I Want to Seek God...But How?

Originally posted on October 19, 2011

Whew….as a woman I often feel worn out. I bet you do too at times. So, once we’ve taken care of the kids, fed the dog, loved our husband, cooked dinner, cleaned the house and the clothes….how do we find time for God? I’m sure we’ve all said those “pop corn” prayers along our day but how do we find quality time with God? We want God in our lives. Goodness knows we feel the need for God in our lives…..but how?

I am delighted to have found the “Yes, but how lady” (YBH), Mrs. Elizabeth George!  Elizabeth has written numerous books on how women can live Christian lives. I feel so fortunate to have found her book,  A Woman After God’s Own Heart. Better than that, there is an entire Bible Study and teaching videos based on this book. I love her very practical tips on how to seek God in my daily life amid my long “to do” list.

So, when we decided to commit a month long study to the topic of how to seek God in our daily lives, I immediately turned to the “Yes, but how lady”! Here are a few pointers that we have learned so far:

1.  We need to have a heart for God’s word

• YBH? Pray that God will give us a heart for His word. HE WILL!!!!
• YBH? We have to put 1^st things 1^st.   Life management is really spiritual management.

a. We never waste time when we are in God’s word.  2 Tim 3:16

b.  First Time – Put 1^st things 1^st . Honor the Lord with the first fruits of our time. Prov 3:9

c.  Early Time – Spend time with the Lord early in the day just like the examples we see in God’s word: David – Psl 63:1; 5:3    Abraham – Gen 19:27   Jesus – Mark 1:35

•  YBH?

a.  Refuse to miss a day of reading God’s word

b.  Be a woman of one book – The Book!

c.  Beat the family up – Get up earlier than you family for your quiet time.

d.  Purpose to get up  - pray, set the alarm (allow for the snooze if needed)

e.  Open Your Bible!  God’s word will guide you to make you a woman after God’s own heart.

2. We need to be women of prayer.

Blessings we enjoy in prayer:

a. We become women of greater faith. Luke 18:1

•  YBH – Something is better than nothing.

b. We have greater peace. Phil4:6-7; 1 Pet 5:7

• YBH – Identify the number one problem. A problem defined is a problem half solved.

c.  Greater Purity 1 John 1:8-10; 1 Thes 5:17

d.  We have greater confidence in decision making. Acts 13:22; 9:6

            Idea for 3x5 card – Request at top with 4 questions on the card:

                        1.  Why would I do this?

                        2.  Why would I NOT do this?

                        3.  Why should I do this?

                        4.  Why should I NOT do this?

                                    * follow husband’s leadership

                                    *may want to add fasting

e. We have greater contentment. Phil 4:11-19

f.  Greater ministry of prayer. Prayer will make a difference in the history of others people’s lives.

•  YBH

• Pray in priority order (Pray for family first then others)
• Treat prayer time as an appointment

These are great practical tips on ways we seek God in our busy lives through God’s word and prayer. Just remember “something is better than nothing”. Even if you start with only 5-10 minutes each day, that’s a great start!!!!

We would love for you to join us tonight as we talk about spiritual growth….”Yes, but how?”

Written by Amy Harris.

Additional online resources to get started in spending time with God:

1. Hello Mornings - this is an online accountability group, if you need extra help getting your priorities in order.  The fall session is already closed, but another one starts in the Winter.  Instead, you might consider forming your own Valleydale accountability either via email, twitter, or facebook.
2. Check out this book, "Savoring Living Water," by Katie Orr and Lara Williams, if you need something in your hands to help guide you.
3. Visit this webpage, "Do Not Depart," for more resources and online bible studies in Philippians and on Abiding Fruit.
4. Check out the  Bible Reading Sheet found on the Resources Page of this blog.
5. One of our Valleydale ladies is vlogging and writing devotionally verse by verse in the book of Ruth this month here.

8 Provisions for the Worn Out Woman

 

 

From Angela Thomas' series Brave 

1. The Presence of God restores.  Matthew 11:28
2. Sometimes we experience a divine wait before we experience refreshment.
3. Sabbath rest is God's gift to us to restore our bodies and souls.  Hebrews 4:9-10
4. Jesus did not heal everyone or go everywhere.
5. Jesus Himself required physical, mental, and emotional rest.
6. Repentance leads to refreshing.  Jeremiah 6:16
7. If you walk in the good way, there will be rest for your soul.
8. Godly friends restore your soul.  1 Cor. 16:18

Rest for Our Souls

Originally posted on September 30, 2011

Wednesday night at the Titus 2:4 class, we heard from Angie Graves.  She shared on the topic of being worn out.  We watched one of Angela Thomas's videos from her series Brave, which was very insightful on the topic of feeling worn out.

Although I've never read of God telling a joke in the Bible, He sure must have a sense of humor!  Of all the topics, I would get to write on feeling worn out.  I don't know if I've ever felt as worn out as I do right now.  It would wear you out if I just listed all the reasons why I personally feel worn out, so I will spare the details.  :)  We all have reasons to be worn out. God however does not.

Isaiah 40:28 - 31 says:

"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."

When we are overwhelmed, tired, weak, frustrated, and weary, really the best thing, if not the only thing, we can do to renew our strength is go to God for refreshment.  Like Angela mentioned in her video, there are plenty of other things that we could do that are nice and temporarily bring relief, like a pedicure, for example.  But only One will really satisfy.

As Christians, Scripture says we are like branches attached to a vine, and the vine is Jesus, and the Gardener is God the Father.  As we grow, our branches grow, spread out, produce fruit and leaves, and eventually pieces of our branch will die back, and we will need to be pruned for the next growth cycle.  It is a continuous process:  growing, producing, pruning.  Both growth and producing fruit require a tremendous amount of energy.  The main part of the vine, Jesus, provides us with the food and water which in turn energizes us and allows us to grow and make fruit.

The only way a vine can continue to produce more fruit is if someone, the Gardener, comes along and cuts the fruit.  The only way the fruit will not pull the vine down or rot is if it is picked at the proper time.  Our Father lovingly tends to us and longs to collect the fruit we've produced so that He can carry the load, allowing us to produce more.  As Christians, it is important for us to remember that God tends to the people we've invested in just as He tends to us.  Most vines produce their fruit and then have a season of dormant rest, so not only does He ensure that the fruit does not weigh us down, He requires that we have a season of rest before we grow and produce more fruit again.

I believe rest is a concept many of us don't fully understand, myself included.  However, God's rest is a result of knowing that whatever I do in Him, He is the One who does the real work.  My "work" is submitting to Him. Matthew 11:28-29 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  We can come to Him in spite of all our baggage and know that He picks up the bags and sets us free from the heavy loads we've carried.

Jesus could heal on the Sabbath because He was the Sabbath.  The Sabbath was just a day of the week set aside to rest.  He alone is our rest.  The feeling of unrest is a call to us as deep calls to deep, saying to our weary souls:  "Come to me, and I will satisfy your need."  God knows when we are worn out just as a mother knows when her baby needs a nap.  As that mother rocks her baby to sleep, so God prepares us for His rest.

"By day the LORD directs His love, at night His song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life."  

Psalm 42:8

Ladies, rest your weary heads in the palm of His hands.  You will find Him the most comfortable pillow and blanket you've ever used; You can rest while He sings His lullaby over you!  You are a most treasured child.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." Psalm 62:5

by Jamie Harper

Stay tuned for Angela Thomas's 8 Provisions for the Worn Out Woman