REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR STUDY AND CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the first Friday of each month in 2021 we will be studying Psalm 91. We’ll be learning this powerful psalm and applying its phenomenal promises to our life one phrase at a time. We continue today with verse five and six.
You do not need to fear terrors of the night, arrows that fly during the day, plagues that roam the dark, epidemics that strike at noon. ~ Psalm 91: 5-6
While the world we live in has many dangers and evils we don’t need to be fearful. God’s Word promises He is protecting us.
We don’t have to fear what is behind us-regret… or fear what lies before us-worry… because we know our God surrounds us on every side.
Living with less fear means we can go about our daily lives not afraid of enemy attacks coming at us. We can go to sleep not imagining something terrible is going to happen in the dark of night.
Thank God His grace and mercy follow me and His shield of favor goes before me every day of my life!
With God I can attack a barrier and I can leap over a wall. ~ 2 Samuel 22:30
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the fourth Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying Joyce Meyer’s newest book: Do It Afraid. We’re learning how to understand fear, to recognize how it works in our life and finally how to confront fear. We will learn new mindsets that position us for freedom from our most common fears. Come along and let’s learn something new from Momma Joyce!
This is the fourth post in The Do It Afraid Book Study series.
Freedom from the Fear of What Other People Will Think, Say, or Do
Fear and intimidation is a trap that holds you back. But when you place your confidence in the Lord, you will be seated in the high place. ~ Proverbs 29:25
Wanting others to like us isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But when others try to intimidate us for their own personal gain or power trip, that’s wrong and oftentimes abusive.
Many of have endured peer pressure as a teenager. However, it isn’t only teens who struggle with the pressure to conform to the ideas and will of others. Employers, coworkers and even family members can use intimidation to manipulate us to do their will. If we allow ourselves to be intimidated by people we are putting them above God.
You will either be yourself or you will try to be who and what other people think you should be. Only you can decide which it will be. ~ Joyce Meyer
Without an personal relationship with Jesus Christ we may succumb to that pressure and end up doing something we may regret later. Regular, quality time with God, in His Word, in prayer and worship will help prevent us from being swayed by the opinions of others.
Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others. For we know that we will receive a reward, an inheritance from the Lord, as we serve the Lord Yahweh, the Anointed One! ~ Colossians 3:23-24
When we know who we are in Christ, we have no reason to put the opinion others have of us over what God says about us. Knowing our real value to God, His kingdom and plan for our life gives us the confidence to freely be ourself.
Let Go and let God show you how to be the real you with this awesome some by Jack Cassidy! Turn this one up… Enjoy!
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey. This is the fourth post in the series. Today we are learning about the gift of clarity.
“The gift of clarity could be defined as the absence of denial–even the absence of a need for denial. Instead, there is a transparency, even purity, in how we present ourselves and see ourselves.” ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery
When we are actively struggling with our addiction or compulsions we are living in denial or a false sense of reality. Usually we think of denial as a way to fool others. But really denial is designed to distort our thinking so that we won’t confront the problem at hand. Only after the Light of Christ shines His love and healing grace on our lives can we have any hope of coming to the transforming clarity that recovery gifts to us.
Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:12
In recent days I’ve been in put in a position where my commitment to sobriety was tested. Thank God I passed those tests. And I not only passed them, but I came away from each situation with a stronger resolve than ever that there is absolutely no turning back!
Everything I have worked for during these past 16+ years of life recovery is not worth a few minutes to try to satiate a temporal, insatiable physical desire. Thank God for His gift of clarity that continues to help me stay focused on the truth of what is important in my life, not only for me, but for my family.
“When we are actively in recovery, we receive the gift of seeing things with clarity, and the truth comes back into focus.” ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery
Contemplate the gift of clarity in your life with this beautify song by For All Seasons. Remember if your life isn’t good, God’s not finished with it yet!
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the second Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying the Holy Spirit. We will learn who the Holy Spirit is, about His gifts and fruit given to us as believers and how to walk those out in our life each day. This is the fourth post in The Holy Spirit Study series.
While the gifts of Holy Spirit are virtues, the fruit are the resulting moral actions that flow from those gifts. With the help of Holy Spirit we are able to walk in these fruit during our daily lives and display them to those around us. In today’s post we will focus on the fruit of love and joy.
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. ~ Galatians 5:22
LOVE is key. Without it nothing we do matters.
But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all—love]. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:31
Love heads up the list of all the fruit of the Spirit. It is not only the foundation, but holds all the other fruit together. Love is the greatest manifestation of God’s Presence in our lives. If we are not having regular personal contact with God in His Word, prayer and worship, this fruit will be missing in the action of our life. Without love our faith doesn’t mean anything.
CONFESS LOVE OVER YOUR LIFE TODAY (from 1 Corinthians 13)
“I am patient and kind. I am not envious or boastful, rude or haughty. I’m not self-seeking. I don’t insist on my own way. I’m not touchy or fretful. I never fail because God’s love is in me!”
JOY in abundance overflows from His Presence!
With triumphant joy you will drink deeply from the wells of salvation. ~ Isaiah 12:3
God puts His joy in us when we’re born again. Unlike the temporary happiness the world has to offer, joy isn’t dependent on outward circumstances. Rather it’s a powerful force that resides in us and overflows in abundance as we continue in personal contact with God by His Word, worship and prayer. The more fellowship we have with Him, the more joy will flow in our life.
CONFESS JOY OVER YOUR LIFE TODAY (from 2 Corinthians 2:14)
“I’m not moved by my circumstance or what I see. I am only moved by God’s Word and He always brings me to victory. I choose praise and thanksgiving. I choose joy today!”
Stay in close personal contact with God each day to walk in the abundance of the fruit of love and joy in your life. Be intentional to spend time with God in His Word and participate in some form of worship and prayer time. When we do we will find our levels of love and joy will increase exponentially.
Today we have two videos to top off our post! These songs will get the love and joy fruit of the Spirit energies flowing in your life. Turn it up for: Real Love by Hillsong Young and Free and Joy by For King and Country.
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR STUDY AND CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the first Friday of each month in 2021 we will be studying Psalm 91. We’ll be learning this powerful psalm and applying its phenomenal promises to our life one phrase at a time. We continue today with verse four.
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. ~ Psalm 91:4
When we are in right relationship with God our Father, we are in the safest place in the universe. Today’s verse tells us that God will shelter us with His wings. We can be sure that His promises are our shield and protection.
Then he said, “I tell you the truth. You must change and become like little children. If you don’t do this, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child. ~ Matthew 18:3-4
In general children don’t have fear of protection because they have loving parents that take care of them. As children of the King we too must have that humble childlike faith to know and trust that our loving Father will protect us.
So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. ~ Romans 8:28
When tough times or illness come our way we can know that even these will work out to our good in the long run of life. In the secret hiding place under God’s loving wings we’re being grown into the mature believers that He wants us to be.
We can trust that under the shelter of God’s loving wings He is not only our deliverer and protection but He is our help in every kind of need!
Be blessed with this classic Hillsong worship song as you contemplate being under the shelter of God’s wings.
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the fourth Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying Joyce Meyer’s newest book: Do It Afraid. We’re learning how to understand fear, to recognize how it works in our life and finally how to confront fear. We will learn new mindsets that position us for freedom from our most common fears. Come along and let’s learn something new from Momma Joyce! This is the third post in The Do It Afraid Book Study series.
Freedom from the Fear of Rejection
Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects Him who sent me. ~ Luke 10:16
While we all experience some form of rejection. We will never know the amount of rejection that Jesus experienced. He knew who He was and why He had come to earth to do. Because He kept His eyes on His Father’s love, the rejection of people didn’t change Him.
The Father gives me the people who are mine. Every one of them will come to me, and I will always accept them.~ John 6:37
In the above verse, Jesus tells us that those who come to Him will never be rejected. We can trust God loves us unconditionally and be delivered from the fear of every being rejected by God for any reason. With confidence in God’s love for us we will be free of the fear of people controlling us or the pain of rejection from others.
“No matter what kinds of fear people face, it all comes from one source, which is the devil. We need to say goodbye to all fear and learn to resist it at its onset. The longer we allow something to remain in our lives, the more deeply rooted it becomes and the harder it is to get rid of.” ~ Joyce Meyer
Many of us have a challenge with our thoughts. Old thought patterns that may go back to our childhood are like recordings rolling over and over in our mind. These negative thoughts keep us in bondage to fear and rejection.
We can reprogram our mind with God’s Word and in just a few minutes everyday change how we think about ourselves. When we declare God’s Word over ourselves with these Scripture-based confessions they will change the image we have of ourselves and help us to see the people and things around us in a new light as well.
Start with these Scripture-based confessions:
I am the apple fo God’s eye. (Psalm 17:8).
I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
God rejoices over me with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).
I am precious in God’s eyes ( Isaiah 43:4).
I have been given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
When we see ourselves the way God see us and allow His opinion of us be more important that the opinion of others we will have no reason to fear rejection of God or of people.
Take a few minutes to watch/listen to this clip from Mamma Joyce teaching on the Fear of Rejection. Blessings…. Tamara
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey. This is the second column in this series. Today we are learning about the gift of Character.
Our walk of faith is similar to the process of life recovery. We begin with a decision and then follow that decision with a process that brings healing, wholeness and growth… But it’s not automatic. We must continue to move forward in growth and maturity. Gradually we heal, and gradually we receive the gift of character. ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery
For most of us our faith and character grow through times of stretching, trials and struggles. These are the times when we have to lean in to God’s hands more intentionally. When times are easy, we are more likely to not reach out to God for help. It’s just human nature.
Self-Sufficient vs God-Sufficient
When we were living in our addictions, thinking we had it all together, we certainly weren’t looking to God for any help. But when we finally came to the end of ourselves and turned our life over to Christ things changed. Maybe they didn’t get better right at first. But step by step we worked the program, grew in faith and character.
Character Building Steps
Steps 4 through 7 of the Twelve Steps of Life Recovery are considered the character-building steps because they are at the heart of where we need to change inside. Step 4 leads us through our fearless moral inventory. Step 5 calls us to share our inventory with God and someone we trust. Step 6 reminds us to ready ourselves for God to remove our negative character trait. Finally, Step 7 leads us to humbly ask God to indeed remove those negative character traits from our lives.
Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power. As a result of this, he has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises we can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which you have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.
So devote yourselves to lavishly supplementing your faith with goodness,
and to goodness add understanding,
and to understanding add the strength of self-control,
and to self-control add patient endurance,
and to patient endurance add godliness,
and to godliness add mercy toward your brothers and sisters,
and to mercy toward others add unending love.
Since these virtues are already planted deep within, and you possess them in abundant supply, they will keep you from being inactive or fruitless in your pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ more intimately. ~ 2 Peter 1:2-8 (TPT)
One-Stepping Misstep
Some think that all they need to do is accept Christ in their lives and their addiction troubles will be over. Accepting Christ is the most important step, but it is only the beginning. Depending on this “one-step” is a serious misstep that will keep us from truly growing in Christ and maturing our faith.
The life recovery journey is a process — not just one step. As we grow in Christ, God’s character becomes our character. Like the image above, each step is a ripple effect that builds and grows to the next step. Walking and working each of the Twelve Life Recovery Steps we grow closer to our gift of character.
Contemplate the character and attributes of God with this lovely video.
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the second Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying the Holy Spirit. We will learn who the Holy Spirit is, about His gifts and fruit given to us as believers and how to walk those out in our life each day. This is the third column in The Holy Spirit Study series.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to strengthen the body of Christ, bring about unity and expand the ministry of evangelism. These nine gifts are available to every believer but are distributed by the Holy Spirit as He chooses. We should look for and welcome them in our lives . Today we focus on the gifts of Wisdom and Knowledge.
The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. And the same Spirit gives another the ability to speak with knowledge. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:8
The Holy Spirit gives the spiritual gift of wisdom not only to bring about holiness and worship among His people and around the world, but to share truth and understanding to the body of Christ. The Greek word for wisdom is Sophia which refers to the intimate understanding of God’s Word and results in holy living.
The wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! ~ James 3:17
The Word of Wisdom:
A divine revelation, declaration or insight.
A spiritual utterance given through the Holy Spirit for a specific moment.
A divinely given power that enables a spiritual intuition to solve a problem.
A divine sense of direction to act in a certain situation.
Like the gift of wisdom, the Holy Spirit give the gift of knowledge to help believers have greater understanding and to inform individuals as well as the Church body as a whole. The gift of knowledge connects every circumstance and situation to the truth of the Gospel and the reality of Christ.
The Word of Knowledge
A supernatural revelation of divine will and plan usually for a specific need.
A supernatural insight or divine understanding of a specific circumstance.
A moral wisdom for right relationships and living.
A deeper understanding of God and His communicated acts.
The gifts of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge may be mysterious to many but they are vitally important to individual people and the church body as as whole. Look to God. Actively seek after and welcome the gifts of the Holy Spirit in your life today.
Contemplate God’s gifts in your life today as you are blessed with this beautiful song by Francesca Battistelli.
References: The Spirit Filled Life Bible; Various online articles.
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR STUDY AND CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the first Friday of each month in 2021 we will be studying Psalm 91. We’ll be learning this powerful psalm and applying its phenomenal promises to our life one phrase at a time. We continue today with verse three.
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the perilous pestilence. ~ Psalm 91:3
In our verse today, we’re reminded that God is our deliverer. Another translation says that He will deliver us not only from every trap our enemy sets for us, but we’re protected from accusatory words as well as any deadly curse.
The devil is depicted here as a fowler, one who lays traps to ambush unsuspecting prey. Other places is scripture we’re taught that Satan is a murderer and a thief, a roaring lion seeking anyone he can devour.
While it’s true the devil does have power. The only reason the devil has any power at all is because Adam committed high treason by giving the him the keys to this world. And the devil has been ruling the earth ever since.
Thankfully, the devil’s time is running out! Though things seem to be getting darker and darker, we shouldn’t fear. There will come a day in the not too distant future when the enemy will be destroyed.
Most importantly we can’t forget that even though the devil is alive on this planet today, Jesus is the Lord of all! He’s our Savior. And He has promised in His Word that He will deliver us and keep us safe.
I hope you are bless by this great song by Matt Maher.
REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the fourth Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying Joyce Meyer’s newest book: Do It Afraid. We’re learning how to understand fear, to recognize how it works in our life and finally how to confront fear. We will learn new mindsets that position us for freedom from our most common fears. Come along and let’s learn something new from Momma Joyce! This is the second column in The Do It Afraid Book Study series.
Freedom from the Fear of Letting Yourself Love
Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection. ~ 1 John 4:18
Many of us have been hurt by those we love or who have said they love us. Now because we’re afraid to let our guard down, we’ve created barriers around our heart hoping to protect ourselves from future pain and sorrow.
What we don’t realize is that this so called protection we’ve devised by pushing others away, leaves us more lonely and hurt in the end. True love requires an open and vulnerable heart. And yes, that can be very scary for those of us who have been betrayed or abused in some way.
Just like God gives us multiple chances to redeem ourselves in His sight, God desires that we forgive other people and allow them another opportunity as well. It may take several chances. True love is willing to be hurt in the process.
We must stop building walls around our hearts and trust God to protect us instead. God will not only protect our heart but He will heal it.
He heals the wounds of every shattered heart. ~ Psalm 147:3
Fearlessly worship God with this wonderful Jesus Culture song.
