Elizabeth George's Blog, page 44

Being a Godly Wife

Like the first-steps and the how-tos of cooking in the cookbooks I received at my bridal shower, foundational guidelines to spiritual growth and being a godly wife are simple.

Aren’t you thankful that God keeps it simple when it comes to such a mystical, mysterious element as spiritual growth? We only need to know what God says is the basic recipe for being a woman and a wife after His own heart…and to faithfully follow His recipe. That’s what “great creations” are made up of. And I’m praying that you and I will become just such creations as we faithfully follow these very few-but-simple steps for growing in the Lord!

Read your Bible every day. Keep in mind that something is better than nothing, so aim for at least five minutes a day of Bible reading. That’s about how long it takes to read one chapter in your Bible.
Pray for your husband three times every day. Pray before he wakes up, at noon, and right before he comes home from work. Of course it will be easy to repeat this exercise every day for a week. Then, of course, you’ll want to do it for life!
Plan to go to church this week. Whether you are a little rusty on your church attendance, haven’t been going at all, or don’t know where to go, place this all-important “date” on your calendar. Then call neighborhood churches or friends to find out where to go, the times of the weekly services, and any other information you might need regarding a couples’ class or a program for your children. The night before, lay out your Bible, organize for a no-hassle breakfast, and get to bed a little early.

It’s important that you talk to your husband about your desire to go to church. Ask him if he would like to go along with you. Tell him you value his opinions. Also share the information you’ve gathered and ask for his input. If he doesn’t want to go to church with you, that’s okay. Your assignment is to be friendly, excited, and to make a move in the direction of attending church yourself. God’s job is to work on your husband’s heart. And, of course, you’ll be praying for him!
Sign up for a Bible class or Bible study. I know you’re busy, but you should never be too busy to take care of your spiritual growth. This “little” exercise may require making a few phone calls, but it will be worth it when you experience the exhilarating joy of growing in the Lord, which is the most important way to make a big difference in your life and your marriage!
Purchase or borrow a Christian book on any topic. Ask your friends and other Christians for their favorite Christian book titles. You can’t buy every book, but you can create a list to remind you which ones to purchase in the future. And don’t forget to make good use of your church library. It’s been said that “by spending 15 minutes a day you can read 25 books in a year.” Now, can’t you scrape up 15 minutes today…and every day? As you learn from authors and teachers and scholars who share their knowledge and their passion for God and His Son, you, too, will grow in knowledge!
Write a letter of commitment to God. On paper, pour out your desire to grow spiritually. It will only take you about five minutes…but those few minutes could set in motion the direction for the rest of your life!

RESPOND

Dear Lord, I long to be a woman and a wife after Your own heart. Please guide me and help me. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

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REFLECT

I suggest this schedule for your first five days of Bible reading:

Day 1  Genesis 1

Day 2  Genesis 2

Day 3  Genesis 3

Day 4  Ephesians 5

Day 5  Colossians 3

Then go back and begin at Genesis 4 and finish the book of Genesis one day at a time, one chapter at a time.

REMEMBER

Five minutes in God’s Word could set in motion the direction for the rest of your life!
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A Friend in Jesus – Teen Tuesday

It’s always good to know the person who says he or she wants to be your friend. So let’s take a few minutes and have some fun in God’s Word as we get to know J-E-S-U-S.

J esus is the Son of God.

Many kids—and adults too— get confused when Jesus is called “the Son of God.” They think this means that He was not God, but was only God’s Son, which makes them think that He is someone less than God. But read the verse below and answer this question:

According to John 20:31, what is the purpose of the book of John? “These [things—the words and messages in the Gospel of John] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.”  According to the rest of John 20:31, what is the result of believing Jesus is the Son of God? “…that by believing you may have life in his name.” Jesus, who was God in human flesh, wants to be your friend. That’s pretty cool, right? Actually, that’s epic! What else did Jesus do? Read on to discover that He…

E ntered this world as a baby.

You [Mary] will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus (Luke 1:31). Once Jesus was born, He was a human person, like you and me. But He was also God, which means Jesus possessed a perfect, sinless nature. He was and is 100 percent God and 100 percent man. Jesus also…

S acrificed Himself for His friends.

It takes a very special friend to be willing to die for another person. And yet that is what Jesus said He was willing to do. How did He demonstrate His love for His friends—and you—according to Romans 5:8? God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

U nites His friends with God’s heavenly family.

Jesus wants to be your friend, but with that friendship comes an additional relationship. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure (Ephesians 1:5). When He becomes your friend, He comes to live in your heart!

S ecures eternal life for His friends.

Jesus offers His friends eternal life. Eternal means lasting forever. What do you need to do to receive this life that has no ending? God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him [Jesus] shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Do you believe that Jesus is God and that He died for your sins? If so, God the Father wants you as a friend for His Son!

RESPOND

Dear Lord, it’s hard to make a friend and to be a friend. Thank You for wanting to be my friend. I’m so glad that I can receive You into my heart and be Your friend even before we meet in heaven. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

A Girl After God’s Own Heart Coloring Book: As your daughter adds her own creative touches to these beautifully designed quotes, she’ll also meditate on powerful Scripture verses included on each page.

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REFLECT

Write out one thing you liked, learned, or want to do after discovering that Jesus wants to be your forever friend.

REMEMBER

God came to this earth as a man so He could provide an opportunity for you to be His friend.
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Being a Godly Father

If you are a dad, you are part of an exciting exclusive club. However you came to be your children’s dad and whatever the circumstances, you are their dad. Being a father is one of the greatest privileges God extends to you. But this role also bears the greatest of responsibilities

Influencing Your Kid’s Heart

Your children are yours to influence for good or evil. Your example will mark them for life. Maybe you need to get down on your knees and ask God to give you His wisdom to do whatever is necessary to be a dad after God’s own heart. And even better is to do this every day.

Influencing Your Father Heart

Additionally, here are 4 small steps that make a big difference in helping you become a godly father—a father after God’s own heart.

Love your wife. The most important step you can take as a dad is to love your wife. This may not be your easiest step. But it will be the one that goes the farthest in modeling God the Father’s love for His children.
Affirm in your heart that you are in the faith—that you are in Christ. If you are, you have access to all the help you will ever need to be God’s kind of dad.
Make sure you are growing spiritually. God wants you to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Because spiritual growth is a command, that means you have a choice. If you want to be a dad after God’s own heart, you will want to choose to grow spiritually. So carve out some time each day to spend with your heavenly Father.
Don’t make excuses for not reading your Bible. Getting into God’s Word is an obvious step for all things spiritual—including being a dad. I’ve heard a lot of men say, “I have to be at work really early.” Or “I don’t understand the Bible.” Or “I don’t know where to start.” Yet if something is truly important to you, you’ll find a way to fit it into your busy schedule, and you’ll take time to learn how to do it. Not only does a Christian man, husband, and father need to spend time with God daily, but he should want to.

RESPOND

Dear Lord, help me represent You, our heavenly Father, to my children—I want to display Your love, devotion, discipline, and caring well. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

A Man After God’s Own Heart-Devotional: These quick devotionals by Jim George will spur the dads in your life on to be men after God’s own heart!

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REFLECT

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

In what ways do I need to grow in the Lord to grow as a godly father?

REMEMBER

“It is the tremendous duty of the human father to be as good a father as God.” W. Barclay
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How to Make Good Choices

Who is the most important guest you have ever had in your home for dinner? Well, just imagine what a stir was caused when Jesus and His disciples showed up for dinner at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Martha went immediately into high gear and tore into preparing food for her VIP guests. At some point Martha became frustrated. Without thinking, she complained to Jesus because Mary, her sister and helper, was sitting at His feet listening to Him while He taught instead of assisting with the serving.

The Good Stuff

Sure, preparations for dinner needed to be made. And 12 guests for dinner is a houseful! But this is how Jesus evaluated Mary’s choice to stop her busy serving, sit at His feet, and listen to Him: “Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (verse 42). It’s sort of like Jesus was saying, “Listen, Martha, you have all your life to fix and serve food, but today you have Me. Don’t berate your sister. Mary made a most excellent choice.”

I’m sure you already know your actions are a matter of choice. You also know that some choices are made for you because they are out of your control. But multitudes of choices arrive with each new day which are yours to make. And these choices, my friend, are a matter of your will. You get to decide what you will or won’t do, how you will or won’t act.

Guidelines to Make Right Choices

The following guidelines will help you proceed through your day, confident that you are seeking to make the right choices.

Treat each day as being important. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
Acknowledge your need for wisdom—and ask for it! “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).
Develop a deep respect for God. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).
Maintain a vital relationship with Jesus. “…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:17).
Pay any price for the truth. “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).

RESPOND

Dear Lord, please help make the decision-making process clearer for me. When I am faced with a choice to make, help me know to either do it or don’t do it. Thank You for Your wisdom. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

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REFLECT

“Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)

How often do I carve out time in my schedule to sit with the Lord and with others?

REMEMBER

We have 1,440 minutes to use today. Let’s wisely fill them with good choices!
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3 Easy Ways to Help Your Marriage

I tried to learn how to play golf several times in my twenties, but I was never good at it. But I have often talked to real—and good—golfers who have said that whenever they start playing badly, they go back to the fundamentals of the game. Somewhere along the way, their swing or their putting had altered from how they were trained.

Marriage is likely no different. Getting back to those early days in your relationship with your husband may be all that’s needed to solve any problems you might be having. You started out as friends, became best friend, then finally committed to being best friends forever! So beyond praying, what can you do to rekindle your best-friends-forever status with your husband?

Some of these suggestions won’t be possible if your husband is not a Christian or strong in his beliefs. Don’t let that deter you! Keep praying for your husband whether he is a Christian or not.

Pray Together

Suggest to your husband that the two of your start small with brief prayers together. Jim and I keep a short list of people who need prayer. Maybe you can start in this simple way and see what happens.

Work on Common Interests

When you were dating, there was so much you enjoyed doing together. But with marriage, unless you both work at it, you can easily drift apart. Make an effort to do something together that you both enjoy.

Spend Time Alone Together

When our marriage hit the ten-year mark, Jima and I attended a marriage conference. One of the suggestions was that we date every week. We had a ton of excuses—money, time, babysitters, jobs. But we made time together—alone—a priority. Give it a try with your husband.

Your marriage was founded on friendship. Make a plan with your husband to rekindle that bond. There comes a time in every marriage when we need to nurture that friendship “love” spoken of in Titus 2:4.

RESPOND

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of my husband and our marriage. At times, it feels like we’re just going through the mundane routine of life and that we’ve lost touch with each other. Please help us rekindle our friendship with one another. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

15 Verses to Pray for Your Husband —Discover key Bible passages you can use as a springboard for lifting your husband up to God. Praying the Scriptures brings deeper unity to your marriage relationship and spiritually enriches you as you make it a habit to ask for God’s guidance in your partner’s life.  https://jegeorge.co/2kNdJLm

REFLECT

“…admonish the young women to love their husbands ….” (Titus 2:4)

What is one thing I can do today to rekindle my friendship with my husband?

REMEMBER

Purpose in your heart to pursue God’s plan for your marriage.
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Why Should I Read the Bible?

Why should we read the Bible? God’s Word is exciting and energizing. It is even thrilling! Why? Because it is life-changing and heart-transforming.

A Lifeline

Today the Bible is my lifeline. For the first twenty-eight years of my life, I turned to everything but the Bible for help. Ever since the day I discovered the truth about Jesus Christ in the Bible, I’ve relentlessly devoured His Word. My appetite for the life-giving, life-saving, life-sustaining truths in Scripture has only increased as the years have gone by.

Living by The Word

Proverbs 2:6 says, “The LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” What you read between the covers of your Bible is wisdom for all your trials and for all the days of your life.

Stand on it. Live by it. And teach it to your children every day so that they, too, have the thrill of a transformed life.

RESPOND

Lord, Your Word leads me to the refuge of Your heart. It fills me with passion to love You and compassion for loving my children. Transform me, Lord. Amen. 

RENEWING RESOURCES

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REFLECT

“For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.” (John 17:8)

Do I read the Bible daily? Is doing so a priority for me?

REMEMBER

What you read in the Bible is wisdom for all your trials & for all the days of your life.
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6 Steps To Be More Productive

When my girls were young, I was hardly able to hold my head above water. I had a hyperactive family of four going at full speed, which meant I wasn’t very productive.

Craving Help

I craved help for a better life. So I took the first giant step toward improvement and growth: I identified and owned my key problem—my life was a mess. Along with that admission came a refusal to rationalize my messed-up ways with trite excuses like, “But you don’t understand. We’re a v-e-r-y busy family! One of these days, things will ease up and then I’ll have more time to take care of my home and family…er, and myself.”

Oh yes, I was definitely looking for that better life. I got tired of thinking—and even blurting out once in a while—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 spent all the time and still not getting my life in order.

Carving Out Time

Can you relate? Are you tired of the rush and are you looking for a better life too? The saying, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” says it all, doesn’t it? Your dreams and responsibilities are what make up your life’s journey. So, to begin your journey of following and fulfilling your dreams and taking care of your responsibilities, you must begin with one single step—get up tomorrow.

6 Steps To Be More Productive

As you pray about living your life God’s way and purpose to (by His great grace) make each day count, 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).

RESPOND

Dear Lord, thank You for Your calming presence in the chaos. Help me to weave a gracious life that reflects Your peace, order, beauty, and blessing. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

A Woman’s Guide to Making Right Choices: 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

“As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.”  (Proverbs 26:14)

What can I give up in order to make these steps a reality in my life so that I am more productive?

REMEMBER

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
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Read 6 Steps To Be More Productive on Elizabeth & Jim George.

Dealing with Loss

If you are not experiencing loss at this time, this blessing is truly worthy of giving praise to God!

But for many, loss is a present reality—loss of a family member, health, a job, a home through financial setbacks, fire, or disaster.

Choices in Loss

If this is where life finds you today, you have a choice to make: You can allow yourself to be consumed by your loss, your pain, and your sorrow, or you can choose to be consumed by God and His mercy, His comfort, and His grace. Let these words comfort you in your situation: “Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you” (Isaiah 46:4).

In his day, Paul addressed the topic of widows in the church and the loss of husbands, the greatest of all personal relationships. He said, “Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day” (1 Timothy 5:5).

Calling on God

Whatever the loss, either past or present, you too must trust God in the same way those widows were instructed to do. Call upon God’s strength to help you bear your burden of loss. Then ask God to turn your loss into an opportunity to minister His grace to others who are suffering loss.

RESPOND

God of all comfort, today I praise You that You give strength to the brokenhearted and aid to those who are in need. You bring sweet relief to those who are in pain. You protect and defend the weak and provide for those who suffer. Often I feel alone and sad with the loss of something or someone that is familiar and precious in my life. Yet I know You are always present and will fill the emptiness I am experiencing with Your love, grace, and peace. Thank You that my losses give me opportunities to trust You and experience a greater measure of   Your grace. When I am weak, You give me Your strength to carry on and to also comfort others who are experiencing loss. Thank You for Your love and concern. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

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REFLECT

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Where do I turn most for comfort: friends, food, entertainment, hobbies, or the Lord?

REMEMBER

Choose to be consumed by God and His mercy, His comfort, and His grace.
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7 Steps to Enjoying Housework

I smile every time I think about the results of a survey I took several years ago. During a teaching series entitled “The Wise Homemaker,” I asked a hundred women just like you and me, “What keeps you from getting your housework done?” Their answers fell in this order:

#1 Reason: Poor use of time
#2 Reason: Lack of motivation
#3 Reason: Failure to plan
#4 Reason: Procrastination

I’m smiling and nodding now because I can certainly relate! The items on the list make perfect sense to me!

So, if you’re like me, dear friend, you and I can both thank God that He has shown us His beautiful Proverbs 31 woman who uses her time—indeed, every second of it—and uses it well! Let me pass on some methods that help me “work up” a better attitude and even an eagerness about my work.

Enjoying Housework

Embrace God’s will for your life—If you’re uncertain about what God’s will for your life is, you’re seeing it expressed right here in Proverbs 31. Put the message in your words and then own it, love it, tackle it, be committed to it, and dedicate your life to it!
Stay in God’s Word—Allow the Spirit of God to energize your heart, mind—and strength—through the power of God’s Word.
Develop a vision—Think for a moment about how your daily environment is a direct result of your vision for your home and family, your vision for the beauty and order of a well-run home and for peace under your roof.
Pray for an eager attitude—When you turn off your light at night, pray about the work that awaits the next day. Ask God to help you greet the day with an eager attitude (see Psalm 118:24).
Create a schedule—A schedule will help you plan your work. You’ll know what’s coming and where you’re going, and you’ll be able to anticipate the pace and envision your next task.
Develop a routine—The more work you’re able to fit into a daily routine, the better. Those things you do everyday take less time when they’re part of a routine.
Tackle the worst first—There’s no reason to live your days under a cloud of dread because of some challenging or unpleasant task you need to tackle. Simply do that task first! Having the monumental thing out of the way makes the day go more smoothly and easily.

I want you to experience the exhilaration and continuing motivation that come with such noble efforts. So please pause, pray, pour out your heart to God—with tears if they flow—and, relying on His grace, persist in the divine work God has given you to do for Him!

RESPOND

Lord, make us masters of ourselves that we may be the servants of others. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

Beautiful in God’s Eyes — Experience a richer, more exciting spiritual walk as you embrace God’s design for true beauty in your life. This wonderful resource is a great guide!

REFLECT

“She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.” (Proverbs 31:17)

REMEMBER

All that stands between your goal

And the deeds you hope to do

And the dreams which stir your soul—Is you!

Read 7 Steps to Enjoying Housework on Elizabeth & Jim George.

How Can I Be More Generous?

God is generous and giving. When the disciples came with a need, Jesus filled the need by giving food to five thousand people.

Are you nurturing a giving spirit? Are you generous with your resources? Giving God and people your time is sometimes the most expensive, and most appreciated, gift you can give.

Generosity also includes little touches and activities you can do to brighten someone’s day, such as sending a quick note, making a cheery phone call, weeding someone’s flower bed, or delivering a bouquet of wild flowers.

I remember clearly the day I assessed my spiritual life and decided I needed help in this area. So I prayed . . . and continued to do so. Every day I asked God to open my eyes and my heart and to bring to my knowledge the needs of others. I consider it re-tuning my heart to God’s Word, God’s ways, God’s grace, and God’s generosity.

With His help I can meet the needs of others and reach out with His love. Why not make this one of your goals?

RESPOND

Father, show me the big and little ways I can share my resources, including my time. Help me think of others before myself when I have free time and some spending money. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

A Woman After God’s Own Heart Bible – this brand new resource by Elizabeth George is filled with this devotion and 364 others short devotions to draw you to God’s Word and give you hope, wisdom, and understanding.

REFLECT

Read John 6:1–14.

Who can I be generous toward today? Name two specific ways to show generosity.

REMEMBER

Giving God & people your time is sometimes the most appreciated gift you can give.
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