Elizabeth George's Blog, page 42
August 13, 2018
Finding Time for a Quiet Time
Lunch out with friends…or quiet time with your Bible? Hmm. Sometimes this choice is really hard, isn’t it?
Time for Ourselves
Time for ourselves is important, but that priority takes second place to God’s calling to train our little ones. This is your highest and most noble calling. But we can’t give out what we don’t possess, so it’s vital to nurture a passion for God’s Word and His wisdom.
Time for God
Spend some time each day reading the Bible. Share its life-giving truth with your children. It requires the sacrifice of time and energy, but the years you have with your children fly by so quickly.
Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart.” Your time in God’s Word is time He’ll use to make you a mom after His own heart. It’s time well invested!
RESPOND
Lord, help me choose You and Your Word as my source of strength and refreshment each day. I want to deepen my understanding of Your love and Your will so that I become a mother who invests in her faith and family with everything she has and is. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
A Mom After God’s Own Heart Devotional — These upbeat and to-the-point offerings give you daily direction and confidence for the amazing privilege of loving and raising children.
A Boy After God’s Own Heart Action Devotional — Help your tween (ages 8-12) get into God’s Word himself with these 140 devotions that address every part of a boy’s life!
REFLECT
Read one chapter of the book of Proverbs each day (hint: read the chapter that correlates to the day of the month).
REMEMBER
Your time in God’s Word is time He’ll use to make you a mom after His own heart.
August 9, 2018
The Best Way to Make a Decision
With shaking hands and a pained heart, I hit the end icon on my cell phone and concluded a life-shattering and life-changing call. One of my brothers had just given me the news that our dad, at age 95, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and would need nursing care for the final days of his life.
My brothers had all talked and agreed that they could take turns sitting with our dad on the weekends, and maybe I could be there during the week. The only issue with their decision was that I was in California and our dad was in Oklahoma!
I immediately went to my husband, Jim, so we could talk, pray, and weigh the situation. Little did we know my father would live—and suffer—for a year. But, I have no regrets in traveling back and forth to care for my father. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Make a Decision
Life requires that you make decisions. And obviously there are a variety of levels of decisions to be made. Some simple; others complex. Each and every decision you make, regardless of its level of intensity, can have long-lasting consequences. If you had to make any of these serious decisions on your own, it could create stress and anxiety.
Help in Deciding
But, praise God, He hasn’t left you without help. He has given you His Word to show you the way as a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). He has also given you spiritually mature Christians in your church who can help provide guidance.
As I look back on other decisions I’ve made, I realize I learned many times the hard way that, when I didn’t pray, seek God’s wisdom, or ask for godly advice, I just about always make wrong decisions.
So, speaking from experience, here are some guiding principles to use before making a decision.
No decision made without prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)
When in doubt, don’t (Romans 14:23)
Always ask “What does the Bible say?” (John 17:17)
Always do what you know is right (James 4:14)
Don’t let fear influence you (1 John 4:18)
RESPOND
Dear Lord, thank You for Your wisdom and guidance. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
A Woman’s Guide to Making Right Choices—50% OFF! You’ll love the hundreds of helpful tips and biblical insights in this book―all designed to help you experience greater productivity and spiritual blessing.
REFLECT
How often do I pause to ask the Lord for His wisdom on a matter?
REMEMBER
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)
Read The Best Way to Make a Decision on Elizabeth & Jim George.
August 8, 2018
The Best Way to Make a Decision
With shaking hands and a pained heart, I hit the end icon on my cell phone and concluded a life-shattering and life-changing call. One of my brothers had just given me the news that our dad, at age 95, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and would need nursing care for the final days of his life.
My brothers had all talked and agreed that they could take turns sitting with our dad on the weekends, and maybe I could be there during the week. The only issue with their decision was that I was in California and our dad was in Oklahoma!
I immediately went to my husband, Jim, so we could talk, pray, and weigh the situation. Little did we know my father would live—and suffer—for a year. But, I have no regrets in traveling back and forth to care for my father. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Make a Decision
Life requires that you make decisions. And obviously there are a variety of levels of decisions to be made. Some simple; others complex. Each and every decision you make, regardless of its level of intensity, can have long-lasting consequences. If you had to make any of these serious decisions on your own, it could create stress and anxiety.
Help in Deciding
But, praise God, He hasn’t left you without help. He has given you His Word to show you the way as a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). He has also given you spiritually mature Christians in your church who can help provide guidance.
As I look back on other decisions I’ve made, I realize I learned many times the hard way that, when I didn’t pray, seek God’s wisdom, or ask for godly advice, I just about always make wrong decisions.
So, speaking from experience, here are some guiding principles to use before making a decision.
No decision made without prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)
When in doubt, don’t (Romans 14:23)
Always ask “What does the Bible say?” (John 17:17)
Always do what you know is right (James 4:14)
Don’t let fear influence you (1 John 4:18)
RESPOND
Dear Lord, thank You for Your wisdom and guidance. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
A Woman’s Guide to Making Right Choices—50% OFF! You’ll love the hundreds of helpful tips and biblical insights in this book―all designed to help you experience greater productivity and spiritual blessing.
REFLECT
How often do I pause to ask the Lord for His wisdom on a matter?
REMEMBER
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”(James 1:5)
August 7, 2018
What’s Wrong with Video Games?
PARENTS: This devotion is written especially for you to share with your tween as a tool to talk about God and His Word.
“Dylan? Dylan! Dylan Douglas!” Mrs. Abrams, Dylan’s English teacher, called out. But Dylan was deep in thought. It wasn’t until Dylan’s friend Bart punched his arm that Dylan came back from the world of gaming.
You see, Dylan had become very distracted ever since he had started playing video games at Bart’s house. Dylan was hooked. He couldn’t wait until school was over so he and Bart could play more games.
What’s Wrong with Video Games?
There are many things in a guy’s life that can distract his attention away from what is truly important. For Dylan, it was video games. They took his mind off his schoolwork—and everything else.
So what’s the problem? What’s wrong with video games? What’s so bad about having some fun? Well, nothing! Especially if it’s done after you’ve taken care of your responsibilities. And as long as it doesn’t get out of hand or go to extremes. But Dylan’s real problem was the focus of his heart. His was concerned with only one thing…Dylan! What he needed was a better understanding of where God wants His growing boys to focus their hearts.
Where’s Your Heart?
Jesus told the people who wanted to follow Him, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). For Dylan, it’s pretty obvious that his “treasure”—the focus of his heart—was on playing video games. For other boys, the focus of their hearts may be sports.
That brings us to the biggest, most important question of all: Where is your treasure? Where’s your focus? Where’s your heart? A boy after God’s own heart wants to make sure his treasure is what God says it should be.
God wants you to love Him more than all other things. Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Love like this is a tall order, isn’t it? But it is possible. All you have to do is choose to put God first in your life and in your heart, one day at a time.
RESPOND
Dear Jesus, help me to love You more, to know You better, and to follow You with all my heart. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
A Boy After God’s Own Heart Action Devotional—NEW! 140 devotions that address every part of a boy’s life (ages 8-12), such as making good choices & developing a deeper prayer life.
BONUS BUY: You Always Have a Friend in Jesus for Boys is 50% off with the purchase of this great devotional!
REFLECT
Where is your “treasure”?
Circle the word “all” in this verse: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).
REMEMBER
A boy after God’s own heart wants to make sure his treasure is what God says it should be.
Read What’s Wrong with Video Games? on Elizabeth & Jim George.
August 6, 2018
What’s Wrong with Video Games?
PARENTS: This devotion is written especially for you to share with your tween as a tool to talk about God and His Word.
“Dylan? Dylan! Dylan Douglas!” Mrs. Abrams, Dylan’s English teacher, called out. But Dylan was deep in thought. It wasn’t until Dylan’s friend Bart punched his arm that Dylan came back from the world of gaming.
You see, Dylan had become very distracted ever since he had started playing video games at Bart’s house. Dylan was hooked. He couldn’t wait until school was over so he and Bart could play more games.
What’s Wrong with Video Games?
There are many things in a guy’s life that can distract his attention away from what is truly important. For Dylan, it was video games. They took his mind off his schoolwork—and everything else.
So what’s the problem? What’s wrong with video games? What’s so bad about having some fun? Well, nothing! Especially if it’s done after you’ve taken care of your responsibilities. And as long as it doesn’t get out of hand or go to extremes. But Dylan’s real problem was the focus of his heart. His was concerned with only one thing…Dylan! What he needed was a better understanding of where God wants His growing boys to focus their hearts.
Where’s Your Heart?
Jesus told the people who wanted to follow Him, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). For Dylan, it’s pretty obvious that his “treasure”—the focus of his heart—was on playing video games. For other boys, the focus of their hearts may be sports.
That brings us to the biggest, most important question of all: Where is your treasure? Where’s your focus? Where’s your heart? A boy after God’s own heart wants to make sure his treasure is what God says it should be.
God wants you to love Him more than all other things. Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Love like this is a tall order, isn’t it? But it is possible. All you have to do is choose to put God first in your life and in your heart, one day at a time.
RESPOND
Dear Jesus, help me to love You more, to know You better, and to follow You with all my heart. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
A Boy After God’s Own Heart Action Devotional—NEW! 140 devotions that address every part of a boy’s life (ages 8-12), such as making good choices & developing a deeper prayer life.
BONUS BUY: You Always Have a Friend in Jesus for Boys is 50% off with the purchase of this great devotional!
REFLECT
Where is your “treasure”?
Circle the word “all” in this verse: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”(Matthew 22:37).
REMEMBER
A boy after God’s own heart wants to make sure his treasure is what God says it should be.
August 2, 2018
Stop Complaining
We all make choices in what we do with our day, our thoughts, and our words. A favorite verse of mine ends with the words, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30 NASB). I don’t want to be robbed of even one of God’s riches by not taking time to let Him invade my life. The bottom line? I want to be a woman after God’s own heart!
Stop Complaining
One sure way to do this is to stop complaining. In Philippians 4:11-13 the apostle Paul writes, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (NIV).
Never once do we see Paul quitting, having a fit, or complaining. Regardless of his predicament, he was content. Why? Because he looked to his Savior for strength.
Start Praying
The Bible says to be steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord. And when you do, you’re on the way to becoming the best possible woman you can be—a woman who serves the Lord in her words and her deeds.
Make a daily commitment to God. It can be as simple as praying, “Lord, today I give myself anew to You!” Your heart for God should be like a boiling pot—intense and passionate. There’s no way to ignore that kind of fire!
RESPOND
Lord, help me look to You for my purpose and my strength. Lead me every day so I can do Your will and serve You to the best of my ability. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
A Woman After God’s Own Heart- A Devotional—Make daily progress toward becoming a woman after God’s own heart with these helpful and encouraging devotions.
A Woman After God’s Own Heart Bible—Fresh encouragement for everyday concerns and vision for a transformed life.
REFLECT
Do I pause to consider my words before I speak?
Memorize Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without complaining and disputing.”
REMEMBER
Regardless of our predicaments, we can be content. Why? Because our Savior is our strength.
Read Stop Complaining on Elizabeth & Jim George.
August 1, 2018
Stop Complaining
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We all make choices in what we do with our day, our thoughts, and our words. A favorite verse of mine ends with the words, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30 NASB). I don’t want to be robbed of even one of God’s riches by not taking time to let Him invade my life. The bottom line? I want to be a woman after God’s own heart!
Stop Complaining
One sure way to do this is to stop complaining. In Philippians 4:11-13 the apostle Paul writes, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (NIV).
Never once do we see Paul quitting, having a fit, or complaining. Regardless of his predicament, he was content.Why? Because he looked to his Savior for strength.
Start Praying
The Bible says to be steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord. And when you do, you’re on the way to becoming the best possible woman you can be—a woman who serves the Lord in her words and her deeds.
Make a daily commitment to God. It can be as simple as praying, “Lord, today I give myself anew to You!” Your heart for God should be like a boiling pot—intense and passionate. There’s no way to ignore that kind of fire!
RESPOND
Lord, help me look to You for my purpose and my strength. Lead me every day so I can do Your will and serve You to the best of my ability. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
A Woman After God’s Own Heart- A Devotional—Make daily progress toward becoming a woman after God’s own heart with these helpful and encouraging devotions.
A Woman After God’s Own Heart Bible—Fresh encouragement for everyday concerns and vision for a transformed life.
REFLECT
Do I pause to consider my words before I speak?
Memorize Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without complaining and disputing.”
REMEMBER
Regardless of our predicaments, we can be content. Why? Because our Savior is our strength.
July 31, 2018
Praying for Your Unbelieving Husband
If your husband is not a Christian, then your first and foremost assignment is to pray daily for God to draw your beloved to Himself. I cannot urge you strongly enough to pray faithfully.
The Power of Prayer
The Bible says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). And the same is true of the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous wife. It avails and accomplishes much!
One of the doctors Jim called on each month when he was a pharmaceutical salesman was a vibrant Christian, and he gave Jim a copy of a Christian book. Well, Jim read the book only so if the doctor asked him about it on his next sales visit, Jim could say he’d read it. Who knew that book would turn Jim’s world upside down?!
Like the apostle Paul in Philippians 3, God laid hold upon Jim through the scriptures and truths presented in that book. Well, as with all good things, Jim wanted to share it with me. In all honesty I told him, “Of course I’ll read it.” Unfortunately that book ended up getting lost in my bookcase for the next two years.
And, like Jim, the day I picked it up and began reading it was the day my life changed forever. Suddenly God turned my life upside-down too—and we became a couple after God’s own heart. That’s when we wholeheartedly and in perfect unity jumped into the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).
The Prayers of a Wife
I cannot encourage you enough to pray for your unbelieving husband. God can turn your husband upside-down and inside-out. He delights in showing people the way to know Him and experience His love and forgiveness. Praying for your husband is your supreme act of love. As a famous theologian noted, “There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him.”
RESPOND
Dear God, I pray my husband comes to know You and to is filled with the knowledge of Your will. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
15 Verses to Pray for Your Husband: You, dear wife, may be the only person praying for your husband. This wonderful book by Elizabeth George shows you how!
Prayers for a Woman’s Heart is filled prayers and devotions to help you grow in wisdom, patience, and peace!
REFLECT
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
While you’re praying for your husband, pray for God to send people to share their faith with him.
REMEMBER
Your assignment from God is to pray, to keep on praying no matter what, and to trust God.
Read Praying for Your Unbelieving Husband on Elizabeth & Jim George.
July 30, 2018
Praying for Your Unbelieving Husband
If your husband is not a Christian, then your first and foremost assignment is to pray daily for God to draw your beloved to Himself. I cannot urge you strongly enough to pray faithfully.
The Power of Prayer
The Bible says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). And the same is true of the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous wife. It avails and accomplishes much!
One of the doctors Jim called on each month when he was a pharmaceutical salesman was a vibrant Christian, and he gave Jim a copy of a Christian book. Well, Jim read the book only so if the doctor asked him about it on his next sales visit, Jim could say he’d read it. Who knew that book would turn Jim’s world upside down?!
Like the apostle Paul in Philippians 3, God laid hold upon Jim through the scriptures and truths presented in that book. Well, as with all good things, Jim wanted to share it with me. In all honesty I told him, “Of course I’ll read it.” Unfortunately that book ended up getting lost in my bookcase for the next two years.
And, like Jim, the day I picked it up and began reading it was the day my life changed forever. Suddenly God turned my life upside-down too—and we became a couple after God’s own heart. That’s when we wholeheartedly and in perfect unity jumped into the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).
The Prayers of a Wife
I cannot encourage you enough to pray for your unbelieving husband. God can turn your husband upside-down and inside-out. He delights in showing people the way to know Him and experience His love and forgiveness. Praying for your husband is your supreme act of love. As a famous theologian noted, “There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him.”
RESPOND
Dear God, I pray my husband comes to know You and to is filled with the knowledge of Your will. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
15 Verses to Pray for Your Husband: You, dear wife, may be the only person praying for your husband. This wonderful book by Elizabeth George shows you how!
Prayers for a Woman’s Heart is filled prayers and devotions to help you grow in wisdom, patience, and peace!
REFLECT
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
While you’re praying for your husband, pray for God to send people to share their faith with him.
REMEMBER
Your assignment from God is to pray, to keep on praying no matter what, and to trust God.
July 26, 2018
What to Do about Worry
I’m a person who used to sleep with my pillow under my stomach to comfort my bleeding ulcer instead of sleeping with the pillow under my head. Finally I acknowledged that worry is a terrible sin… and a terrible habit. As I read my Bible and grew as a Christian, I couldn’t help but notice there are so many commands in the Bible telling God’s followers not to worry!
Worrying is a Bad Habit
I grabbed onto these two and began to pull them out when I felt my stomach burning or caught myself wondering and worrying. Jesus commanded: “Do not worry about your life” (Matthew 6:25). And Paul commanded: “Be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6).
Worrying is a bad habit. A habit is anything you do on a regular basis. Habits can be good ones…or bad ones. Reading your Bible and praying are good habits that you want to be a part of your life. But any habit, whether it’s an action or attitude or thought process that tempts you to turn your heart away from God and onto yourself is a bad one and must be changed and dealt with dramatically and drastically.
What to Do about Worry
Worry is definitely one of the actions that takes your eyes off God. Worry says that “this” (whatever “this” is that you’re worrying about) is something that can’t be handled by God, with God, or by His grace. This attitude is the exact opposite of trusting God. You might as well be wearing a T-shirt or pin that says, “I don’t trust God.”
The goal of spiritual growth is to exchange the bad habit of worrying with the excellent habit of trusting God. Whatever your situation, do your part. Do all you can. But most of all, be sure you turn your concern over to God!
RESPOND
Dear God, I so easily focus on the bad and then I worry. Please guide me in redeeming my negative thoughts by using them as reminders to pray. I want to fully trust You in all things. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
A Woman After God’s Own Heart – With over 1 million copies sold, this wonderful resource shows you how to embrace God’s plans for you. And find real purpose in a life of prayer, a life of priorities, a life as A Woman After God’s Own Heart.
Take 15% off your entire order of $10 or more with coupon code JEGSUMMER → SHOP AND SAVE!
REFLECT
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” (Proverbs 3:5)
When trouble crosses my path, what is my first reaction: do I worry or do I pray?
REMEMBER
The goal of spiritual growth is to exchange the bad habit of worrying with the excellent habit of trusting God.
Read What to Do about Worry on Elizabeth & Jim George.
