Spiritual discipline takes center stage at November Rooted Women event
Dr. Sarah Matthias speaks to around 30 Concordia students at this month’s Rooted Women event.
Photo credit: Elizabeth Salo
By Elizabeth Salo
Dr. Sara Matthias spoke to around 30 female Concordia students about spiritual discipline at Tuesday’s Rooted Women event in Cattle Conference Room and reminded them to trust God while finding ways to walk with Him.
“Do hard things,” Matthias said. “If you see something that is hard but is your passion…that’s where you start leaning into God. You’ll get an opportunity down the road to praise God for what He’s done for you.”
Matthias emphasized establishing Christian accountability in the practical elements of spiritual discipline.
“Trust God with your schedule,” she said. “He’s going to make the space in your schedule [for His will] and He will bless that.”
Matthias said that, even for people who struggle with discerning God’s will, “there are things that we do know are His will, and that we can do now.”
Matthias ended her presentation with a quote from the missionary Elizabeth Elliot: “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”
Attendees enjoyed fall snacks like pumpkin muffins, caramel apples, and apple cider throughout the event, and students like sophomore Michal Black said they took away a lot of helpful advice from Matthias’ presentation.
“One of the things that I took away from tonight’s event was that while we often put the struggle of how we are doing in our own hands, like it’s up to us how we’re doing in life and how we’re doing spiritually, in reality, Christ has already done all the work,” said Black. “He is by our side, never leaving us.”
The Rooted Women fellowship night was part of an ongoing series led by sophomore Paul Scholar Anna Pennekamp.
Pennekamp said she chose the night’s topic based on student feedback and because it balanced well with those of previous events.
“On the survey I gave last year, [people asked for] spiritual discipline,” said Pennekamp. “Also, we’ve had a lot of topics on outwardly, how do we care for people, our Christian brothers and sisters, but this one is how you’re caring for yourself more, and you’re seeing how God cares for you, and we dove into the Word a little more than we normally do.”
The next Rooted Women event will be a Christmas party, with time and date to be determined.
