PURPLE comments are direct quotes from Lysa
It's that time again! Yes to God Tuesdays with Lelia. We're studying Lysa TerKeurst's book "What Happens When Women Walk In Faith". Today I want to give my insights on Chapters 6 and 7. Please also be sure to stop by Lelia's blog to see what the other ladies are saying and learning :)
Chapter 6 - God's Extraordinary Invitation
I think almost every lady doing this study highlighted the following statement: Though they couldn't see God's hand at work, they trusted His heart and rejoiced in the simplest of blessings each day. This was spoken of the two boys Lysa adopted. It reminds me so much of the verse. "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3, NIV) Children have such faith. They haven't grown quite as cynical as us adults. How I wish I could say that I have consistently rejoiced in the simplest of blessings. How awesome that their faith was so mature. What marvelous examples for us!
I loved the story she told in the section called How? Why? where she was giving God all the reasons why she could not do what He was asking and why He had to be mistaken in calling her to do it. The reason I love it so much is because I'm living it right now (see this post). God calls us to something and we immediately start analyzing it with our human eyes and our human perspective. We start giving Him all the reasons why this is not a good idea, why He is mistaken in calling us to do the thing, whatever it is. Instead I think we should be saying, as I said yesterday, "Lead me Lord" because He already has it all worked out! He doesn't need our analysis. It's been done. He doesn't need to hear our reasons why we can't do it because He has already planned how to equip us. What He needs and desires is obedience to follow Him. And He will take us on a great adventure.
Another quote I loved was this: Breakthroughs happen when we get about the business of honoring God moment by moment, step-by-step, day by day by what we do and, more importantly, with the thoughts we think while we do. All I can say is Amen to that. Let's get about the business of honoring God!
Chapter 7 - God Is With You
These last few chapters (starting with 5) are addressing a period Lysa calls famine. In Chapter 5 she refers to it as a place of sacrifice and surrender. This is the phase where we learn to depend on God. So fast forward to Chapter 7 and Lysa writes: For days , I'd been telling God there was no way, and now He was reminding me that there is always a way with Him. Again, He needs us to trust, not figure and plan. I am guilty of trying to map it all out because I hate the unknown. I want to be in control. So famine for me is an extremely difficult phase. And I am smack dab in the middle of the famine phase right now. He's letting me walk it out right along with this study.
So of course I am clinging to this next statement. In our own strength, achieving our dreams may be impossible. But with God, there is a way! We (I) just need to rest in Him, He's got it all under control!
Lysa instructed us as follows: Don't try to make your whole dream come true at once. Just fulfill the small part of the mission He's asking you to do today. In Proverbs 20:24 it says, "A man's steps are directed by the Lord, How then can anyone understand his own way?" I pray that each morning we get up and say "Lord, direct my steps today."
In the exercises Lysa asked us to look up verses for success or succeed. The purpose was to help us understand exactly what godly success even looks like. Here are the verses I chose:
Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3, NIV)
Wisdom brings success (Ecclesiastes 10:10, NKJV)
Basically these say to me : Trust God with your dream. Let God direct your actions in relation to the dream. Ask for godly wisdom and God will provide it and the success that results from applying that wisdom. These are my marching orders from God.
Go forth and know that God is with you and He is for you! Be blessed!
5 comments:
Mari,
It was great to read your words and your statement, "He doesn't need my analysis" was just for me. As a former math teacher I see my desire to figure things out resurfacing all too often in my faith life and that is not necessary. I appreciated the reminder that He already knows how He will equip us. Thanks for sharing, Jill
I love how you said at the end that "these are my marching orders from God". Mari, each week I love reading your heart because you are so hungry for God and it just comes through the computer.
Thanks for your devotion and love for Him. You are an example of a woman in love with God!!
Thanks for praying for our friends. I'm still in shock.
Blessings,
Lelia
Wonderful post! I, too, loved Lysa's comment "Though they couldn't see God's hand at work, they trusted His heart and rejoiced in the simplest of blessings each day." I want that in my life!
Praying that your famine phase reaps big joys for your life as you work through it and come out on the other side of it!
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca
It's interesting, I too am in a place of famine...although "physically" you could not tell that, but "spiritually" I definitely am.
I have been waiting on a certain promise from God for 7 years now, and in this current famine, is just one more thing happening that makes my promise seem EVEN more impossible.
Now I realize all things are possible with God, but in my human thinking, I am like, "God, how on earth are you going to make this happen?" :)
Then the thought occurs to me...The more things that "physically" get in the way of my promise coming true, the more encouraged I should be "spiritually" because isn't that just how God works. He wants no trace of human possibility when He works a miracle. A miracle can only be explained by God's divine touch, amen? :)
I would love to tell you that I always feel that positive, but I don't. I have my discouraged days just like everyone else, but some days, I just smile at what He is up to.:)
Great post and thoughts.
God Bless,
Amy:)
Mari I finally did the MEME. Thanks for choosing me.
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