Week 2: A Line in The Sand

Leaving is about saying Yes to God. Saying Yes to God is Faith in Action, it’s Obedience. It’s being able to put aside everything you want, think or plan and say I’m going to allow God to take control. I think this is hard thing to do, especial for career women. We’ve been taught and conditioned to plan, develop strategies and proposals and do things a certain way and in a certain order. But, because of who God is, we’ll never understand his ways, his thoughts and his plans. We’re not supposed to. It’s not necessary. Why? Deuteronomy 29:29 says we are only held accountable to the things that God reveals to us. This means we need to be obedient to following his leading, and commandments. When he tells us to move, to act, to leave, we should follow with no questions asked. I used to think it was acceptable to ask the questions: Why Lord, Why this?, Why now? I no longer feel that way. It’s not my place to know why or even to understand. The very nature of God says, I am to listen and follow instruction and He’ll reveal it by and by. I hold Jeremiah 29:11 close to my heart and starting today I am working on memorizing and meditation on Deuterononmy 29:29.
 
According to Stormie Omartian in Praying God’s Will for Your Life, Living a life of Faith requires obedience. She describes Faith as:
• Faith is a choice.
• Faith is a step of obedience.
• Faith is a spiritual exercise.
• Faith is saying yes to God.
• Faith is being obedient even if we don’t feel like it.
• Faith is a daily decision to follow God.
 
She says, often the desires of your heart are the desires of His heart, but they still must be achieved His way, not yours. Whenever we let go of what we long for, God will bring it back to us in another dimension.
I believe this statement, and Girlfriends I pray and ask God to give us all the desire to say Yes and a true heart of obedience. Being obedience requires things of us that our flesh is not always willing to give.
God requires our obedience. Through our obedience he requires us to pray, confess our sins, praise him, and worship him. The transformation begins to happen when we sacrifice self and give ourselves to God in this way of prayer, confession, praise and worship.
As our study this week points out, Leaving is necessary. Leaving is an act of obedience and not a desire of the heart (pg. 24). Leaving requires faith. We must leave the attitude, leave the stubborn pride, leave the right to be right, leave the control, and leave the unbelief. We must have enough faith to Leave with God.

Scripture References and examples:
Hebrews Chapter 11 talks about examples of people living by faith.
Abraham's call by God to Leave -Genesi

 
Jeremiah 29:11 says God has a plan of hope for us. It is by our own obedience and our walk of faith if that plan will be realized. The Israelites never saw the Promised Land for lack of obedience. Moses saw the Promised Land but never made it because of lack of faith.
God’s timing is perfect. It is never too late in His timing. Don’t give up on something because God has not answered yet. Trust His timing. Which way will you choose to walk? By faith or by sight?

Review from Week 1: God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.

Reminder this week is the official first week to read What Happens When Women Walk In Faith.

Lesson Outline

 Last Week's Prayer Call Scripture:  Proverbs 18:21  "The tongue has the power of life and death,
   and those who love it will eat its fruit." (NIV)

Words That Heal by T. Suzanne Eller

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

Today’s key verse from Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that the power isn’t in the tongue as a muscle, but in the words that fall from the tongue. We often talk about the negative words we should hold back, but what about the words that we can freely offer to those we care about?
Those are powerful words, indeed.

Dear Lord, scripture is filled with words that remind me of Your love. May my tongue be used to affirm, to encourage, to lift up, and to share simple words that say “I love you” to the treasured people You put in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Click Here to Read the Enire Devotion from Proverbs 31

What Happens When Women Walk In Faith: Week 1, June 23

We're reading, What Happens When Women Walk In Faith, please join in for prayer and a brief discussion of the book.

Introduction:
The five phases of faith go hand in hand with the five fundamental truths of God:

1. God has a plan for me.
2. God is with me.
3. God will make a way.
4. God isn't surprised by death.
5. God brings dreams to life.

 Phase One: Leaving:

• God will fill in the gaps - the getting ready period.
• Surrendering Inadequacy - perspective is key
• Any woman who wishes to be used by God must be willing to honor God no matter what.
• Honoring God
• Will you honor me?
• Will you see the blessings hidden in the long to-do lists?
• Will you surrender your plans to convenience and ease and accept My plans for your growth and maturity?

 Personal Bible Study
Job 1:6
Luke 22:31
Peter 5:8
Ephesians 6:11
James 4:7
John 10:10

Satan wants to seperate us from God. What tactics is Satan using to deafeat you right now? We must take steps to guard our hears and minds. What ways can you resist the devil so that he will flee (James 4:7). Write out a prayer in your journal or a list of things to apply to your life and situations.

Speak the word over your life and your situation. We're all standing in the gap for each other and praying our "Girlfriend's Prayer".

Friends That Pray Together, Stay Together

 
Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day.
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.
Let me continue to see sin through Your eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.
When this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak.
Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately. 
I pray for those that don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.
I believe that You can change people and situations.
I pray for all my sisters and brothers.
For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.