was definitely being called.  

So, I signed up.  I agreed to lead a group for the Fall's session.  Fall seemed like such a long time away, and then suddenly it was September and I was so nervous!  The night before the first session I couldn't sleep.  All I could think about was sitting at a table of women who wouldn't contribute to the conversation.  Crickets!  Awkward!  

As it turns out, I was worried for nothing.  Even though I showed up without my Bible.  Ha!   I even went further outside my comfort zone and purposely didn't sit with people I know during the opening service.  I met new people.  It's not as bad as I thought it would be.

The group was great.  Everyone participated.  Our group is diverse:  old and young, mother's and kidless, married and single.  We learn from each other.  We pray for each other.  It's beautiful.  

We're doing a study by Rick Warren called 40 Days in the Word.  It's not our usual type of study.  It's not geared specifically for women.  We're learning how to study the Bible.  How to have a quiet time.  How to apply the Bible to our lives after we read a passage.  Things we all need to know and maybe even think we already know. I'm gonna be sad when it's over!