I am traveling this week, with no recording capability except what’s on my laptop (yuk!), so I am writing my personal message to you here. If you are new to Bible Study Evangelista, a warm welcome to you.
The new study series, Healing the Father Wound, begins September 18. Until then, here’s a LOVE the Word™ exercise I wrote for you and part two of my talk (audio below) on this topic. Part one is available on the homepage or, if you’re reading via the weekly email, below. Here’s the private Facebook discussion page for this series that I mention in last week’s audio, if you want to join in the conversation with a little more privacy as I do.
A Special Message
I don’t want you to be caught off guard, or to feel attacked when it happens, so if you have a wound, expect it to be tweaked within the next several weeks, if it hasn’t been already. In my book, Unleashed, I talk about pop quizzes – difficult circumstances that are invitations from God to practice what He’s teaching. Because we are talking about the father wound and wounds in general, anticipate that God will offer you a pop quiz, and you will have an encounter with someone who brings up or provokes the feelings associated with your wound.
Please try very hard to look beyond the person through whom this experience comes to the invitation beneath it. The experience feels negative because it involves the emotions associated with our wound, but this is a gift, I promise. Spend some time discerning what you feel, the patterns in the emotions, and write down any memories that surface (a free journal page is available to the right).
Pop quizzes are a normal, natural, even welcome part of the process (I know, I know!), because they are absolutely necessary to healing. If you want immediate help, get Unleashed and begin reading. Or jump on the Facebook Discussion Group. Otherwise, just hang tight! We will talk about this in depth throughout the series.
Welcome, and thank you, to Gloria, Mary, Lorie, and Brigid, Bible Study Evangelista’s newest friends of the show, and to Carlene for the super-love and lift!
Study Audio
LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin. This week’s LOVE the Word™ exercise is according to a Augustinian* personality approach.
Listen (Receive the Word)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer 29:11).
Observe (Connect the passage to recent events.)
In the Holy Spirit’s presence and with His help, what is your hope for this series? What is it that you long for regarding your wounds that you are afraid to express, either to yourself or to Him? What do you think God might ask of you in the process of healing?
Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
In your journal or on your journal page (get a free page to the right), write down what you believe the Holy Spirit is saying to you through this verse about your woundedness: Lord, I sense you are saying that I should…
But I worry about…
My fears about this process with you are…
I need your help here…
Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)
Lord, I am afraid to hope. Please give me the grace to hope in the future your word tells me you want for me.
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*LOVE the Word™ exercises vary weekly according to the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan, and Thomistic. These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.
Episode Resources
Out now! My newest book with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers: Ignite, Read the Bible Like Never Before. Get a preview of the introduction and first chapter here.
Read the Transcript
You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here when it becomes available (usually within the week; check back here), courtesy of Kristie Hynniman, who does our transcriptions for you.
Ask Me Anything, (Most) Wednesdays, now on YouTube