REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES

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 Power.

We admitted we were powerless over our problems and that our lives had become unmanageable. ~ STEP 1

I know that nothing good lives in me… I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ~ Romans 7:18

We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. ~ Step 2

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. ~ Philippians 2:13

The gift of power comes when we recognize and admit that we truly are powerless over our dependencies. In a sense that admitting brings relief because we realize it’s not our power that will keep us from falling into temptation, strengthen our walk or find our freedom.

“As we cease striving and begin to acknowledge in prayer the gift of God’s power in our lives, we experience growth in our recovery.” THE TWELVE GIFTS OF LIFE RECOVERY

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

Sure we have a responsibility to make wise choices with regards to friends, media input, behaviors and environment to avoid potential trigger points. But ultimately, it is the gift of God’s power that will give us the ability to say no to the temptation triggers.

So beware if you think it could never happen to you, lest your pride becomes your downfall. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:12

The minute we think we’ve got this recovery life all figured out and can withstand temptations, that’s when we have stepped out onto the slippery slope that will most assuredly lead to a relapse. The gift of power must be protected! Our life recovery journey must be guarded at all cost.

By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. ~ 2 Peter 1:3

In time God’s gift of power will flow over into other areas as this life recovery journey becomes stronger. Soon we have more confidence to help others in their recovery walk as well. God’s power gift keeps working in and through all we do.

Meditate on the lyrics below and then take a few minutes to soak in the music video by Elevation Worship. Blessings… Tamara

“My weakness is hidden within your glory. Jesus my strength is in you The odds are against me . But you are for me Jesus. My strength is in you.”

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 second column in The Holy Spirit Study series.

The Spirit gives to one the gift of the word of wisdom. To another, the same Spirit gives the gift of the word of revelation knowledge. And to another, the same Spirit gives the gift of faith. And to another, the same Spirit gives gifts of healing. And to another the power to work miracles. And to another the gift of prophecy. And to another the gift to discern what the Spirit is speaking. And to another the gift of speaking different kinds of tongues. And to another the gift of interpretation of tongues. Remember, it is the same Holy Spirit who distributes, activates, and operates these different gifts as he chooses for each believer. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:8-10

Gifts of the Spirit are divinely anointed abilities graced on individual believers for the benefit of the church community. They are chosen by the Godhead for us. We don’t get to choose our spiritual gifts. We can’t wake up one day and decide we’re going to be a prophet or give words of knowledge. Spiritual gifts are given by God as the Father sees fit to whom He chooses. Most of us exhibit a mix of gifts. Few of us are completely represent only one. Attributes of different gifts present themselves in varying degrees in each of us. While there is usually one gift that dominates.

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. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. ~ Galatians 5:22

Fruit of the Holy Spirit is completely different in the sense that they aren’t chosen by God for us specifically. Rather, every born again believer has access to the fruit of the spirit. Whether we walk in, or exercise, this fruit is up to us. As Jesus said, “A tree is known by its fruit.” The branch that is connected to the tree will bear the fruit of the tree it is connected to. A branch can’t choose the type of fruit it will bear. And it won’t bear fruit unless it stays connected to its source. Therefore, although we have full access through the Holy Spirit to all His fruit, unless we stay connected to Him consistently the fruit we bear may be rotten.

Over the next several months we will be studying the gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We will alternate between the them starting in March with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I hope you will come along with me on this deep dive into the various attributes of the Holy Spirit.