Copyright2010byAnnaR.Rapa Unlessotherwisenoted,allScripturequotationsaretaken fromTHEHOLYBIBLE,NEWINTERNATIONALVER SION,NIVCopyright1973,1978,1984,2010byBib lica,Inc.Usedbypermission.Allrightsreserved worldwide.

Christian Meditations
Before the bar exam

Reflections by Anna Rapa

Introduction Takingthebarexamisoneofthemoststressfultimesina personslife.Onethingthatcarriesmethroughstressfultimesis myrelationshipwithGodthroughJesus.OnethingthatIbe lieveisthatGodwantstohelpuscarryourburdens,ifweask andinvitehimto.Sothisismeanttobeaninvitationandsortof aroadmapforyoutoinviteGodintothisbarexamprocess. Andbecausethewholethingissostressful,Ialsowantedtogive yousomeScripturetomeditateonwhenthestressfulthoughts andfeelingsovertakeyou. Soheresashortexplanationofthedifferentthingsyou willseeeachday: Scripture EachdaywillstartwithaquoteofapassagefromtheBi ble.Youmaywanttolookitupandseewhatelseisaroundit, oryoumayjustwanttothinkaboutthatScriptureforawhile. SometimesIactuallydomeditateonthewordsbysayingthem overandoverandthinkingaboutwhattheymean. Reflections Nextyouwillseeashortparagraphortwotalkingabout whatthatpassagemeanstomeinthecontextofthebarexam. MaybeitssomethingIthoughtaboutwhileIwaspreparingto taketheexam.Maybeitssomethingthatclarifiesorgivesback groundtotheScripturequotedabove. ResponseSpace Thenyouwillseeablankspacewhereyouareinvitedto respondbywritingsomethingorbydrawingsomething.Thisis theinteractiveportion,whereyoucanshareyourthoughtsor feelingswithGod,whereyoucanwriteordrawaprayertohim. Iwillgiveasuggestionhereoraskaquestion,butfeelfreeto usethisspaceinanywaythatyouwantto.Iftheresnotenough room,youmaywanttoconsiderusingajournalorasketchpad.

July 27
Notbymight,norbypower,butbymyspiritsaystheLORD almighty. Zechariah4:6

Thisisit.Thefinaldayofthebarexam.In6orsohours, itwillallbedone.Youareattheendofyourenergyandatthe endofyourstrength.Butyoucanmakeitthroughbythepower ofGodsspiritatworkwithinyou.

InviteGodtowalkwithyoutodayandaskforthestrengthof hisSpirittosustainyou.

July 26
Iliftmyeyestothehillswheredoesmyhelpcomefrom?My helpcomesfromtheLORD,themakerofheavenandearth. Hewillnotletyourfootsliphewhowatchesoveryouwill notslumber;indeed,hewhowatchesoverIsraelwillneither slumbernorsleep. Psalm121:14

July 7
ButiffromthereyouseektheLORDyourGod,youwillfind himifyoulookforhimwithallyourheartandallyoursoul. Deuteronomy4:29

ThisPsalmisaworshipsongwrittenbyaHebrewbefore Jesuswasborn.ItisareflectiononthekindofGodGodhad beentothemovertheyearsthattheyfollowedhim. Throughoutthatnationshistory,overallofthattime, GodhadbeenafaithfulGodprovidinghelp,watchingover themwithoutevertakingabreak. TheGodofJesusisthesame.Heistirelesslywatching overyouanddesirestobeyourhelpinthisstressfultime.Even whenyousleeptonight,hewillbewatchingoveryouandhold ingyouup.
TaketimetomeditateonthekindofGodwhowouldcare enoughtowatchoveryouwhileyousleep.Sayafewwordstohimbe foreyouleaveforthedayorbeforeyousleeptonight.

Inthispassage,amannamedMoseswasgivinginstruc tionstothiswholenationofpeoplethatGodhadcalledtofollow him.Butheknewthattheywerejustordinarypeopleandthat theywerelikelytowalkawayfromGodatsomepoint.Because heknewhowmuchGodlovedthem,hetoldthemthatevenif theyturnedawaytoworshipothergodsandspentallkindsof timedoingallthethingsGodhadaskedthemnotto,evenfrom theretheycouldseekGodandtheywouldfindhim. Godlongstohaverelationshipwithyou.Helikesyou. Helovesyou.Hewantsyoutoknowhimandhewantstoknow you.Nomatterwhereyouareinlife,whatyouhavedonebe forenow,howmanytimesyouhavecursedGodorturnedyour backonhim,hestilldesirestohavearelationshipwithyou.No matterhowfarawayyouwalk,iffromthereyouturnandseek Godwithallyourheartandallyoursoul,youwillfindhim.
TakeamomenttoreflectonhowyouhaverelatedtoGodup untilnow.Ifyouwantto,takethisopportunitytoaskGodtohelpyou toseekandtofindhim,eveninthemidstofthiscrazytimeinyourlife.

July 8
Doyounotknow?Haveyounotheard?TheLORDisthe everlastingGod,thecreatoroftheendsoftheearth.Hewill notgrowtiredorweary,andhisunderstandingnoonecan fathom.Hegivesstrengthtothewearyandincreasesthe poweroftheweak.Evenyouthsgrowtiredandweary,and youngmenstumbleandfall;butthosewhohopeintheLORD willrenewtheirstrength.Theywillsoaronwingslikeeagles; theywillrunandnotgrowweary,theywillwalkandnotbe faint. Isaiah40:2830

July 25
TheLORDhimselfgoesbeforeyou;hewillneverleaveyou norforsakeyou.Donotbeafraid;donotbediscouraged. Deuteronomy3:18

Thebarexamistomorrow.Youhavemadeitthisfar,and youwillmakeitthroughtomorrowandWednesday.Donotbe afraidanddonotbediscouraged.Walkintheconfidencethat youhavestudiedveryhard,thatyouhavedonewhatyoucan do.Godwillbewithyou.

Writeordrawallyourfearsandanxieties.InviteJesusinto them,towalkthroughthemwithyou.

Godunderstandsrightwhereyouaretoday.Heunder standsyourexhaustion,youranxiety,yourstress.Heunder standshowimportantthistestisinyourlifeandhowmuchis restingonitforyou.Heunderstandsandhecares. Ifyourhopeisinhimifyouarewalkingwithhimand restinginhimandaskinghim,hewillprovidestrengthandcom fortinthemidstofthischaos.

TakeamomenttoexpresstoGodexactlyhowyoufeelabout yoursituationrightnow.Invitehimintothatchaos,andaskhimto bringstrengthandcalmandfocus.

July 24
Mygraceissufficientforyou,formystrengthismadeperfect inweakness.Therefore,Iwillboastallthemoregladlyabout myweakness,sothatChristspowermayrestonme. 2Corinthians12:9

July 9
Finallybrothers,whateveristrue,whateverisnoble,what everisright,whateverispure,whateverislovely,whateveris admirableifanythingisexcellentorpraiseworthythink aboutsuchthings. Philippians4:8 Thethingsyouthinkabouthavesomuchpowertoaffect you.Youcanthinknegativethings,likeIcantdothis,Im goingtofail,orImnotgoingtosurvive.Oryoucanthink aboutwhatisgoodandtrueandright. Whatistrueisthatyoumadeitthrough3yearsoflaw school,andyoupassedallyourclasses.Yourememberalot morethanyouthinkyoudo.Youarecapableoftakingthistest, andyouarecapableofpassingit.Thinkaboutthosethings. Dontallowyourmindtorunawayfromyoutakecontrolof thosethoughtsandtellyourselfthetruth.
Whatharmfulthoughtshaveyoubeenallowingtotakeover yourmind?TellJesusaboutthem,andthenaskhimtohelpyoutotell yourselfthetruth.

OneofthemostamazingthingsaboutwalkingwithJesus ishowhecanuseeventhemostmundaneorordinarythings andpeopletoaccomplishgreatthings.Jesussoriginalfollowers weremainlyfishermanjustordinaryguysdoingordinary thingswithnoeducationandnothingtooffer.Thisversewas writtenbyaguynamedPaul,andhehadsomekindofphysical ailmentthatwasweighinghimdown.Evenso,hehadlearned thatwhathecouldnotdo,Godcouldenablehimtodo. Onthosedayswhenyouarefeelingparticularlyweakor worndown,likeyoucantdoanything,youhaveaspecialop portunitytoexperienceJesusspowerinyou.Youcanaskfor himtowalkwithyouandsustainyouandgiveyoustrengthto dothethingsthatyouhavetodo.Itisamazingthentowatch andseewhathecanaccomplishandhowhedoesit.
Whatareyounotstrongenoughtodotoday?AskJesusto showhimselftoyoubyhelpingyoutodomorethanyoucoulddoon yourown.

July 10
Cometomeallyouwhoarewearyandburdened,andIwill giveyourest.Takemyyokeuponyouandlearnfromme,forI amgentleandhumbleinheart,andyouwillfindrestforyour soul.Formyyokeiseasyandmyburdenislight. Matthew11:2830

July 23
CastallyourcaresupontheLORDandhewillsustainyou. Hewillneverlettherighteousfall. Psalm55:22

Youareexhausted.Youareweary.Youaretiredof studyingandthinkingandstressing.Thereisrestandpeace availabletoyou.Jesusinvitesyouintoarelationshipwithhim whereyoucanfindpeace. Althoughyourcircumstancesmaynotchange,whenyou takeonJesussnameandyouwalkwithhim,yoursoulfindsrest inawaythatyouwillnotfindelsewhere.Youcanrestinthe realitythatyouarelovedandvaluednomatterwhatyou achieveordontachieve.Youcanrestintherealitythatnomat terwhathappensinlife,youknowwhoyouareandwhoyou belongto.
BringyourwearinessandexhaustiontoJesus.Askhimfor resttruerestforyoursoulthatonlycomesfromhim.

Thewordcastmeanstothroworflingorhurl.Thats anamazingwordpicture,isntit?Youshouldbeflingingaway allthethingsthatareweighingyoudown.Butyoudontfling themoffintoouterspaceorintonothingness;youreactually throwingthemupontheGodoftheuniverse.Hecanbearthose burdensthatyouaretryingtocarryalone.Notonlythat,heis invitingyoutosendthemhiswaysothathecansustainandup holdyou. Totrulyletyourburdensgothough,youregoingtohave totrusthim.Youregoingtohavetotrustthathewillkeep walkingwithyou,thathewillholdyouup,thathewillhelpyou tosleepandtorememberandtothinkclearly. IfyouarewalkingwithJesus,thenhehasalreadymade yourighteousrightwithGod.Hewillsustainyou.
Takeamomenttowriteordraweverythingthatisweighing youdown.Takeitoutsideandthrowitasfarawayasyoucan.Orsetit onfire.Orsomething.Whileyouareappropriatelydiscardingofit, prayandcastthosethingsaway,toJesus.

July 22
Bestrongandcourageous.Donotbeafraidorterrifiedbe causeofthem,fortheLORDyourGodgoeswithyou;hewill neverleaveyounorforsakeyou. Deuteronomy31:6

July 11
RejoiceintheLORDalways!Iwillsayitagain:rejoice! Philippians4:4 ThebookofPhilippianswaswrittenbyamanwhowas imprisonedbecauseofhisfaithinJesus.Hewaswritingtoa groupofChristianswhowerefacingalotofpersecutionfortheir beliefs.Andeveninthesecircumstances,heencouragedpeople torejoicebecauseofwhattheyhadfoundinJesus. Rejoicemeanstobegladortotakedelightin.Ifyouare followingJesus,therearealwaysreasonstorejoice,nomatter whatthecircumstances.Andthereissomuchpowerinrejoic ing,eveninspiteofstressfulanddifficultcircumstances.
Whatdoyouhavetobegladaboutortakedelightinright nowtoday?TakesometimetothankGodforthosethingsrightnow.

ThiswaswrittenbyMoses,wholedthepeopleofIsrael fromcaptivitytowardwhatwouldbecometheirownland.He wantedtoencouragethepeopleofIsraelthat,becauseGodwas withthem,theydidnothavetobeafraid. Unfortunately,thepeopledidntlisten.Whentheysent spiesintotheland,theyreportedbackhowbigandtalland roughthepeopleofthelandwere.SothepeopleofIsraelde cidedthattheycouldnttakethelandandwanderedaroundthe desertformanymoreyears.Thenextgenerationhadmorefaith andeventuallytheyendedupwhereGodwasleadingthem.But thatfirstgenerationmissedoutonanopportunitytoseehow Godwouldprovideforthem. IfyouarewalkingwithGod,thenheiswithyounomat terwhereyougo.Hewillbewithyouwhenyoutakethistest. Hewillbewithyouwhileyouwaitfortheresults.Donotbe afraid.Walkforwardinconfidencethatheiswithyou.
WhatdoesitmeantoyouthatGodwillneverleaveorforsake you?Howdoesthataffectthewayyouviewthebarexam?

July 12
ButblessedisthemanwhotrustsintheLORD,whoseconfi denceisinhim.Hewillbelikeatreeplantedbythewater thatsendsoutitsrootsbythestream.Itdoesnotfearwhen heatcomes,itsleavesarealwaysgreen.Ithasnoworriesina yearofdroughtandneverfailstobearfruit. Jeremiah17:78

July 21
Beingconfidentofthis,thathewhobeganagoodworkinyou willcarryitontocompletionuntilthedayofChristJesus. Philippians1:6

Inthispassage,theprophetJeremiahwascomparinga manwhoputshistrustinGodandamanwhodoesnottrustin God.Thewordpictureseemstobeapictureofabundanceand thrivinggreeneryversusbarrennessandemptiness. Thepointisthattheworldaroundyouisuncertainand stressfulanddifficult.ButwhenyouputyourtrustinGodto walkwithyou,toprovide,togiveyouwhatyouneed,totrans formyoufromtheinsideout,yourconfidencewillneverbemis placed.Evenindifficulttimes,whentheworldishostile,your rootsystemgoesdowntothedeepplaces,gainingstrengthfrom theOnewhowillneverfail.
Wheredoesyourconfidencecomefrom?AskJesustohelpyou totrustinhimforlifeandpeaceduringthisdifficulttime.

WalkingwithJesusleadstoalifetimeoftransformation. WhenyouhaveinvitedJesusintoyourlifeandyouhavebegun tolistentowhathesaysaboutwhoyouareandwhoyoucould be,hebeginstochangeyoufromtheinsideout.Youbecome morekind,loving,joyful,faithful,selfdisciplined,peaceful,pa tient,good,andgentle.Butthatprocessdoesnothappenover night.Sometimesyoufindthatyouarestillangryorupsetor meantosomeoneelse.Sometimesyouwilllookforpeaceand notbeabletofindit. ButyoucanhaveconfidencethatJesusisnotdonewith youyet,andhewillcontinuetotransformyoutomakeyoumore likehim.Inthosedifficultmomentswhereyouhaveforgotten whoyouareandwhoyoubelongto,juststopforamomentand inviteJesusintothatpainandugliness.Askhimtocontinueto transformyou.
Whatpainoruglinesshaveyouhadinlifetoday?InviteJesus intoitandaskhimtocontinuetotransformyouandgiveyoupeace withGodandwiththosearoundyou.

July 20
Bejoyfulalways;praycontinually;givethanksinallcircum stances,forthisisGodswillforyouinChristJesus. IThessalonians5:1618

July 13
Donotbeanxiousaboutanything,butineverything,by prayerandpetition,withthanksgiving,presentyourrequests toGod.AndthepeaceofGod,whichtranscendsallunder standing,willguardyourheartsandmindsinChristJesus. Philippians4:67

Thessaloniansisanotherletterwrittenbyapastortoan earlychurch.Heencouragesthechurchtodothreethings:be joyful,pray,andgivethanks.Afewdaysagoyoureadabout rejoicing,andeverydayyouaretakingtimetoprayaboutwhere youare.Todayletsfocusongivingthanks. Thestressandpressureofthebarexamtakesitstoll,and itoftenmakesyoufeelnegativeabouteverything.Youfeelbad aboutyourself,youfeelbadaboutyourabilities,andyoufeel angryandupsetandirritatedateveryonearoundyou.Oneof thebestwaystochangeyourattitudeandriseaboveyourcir cumstancesistobethankfulforwhatyouhaveandwhoyouare.
Writeordrawasmanythingsasyoucanthinkofthatyouhave tobethankfulfor.TakesometimetothankGodforprovidingthemfor you.

Oneofthebestwaystoletgoofanxietyistoturnover thethingsyouareworriedabouttoJesus.Prayaboutwhatyou arefeeling,askGodforwhatyouneed,andletgoofthestressby placingitinGodshands. Thisishardtodo.Nosoonerwillyouprayandletthings go,whenyouwillfindyourselfworryingagain.Praying,asking, andlettinggoisadisciplineofthemindandtheheart.Firstyou havetotrustthatGodissafetorelyon,andyouhavetobewill ingtochoosetoleavethingsthere.

Whatthingsareyouanxiousabout?TellJesusaboutthem. Askforwhatyouneed.ThankJesusforwhathehasalreadyprovided andforwhatheisgoingtoprovide.

July 14
ForweareGodsworkmanship,createdinChristJesustodo goodworks,whichGodpreparedinadvanceforustodo. Ephesians2:10

July 19
TheLORDisgood,arefugeintimesoftrouble.Hecaresfor thosewhotrustinhim. Nahum1:7

FollowersofJesushaveacallingtoparticipateinhis workofrebuildingrelationshipsintheworldrelationshipsbe tweenGodandpeople,betweenpeopleandotherpeople,be tweenpeopleandtheearth,andpeoplewiththemselves.God createdyoujustthewaythatyouaretobeapartofthismission andpurposeintheworld.Hehasthingsthathesinvitingyouto do,andhewillhelpyoutodothemwell. Knowingthiscangiveyoupeaceandconfidenceindiffi cultsituations.IfyouarewalkingwithJesusandlivingoutof whoGodcreatedyoutobe,youwillberightwhereyouresup posedtobe.Godiswithyou,andhewillhelpyoutoliveout yourmissionrightwhereyouaretoday.
Whatgoodworksdoyouthinkhavebeenplacedinfrontof youtodotoday?Howaboutafteryoubecomeanattorney?Askfor Godshelptodothosegoodthings,bothnowandinthefuture.

Forthousandsofyears,thosewhofollowYahweh(the HebrewnameforGod)havesaidthatGodisgoodandarefuge intimesoftrouble.Manypeoplecomingbeforeyouhave knownGod,reliedonhim,andfoundhimtobetrustworthy. Hecaresaboutyouandyoucanrelyonhim.Hewillbe yourrefugeifyouseekshelterfromthestormsoflifeinhim.

Takeafewminutestomemorizethisverse.AskGodtobe yourrefugeinthisdifficulttime.

July 18
Hesaid,InmydistressIcalledtotheLORDandhean sweredme.FromthedepthsofthegraveIcalledforhelp,and youlistenedtomycry. Jonah2:2

July 15
Ihavetoldyouthesethingssothatinmeyoumayhavepeace. Inthisworldyouwillhavetrouble.Buttakeheart!Ihave overcometheworld. John16:33

JonahisthestoryofaprophetwhoranawayfromGod. Thiscausedsuchabadstormthathegotthrownofftheboathe wasonandwasinthebellyofafishfor3days.Whenhewas there,hecriedouttoGodandwasultimatelythrownoutofthe fishontodryland.ThisverseisJonahexplainingthatexperi encewhenhewasinthedeepestanddarkestplacehecouldbe, hecalledouttoGodandGodheardhimandresponded. NomatterhowfarawayfromGodyouare,nomatterif youranawayfromhimorfoundyourselfindarknessforsome otherreason,youcanbesurethathewillhearyouwhenyoucry outtohim.Whenyoureoverwhelmedbytheinformation yourememorizingandfeellikeyouarenotgoingtomakeit,he willhearyouwhenyoupray.
Doyoufindyourselfindarknesstoday?CallouttoGodand asktoberescuedfromit.

Jesussaidthesewordstohisfollowerswhenhewastry ingtoexplaintothemthathewasgoingtobekilledsothata waywouldbemadeforpeopletohavearelationshipwithGod. Hewastryingtoexplaintothemaboutthespiritualkingdom thathehadbeenbuilding.Hewastryingtoexplainthathe wouldsoonconquerdeathandsininawaythatwasfinal. Hewantedthemtoknowandhewantsyoutoknowthat hehasovercomedeathandsinandsufferingandpain.Hewill giveyoupeacerightnowspiritualpeaceisavailable.Ulti mately,trueandtotalpeaceiscoming.Withhisdeath,Jesus overcameevil.Youcanwalkwithhimnowandfindthepeace andjoyoflivingwithhimdailyknowingthatultimatepeaceis comingsomeday.
WhatdoesitmeantoyoutohavepeacewithGodrightnow? Whatdoesitmeanthatultimatepeaceiscoming?TalktoJesusabout thesethings.

July 16
LetthepeaceofChristruleinyourhearts,sinceasmembers ofonebodyyouwerecalledtopeace.Andbethankful. Colossians3:15

July 17
InhimandthroughfaithinhimwemayapproachGodwith freedomandconfidence. Ephesians3:12

YesterdayyoureadaboutthespiritualpeacewithGod thatisavailablerightnowandabouttheultimatepeacethatis comingsomeday.Allowingthatpeacetoruleinyourheartis thenextstep.Itisnotenoughtoknowthatyouhavepeacewith God.Youneedtotakethatpeaceintorelationshipswiththe peoplearoundyou. Colossiansisaletterwrittenbyapastortooneofthefirst Christianchurches.Likeallotherpeople,theystruggledinrelat ingtoeachotherinaloving,kind,andcompassionateway.The pastorwastellingthemthat,becausetheyhadfoundpeacewith God,thatpeaceshouldaffecttheirbehaviortowardoneanother. Theywerecalledtoloveandcareforandbekindtooneanother. BecausetheyknewwheretheystoodwithGod,theycouldstop beingselfishandgreedyandmeantoeachotherandsimplylove outoftheloveGodhadgiventhem.
DoyouhavepeaceinyourheartwithGod?Ifso,isthatcur rentlyaffectingyourrelationshipswithotherpeople?PraythatGod wouldallowhispeacetofillyouandgivetotheabilitytobelovingand kindandcompassionatetowardothers.

SometimesitshardtoimaginewhyaGodwhocreated theuniversewouldcaretohearfromyou.Sometimesitshard toimaginethathewouldcareaboutwhetheryoupassthebar exam,whetheryourefeelingwelltoday,whetheryouregetting sleep,orwhetheryouhavewhatyouneedinlife. ButJesuscametoearthtoshowyouhowmuchGodcares aboutyou.GodisnotadistantGod,floatingupthereinthesky somewheredoinghisownthing.Hehas,sincethebeginningof time,beeninvolvedandactiveintheaffairsofmankind.He lovesyousomuchthathesentJesusheretoshowyouwhoheis andhowmuchhelovesyou.Becauseofthat,youcanhavecon fidencethatwhenyoupray,GodhearsyourprayersthroughJe sus.Youcanfeelfreetocometohimatanytimewithanyprob lemthatyoumighthave.
Jesushasmadeawayforyoutobringallofyourhurtsand problemsbeforeGod.Takesometimetoshareyourburdenswithhim rightnow.