Ps 68:11 The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim the good news are a great host. What a unusual verse! When I read this yesterday, I had to stop and do a little digging. It seems like in the time this was written the custom was that after battle women would announce the victory. How amazing that Yahweh chose to announce victory through the voices of women on the streets. It made me think about who announced His resurrection, it was the women. The commentary I looked at said, “proclaim the good news,” means to look at what the Lord has done! These women are interpreting reality, God’s reality, for the community. And that’s what we get to do too!

What Scripture are do you find yourself dwelling on?

Spiritual formation is “the process of being formed into the image of Christ for the sake of others.” - Robert Mulholland For the sake of others, that phrase hits. How does that phrase challenge you?

Ps 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow you foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. What a peace there is in knowing that we are not alone in our journey. We are surrounded by God, the one in whom we can trust. The same God who journeyed with Abraham, Moses, Daniel, and Jesus. Yes Jesus.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, Call upon him while he is near; Let the wicked forsake their way, And let the unrighteousness their thoughts; Let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, And to our God, for her will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek, call, forsake, return - good verbs to start Lent. “The face of God shown here is of a Lord near at hand, ready to forgive, a God of grace. But this is a God to whom a turn must be made, a God of demand, a God of demand ready to be a God of grace…not just hard demand, not just easy grace, but grace and demand, the way all serious relationships work.” -Walter Bruggerman Read this again and look allow yourself to imagine God as ready. Ready to forgive, ready to be a God of grace. When I think about the parts of my heart that have had and still have fear and resistance toward turning, those parts don’t yet see a God ready and full of grace toward me. God, help us. Help us be women who know Your character, Your love, and Your readiness toward us. Amen