God, what is my assignment today?

This week we are finishing the famine phase by reading:

Chapter 7: God is With You         

 &            

 Chapter 8: Refusing to Get Bogged Down in Bitterness

Famine: In this place, you’ll realize your comfort zone is gone, and you’ll learn to

depend on God like never before. God’s truth: He is with me.

The purpose of the famine is to learn to depend on God. You have to develop a new pattern of thinking and that requires stepping out of your comfort zone. During this phase, you are often tempted to doubt and sometimes give up. The doubts can bombard us and cause us to lose our passion to press on.

As Girlfriends in God, how can you continue to press during the famine season when it looks like nothing is happening? How can you remain faithful during the wait? Please pick one truth from each chapter to serve as a possible discussion starter.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV)

⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Next week we’re moving from the famine to believe God.

Loving God More Than My Dream

"Walking with God will take you to amazing places, but it won't always be where you thought you wanted to go and the road won't always be easy. " As I read and re-read this chapter, some amazing truths stood out to me. God calls us to leave for various reasons, but the ultimate reason is to fulfill his purpose in us. Leaving represents something different for each one of us. Sometimes, we're called to leave because something or someone is not the best for us. Sometimes, we are called to move because we've been sitting in complacency and not fulfilling our destiny. Other times, it's a test. Remember, God doesn't tempt us, but he does test us. Sometimes, God needs to test our strength, our resilience, our faithfulness and our love for Him. He needs to test us to see if we are ready to do what he's called us to do. He needs to test our obedience. He needs to know do we love Him more than the thing or things we think give us so much pleasure. Ask yourself, do you love God enough to give up the thing or things that are keeping you in your wilderness? Are you ready to make the choice between what you want and God's best.

What is God calling you to leave?

As I've read the story of Abraham, I wonder if I too can have that type of faith. Can I leave everything I know based on something God spoke into my spirit? Am I willing to sacrifice my long-waited child because God told me to do it? Obedience is hard. Following God's leading and prompting goes against our fleshly nature. But if we can just muster that faith to step out like Abraham, God is faithful to do just as he said. God can allow some dreams to die because they weren't for us. Other dreams can die and he can resurrect the dead places into something even greater ~ He supplied a ram in the bush for Abraham. Walking in faith means you must surrender all your wants and dreams and follow God. One key to following God and being obedient is recognizing he's calling you.

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"^[a] and he was called God's friend. (James 2:23).

What do you believe God for today and do you have the faith to leave with God? I look forward to a great prayer time and discussion tonight. Be blessed in knowing that He's working on your behalf. I declare great things are happening and even greater things are in store. Be patient, stay in prayer, believe and wait with expectancy.

God Has A Plan

 
Good Morning!
 
I’m a little late with the email for this week simply because I was struggling with direction for the call tonight. This morning’s Girlfriend’s in God devotional greeted me with some divine inspiration and also, reaffirmed the struggles I’ve been. Let it go and stop worrying. Whatever it is, how great or small, commit to taking it to God in prayer. Not only should we take it to God in prayer, we must believe by faith that he hears every prayer, and wait expectantly for him to answer. During the wait, we then must activate our faith.
·         Peace comes while we are on our knees before Him in prayerful dependence.

·         Faith eliminates worry and feeds peace.

Tonight’s Discussion: Chapter 3: God Has a Plan
“I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”  Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)
“God’s plan was perfect, and when I left my plans behind God let me participate in His.”
God doesn’t seek out perfect people to us; He uses our imperfections and our willingness to share our mistakes to reach the hearts of the lost.
God has placed you exactly where you are according to His purposes.
 
I’m reminded to give thanks. Give thanks for the things that I do have and not dwell on what I no longer have.  It’s ok not to have it all or the perfect job, career or family. Without struggle, there is no progress! Today’s a new day!. Today’s a day full of expectancy. I choose to live for God.
 
You Really Don't have to Worry - Click to Read More www.girlfriendsingod.com/Default.aspx?tabid=97

Let’s Pray
Father, I come to You today with a sense of helplessness. I am desperate for You, Lord. I need Your strength and power to sustain me because everything seems to be falling apart. I want to be a woman of faith and stand strong when trouble bombards my life but I cannot do it alone. I am afraid and seem to worry about everything. Today, I turn to You and celebrate the truth that You will turn to me and be my refuge.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

 
 
 
 

 

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.