Oaks of Righteousness is a 40 day guide to understanding how God is at work in you, the caregiver and the people surrounding the care receiver. This book presents 40 chapters, a common number that shows up often in the Bible. Because 40 appears so often in contexts dealing with judgment or testing, many scholars understand it to be the number of "probation" or "trial," days that deal with testing and judgment. Forty still has a literal meaning in the scriptures. "Forty days" means "forty days," but it does seem that God has chosen this number to help emphasize specific lengths of time when trouble and hardship occur.
I suggest you read a chapter a day for 40 days. That can be difficult; if you are like me, I usually read a chapter and then move directly to the next chapter because I want to learn what happens next. But this book is more about digesting, meditating, contemplating, and reflecting on what God is revealing to you as you read. Take your time and ask God to transform and renew your mind as He has planned. Pray on this promise of God:
Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Are you seeking to learn how to discern the will of God and understand what is good and acceptable and perfect? You can start today. God does not mock His people or embarrass them by tricking them into doing something. He doesn't want to see you fail or simply be mediocre as a Christian caregiver. Caregiving is a mission field. You aren't simply caring for someone's physical or mental health. You are called to provide spiritual care to those who are weak and broken in their spiritual health.
Listen to God's promises found in the words in scripture. Then pray on His inspired words and spend time knowing who you are as a caregiver and what you are being called to do in Christ. The first fruits you will receive if you take spiritual caregiving as a mission field will be a supernatural understanding of how God's word brings healing, hope, comfort and peace of mind to you. Thus your stress, energy, time, and capacity will be refreshed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The best place to start your 40 day journey is at the beginning. It is my prayer for everyone reading this book that your life will be transformed as you start with God, persevere through crises, and reap the harvest God intended for you, His worker.
