Elizabeth George's Blog, page 35

Practicing Wise Living

[image error]“Make a wish!” How often have you said or heard this statement on your birthday or one of your children’s birthdays before blowing out candles on a cake? God, in essence, made a similar statement to King Solomon thousands of years ago. In fact, God told Solomon he could have anything he wanted. Anything!

That’s right. Let’s see...how about a new car, a new house, new clothes, new... You probably know this story found in 1 Kings 3. What did Solomon ask for? Wisdom! He asked for “an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (verse 9).

The next time you pray or “make a wish” (so to speak), follow Solomon’s example. Don’t waste your breath on physical or earthly desires and needs. Instead, go for the biggest and best of all: wisdom.

As a believer infused with the light of Christ, you have His wisdom and prudence. So the question isn’t “Do I have wisdom?” but “How do I apply the wisdom and discretion I’ve been given?”

Can These Attributes be Found in Your Life?

Wisdom walks carefully.

Are you meticulously careful about the life you lead? Keep your mind on God’s Word and watch over your lifestyle so you’ll walk with God.

Wisdom evaluates its time.

The time you have in this life is so brief. Don’t let it be stolen by uselessness. Instead, make every minute count for eternity.

Wisdom follows a standard.

God’s standards are revealed in His Word. Isn’t it exciting to witness His plan for your life unfolding as you study His Word, pray for wisdom, and practice wise living? 

Wisdom lives under God’s control.

You don’t have to live under the “control” of alcohol, sex, power, or the world’s other offerings. Wise living comes from being filled and controlled by God’s Spirit. Ask Him to be your source of contentment, excitement, and comfort. Let Him guide you every day.

God’s ultimate wisdom and plan for you is to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Paul isn’t referring to the Holy Spirit’s indwelling at salvation here. He is giving a command for believers to live continually under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He is charging you (and me) to walk in wisdom as you live moment-by-moment under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

What a difference that will make in your heart, in your conduct, in your priorities, and in the ways you choose to use your time.

RESPOND

Lord, I’m under the influence of the Holy Spirit. I’m practicing Your wisdom and discovering the joys of being obedient and faithful. I no longer lean on the world’s offering of what is best or right. I know the truth because it is in Your Word. Amen.[image error]

RENEWING RESOURCES

Art Prints – We’ve created special art prints to help you remember to walk in wisdom! 

Proverbs for a Woman's Day – Don't guess about the next step and hope for the best. Get a clear view of the right path as Elizabeth George takes you on a journey through Proverbs, which cover the matters closest to your heart.

REFLECT

Do you turn to God’s Word and to Him in prayer when you need to make a decision?

Who in your life is wise?

  REMEMBER

“Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:17)

What Is Prayer?

[image error](Parents, today’s devotion is material from Jim’s newest book, A Boy’s Guide to Prayer. We pray it blesses you and your tween as you read it together!)

Have you ever noticed a guy who looks like he’s talking to himself? You might even do this too. Well, when you talk to yourself, it’s only a one-way conversation. You are just saying what you are thinking in your mind and your heart. 

But when you pray and talk to God, that’s a totally different story!

So, what is prayer?

Prayer Is an Act of Faith

If you have tried to pray, you probably agree with me that prayer can be difficult and feel awkward. Why is that?

One reason is that you can’t see or touch the one you are praying to.

Another reason is that you can’t and won’t hear any response to your prayers. It seems like you are just talking to the air. So there you are, doing what appears to you or others to be talking to yourself.

But is that really true? If you want to make sure you are not just talking to yourself, but you are really talking to God—to Someone who can actually hear you and help you with your problems and needs—there is a verse that will help you. Here’s what it says:

Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

What does this verse say is the first thing you must do if you want God to hear your prayers?

“Anyone who wants to come to him [God] must _____________________ that God _____________________…”

To believe means to have faith. It means you are confident that even though you cannot see God, He is real—He does exist. If you have faith that God exists, you can and are to sincerely seek Him. God knows you, loves you, and wants to hear from you. One way you can let Him know you love Him is to pray and ask Him for His help about everything in your life. Start today!

RESPOND

Dear God, I want to have faith in You even though I can’t see You or hear You. I do believe You exist, and I thank You for the gift of prayer. Amen.  

RENEWING RESOURCES[image error][image error]

NEW RELEASES! A Girl’s Guide to Prayer by Elizabeth George and A Boy’s Guide to Prayer by Jim George—These wonderful resources will help your tween understand what prayer really is, how to pray effectively, and what they can pray for.

Receive a free accompanying devotional with your purchase of these books!

REFLECT

Talk to your parents or your pastor about God. Ask them any questions you have about Him.

REMEMBER

If you have faith that God exists, you can and are to sincerely seek Him.

What Should I Pray About?

[image error](Parents, today’s devotion is material from Elizabeth’s newest book, A Girl’s Guide to Prayer. We pray it blesses you and your tween as you read it together!)

I’m sure you have a handful of girlfriends you love seeing at school or at church. You can’t wait to tell them about every exciting—and crazy and crummy—thing that has happened to you since the last time you talked. It’s so great to have people in your life you can really talk to about the ups and downs in your days.

What is Prayer?

The same is true when you pray. Prayer is not a one-time talk. And it’s not just another opportunity to say “Give me” to God. No, prayer is meant to be an ongoing talk with God— with your Father who is in heaven. It’s like chatting with the best Friend you will ever have. God wants to hear all about you. You can talk to Him about anything, at any time, for as long as you want, and as often as you want.

Learning to Pray

The best way to learn how to pray is, of course, by praying! Lots of things are going on in your life at home, at school, and with your friends. Whatever is on your heart and mind, start talking it over with God. Do what Jesus said and pray as He prayed: Jesus…

…prayed all the time for all things, and so can you.
…prayed faithfully and sincerely, and so can you.
…prayed for God’s people, and so can you.

 

What about you? God is waiting and wanting to hear from you. What help do you need from Him? What are your concerns? Write them here and lift them up to God in heaven.

Concern #1 ________________________________________________

Concern #2 ________________________________________________

Concern #3 ________________________________________________

RESPOND

Dear God, I am coming to You with the concerns I have just written down. Help me to become a young woman after Your heart who prays faithfully, just like Jesus did. I love You, Lord! Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES[image error][image error]

NEW RELEASES! A Girl’s Guide to Prayer by Elizabeth George and A Boy’s Guide to Prayer by Jim George—These wonderful resources will help your tween understand what prayer really is, how to pray effectively, and what they can pray for.

Receive a free accompanying devotional with your purchase of these books!

REFLECT

Share the concerns you wrote down with your mom or dad. Ask them to pray about these concerns too this week. Then, be sure to jot down how God helps you and answers your prayers later!

REMEMBER

You can talk to God about anything, at any time, for as long as you want, and as often as you want.

Trusting God with Your Children

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You’ve got God on your side. He’s there, He’s available, and He’s totally capable. Therefore you can entrust your children into His hands. This doesn’t eliminate what you do as a parent. You still have to live out your part in raising a child to follow God’s heart. You still have to resist the pressure society puts on you and your child.

But once you’ve watched and warned, and fed and led your little sheep, you can commit them into God’s keeping. Then comes prayer… and more prayer!

Trust in Prayer

Prayer indicates your dependence on God. Prayer is one way to ask God how to raise a child right. Through human efforts, you might raise a child who will be an okay person, but prayer contributes to your raising an exceptional person—a child after God’s own heart.

Trust in God’s Word

The apostle Paul wrote, “the Word of His grace… is able to build you up” (Acts 20:32). He prayed to God for the Ephesians, and then taught them God’s Word. So, like Paul, pray! And, like Paul, preach! See yourself as the shepherd who makes sure his sheep have substantial food. Feed them God’s Word, and trust God to use the Scriptures for their spiritual growth and maturity.

Trust in the Lord 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). Because the Lord is your shepherd, you can know that you will never have a real need that God doesn’t take care of. You will never lack anything. The Good Shepherd takes care of and provides for His children—you and your children.

RESPOND

Dear Lord, You are the best Father, and I long to follow Your example of selfless love. Help me trust in You for all things, especially my children. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES[image error]

A Mom After God’s Own Heart offers moms practical advice and real-life suggestions for helping children, no matter what their ages, to incorporate God into daily life.

REFLECTION

How does this verse, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1), simplify the many parenting concerns that I have?

REMEMBER

Pray and preach! Feed your kids God’s Word, and trust God to use the Scriptures for their spiritual growth and maturity.

Encouraging Your Wife

[image error]FROM JIM'S HEART: One morning while I was reading my Bible, I came to a passage that really challenged me in my own spiritual growth:

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.” (Luke 1:5-6)

These two people — Zechariah and Elizabeth — were about to become the parents of John the Baptist, the herald of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. God desired a special set of parents for a special child who would have a special mission. As I read this passage, I noticed an immediate application for me: God is asking that both my wife and I be growing spiritually.

Taking the Initiative

Once husbands grasp this reality and start growing, we can then begin to assist our wives in their growth. Our assistance may be as simple as:

Having a daily Bible reading schedule.
Coming together at the end of the day to compare Bible study notes.
Studying through a book of the Bible together.

Fortunately, there are many study tools that couples can use together. So a lack of resources is no excuse. We as men just need to take the initiative to have a more active role in leading our family spiritually.

Cheering Her On

Encouraging my wife’s spiritual growth doesn’t always mean that I have to personally be a part of the growth process. Sometimes I only need to be a “spiritual cheerleader.” My role is cheering her on in her growth as she studies the Bible on her own or as she participates in a woman’s Bible study.

I am still fulfilling my role as the spiritual leader, even though I don’t personally teach my wife. I’m there to give her encouragement and direction.  Ask God to give you a fresh commitment to grow yourself. Then ask your wife how you can best help her grow.

RESPOND

Dear Lord, please give me the wisdom and passion to encourage my wife's spiritual growth. I long to love my wife, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

Take the Husband Communication Quiz!

Download your free copy of 5 Ways in 5 Days to Be a Closer Couple. 

REFLECT

What are some of the ways you’ve helped nurture your wife’s spiritual growth? 

REMEMBER

You made a vow to nurture your wife in both the physical and spiritual areas of life.

 

A Word About Suffering

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“She has the patience of Job.” It seems that most people have heard of Job in the Bible. That may be because he suffered so greatly. One day, in the span of a few hours, his children died and he lost all his wealth, everything he had.

TRIALS ARE NOT PUNISHMENTS

I can still remember, as a new Christian, believing that being a Christian would surely one day mean a problem- free life. As I was reading the New Testament, I came across these words of Jesus: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). Jesus said it: you and I will suffer.

It’s a fact of life. Real life is filled with disappointments, tragedies, heartaches, and just plain old struggles. We live in a sinful world of aging bodies, homes that are destroyed, faltering relationships, and fortunes that can be lost. But be assured that trials are not punishments.

God loves you and allows trials to help you grow spiritually. He offers sufficient grace for every situation. And the journey through trials grows your patience, endurance, and empathy. Yes, Jesus said we would experience suffering, but He did not leave us without hope. The second half of John 16:33 says, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

REMEMBER THE GOOD NEWS

When you get weary of life’s trials and troubles, remember the good news: God can give us the joy we need— just when we need it. 

Jesus wants our joy to “be full” (John 15:11). When we depend on God in the middle of our suffering, we will find the power we need to praise Him despite the pain.

You can actually give thanks for God’s goodness even when things aren’t so good! Thanks to God’s grace and the working of His Spirit in you, you can become a woman who loves and praises God in every circumstance. Remember these words from Job 36: “Behold, God is exalted by His power. . . . Remember to magnify His work, of which men have sung.”

RESPOND

Lord, the idea of suffering makes me very uncomfortable. But Lord, I know that You are working in me to accomplish spiritual growth. And You have promised to take care of me. I am looking to You for encouragement because You have overcome. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES [image error]

A Woman After God's Own Heart Bible—Stay on track with your daily reading, prayers, and devotion with this Bible, filled with 365 devotions, biographies, wisdom articles, and more!

REFLECT

What good do you see God bringing from your trials?

Ask the Lord for His joy in the midst of your hardships.

REMEMBER

God offers sufficient grace for every situation.

Putting on a Heart of Patience

[image error]I know there are a lot of jokes made about patience (“Patience is the ability to count to ten before blasting off!”, “I need patience—and I need it now!”), but when you’re the one who’s forced to wait while you suffer—or suffer while you wait—it’s no laughing matter. But, my friend, as the verse below says, we need to wait patiently on the Lord.

How Are You Waiting?

To illustrate his point, James presents a farmer.

Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:7-8)

Even if some of us don’t get closer to a farm than the produce stand at a local market, we can take a look at the many ways a farmer has to employ patience. He plants his crops...and then waits for the providence of God to provide the necessary rain. Finally the early rains of the fall and the late rains of spring come.

When we’re suffering, we too are to wait patiently until the coming of the Lord. How are you at waiting? Is there something God is asking you to be patient about right now? 

The hope we derive from the promise of Jesus’ coming helps us to wait patiently. When He arrives, He will set everything in order. He will make things right. He will correct all abuses. He will bring deliverance from our suffering. Let the certainty of the Lord’s return encourage your heart as you endure hard times, moments that seem endless, and the unknowns of tomorrow.

Where Is Your Gaze?

Where is your gaze fixed? Downward...on the suffering you must endure? Or upward...in the direction from which Jesus will come? Or do you seldom think about it? Your patience will be helped when you look forward to the promise of His return. You and I live with “what is,” but we have the promise of “what is to be.” And in-between is the waiting time. So you can fret, worry, and pace...or you can put on a heart of patience (Colossians 3:12 nasb). Which will it be?

I pray you’ll choose to do what God says! “Be still [be patient], and know that I am God [the Lord who is coming again and the Judge who is indeed standing at the door]” (Psalm 46:10).

RESPOND

Lord, I’m making the decision to be still and to trust in Your promises. Today is hard, but I will wait for the rain of Your love to fall upon me. I will wait with hope for Your grace to show me the way You want me to go. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES [image error]

Moments of Grace for a Woman's Heart by Elizabeth George—These wonderful devotions will infuse women with the confidence that God is watching over them and will care for them in every circumstances.  

REFLECT

Practice putting on a heart of patience this week. Before “blasting off”, pause and pray.

REMEMBER

You and I live with “what is,” but we have the promise of “what is to be.”

Calm in the Chaos

[image error]Do Charles Dickens’ words “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” describe your life? When my girls were young, I was hardly able to hold my head above water. I had a hyperactive family going at full speed, which meant the days could be busy…too busy. This was affecting my mood and the atmosphere of our home.

CRAZY DAYS

So often our tolerance level wears thin and we speak harsh words in the midst of crazy days. Very often, we do the exact opposite of Proverbs 19:11: “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.” I got tired of thinking There has got to be more to life than this! Meaning there’s got to be more to life than all my wheel-spinning, than my feeling rushed, and spending all the time and still not getting my life in order.

Godly patience shines the brightest when everything is falling apart around you. And that’s what I desired. Friend, if you can relate, I want to encourage you. Put aside everything for a few moments to pray and pick one verse to read. God’s Word will come to your rescue when you seek to walk with Him during trying times.

After your time of prayer and praise, put these steps into practice to help you have more order in life.

6 STEPS TO CALM IN THE CHAOS

As you pray about living your life God’s way and purpose to (by His great grace) be peace-filled, the following steps will pave the way for a better tomorrow.

Step 1: Determine when you must get up to make your day go the way you want and need it to go.

Step 2: Get to bed in time to get the rest you need before your getting-up time.

Step 3: Set your alarm—a good loud one, an obnoxious one!

Step 4: Pray. Ask for God’s help to get up. Tell Him why it’s important that you do. Rehearse your plans, purposes, commitments, and dreams for tomorrow with Him. Go ahead. He cares! After all, if they’re good ones, they came from Him (Psalm 37:4-5).

Step 5: Purpose to get up…no matter what. Don’t give in to your body. And don’t worry about not getting enough sleep. It’s only for one morning! Remember the adage: Mind over mattress!

Step 6: Praise God when you hear the alarm. Stand beside the psalmist and cry out with the dawn, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

When life gets a bit frustrating with all there is to do, turn your tired soul heavenward. Let God calm you with His peace. Give thanks to God for what He has done in your life: “O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things.” (Isaiah 25:1) Then walk in the Spirit’s strength that allows you to remain calm in the chaos.

RESPOND

Dear Lord, right now I lift my eyes and my soul to You. I need to exhale and relax in Your presence. I know that in the midst of the chaos of my day, You are in control. Thank You for the comfort, peace, and patience I find in You— calm in the midst of chaos. Amen. 

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RENEWING RESOURCE

Creating a Beautiful Life by Elizabeth George —This book with a built-in Study Guide prepares you to create a more peaceful and productive life. Pick up this helpful Bible Study today. 

REFLECT

Do I make time with God a priority in my day?

REMEMBER

Godly patience shines the brightest when everything is falling apart around you.

God’s Promises in the Bible

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What is a promise? The dictionary defines the word promise as “a statement, either oral or written, assuming that one will or will not do something.” It is a vow, or a pledge. The power of a promise depends on the one making the promise. God is described as the God “who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Therefore, you can be confident that if there is a promise in God’s Word that has an application for you, you can accept that promise with full assurance.

All Good Things

God has given us many great and wonderful promises concerning everything from salvation to eternal life, from new birth to a final home in heaven, from new beginnings to spiritual maturity and great usefulness to the body of Christ. God has promised in His Word not to withhold any good thing from us and to give us all good things (Ps. 84:11; Rom. 8:32).

Once you choose to believe that God will superintend every future event, you will experience His peace. Nothing will ever happen to you that God does not already know about (Ps. 139:1–4), that is a mistake (Ps. 139:4, 16), or that you cannot handle by God’s power and grace (2 Cor. 12:9–10).

Are You Ready?

The truth is, these promises are yours. Are you ready and willing to put them to work in your life? Remember, you always have a great teacher and guide—the Holy Spirit—and these wonderful promises from God:

Answered prayer—Matthew 7:7
Comfort—2 Corinthians 1:3–4
Courage—Joshua 1:9
Forgiveness—Psalm 103:12; Matthew 5:7
Grace—2 Corinthians 12:9
Hope—Jeremiah 29:11
Life—John 10:10
Love—Romans 5:8
Peace—John 14:27
Presence—Matthew 28:20
Provision—Philippians 4:19
Purpose—Jeremiah 1:5
Strength—Philippians 4:13
Success—Joshua 1:8
Support—1 Corinthians 10:13
Victory—1 Corinthians 15:57
Wisdom—James 1:5
Worth—Matthew 10:29–31

 

God will do His part to fulfill these promises. It’s His nature. “There has not failed one word of all His good promise” (1 Kin. 8:56).  

RESPOND

Dear Lord, thank You for the clear wisdom found in these verses. Your promises are amazing. Help me recall them and trust in You during difficult seasons. Amen.

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RENEWING RESOURCES 

A Woman After God's Own Heart Bible—Today’s devotion is one of the many features in this Bible to help you grow in your faith:

Daily devotionals
150 biographies of women of the Bible
25 full-page topical reflections on life's challenges
400 brief whispers of wisdom for daily life

REFLECT

This week, look up these verses and write down one thing you learn about God’s promises from them: Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 36:5; John 15:5; 2 Corinthians 1:20; 2 Peter 1:4.

REMEMBER

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Praying More Often

[image error]When I was a junior in high school, I played the violin. I didn’t exactly excel at it, even with practice. But for sure, you didn’t want to hear me when I didn’t practice! Prayer is like that.  

PRAY REGULARLY

Prayer, like anything else done faithfully and regularly, in time becomes more natural and normal. But when we are irregular at prayer, we feel awkward and don’t quite know what to say to God. God doesn’t expect you to wait until you can word your prayers flawlessly. He just wants to hear from you. And, if you are a Christian, make the changes necessary to form the habit of checking in with God on a regular basis—preferably daily. 

That’s what David, “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1), did. He declared to God, In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly (Psalm 5:3 niv).

Another psalmist exulted, “Seven times a day I praise You” (Psalm 119:164), indicating that he prayed and praised numerous times because of a continual attitude of praise. When you fail to pray, you are in a sense saying you don’t need God. And here’s another thought—when you fail to pray, you are also saying that you’re probably not even thinking about God! How can I say that?

Because any and every thought about God moves our hearts to pray.

PRAY FAITHFULLY

If we can give you one piece of advice, it’s this: Pray faithfully. Faithfulness is a mark of maturity. Faithful people can be trusted in what they say and do. And faithfulness is a necessary element in any relationship, especially a relationship with God.

We know God is faithful. He is unchanging and unchangeable. Faithfulness is one of His attributes. So to keep up your part of a relationship with God, you need to be faithful to God. 

The breathing in of air sustains life. It’s a basic fact—as long as you breathe, you live. Therefore no sane person would ever decide, “I think I’ll take some time off from breathing.” No, breathing is necessary for life. And you must see prayer in the same way.

Prayer is necessary for the Christian life, as well as for a better life. Just as you will breathe for as long as you live, you must also pray for as long as you live. Do it for life!

RESPOND

Lord, You are so faithful to us. May we be faithful to You—with prayers that seek You at all times, in all places, for all things. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES[image error]

Prayers for a Woman's Heart: Living a Life of Surrender—Together with the accompanying mentoring moments, these prayers provide rich soil in which your spiritual roots can grow deep.! 

REFLECT

Spiritual growth results from discipline. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equip us to run our Christian race with vigor and stamina. Don’t merely observe from the grandstand; train diligently—your spiritual progress depends upon it.

REMEMBER

Breathing is necessary for life. And you must see prayer in the same way.