What another power packed week be have had with our study called Lord Change Me by Evelyn Christenson.
Following our opening prayer and prayer requests, Rosemary started our discussion beginning with our Handout for this current week (Day) Three.
Handout: Day (Week) Three – 1/20/11 is the SAME as Day Two – 1/13/11
The handout for week three is the same as the handout for week two with one exception; it is in blue print. Rosemary stated “obviously, we have much more to learn from Romans 12:2 as well as the verses on the bottom of the handout”. We were instructed to mull it over and do research on the other verses to help further your understanding. Below is brief a recap of last week to help you in your quest for knowledge and understanding.
“And do not be conformed to this world (this time or age) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect (pleasing, pure, holy) will of God (Power flows from purity. Seek purity and you will find power).”
Key Point: Conform or Transform – Which way will you Change?
Here we see Paul contrasting two ways of changing; Conform Vs. Transform.
Conform: When we are conformed to the world we are changed from the outside by external worldly influences by being squeezed or molded into something we were not created to be. We feel the pressure to comply or agree with whatever is the influence we are being conformed to. We do the accepted thing, play the game, agree or are consistent with the current world age and all of its trappings in the human race. Conformity means we are fashioned after and adapted to the world’s external, superficial customs and self-focused activities and motives. In Romans 12:2, Paul warns us the world wants to change us into a form that is not a natural fit. Conforming to this world is unfaithfulness to God in its purest form.
Transform: When we are transformed we are changed from within; by the renewing of our mind - into His image. God wants us to be transformed in what we think, in the way we think and act. Transformed means a new life as well as new responsibility. God wants to change our outward form so it fits our inward being. Transform means doing a make over or renovate, change the old way to the new way. We can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus, not through rules or regulations. God loves each of us the way we are. We can accept Christ in 5 minutes and then spend a lifetime of changing, transforming, putting off our old self and putting on the new. God wants us to be faithful to Him.
How are we transformed, changed, by the entire renewal our mind?
- By changing internally with new ideals and new attitudes, actions and reactions; God’s path, His will, His way.
- By studying God’s Word
- Praying
- Fellowship
- Practice
Key Point: Practice – Consistent Practice is required for Transformation by the Renewal of our Mind
The only way we can be transformed by the renewing of our mind is through practice on a routine basis; not just a one-time event. Our prayer, “Lord, Change ME”, is or should be a life-long practice.
God wants us to be formed into His image so the world will not penetrate us and diminish us. He brings this about by the renewing of our mind; something different than before. Under God’s influence we will know, understand, and embrace God and His pleasing and perfect will for us.
Handout Questions
Is your life patterned after God or after the things of the world?
“What good is it to gain the whole world and loose your own soul?” Matthew 16:16
Who asked this question? Jesus did.
Critical Success Factor: Consistent Practice is required for Transformation by the Renewal of our Mind
Handout Verses
- Ephesians 4:23 - To be made new in the attitude of your minds
- Colossians 1:9 - For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives (or all spiritual wisdom and understanding),
- 2 Corinthians 10:2 - I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
- 1 John 2:15 - Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
- I Peter 1:13-16 - Be Holy - Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.
What is our goal of change in our life? Our goal is to change and be transformed into the likeness of His Son; into Christ-likeness.
How do we do that – become Christ-like? What process do we need to follow to be transformed as well as be in unity of Spirit through bond of peace; One Lord - One Faith? How do we believe, trust, and remain in obedience to God and His will for our lives - not our will? How do we do what pleases God and not man?
In a quest for answers, we were asked read Chapter 2 for homework. Each of us was to discuss our answers to the assignments from last week.
Chapter 2: Changed – By the Lord Through His Word
Let’s start by looking on Page 22, first paragraph;
“Lord, I want to change. But how do I discover Your ‘chaste and reverent” behavior in 1 Peter 3:1-2? Especially since I’ve been trying so hard for so long? Is there more Lord? How should I go about becoming what you want me to be now?”
Remember the principles that God give the author in 1 Peter 3:1-2?
- 1 Peter 3:1-2: Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
Principles discovered in 1 Peter 3:1-2:
- Our bridegroom is Christ; submit to Christ and his authority in our life.
- Submit to yourself to your Master who is Jesus Christ.
- Mirror Jesus in everything you do so that others may be won over without saying a word but by our reverent and pure behavior.
- “Either Jesus is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.”
- Since being Christ-like is our goal, we must expect this process to continue throughout our lives and end only “when He shall appear”
- Without a Word!
The “Without a Word” Principle
As Evelyn looked in the Bible for direction, God gave her a principle from 1 Peter 3:1-2 that guided her changing and carried her through those difficult fourteen months. At that time, the emphasis for her from God was that others were to observe her chaste and reverent behavior. “So that some… may be won without a word” (RSV). She was to take her feelings and concerns regarding her daughter to God first and wait for God to give her the correct response.
1 Peter 3 Proved to Be True – The Big Payoff
As we read, for fourteen months, Evelyn entrusted her daughter to God and kept her hands-off policy. She used the “without a word” principle God gave her in her relationship with her daughter. She kept her mouth closed and let God change her. She continued to pray to God to change no one else but her. “Lord, change me.” On page 20, we find the most surprising and thrilling thing to come out of Evelyn’s fourteen agonizing months of keeping her mouth shut and letting God change her was a birthday card the next year from her daughter. It was signed: “To my mother – who says so much in her silence.” She really lived in front of her daughter an “example…of good deeds…love of truth…and…in dead earnest.”
Critical Success Factor: Admitting We Are the Ones Who Need to Change is the First Step in Becoming More Christ-like
Evelyn had learned the first step to becoming more Christ-like – she admitted she was the one who needed to change while living in silence before others.
What We Have Been Doing Less Important that What We Should Be Doing
It is important to realize that we are each in different places in our walk with God. Each of us is in a different place with regard to our desire to change. Some of us are truly ready for change; others of us may not feel we need to change. As we read, Evelyn was trying so hard for so long. Like the author, we need to understand that what we have been doing is less important than what we should be doing. God wants us to have so much more than what we have been doing.
Charles Spurgeon
Rosemary talked about a quote she had read awhile back by Charles Spurgeon. And that what we should be doing now with God is the most important thing; not what we have been doing the world. God is here and now. Rosemary said the quote went something like this, “My grace is sufficient for us. Our salvation will take us to heaven. Grace brings heaven to us in this life.”
While searching for more on this quote online I discovered he really had a great sense of humor for his time. Below is the quote I believe in his words.
God’s grace is sufficient if we seek it. We must put our faith and trust in God instead of the world; conforming to it and its trappings. Be transformed through great faith in Jesus brings heaven to our souls on earth and realize the best that God has for us. We grow in our relationship with Christ in ways we never thought we could. We begin to grow in our spiritual walk with God.
Key Point: When we are comfortable where we are, when we are conforming to the world around us, we can’t fully realize what God has for us.
To countermand conforming to the world, self-evaluation is necessary. We must ask are selves some hard questions. Where are we? Do we feel we need to change? Do we want to make a change and work through the process? This leads us to our homework assignments.
Review of Homework
In Chapter 2 of Lord, Change Me, Evelyn Christenson tells us what we should be doing to change. She outlines steps she took in her process to change.
Steps in Process to Change
1. If Any Lack Wisdom - Ask God for Wisdom
a. Ask God for wisdom through His Word
b. Let God reveal how He wants you to change.
What is God’s wisdom?
Wisdom is the application of the knowledge and understanding that God provides us; that we discover. It is the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.
And Upbraideth Not
On page 29, we see that Evelyn learned that never once in those fourteen months did God scold her for asking for more wisdom. Over and over again God assured her that He wanted to give her all the wisdom she needed.
Key Point: The Gift of Wisdom is the Only Gift Promised to ALL Who Ask for it.
The other gifts are given by the three Persons of the Trinity as They please to distribute them. Romans 12:3-6 shows us that “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith…having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.” In Ephesians 4:7, 11 we see thus Christ, too gave people differing gifts to the churches as He desired.
But the gift of wisdom is different. All believers can ask for and receive the precious gift of wisdom for making changes in their lives. They are given a renewed mind to know the perfect will of God.
Key Point: Receiving Wisdom from God in a Life-Long Process
As we read through the chapter we will learn just as Evelyn learned receiving wisdom for our life from His Word was and is not just confined to those fourteen months, or a specific period of time. It is a life-long process of changing. (Page29)
2. Read Until – Read God’s Word Until He Speaks
a. Stay in the Scripture for instruction.
b. Read until God stops you at a particular word or phrase. Read only until He speaks. (Page 25)
Example:
Evelyn started to read Psalm 25 when God stopped her at one little four-letter word in the fifth verse – W-A-I-T (see page 23).
1Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
2O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Wait or hope in the Lord. Wait for the good that God has for you; God’s best. Wait on God, and, by a believing hope, wait for Him. She was to trust God and stay in His Word, as are we.
“What is this Word – God’s Word - to you?”
Rosemary asked us the question “What is this Word – God’s Word - to you?” Many answers were provided.
c. A guide
d. Life
e. Roadmap
f. Instruction
g. Truth
h. Connection to God – Communication with God
Critical Success Point: God’s Word is how God talks to us all.
Rosemary had us lookup Hebrews 12:25 (NIV) See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
Who speaks? God
How does God speak to us? Through His Word.
When we don’t go to God’s Word, we don’t receive the wisdom and understanding of what God wants to tell us. He can’t show us His ways, His paths or His truths if we don’t go to His Word. Remember, He speaks to us ALL through His Word. As Hebrews 12:25 instructs us, “See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks by not opening His Word.”
3. Stop and pray about what God said to you in His Word.
When He stops you, meditate on this. God is speaking to you about something. This is also part of communication process with God.
4. Analyze His reason for stopping you at that particular point in His Word.
5. Discover the need God knows you have. Determine what you can do to change – Knowledge.
6. Take Action
a. Taking action means applying the knowledge you have acquired from God’s Word to your life situation – Learned wisdom.
b. Record your learned wisdom into your Spiritual Diary.
Perfect Example of Prayer for Change: Psalm 23
Rosemary discussed that many of us have gone to Psalm 23 during times of trouble or deep despair. What does the first verse say to us?
Psalm 23:1 (KJV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
What is a shepherd and what does this mean to you?
A shepherd is someone who takes care of a flock of sheep. It is often used in the Bible as a figure of speech for anyone who cares for a group of people; a guide.
God condescends to call himself the Shepherd of his people, and his followers are considered as a flock under his guidance and direction. A flock of sheep, gentle and harmless, feeding in verdant pastures, under the care of a skilful, watchful, and tender shepherd, forms an emblem of believers brought back to the Shepherd of their souls.
1. He leads them out and in, so that they find pasture and safety.
2. He knows where to feed them, and in the course of his grace and providence leads them in the way in which they should go.
3. He watches over them and keeps them from being destroyed by ravenous beasts.
4. If any have strayed, he brings them back.
5. He brings them to the shade in times of scorching heat; in times of persecution and affliction, he finds out an asylum for them.
6. He takes care that they shall lack no manner of thing that is good.
But who are his flock? All true believers, us.
Psalm 23 is a perfect example of what God does for us. We find confidence in God's grace and providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance. This is what affords us grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor. With God at the helm as our Shepherd, we do not want as we have everything we need in Him.
It’s all About the Process
The study, Lord Change, Me is all about the process that the author took to see change in herself take place.
Cathey shared how she was trying to determine how to change with regard to a circumstance in her life. She searched for a verse, seeking and searching God’s word for an answer to “What do you want me to do Lord”. When God gave her a verse, she determined what she needed to do. She said to God, “You put this information in front of me for a reason. What do I need to do now Lord?”
How many times have we known we have something to change, we have something that we need to do but do not take action? For example, Sunday morning the alarm rings and you shut it off and turn over. What about prayer time or quiet time studying God’s Word?
Key Point: We will be responsible for the knowledge that God reveals to us in the future.
When we read God’s Word the Holy Spirit will stop us at the verse or word that we need to know or learn or more importantly change in our lives. We will be held accountable to God in the future. Therefore, when God has us Read Until He stops us we need to determine what to do with that information. We will need prayer or the power to do what God is asking us to do.
Example of God’s Wisdom and Power
Rosemary recounted an event that one of our fellow sisters from Rosemary’s Wednesday Night group encountered. Suffice it to say this sister prays for absolutely everything, Rosemary says EVERYTHING! Apparently she and her husband were leaving church following Wednesday night study. They got into their car and to their surprise the car would not start. So the husband tries once again after a few minutes and low and behold it starts. He looks over to his wife and says, “You were praying weren’t you?” You’ve got to love her answer. She said “Yes, and this Power is available to you too!”
That’s right; God gives us the wisdom and the power to do what we need to do in our lives. That’s only if we call upon Him and ask.
7. Pronouns: Who Change Me?
On pages 26 – 27, the author started to realize the some specific points on how she should change began emerging during those fourteen months as she searched Scriptures. Evelyn wrote in the margin of her next to Romans 12:2 “Does God want ME?” The pronouns were so very personal. She circled them. No mistaking it – God wasn’t talking to her husband, her children – but to her. Then the abrupt note in her Bible said, “Spiritual maturity – Period”. She discovered what all the changing was all about – to be mature like Him. Proving what is His good and acceptable and perfect will – for her.
Pull the Pronouns out and Make it your Prayer
In our homework we were to note "Pronouns" and examples of Scriptures using techniques we are learning. In other words, as you are reading each scripture, make it personal to you. For example when you see the pronoun “you” or a name simply replace the pronoun or name with your name.
Cathey shared with us that when she was taking “precepts” class she learned to put herself into the verse – to make it personal to her and her situation. Rosemary took an example from Isaiah to demonstrate this.
Isaiah 43:1-2 But now, this is what the LORD says— He, who created you, Jacob (Rosemary), he who formed you, Israelyou (Rosemary); I have summoned you (Rosemary) by name; you (Rosemary) are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you (Rosemary); and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you (Rosemary).
No Change Needed!
God also was telling Evelyn how she didn’t have to change. Although she felt a inner compulsion to give up her teaching and speaking after she told God she would, she received confirmation directly from God in Ephesians 6:19-20 “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
Practice Personalizing the Prayer
James 1:4-8
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
8. “Precept upon Precept”
On Page 28 we see that God had been given Evelyn many specific instructions. One about humility from Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” God continued to show her some affirmation of learning in silence through her 11-year-old with Philippians 2:14: “Do all things without murmurings and disputes.” Her notation in her Bible next to Philippians 2:14, “Renewing my mind!”
Other instructions included Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
During the same time period of God’s teaching Evelyn, a verse she would only be able to understand later prompted her to write “me” in the margin beside it. She questioned if her ministry for Christ would be more effective because of the experiences of the fourteen months? The verse was Philippians 1:12, “But I would ye should understand, bretheren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out unto the furtherance of the Gospel.”
God is the Teacher – His Holy Spirit Lives in Us
On March 23, 1969, He showed her emphatically that He was the Teacher! “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him” 1 John 2:27.
Let’s view this verse from the Amplified Bible version for greater understanding:
1 John 2:27 (AMP), “But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides (lives in) [permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do].”
God has given us an anointing that lives within us, the Holy Spirit. This is so we can know all truth. He guides us in all truth to set us free. Ladies we must understand that the Truth abides in us not in the world. He is no lie or falsehood. God is real, not counterfeit like so many of the worldly things we look to for guidance.
Abide in Him
Did you catch the last part of the verse? “So that you must also abide in Him just as He has taught you.” Be rooted in Him, knit to Him. The only way to do that is by remaining in His Word and through communication with Him.
“Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line, her a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:9-10, italics mine)
Through hundreds of verses God spoke directly to Evelyn during her fourteen month “Lord, Change Me” process. He had piled precept upon precept, line upon line, showing her what needed to be changed and how to depend completely upon Him for wisdom to change. This maturing was for those weaned from milk, those who were growing up – by the renewing of the mind!
What is a precept? Precepts are God teaching – Our learning from His instruction.
a. They are statutes, commands, decrees, rules, laws given by God to help His people know right from wrong.
b. Precepts help us grow in our spiritual maturing.
c. Precepts upon Precept teach us, building upon each other. Command upon command; Rule upon rule; Line upon line; Word upon word.
d. They help us to abide in Him.
We much take in God’s word to be nourished in our spiritual life. In giving us His law, He has not restricted us; He is blessing us and freeing us through our obedience to Him. Outside of God’s law we are engaged in an ongoing, energy draining, life-sapping, upstream swim. God wants us to run in the path of His commands, when we do He sets our hearts free from captivity of the worldly desires.
Psalm 119 is replete with information regarding God’s instruction and teaching. They help us gain understanding and wisdom. Psalm 119 will help you pattern yourself after God.
Psalm 119:2-8 “Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— they do no wrong but follow his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.”
When we were in grade school, our training focused on building upon words and each word would be added on building up our vocabulary until we were able to form a sentence. Words built upon words, sentence upon sentence. When we examine Psalm 119:9-16 we see quite a bit about God teaching us. He keeps building upon truth, upon truth, line by line.
God Teaches us by building line upon line, perception upon precept.
Let’s say we ask God I do I keep my way pure and stay on a path of purity? We read in Psalm 119:9 the answer we are looking for “By living according to God’s word.”
Psalm 119:9-16 (NIV)
9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
So now I see I must live according to what God’s Word tells me. But How do I do I live according to His Word? Notice that verse 10 builds on the path of purity and living according to God’s Word.
So now I see I must live according to what God’s Word tells me. But How do I do I live according to His Word? Notice that verse 10 builds on the path of purity and living according to God’s Word.
Note the highlighted text, we read each one and discussed what each one meant before moving on to the next verse.
Key Point: Each line or precept is building upon the other.
10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
12 Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
Building upon the Previous Precept Brings Delight in God’s Word
Notice how each is building on one another a roadmap to delight and not neglecting God’s word. I seek you and find you; I hide God’s Word in my heart – I memorize the verses; because of this I praise God because He is always teaching me; with my lips I recount God’s; I rejoice, I get excited about following God’s ways and paths like I just found great riches. I meditate and pray about God’s precepts; God has built upon each command so that I can build great habits; I delight in God’s Word and don’t miss a day with God. Each verse or line is teaching and building principle by principle. Ultimate Goal: total joy in knowing, believing and obeying the Lord.
9. Changed – Through My Spiritual Diary
What is a Spiritual Diary anyway? It is a journal, a record, a log, a chronicle, a memoir, an account of where we are spiritually.
Three Personal Bibles – Became a Spiritual Diary
Pages 29-30 recount how Evelyn had been receiving wisdom for her life from God’s Word. It wasn’t confined to just the fourteen months of her “Lord, Change Me” process. She was doing research for a retreat assignment “God’s Living Word.” To prove to herself – and those at the retreat – that the Bible had been alive in her own life, she dug out the three Bibles she used since high school and systematically and laboriously in three columns (one for each Bible) the most significant underlined, and usually dated, Scriptures. She discovered that as she filled columns page after page from this exercise that in these three Bibles she had a spiritual diary of her life from the time she was eighteen!
Key Point: Personalize Your Bible!
When we read the Bible, we should not hesitate to make notes. Rosemary said that you may not keep notes in a separate journal, but she urged us to jot down notes in our Bibles.
Key Point: God always gives specific answers, to specific needs at specific times.
From the passages underlined, she could tell whether she had been in victory or defeat, joy or depression, death, birth, surgery, illness, open doors, challenge, or closed doors. Evelyn began to realize that God had always given specific answers, to specific needs at specific times.
Lord, is this a Joke? This is how God speaks to us; not just Words on a Page.
An example is on page 33, she was convinced that God has a sense of humor. Evelyn suddenly had pain in her middle and was hospitalized for tests. A “No Water” sign was hung on the end of her bed, and by early morning the desperation for water set in. She prayed “Oh, God, give me something to read in my Bible that’s just for me, right now!” Psalm 63 popped into her head, although she didn’t have the foggiest idea what it was about. She opened her Bible and read “Oh, God, Thou are my God; early will I seek Thee.” It was 5:30 in the morning. As she read on in that verse, she cried, “Lord, is this a joke?” “My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”
Gradual Attitude Change
Page 34, describes how Evelyn had a gradual change attitude toward her health. Illness didn’t disappear completely but her attitude toward it changed. She relaxed. She felt somewhat like the pastor who called his banker saying our car is in the ditch. Through the years she has learned to say, “God, our body is sick.” What she was saying to God is whatever it was, it was “OURS” not just hers.
Key Point: Bible is truly a Living Book
On page 35, Evelyn stated that thirty-six years of underlining answers for actual situations have proven to her that the Bible is truly a living Book. “For the Word of God is living and active,” Hebrews 4:12 (NASB) tells us.
Yes it is alive! It has answers in the midst of our knowledge explosion today – or tomorrow – on this planet and in outer space; the stars and heaven.. God says in His Word, “yes, I made this!”
This is what we miss out on when we are waiting for a big event to happen. But in truth, it is in the smallest details; not in the big boom.
Critical Success Factor: Making Time to Communicate with God
Terry discussed how she even though she dislikes getting up early to study His Word she gets up. Today it was 4:00 in the morning. The point is she made time for God.
It is our preference, Rosemary pointed out. However, Scripture has some strong warnings. Hebrews 12:25 says, “See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks.” This means it is for our well being that we don’t refuse God who speaks to us through His Word.
It is a tough world to live in without Christ. There are those out there who haven’t spent time in God’s Word in a long time. It’s never too late to start. There are others who don’t know God and are seeking something, they don’t know what but they are seeking. The world around us is watching us. Only through abiding in His Word can we be transformed by the renewing of our mind.
Treasure: His Word - A Lamp unto my Feet
On page 36, Evelyn tells us that when she has needed direction for her life, had He ever left her groping in the dark, trying to find her way? Oh, no! He had given her His Word as a “lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” Psalm 119: 105. As she has obeyed God’s instructions, He has changed her, step by step, into the person He wants her to be.
Key Point: Realize God is Good – all the Time!
Creola shared her story regarding an item she wanted to purchase for her daughter Leslie, a brand new mom. Leslie kept saying she didn’t want the item. But on New Years Eve, Leslie called her mom in the morning asking if she could purchase this gift.
Now the item would be cheaper at Wake Forest
How Good is God?
Do you want to know how good God is? He is constantly showing us His favor in so many ways. He wants to talk to us His Word!
Psalm 118:29 tells us to “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; his love endures forever.”
Homework: Week 4
Everyone
- Read Chapter 3: Changed – For Others Too.
- As you read the chapter, what one thing impressed you? What one thing out of the chapter changed you in your life? Be ready to share this next week
- Bring a spiral notebook to keep notes for your Spiritual Diary.
Prayer Requests located in Prayer Section of Blog.
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