I noticed in looking at the contents list, that the chapters were grouped together into larger sections titled parts and that each part began with an introduction of sorts before the first chapter in that part. After reading the preface and introduction, I felt even more assured that the selection of this book was made 'for' rather than 'by' me. It spoke deeply to my heart and gave me a sense of anticipation for the gifts that may lie ahead of me in it's pages. Then came the two page introduction, if you will, of part one...I hadn't even actually reached chapter one yet and there it was in the first paragraph of the part one introduction...a phrase that strikes fear in the heart of a born and bred Lutheran...memory verses! In a moment of panic, I reflected on my poor memory which struggles to remember what it is I'm supposed to be doing today...which of my friends birthdays it is that is coming up this month...what bill is due this week...and just when is it that I have to pay that traffic ticket by again? Then I thought to myself...now you're asking me to commit verses to memory word for word? Sure I have lots of verses in my head by memory (even if I can't tell you that verse is Psalm 63:7...one of my personal favorites by the way) I also have other things in my memory such as The Lord's Prayer, The Serenity Prayer and the Apostle's Creed, most of which are there simply because I've read or recited them so frequently that they are now committed to memory without conscious effort on my part...but the thought of being expected to memorize something specific terrified me.
Once the temporary fear of the term 'memory verses' subsided, I decided that I would dedicate myself to doing exactly what it is that is suggested knowing that it would bring with it blessings all it's own. There is a total of 11 verses from various parts of the book of Isaiah that deal with captivity and with God's promises to set the captives free. I decided that for my poor memory that repetition was the only hope that I could intentionally memorize anything...so I pulled out the old index cards as if I were in school and wrote one verse per card. The small size of the cards makes it possible to carry the verse that I'm working on at the time around with me to read over and over throughout the day whenever I find myself with a spare moment or two. Two days into this study and I finally have down the first of those verses...Isaiah 61:1 which states:
"The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners"
(I probably got the punctuation all wrong...but I think God will overlook that...after all I got the words...AND the message)
The Lord has promised to set me free from captivity and for that I praise Him!
I'm taking this book very slowly...on purpose, which is hard for me. I'm Ms. Speed Reader...I am the type of reader who will often read an entire book in one sitting because once I start reading it pains me to stop until I'm 'finished'...for that matter I seem to apply that principal to far too many areas of my life. Being what I understand is "typical" for someone with ADD, I have difficulty with distractions...I don't welcome them and find myself far too often becoming agitated if they occur. This is an area on which I continue to try to improve and one way I am trying to put a more patient attitude into practice is by slowing down my reading of this book in order to not only develop my tolerance of interruptions but also so that I have time to really reflect on the material of each chapter before moving on to the next one. My reflection thus far leads me to the question...perhaps one of the things holding me the most in captivity is fear...fear of the interruptions in life...fear of expectations...fear of failure...and from these things I would love to be breaking free.
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