Elizabeth George's Blog, page 11

Meek to Mighty

“I used to be so confident. But now I feel like such a loser.” Do you feel this way? My God never asks for us to have confidence in ourselves. He only asks that we have confidence in Him! And when God commands, He also supplies. This is true for every area of your Christian life. You can get up every day, go to your closet, and select the spiritual clothes you’ll wear for the day. Here’s a partial description of God’s approved wardrobe.

We can put on the new man (Ephesians 4:24). We can put on a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4). God gives us tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering (Colossians 3:12). We can choose to put on love (Colossians 3:14). Every day we can adorn yourself with good works (1 Timothy 3:10). And finally, may we be clothed with humility (1 Peter 5:5).

In Old Testament times, the Midianites periodically destroyed the crops of the children of Israel. A young man named Gideon secretly “threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites” (Judges 6:11). He doesn’t sound very confident, does he? We learn that God enabled and strengthened the meek man Gideon into a mighty warrior, a man of valor, a man of mighty faith (Hebrews 11:32-33).

God can transform you, too. What are you wearing today? God wants us to be marked by our clothing, our garments of humility, our confidence in Him. Yield to Him. Trust Him. Allow Him to do great things in and through and for you.

Take a minute to think about your life. Each facet of your life and each person in it is a prime opportunity arranged by God for nurturing the beauty of humility, confidence in God, and loving Christian service through you.

RESPOND:

Father God, when I’m hesitant to show faith in You, give me courage and the right words to say that will lead people to You. Open doors for me to bravely serve You and share Your truths. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

A Woman's Walk with God: Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit is an invitation to experience the joys of moment-by-moment living in the Lord's power―and producing the fruit of the Spirit in every circumstance!

REFLECT:

How can I show the power of God working through me to others? How can I walk in both humility and confidence?

REMEMBER:

God provides what we need to walk confidently and humbly in this life, while serving others.

26 Ways to Bless Your Dad

Father’s Day gives families the time to thank dads for the many ways they meet our needs. While we can show that appreciation more than one time a year, let us take time to count the many blessings we enjoy because of our husband, and show him blessings in return.

I’ve saved and used this wonderful list from Partnership Magazine for years. I hope that the alphabet of blessings that follows gives you some great ideas for Father’s Day and throughout the year:

Amorous words are not outdated. Write your hus­band a poem, sing him a song, buy him a roman­tic card. Honor his efforts as a father with your words.

Bake his favorite dessert and let him enjoy the leftovers all for himself.

Compliment him – on his looks, his dedication to the Lord, his way with your children.

Drive the next time the two of you go somewhere, and let him relax and enjoy the scenery.

Enumerate his fine qualities, using this modified line of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s: “Why do I love thee? Let me count the whys.” Tape the list to his mirror.

Fish, golf, hunt, swim with him – or at least read up on his hobby and give him time to enjoy it.

Give him the gift of time: do a job that is usually his.

Hide encouraging scripture verses or personal notes in his coat pocket, his wallet, his sock drawer, or on the pulpit.

Indulge him with the luxury of breakfast in bed – served on a decorated tray.

Join him for a day at his work – in his office, class­room, parishioner visitation.

Kiss him goodbye when he leaves for work. It’s easy to get out of the habit in the rush of life.

Learn more about him. Do you know his favorite childhood memory? The best Christmas present he ever received? His favorite music? The time he was the most afraid?

Meet him for lunch. Use coupons if you’re on a tight budget. Or pack a sack lunch to share.

New photos of the two of you can make the ordi­nary a day to remember. So get out the camera and frame the results.

Old, cherished wedding pictures can help you remember when your love was new.

Prepare his favorite meal.

Quips and cartoons can lighten his day. Cut them out and give them to him on a day he needs a lift.

Read a book together. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It is a tie between men to have read the same book.”

Smile when you see him.

Thank him for the routine things you tend to expect him to do.

Uphold him in prayer.

Valentines aren’t just for February. Give him a little gift – a pen, a magazine he likes, a favorite candy bar – along with a love note.

Wash and wax his car.

Xercise to keep yourself looking good.

Yes, let’s do it! Make that your answer when he suggests things to do – a walk, watching a game, taking a day trip, whatever.

Zzzzz. Let him take a long, undisturbed nap while you entertain the children elsewhere.

RESPOND:

God, let me be a great treasure to my husband, family, and You. Keep my ways godly, and help me in small and big ways honor my husband’s service to our family. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

A Dad After God’s Own Heart by Jim George—in this great resource, learn the basics for how to be a good dad with your kids, including...

letting your kids know you love and care for themlearning the keys to positive and effective communicationknowing the qualities kids need most in a dad

Art Prints — Check out these art prints, designed to encourage you to be a dad after God’s own heart!

REFLECT:

How often do I encourage our children to find ways to thank their dad?

REMEMBER:

Count the many blessings you enjoy because of your husband.

A Father’s Example

Most men have heard of Mickey Mantle, one of the greatest base-ball players of all time. I certainly heard about him while I was growing up. He was born and raised in a small town just north of my own hometown in Oklahoma. On one occasion I actually saw him at the local sporting goods store during the off-season. I recognized him right away. Rather than ask for his autograph, I casually walked by and touched his hunting jacket from behind. I vowed I would never wash that hand again!

From the time Mickey Mantle was five years old, his father surrounded him with a life of baseball. Mickey ate, drank, and slept baseball. By his own account, his achievements as a baseball player were partly attributed to the environment created by his father. Mickey credited his father’s constant emphasis on baseball as the strongest contribution to his hall-of-fame success.

Friend, whether it’s with baseball or the faith, what you emphasize and exercise in your own life will leave an indelible impression on your young ones. From my pastoral and personal experience, I see that many Christian fathers today have two main problems. First, as fathers we are not walking with great care. We are not careful enough about how we act around our children. Our kids do not see a significant difference between our actions and how those in the world act. Paul reminds us, “Be careful how you walk” (Ephesians 5:15, 16).

Second, we as believing dads are not “redeeming the time” when it comes to our children. We are so concerned (and rightly so) about providing for the physical needs of our children that we don’t always give proper attention to their spiritual, mental, and emotional needs.

The most important way you can be a good example as a father is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and confess Him before others, including your family, and live a dedicated life for Christ. That creates a life worth imitating.

Your job is to make sure you establish an environment where your Christian beliefs and character are on constant display before your children. Our children must never for a moment think that our faith isn’t the most important thing in our life. They must never for a moment think that the Christian faith is only a “Sunday faith.” Instead, our kids must hear us constantly talking about Jesus. They must consistently see the vibrancy of our love for Jesus Christ as it is lived our in every aspect of our lives.

RESPOND:

Lord, help me to pay attention to my activities today and to consider the importance of the small decisions that I make that affect my family’s environment. May each decision be a reflection of my one big choice to follow You and lead my family into a growing relationship with You.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Find more challenges and insights into your godly role in A Husband After God’s Own Heart by Jim George.

REFLECT:

What can I do each day to help guide my children in the faith? How can I live a life that shows them Christ’s love?

REMEMBER:

We need to be careful how we walk, and redeem the time that we are given with our children.

Wisdom is Always Available!

What problems or trials are you experiencing life? Are you at a crossroads in your career? Could you use some direction in your relationship with your spouse, a family member, or a friend or workmate? You need wisdom - God’s wisdom - and there’s no need to wait even another second for it. Why? Because God has promised you wisdom. He calls out in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without approach, and it will be given to him.” In this verse we are presented with the common problem of being without wisdom, given instructions to ask God, and encouraged with God’s promise to be given wisdom.

Whatever issue or problem you are facing, you don’t have to argue, debate, or make lists of possible positive and negative outcomes. You don’t have to wrestle with your views and thoughts for days or weeks on end. You don’t have to agonize or grope around in the dark, hoping to stumble upon answers through trial and error.

Whenever you need wisdom, all you need to do is pray and ask of God, and He will respond. Wisdom will be given to you!

Proverbs is considered to be “the wisdom book” of the Bible. Proverbs 1 reminds us that we can attain wisdom and discipline, understand words of insight, acquire a disciplined and prudent life, learn what is right and just and fair, gain prudence, and increase in knowledge and discretion.

We can also gain wisdom from wise people, teachers, and counselors, and from experience. Please take advantage of all of these means for increasing in wisdom.

Do you want a surefire, wide-open, readily accessible avenue for getting wisdom? All you have to do is ask God for wisdom through prayer. Proverbs 3:13,14 says, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and yields better returns than gold.”

RESPOND:

Lord, thank you for promising to give us wisdom when we ask for it. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In Proverbs for a Woman's Day by Elizabeth George, go on a journey through Proverbs, gaining wisdom as you make life decisions and grow in your faith.

REFLECT:

Am I asking for wisdom or fretting about life’s challenges? What problem am I facing that most needs wisdom from God?

REMEMBER:

If you want wisdom, all you have to do is ask God through prayer.

Be Purposeful in Every Season

Memorial Day heralds the beginning of summer. To students, it begins the countdown to summer vacation. Often summer schedules are hectic with family members going in every direction for sports, camps, social activities, or college preparation. Don’t let your summer get away from you!

Whether you stay at home or plan a vacation, set aside a special time for your family to slow down, reflect, and connect. Give everyone plenty of notice, especially if teens are involved. If you’re not a parent, get friends together. Talk ahead of time whether you will prepare a festive meal, cook-out, go out to dinner, or order in. Whatever you choose, plan something that will bring joy for those involved.

After the meal, take a moment to gather around and give people an opportunity to share what they’ve done in the past few months that was fun and meaningful. Share what plans they have for the summer months ahead.  Encourage each person to share a goal or a dream, being sure to be supportive. Dreams aren’t always based on current reality.

Talk about recent antics of your children and their friends, and share memories of your own childhood and those summers. Share your faith experience, and let others share theirs. A fun way to end your time together by drawing people’s names out of a hat and committing to doing two nice things for that person this summer.

Time keeps on ticking, and seasons seem to go by in an instant. Planning purposeful time together is helpful in developing these family or friend relationships that will last a lifetime.

John Piper says, in the book *Don’t Waste Your Life, “*Most people slip by in life without a passion for God, spending their lives on trivial diversions, living for comfort and pleasure…[Don’t] get caught up in a life that counts for nothing…Learn to live for Christ, and don’t waste your life!”

Life, family, and relationships are a precious gift from God. In addition to the life He’s given you, He also has incredible plans and purposes for you and your family. You have many opportunities to live with passion, make a difference, contribute to others, and bring honor and glory to God. Start making plans for this special time with your family, bringing glory to God as you love each other well.

RESPOND:

Lord, You’ve given me a wonderful family and awesome friends. I delight in being with these people You’ve given me to cherish... and I especially delight in You. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

To discover more insights into experiencing the peace and purpose of a committed and enduring faith, pick up a copy of One-Minute Inspirations for Women.

REFLECT:

What would be a fun way to connect with my family and friends this summer? How can we make the most of our lives together?

REMEMBER:

You have many opportunities to live with passion, make a difference, contribute to others, and bring honor and glory to God.

Equipping Yourself to Lead

The best way you can help lead your family is to make sure you are growing spiritually. This growth will give you the wisdom and strength you need for leading your children in the faith. You can make this happen by regular time reading the Bible (2 Timothy 3:17), finding role models to emulate (Proverbs 27:17), avoiding influences and situations where you will be tempted (1 Corinthians 15:33, 2 Timothy 2.22), and choosing to abide in Christ in order to bear fruit (John 15:1-8).

If you knew you were going to die in the near future, what informa­tion would you want to pass on to your family? Paul found himself on “death row,” waiting his execution for preaching the gospel of Christ. He chose to write one last letter to his spiritual son in the faith, Timothy. Paul wrote to comfort, encourage, and motivate Timothy.

Concerned that Timothy may be in danger of spiritual burnout, Paul wrote to encourage him to continue being faithful to his duties, to hold on to sound doctrine, to avoid error, and

to expect persecution for preaching the gospel. Above all, he encouraged Timothy to put his confidence in the Word of God.

He reminded Timothy of his genuine faith that had been modeled for him by his mother and grandmother, his calling and giftedness, a resolve to hold tightly to the truth of God’s Word, and a loyalty that will last even under the most difficult of circumstances.

Paul then challenged Timothy to prepare others to follow him in the ministry. In his dealings with others, Timothy must not get entangled in useless controversies. In his dealings with himself, he must flee youthful lust and keep his life pure. Paul exhorted Timothy to never waver in his use of the Scriptures—the same Scriptures that God used in Timothy’s childhood to made Timothy “wise for salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15).

To the very end, Paul thought of the personal and spiritual needs of this spiritual Son. He was able to pour into Timothy in the last days of his own life, knowing that he himself was abiding in Christ. What an amazing example of a relationship with God being used to lead another person in their faith.

RESPOND:

God, please transform my family by transforming me. Speak to me through Your Word, through Your Spirit, and through godly people. Make me the parent my family needs. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

If you wish to learn more life lessons for men from the people in the bible like Paul and Timothy, you will find a great resource in Jim’s book,  A Leader After God’s Own Heart.

REFLECT:

How can I use my own faith to lead my family well? Am I abiding in Christ that I may lead others?

REMEMBER:

Paul was able to pour into Timothy in the last days of his own life, knowing that he himself was abiding in Christ.

At the Heart of Being a Mom

No matter what you do with each day or in your life, doing anything God’s way is a matter of the heart. Whether it’s deciding how to spend your money or your time, how you treat people, how you dress, or how you accomplish your work, your choices reveal the treasure of your heart. The same is true when it comes to how you raise your children.

The heart is the chief organ of physical life. It’s obvious to everyone that the heart occupies the most important place in the human system. But the heart in the Bible also represents our entire mental and moral activity, including our emotions, ability to reason, and our will. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the Old and New Testament, the heart is also used to describe the “the hidden springs of the personal life.”

God warns and instructs us to “keep [our] heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). What does this have to do with being a mom? We need to know the importance of the heart of our child. As a mom, our job assignment from God is to raise children after God’s own heart—children who seek to follow God and hopefully experience salvation through Jesus Christ.

Where does all of this mothering, committing, praying, dedicating, and disciplining begin? It starts in your own heart, dear mother! We need to recognize the importance of godliness in our own heart, for we cannot give to our children what we do not possess ourselves.

Following through on God’s plan for us and our children is all about our own hearts. It’s all about fulfilling God’s instructions to us. He wants us to focus on giving our heart, soul, mind, strength, and time to influencing and shaping the hearts of our children toward God and His purposes.

Dear Mom, no matter what your situation at home is—whether your children believe in Jesus Christ or not, whether they are young or old, whether their dad is a Christian or not, whether or not there is even a dad involved, whether you are new in the faith or have been a believer for years—with God’s help, do your best.

You want your children to love God and follow Him, so set the focus of your heart on God and let them see you love Him and follow Him. Be a mom after God’s own heart. He’ll help you take care of everything else that goes with parenting.

RESPOND:

Lord, give me a sense of purpose and priority as I teach my children what matters most. Help me show what it means to build a life of faith and love for Jesus.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Every woman who desires to let her light shine will find a treasure trove of truths and applications that enable her to follow in the footsteps of Jesus in A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus.

REFLECT:

How can I show my children my love of the Lord? How can I better keep my own heart as I serve the Lord in all areas of life?

REMEMBER:

We need to “keep our heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

Example of a Godly Mother

Hannah appears in the Bible during the last days of the judges of Israel when “there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Even though Elkanah, Hannah’s husband, was a godly man, he followed the common practice of polygamy. Hannah was barren, as well— the ultimate curse for a married woman.

Hannah, although she was married to Elkanah for a number of years, had not borne him any children, while Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, had many children. She constantly harassed Hannah for her barrenness.

Hannah illustrated how unpleasant circumstances can still produce a beautiful outcome. Hannah may have been without children but she was not without prayer. Grieved of heart, Hannah turned to the Lord. She went to the house of the Lord and vowed that if God would give her a son, she would devote him to the Lord all the days of his life. Eli, the priest, assured Hannah that her prayer had been heard, and she became pregnant and had a baby boy. She named her son Samuel, meaning “asked of the Lord.” After Samuel was weaned, Hannah fulfilled her promise and took her little son to the Lord’s house and left him in the hands of Eli, the priest.

Standing with her son before Eli, Hannah uttered a song of thanksgiving. While her earlier prayer came from sorrow, this prayer of praise came from joy and gratitude to God. The contents of her prayer form the basis of the “Magnificat” offered up by Mary, the mother of Jesus, to the same covenant-keeping God (Luke 1:46– 55).

Hannah’s sacrifice and the fulfillment of her promise to God was rewarded by God with the births of five more children. Samuel grew up to reflect his mother’s godliness and became a man of prayer and intercession for God’s people all his days.

Hannah’s earlier suffering compelled her to turn to God in prayer. Prayer allows burdens to fall from your own shoulders onto the strong shoulders of the Lord. Cast “all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

RESPOND

Lord, thank You for Hannah’s example of a mother after God’s own heart. I pray that my child will follow You for a lifetime. I want to start today to be a mom like Hannah— a mom who prays, instructs, and dedicates my children to You for Your purposes. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES[image error]

Creating a Beautiful Life — Prepare to create a more beautiful and productive life and make each day more meaningful. God's best awaits you when you choose to live His way!

REFLECT

Does my suffering compel me to turn to God in prayer?

REMEMBER

Turn to God in prayer when you are faced with disappointment and suffering.

Your Weapon Against Temptation

When Satan tempted the Lord during His 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus responded to every temptation by quoting God’s Word (Matthew 4:4-10). Why? Because God’s Word is truth, and only truth can refute the lies Satan sends our way when he tempts us. Satan wants us to believe sin will give us pleasure and satisfaction. By contrast, God’s truth warns that sin leads to guilt, emptiness, and painful consequences.

Temptation comes into every believer’s life — not one of us is immune. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”

In these reassuring words, God promises you deliverance from sin. He promises an exit. There is no need to view temptation as a bad thing. It is simply an opportunity to strengthen and reaffirm your faith and trust in God. Facing temptation and staying strong adds maturity to your Christian life.

When temptation comes your way, realize that you are never left alone. By His very nature, God cannot leave you alone. He is present with you as you face temptation. By His grace, you will be able to resist it.

Although God doesn’t always remove temptation, He does promise to keep temptation from becoming too strong for you to handle. Temptation can be resisted because God says you can “endure it.” And God also promises to “provide the way of escape.”

Are you well-armed with God’s Word? Are you familiar with its promises? Are you fighting your battles against temptation with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17)? Get to know what the Bible says about the kinds of temptations you face and fortify yourself against them. Whether you endure or escape, you are to be actively resisting temptation, resisting it with the Word of God, and on the lookout for His promised deliverance.

RESPOND:

Lord, help me to prepare for the lies that are likely to bombard me today. Thank You for arming me with Your truth and teaching me to use the sword of the Spirit effectively. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In The Basic Bible Pocket Guide, Jim George gives a straight-to-the-point summary of each book in God's Word and a panoramic overview of all the Bible's high points from beginning to end to help readers master the big picture of what the Bible is all about. 

REFLECT:

Am I actively fighting temptation with the Word of God? How can I remind myself of the Word when I find myself being tempted?

REMEMBER:

God is faithful to provide a way out from giving into temptation, and His Word is a powerful weapon against temptation.

Expressing Your Commitment to God

From the start of Abraham’s journey with God and throughout the rest of his life, Abraham built altars as he moved through the land God promised to him. He offered sacrifices on those altars and prayed to God (Genesis 12:8 and 13:4). These altars of worship and prayer, set up in the midst of a pagan world, served as a public witness to Abraham’s commitment to the one true God.

Today prayer can still testify to others about our faith in God**.** Building an altar and praying were to Abraham what “giving a blessing” over our food in a busy restaurant might represent for us today. By this one act you make a statement: “I owe my food—and my life—to the providence and provision of God. I am one of His people. And I am acknowledging my dependence on Him, even down to the very food I eat.”

Your impact on the lives of others — your family, strangers in a restaurant, the people at your church, your workmates — is cultivated with each public decision you make. It’s the little things — such as reading your Bible, praying in public, going to church, and standing up for your faith at work — that add influence to your life. Obey God in these decisions and see where it leads you. The key to a powerful Christian life is obedience to our Lord’s leading — one decision or choice at a time.

Our commitment to God is strengthened when we surrender to Him each day. Every morning, in a heartfelt prayer either written or silent, start fresh with God by giving Him all that you are, all that you have... now... forever... and daily. Lay everything on God’s altar in an act of surrender.

RESPOND:

Lord, help me to show my commitment to You in every decision that I make. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In Knowing God Through Prayer, Jim George shares the keys to meaningful communion with God. We could all benefit from some guidance on how to pray with more fervor and faithfulness. And there are no better prayer mentors than the men and women of the Bible. They talked with God and touched His heart. Get to know them through this great resource!

REFLECT:

Have you publicly shown your devotion to God today?

REMEMBER:

Obey God in all decisions and see where it leads you. The key to a powerful Christian life is obedience to our Lord’s leading — one decision or choice at a time.