Welcome to RHW 2022!

I’m super excited and motivated about the 2022 theme and topics of study! I believe the focus God has put on my heart for the upcoming year is very timely and will benefit many of us.

The Reaching Hurting Women Ministry continues to offer four themes for contemplation each month. The yearly themes and weekly topics focus on what God is teaching me in my personal walk with Him as well as my current life recovery work and journey. It’s my hope and prayer along the way that my columns will help other women who may be struggling in their journey as well.

A few months ago, I was contemplating the lawlessness abounding in our world when God pricked my heart with a reminder of the 10 Commandments. I thought about how Jesus fulfilled that law and the grace we as believers enjoy and the freedom it brings to us in our everyday lives. Then this sentence came to me:

Without God’s law and grace there is no opportunity for recovery from any addiction and therefore no true freedom!

Immediately I knew what I needed to focus on for the upcoming year.

Here is a preview of the RHW 2022 theme and what to expect each month:

GOD’S LAW, GRACE AND FREEDOM

- 1st Friday of Each Month: The Ten Commandments Study

In The Ten Commandments Study we are going to take a deep dive into the study of God’s law as given to Moses in the book of Exodus. We will learn why The Ten Commandments are as important today as they were when God gave them thousands of years ago. We will discuss why we should not only study them, but know and follow them to make a better, safer and happier society.

- 2nd Friday of Each Month: BOOK STUDY: Grace: The Power of the Gospel by Andrew Wommack

In our book study this year, we are going through, what I believe will be, a life changing study for myself and those who join. Andrew Wommack is a powerful and anointed teacher of God’s Word and his book Grace: The Power of the Gospel looks to be amazing. It is a deep study of the first eight chapters of the New Testament book of Romans which was written by the Apostle Paul. This is going to be really good!

- 3rd Friday of Each Month: The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery with Stephen Arterburn

For my addiction recovery work in 2022, I’m going through The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. I’ve been using the Life Recovery Bible and their excellent spin-off books since 2005. In this study we will learn how each of the laws of recovery has a requirement and produces a reliable outcome. I hope you will join me in this study. I believe this book is going to be a game changer for my recovery journey.

- 4th Friday of Each Month: God’s Law, Grace and Our Freedom

Just like there are laws of physics that govern the universe and the planet, and laws of nature that govern the plant and animal kingdoms, there are biblical laws given by God that govern the human race. In this study we are going to look at the history of humanity from the Bible and see how God’s laws, man’s acceptance or rebellion of those laws impacted life. We will see how God’s law and the grace that has come to us through Christ are connected. And how God’s law and grace brings us the true freedom we are all looking for. It’s going to be powerful.

- 5th Friday Months: Reviews

Over the years in months with five Fridays I’ve reviewed many books. Two years ago I began reviewing inspirational Christian music. And last year I found some great movies to add to my review mix. I’m excited to see what God will put in my path this year that I can share with you in my Review column.

I’m super excited and honestly more motivated for this upcoming year that I have been in a long time. I believe God is going to do some amazing things not only in my own life, but in the lives of the women who join me on this journey. I’m looking forward to a wonderful year in the Lord together. Join me and bring along a friend!

Contemplate the freedom offered by Christ with this Hillsong Worship video below. I pray God’s many blessings upon you and your family for this coming year and always… Tamara

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.

Today we wrap up our Do It Afraid Book Study by reviewing Mamma Joyce’s chapters on Confronting Fear.

Take One Step at a Time

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. ~ Psalm 37:23

“Anything you do in obedience to God is something you never have to do alone.”~ Joyce Meyer

One of the best ways to overcome anything is to take it one step at a time. Scripture tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. With that we know He is trying to teach us to trust Him as we go on our journey each day. Every journey starts with the first step. All God asks us to do is to take that first step with faith that He will be with us all the way.

Stand Up to Doubt

He said to them, ” Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” ~ Luke 24:38

If we truly want to live free from fear, we must learn to live without doubt. ~ Joyce Meyer

Doubt is just fear by another name. It’s sneaky. It doesn’t show up in the same way but yet it is fear nonetheless. Doubt means uncertainty, perplexity, to be without a way. These all imply fearfulness. The key with doubt is to believe we are going to hear from God. Begin by surrendering our will to His and continue on our path in faith thanking God for His direction as we go.

Refuse to Regret the Past or Dread the Future

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. ~ Proverbs 4:25

“Don’t miss what God has for you today by living in regret. Today is an important day in your life. It is actually the most important day of your life, because right at this moment it is the only day you are assured of, so live it fully and trust God to take care of your past and your future.” ~ Joyce Meyer

It’s easy to live with regrets from our past and to dread the future. But if we do we are missing out on what God has for us today. Regrets are just rehearsing past mistakes over and over again that keeps us stuck in the past. Dread is much the same except we are worried about what may or may not happen in the future. And when we get there we will probably have a bad attitude and not enjoy it either. If you struggle with these areas, ask God to help you and He will.

Take Courage and Be Strong

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. ~ Joshua 1:9

“Don’t just pray for fear to go away. Instead pray for God to fill you with boldness, courage, and confidence.” ~ Joyce Meyer

It’s important that we manage our thought life. If we are focusing on our fears they will control us. We can instead, choose to focus on being courageous rather than what we are afraid of. Keep a confession of God’s Word in your heart, mind and words. Don’t think about what can go wrong. Thank God for His direction, strength and courage. Remember, courage is always stronger than fear.

Learn to Be Secure and Confident

Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. ~ Hebrews 11:1

“The more you use your faith, the stronger it will become. Faith is confidence in God… when you have faith that something will take place, you have it in your heart first (you believe), and then you will have it in reality in God’s perfect timing.” ~ Joyce Meyer

Ask God for what you want. Scripture says He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. And God cannot lie. But we must have faith to ask and believe for the things we want, not just for the things we need. Every time we have a prayer answered our confidence grows.

As we watch God work in our life we will gradually become more secure in our faith. We will be able to courageously take one step at a time; to stop doubting our decisions; refuse to regret our past and to not dread the future. We will stand strong, confront our fears and show the devil how big our God is!