I thought about changing the title of this blog to “Clearly, She Reads About David!”

I’m often asked what I’m reading or what bible study I’m currently doing. If you’ve known me (or listened to the show) for any time at all, you know the answer is almost always “Beth Moore!” I’ve done pretty much every one of her bible studies, and continually & eagerly await the next one.

My bible study breaks for the summer time. I did something a little different this year. I ordered my first She Reads Truth bible study. I ordered the “1 & 2 Samuel: The Life of David.” Study. It’s also their current study.

I have to admit, She Reads Truth was a bit different, and took some getting used to. With Beth, there’s a weekly DVD you watch, and then guided questions, along with her commentary as you work through the homework. There is NO doubt that her bible study format has been the single biggest contributor to me digging into the scriptures for the last 15 years of my life. She has you constantly flipping through the sacred pages. I slurp the homework up with a spoon, and I’m always sad when a study is done. I’m probably the only person you know who cried when David died. And Paul too. I remember telling Dave & Bill how sad I was that Paul died.

Dave said, “Paul, as in, the Apostle? Didn’t we already know this?!”

Me: “Yes, we did! But, I’ve just really gotten to know him these last couple of months, and I’m sad about it. Now, I can’t wait to meet him one day!!”
#realoffairstudioconversations
Or, maybe that one was on air. I can’t remember!

I’d heard and seen lots of folks talking/doing/reading She Reads Truth. My oldest, Haley, has been doing their studies for several years. When I received my first book, I opened it and saw that it was just scripture. NOT that this is a bad thing! It’s actually a very good thing. But, I have to admit, I felt a little intimidated. I thought, “No questions?! I don’t have to answer anything and then have Beth guide me through what I just read.” Let me pause here, and say “Beth would be the first to say, “Yep! Read the scriptures for yourself, sweet sister, and listen to what the Lord is telling you.”

And that’s what I’ve done.

It’s kind of like scripture reading meets journaling meets written prayers. Or at least that’s what it’s been for me. And it has been wonderful! Here’s why:

1. I love being in the Word every day.
2. I love that She Reads Truth has it broken down to concentrate on a specific (in this case, 2) books of the bible.
3. I love the extras they include i.e. timelines, family trees, etc.
4. As intimidating as it was, I like the one page journal area at the end of each reading to take notes, write a prayer, or simply use for whatever is your heart’s desire.
5. I like the “grace day” to catch up on day you may have missed.
6. I like the questions after each week. (I guess I’m more of a guided questions girl than I ever realized)
7. I love that the books are so beautiful, and fun to write in.
8. This format has really helped me to journal more consistently.
9. I love that it’s just me & Jesus. It’s my thoughts. My prayers. My heart. There are no wrong answers.
10. I love it so much that I’m going to give some away!

Yep! I have 3 She Reads Truth’s “1 & 2 Samuel: The Story of David” to give away! Register by commenting below (On my blog, NOT Facebook), and I will pick 3 winners on Tuesday, August 8th. I’ll comment back to the winners on Wednesday, so you can see if you won! I’m actually assigning this task to Abbey, so I won’t forget. Speaking of Abbey, I posted this picture of her last week on Instagram. It went nuts! I’ve never had so many sisters ask me about a shirt. We got it here. But guess what? I’m going to give a couple away at the end of the week, so check back for that!

One more note on David:

After ordering my most recent study, I realized I must really like studying David. I recently read Louie Giglio’s Goliath Must Fall, too (highly recommend!). Perhaps it’s because I so identify with David. David was a complex & complicated man. God called David “a man after His own heart.” Don’t we all want God to call us “women after His own heart?!” I sure do!

Yet, David messed up. A bunch! On the one hand, he believed God with all of his heart. He trusted God with everything that he had. He followed after Him like a brave warrior. And still, even with all David knew and had experienced of God, he made some really bad decisions. And knowingly. He turned away. He rationalized.

Can you see it?

David is just like us. We are just like David!

Have you ever done something knowing that Jesus would eventually have a say (and His way), and yet you did it anyway? Please tell me I’m not the only one! To be sure, God had not left David. He was with him. But David had so suppressed the Holy Spirit’s conviction, that he was able to keep on, keeping on, if you know what I mean. But, only for a season. As Beth says, “we are dangerously far away when we can sin with little conviction.” David eventually came back to his senses. The reconciliation and restoration was beautiful. I love that God always chooses to chase us down.

“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Oh give me back my JOY again…”
-Psalm 51:7-8a