Trust
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7 NKJV)
It never ever ceases to amaze me at all the wisdom packed into one little book, and into one chapter and from that chapter today just three verses, and we could go further down probably to one word: TRUST.
We need to ask ourself and really be honest. Do you trust the Lord? I'm not talking eternally, but in the right here and now. In the every day, in the moment, in the "hey Mama I need a drink" moment.
Do you truly trust the Lord? Are you letting go of the control you think you have? Funny statement, but you really can't control much of anything. Life moves on, things continue to happen all around you, spinning and spinning out of control or in to control (whatever part you happen to be in right now), and you have very little to do with some of the circumstances.
When things happen to us, for us, against us, and we "trust the Lord with all our hearts..." then we begin to look at everything differently. Maybe it doesn't change anything, maybe it does; however you will have a different way of dealing with things, different way you react to things. You can see through God eyes. To help us remember just go through the motion every morning of putting on your God glasses, and just see how much easier life is when you are not in control.
It never ever ceases to amaze me at all the wisdom packed into one little book, and into one chapter and from that chapter today just three verses, and we could go further down probably to one word: TRUST.
We need to ask ourself and really be honest. Do you trust the Lord? I'm not talking eternally, but in the right here and now. In the every day, in the moment, in the "hey Mama I need a drink" moment.
Do you truly trust the Lord? Are you letting go of the control you think you have? Funny statement, but you really can't control much of anything. Life moves on, things continue to happen all around you, spinning and spinning out of control or in to control (whatever part you happen to be in right now), and you have very little to do with some of the circumstances.
When things happen to us, for us, against us, and we "trust the Lord with all our hearts..." then we begin to look at everything differently. Maybe it doesn't change anything, maybe it does; however you will have a different way of dealing with things, different way you react to things. You can see through God eyes. To help us remember just go through the motion every morning of putting on your God glasses, and just see how much easier life is when you are not in control.
God's Ideal Woman
I was recently listening to a teacher, Mark Watson, and he brought the idea of God's ideal/perfect woman and Satan's ideal/perfect woman...soooo I ran with it.
Let's discuss God's ideal woman (Proverbs 31:10-31,1 Peter 3:3-6).
Outward beauty is not in and of itself bad, but like everything with the Lord, His emphasis is the heart.
"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7 NKJV)
"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30 NKJV)
Proverbs 31:10-31 summation:
1. Husband can trust her. She is not undermining him. Lets her husband lead (whenever a direction is decided upon, her husband doesn't have to worry that whenever he comes back his wife has gone on a different path).
2. Cares for the needs of her family--hard working
3. Cares for the poor
4. Thinks ahead and prepares
5. Has a good reputation
6. Wise and kind
7. Takes care of her household and is not idle or lazy
8. Held in the highest esteem by her husband
9. As her children grow older they appreciate her
10. Fears the Lord
11. Doesn't boast, not haughty
1 Peter 3:3-6 summation:
So there you have it ladies. Get all these down and you will be the perfect wife. Kinda sounds like a woman walking in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatian 5:22-23) to me.
Next time we will contrast this with Satan's perfect woman.
We all know whose team we want to be on, huh?
Let's discuss God's ideal woman (Proverbs 31:10-31,1 Peter 3:3-6).
Outward beauty is not in and of itself bad, but like everything with the Lord, His emphasis is the heart.
"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7 NKJV)
"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30 NKJV)
Proverbs 31:10-31 summation:
1. Husband can trust her. She is not undermining him. Lets her husband lead (whenever a direction is decided upon, her husband doesn't have to worry that whenever he comes back his wife has gone on a different path).
2. Cares for the needs of her family--hard working
3. Cares for the poor
4. Thinks ahead and prepares
5. Has a good reputation
6. Wise and kind
7. Takes care of her household and is not idle or lazy
8. Held in the highest esteem by her husband
9. As her children grow older they appreciate her
10. Fears the Lord
11. Doesn't boast, not haughty
1 Peter 3:3-6 summation:
- Gentle quiet spirit
- Not a drama queen
- Submissive to her own husband
So there you have it ladies. Get all these down and you will be the perfect wife. Kinda sounds like a woman walking in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatian 5:22-23) to me.
Next time we will contrast this with Satan's perfect woman.
We all know whose team we want to be on, huh?
The World's (not God's) Ideal Woman
Last time we talked about God's perfect woman. Our spiritual enemy has an opposite ideal woman. The world's (not God's) perfect woman is found in Isaiah 3:16-26, and Proverbs 2, and probably some other places in the Word.
It is a picture of a woman doing everything she can to attract a man and being haughty about it.
Here is the team that we do not want to be on.
Our enemy's (the world's) ideal or perfect woman:
1. Haughty: arrogantly superior and disdainful, proud, arrogant, vain, conceited, snobbish, superior, self-important, pompous, supercilious, condescending, patronizing. (Got any of this going on ladies, lose it!!)
2. Wanton eyes: (especially of a woman) sexually immodest, promiscuous, immoral, immodest, indecent, shameless, unchaste, fast, loose, impure, abandoned, lustful, lecherous, lascivious, libidinous, licentious, dissolute, debauched, degenerate, corrupt, whorish, disreputable.
Whoa. After going through this list...make sure none of that can or could be applied to you!
3. Walking/mincing as they go: it's that come and get me look. Swinging hips, walking along. I think we all know that look.
4. Wearing immodest clothing
5. Extra articles of clothing or jewelry to draw attention to oneself in a seductive manner.
So there you have it...the list is obviously shorter than God's woman. Doesn't take much to be our enemy's/the world's perfect or ideal woman. Very little clothing, very little ambition, very little if any wisdom, and ultimately very little self-worth.
It is a picture of a woman doing everything she can to attract a man and being haughty about it.
Here is the team that we do not want to be on.
Our enemy's (the world's) ideal or perfect woman:
1. Haughty: arrogantly superior and disdainful, proud, arrogant, vain, conceited, snobbish, superior, self-important, pompous, supercilious, condescending, patronizing. (Got any of this going on ladies, lose it!!)
2. Wanton eyes: (especially of a woman) sexually immodest, promiscuous, immoral, immodest, indecent, shameless, unchaste, fast, loose, impure, abandoned, lustful, lecherous, lascivious, libidinous, licentious, dissolute, debauched, degenerate, corrupt, whorish, disreputable.
Whoa. After going through this list...make sure none of that can or could be applied to you!
3. Walking/mincing as they go: it's that come and get me look. Swinging hips, walking along. I think we all know that look.
4. Wearing immodest clothing
5. Extra articles of clothing or jewelry to draw attention to oneself in a seductive manner.
So there you have it...the list is obviously shorter than God's woman. Doesn't take much to be our enemy's/the world's perfect or ideal woman. Very little clothing, very little ambition, very little if any wisdom, and ultimately very little self-worth.
Your Choice
"Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16 NKJV)
I know we have all done lots of Bible studies, been to church (some of us all our life), been taught, learned the things of the Lord over and over. But here is the bottom line:
IT IS YOUR CHOICE
IT IS YOUR CHOICE
Your choice to walk in the Spirit.
Your choice to do the right things.
Your choice to be unselfish.
Your choice to have the fruit of the Spirit.
Your choice to live in victory or defeat.
Now it is your choice; however, you do not have to muster up the strength, energy, will power (good thing...whew...), because the Lord will do all that for you but you must make the choice to let Him. To ask Him, to allow Him to totally control your life. Your choice, totally your choice.
I know we have all done lots of Bible studies, been to church (some of us all our life), been taught, learned the things of the Lord over and over. But here is the bottom line:
IT IS YOUR CHOICE
IT IS YOUR CHOICE
Your choice to walk in the Spirit.
Your choice to do the right things.
Your choice to be unselfish.
Your choice to have the fruit of the Spirit.
Your choice to live in victory or defeat.
Now it is your choice; however, you do not have to muster up the strength, energy, will power (good thing...whew...), because the Lord will do all that for you but you must make the choice to let Him. To ask Him, to allow Him to totally control your life. Your choice, totally your choice.
Contentment
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain." (I Timothy 6:6 NKJV)
Contentment, ahhh, yes, I am content when I have everything I want. I am content when everyone is nice to me and everyone I love is doing the right things and being nice to each other. I am content when there are no spiritual attacks and I am happy. I am content when my boss is fair, nice and gives me raises. I am content when I feel great and no one is sick. I am content when my husband thinks of me before himself and he is seeking the Lord with all his heart. Well, ladies who isn't content under these circumstances?
These great examples of the perfect life isn't what the Word says. It says, "Now godliness with contentment is great gain." It is saying with no prerequisite of circumstances ... have godliness and be content and in that is great gain.
Contentment, ahhh, yes, I am content when I have everything I want. I am content when everyone is nice to me and everyone I love is doing the right things and being nice to each other. I am content when there are no spiritual attacks and I am happy. I am content when my boss is fair, nice and gives me raises. I am content when I feel great and no one is sick. I am content when my husband thinks of me before himself and he is seeking the Lord with all his heart. Well, ladies who isn't content under these circumstances?
These great examples of the perfect life isn't what the Word says. It says, "Now godliness with contentment is great gain." It is saying with no prerequisite of circumstances ... have godliness and be content and in that is great gain.
Pursue and Flee
"But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." (I Timothy 6:11 NKJV)
In our case: But you, O woman of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Pursue these things:
I have gone back and looked in 1 Timothy chapter 6 verses 1-10 to see what kind of things we are to flee. The things that we, O women of God, are to flee:
ENVY-opposite of contentment...be content with what you have and be happy for others. Do not envy. Envy is more than just seeing something and liking it. It is an unhealthy desire to have something and being jealous/mad at someone else who has it.
STRIFE-always fussing about something. Stirring up trouble, discord, act of contention.
REVILING-to speak about (someone or something) in a very critical or insulting way.
EVIL SUSPICIONS-Just always thinking someone is up to something no good.
USELESS WRANGLINGS-long and complicated disputes, argue, quarrel, bicker, squabble, be at odds with, feud, clash.
GREED-intense and selfish desire for something especially wealth, power, or food.
I was amazed to notice that these were all dealing with our feeling, our emotions. So we are women of God and do deal with these things. Guessing these are our "temptations."
In our case: But you, O woman of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Pursue these things:
- RIGHTEOUSNESS
- GODLINESS
- FAITH
- LOVE
- PATIENCE
- GENTLENESS
I have gone back and looked in 1 Timothy chapter 6 verses 1-10 to see what kind of things we are to flee. The things that we, O women of God, are to flee:
ENVY-opposite of contentment...be content with what you have and be happy for others. Do not envy. Envy is more than just seeing something and liking it. It is an unhealthy desire to have something and being jealous/mad at someone else who has it.
STRIFE-always fussing about something. Stirring up trouble, discord, act of contention.
REVILING-to speak about (someone or something) in a very critical or insulting way.
EVIL SUSPICIONS-Just always thinking someone is up to something no good.
USELESS WRANGLINGS-long and complicated disputes, argue, quarrel, bicker, squabble, be at odds with, feud, clash.
GREED-intense and selfish desire for something especially wealth, power, or food.
I was amazed to notice that these were all dealing with our feeling, our emotions. So we are women of God and do deal with these things. Guessing these are our "temptations."
Sanctity of Marriage
To all my married ladies, excuse us a moment to all my single ladies....however, this may come in handy for you one day.
The sanctity (ultimate importance and inviolability = too important to be ignored or treated with disrespect) of marriage is just that. A marriage is a commitment not to be taken lightly or dealt with in a cavalier fashion.
Playing games within a marriage is a bad idea. We should never play the "if you don't do what I want I know how to get you back" game. Having your husband sleep on the couch or withholding affection is not only a bad idea, but it is in violation of scripture.
"Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." (I Corinthians 7:5 NKJV)
Do not be the reason your marriage implodes.
The sanctity (ultimate importance and inviolability = too important to be ignored or treated with disrespect) of marriage is just that. A marriage is a commitment not to be taken lightly or dealt with in a cavalier fashion.
Playing games within a marriage is a bad idea. We should never play the "if you don't do what I want I know how to get you back" game. Having your husband sleep on the couch or withholding affection is not only a bad idea, but it is in violation of scripture.
"Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." (I Corinthians 7:5 NKJV)
Do not be the reason your marriage implodes.