Pivoting

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”—Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

I was talking with a friend this week, and we both are feeling a bit stagnant spiritually. There are combination of reasons for mine. I know I tend to get like this when I am in between Bible Studies.

While I am still doing my daily Bible reading plan, it isn’t the same as doing a Bible study in person with other sisters in Christ. Which, I have pivoted on my daily Bible reading plan. I started out with a reading plan that completes the Bible in two years. I found myself frequently going to the Bible Recap videos for clarification on what I had read. Now, I am back to doing the Bible Recap at a little bit slower pace. I will probably finish it up in February or March.

My husband and I had been a part of a couple’s small group for five years, which won’t be gathering this session. We are pivoting in another direction, so I know I need to get plugged into a good solid Bible Study for the fall.

I have been waffling on whether to go back to a group I joined last year or do something else. I love how God puts people in your pathway to give you clarity.

Last week, while I was working in a showroom at the Dallas Apparel Mart, a woman I was helping made a comment about BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). I did the Revelation study in 2024 but didn’t sign back up for 2025.

I prefer the daytime meetings. They are on Wednesday or Thursday mornings. My knitting group is on Wednesday, so that rules out that day. I tried the Thursday one, but the location wasn’t ideal. The host church doesn’t have classrooms to meet in, so unless the person beside me was talking, I had a hard time hearing the other conversations in the large auditorium where we met.  I ended up switching to an online group, which just isn’t the same as meeting in person.

Back to the woman I met last week who was also a BSF lecture leader. I told her I really missed BSF, but I wasn’t able to go to the daytime classes. She said, they have a Monday night one. I told her, I know, but I really prefer the daytime one.

A few days later, I was convicted. The Monday night one is much closer to my home than the daytime ones. Why can’t I go on a Monday night? Part of the reason I didn’t consider the evening class before was I wanted to make sure and have dinner ready for my husband and not be rushing out the door.

Well, he retires September 4th. The new BSF year starts up on September 7th.  I don’t have to worry about timing the dinner for when he gets home from work. I know God put that woman in my pathway to plant the seed for the evening class. They are doing the book of Romans this year, so I know I am going to be spiritually fed like I am needing right now.

When it comes to growing in my faith walk, I am learning that it is okay to pivot and go another direction. This doesn’t come naturally to my “planner” personality. However, God doesn’t want me to become stagnant. What I do know is whenever I am a part of Bible Study Fellowship, it brings the Bible to life. It pushes me to dig deeper into what I am reading.

If you are like me and feeling like you are in a rut in your spiritual life, that is the Holy Spirit pricking your heart to change direction.

Father God,

Thank You for putting someone in my pathway to give me clarity on what Bible study to attend this next year. I know I am in a new season where I need to be open to change. Keep me aware of Your nudges leading me to change course. I lift those up to You who are feeling spiritually stagnant. Lead them to a small group, church, Bible study or Bible reading plan that will spiritually feed them. I pray these thing in Your Precious Son, Jesus’ name. Amen.

September Verse

“The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”—Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)

If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.     

Earthly Father

“The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.”—Psalm 103:13 (NLT)

Today would have been my father’s 89th birthday. It is still hard for me to fathom he has been gone for nearly twenty years now (in November). I still miss him to this day. I think about how much he has missed out on with his grandchildren and now great grandchildren. He would have enjoyed them so much.

He was the glue that held the family together. Family was super important to him. He stepped in and up in mine and my children’s lives to help fill the void after my first husband John’s death. He didn’t think twice moving my son and I into the home I grew up in until I got back on my feet.

I knew when he passed the family dynamics would change with only my mother. They did. For her it wasn’t the same. She was okay with seeing her children and grandchildren a few times a year. This wasn’t the case with my dad. He thrived having us all together.

I see so many of my dad’s traits in my brothers. They too have careers in the automotive industry as well as 3 of his grandchildren. His strong work ethic was instilled in all of us and is now evident in the grandchildren. If you would have told me my son would have ended up in the car business I would have said, no way. But here is working for Toyota Motor Corporation and now living in Japan with his family for two years.

As young adults, my brothers and I may not have always gone to church, when we were younger, but my dad made sure we went. We were in Sunday school and youth group. Because we were raised in the church, all three of us did the same with our families. It is such a blessing to see my children plugged into a church with my grandchildren. I now know what my dad must have felt seeing his children doing it as well.

I realize how fortunate I was to have had a loving father and strong male role model in my life. Not everyone has had this experience. For those who may not have had this, you have a Heavenly Father whose love and compassion for you is greater than an earthly father could give you.

Psalm 103:13 tells us; The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. This connects my earthly experience with the perfect love of my Heavenly Father. Just as my dad showed compassion, God’s compassion is even deeper and more reliable. As great as my dad’s love was for me, God’s is even bigger.

Today as I remember my father, I cherish the good he left behind as his legacy as well as the compassion I received which ultimately points me to the perfect love of my Heavenly Father.

Father God,
Thank You for the gift of my earthly father. While he is no longer here with me, I am thankful for how he reflected Your love in his heart. I rest in the hope that one day we will be reunited together in Your presence. I lift those up to You who may be grieving the death of a loved one. May they feel Your loving arms around them. It is in the name of Jesus Christ I pray these things. Amen.

July Verse
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”—2 Corinthians 3:17

If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.     

Praying Scripture

During my prayer time, I also incorporate scriptures to pray over my day. This way of pouring into God’s Word overflows into my words and actions. When you find a scripture that speaks to you, grab a hold of it and trust it. By praying scripture, we are standing and believing God’s Word over our lives. It also gives you a greater confidence in your prayer life.

Several years ago, a pastor at a church we used to attend shared how he prayed Ephesians 3:16-19 over his children every day. After I heard that sermon, I started to do the same for mine. Brandon and Danielle were in their early teens when I started doing this. Now, I also pray this daily for their spouses and their children. This is what my prayer looks like:

Father, I pray through Your glorious unlimited resources that You will empower Pat, Brandon, Mallory, Lincoln, Oliver, Danielle, Collin, Callahan and I with Your inner strength through Your Spirit; That Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him; That our roots will grow deep down in Your love and keep us strong. And may we have the power today to understand as all Your people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is for us. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully so that we will be made complete with all fullness of life and power that comes from You, God.

I even like praying Ephesians 3:16 by itself for myself. Especially when I feel weak and unsure of what direction to go. I will pray; Lord, I pray from Your glorious unlimited resources You will empower me with Your inner strength through the Holy Spirit. The more I pray Ephesians 3:16, the more I experience this. Sometimes it is hard for me to fathom Christ is in me. However, feeling God’s presence in you is life changing. Knowing I don’t have to rely on my own wisdom and strength gives me peace.

If you aren’t sure how to pray today, try incorporating praying scripture. It is a powerful way to anchor your day. By saying God’s Word back to Him, it strengthens your faith as well as reshapes your attitude, actions and thoughts. You can do like I did. Take a verse that speaks to you and personalize it to make it your own.

Father God,
Thank You for the gift of Your living and active Word. May I faithfully pray scripture into my day. Let it become a daily rhythm for me. I ask for those who feel weak to take comfort knowing that Your glorious riches WILL strengthen them through the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of them. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

July Verse
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”—2 Corinthians 3:17
If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.