1 Peter 5:7-8

Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Study - Week 2

1 Peter 5:7-8

New International Version (NIV)

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

When you cast in fishing, you throw the bait out as far as possible, there is definite effort in the action. So to CAST my anxiety means to get it as far away from me as I can.

And the best place to rid myself of my anxiety? Give it to God. Why? Because he LOVES me. And when I give it to Him, leave it with Him -- don't try to take it back. He can handle it, I can't... When I try to carry my worries, anxieties, troubles, etc. on my own, I am basically saying I don't trust God to help me. I need to humble myself and realize that God cares about me and He wants to help me. Even if my anxiety is brought about by my own sin, if I repent, and turn it over to God, He will forgive me and carry my burdens for me.

Be alert means to live purposefully. Be aware of my actions and how they are affecting me...and others. Of sober mind means to pay attention. When I am feeling weak or am too focused on my own troubles, that is when I am most vulnerable to the enemy's attacks. Lions prey on the weak, the sick, the stragglers... so to stay safe from the enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion, I need to be strong, healthy and surround myself with fellow believers.

I need support of fellow believers to help keep me safe from attacks. Let the lion roar, I am staying vigilant.

James 4:7

New International Version (NIV)

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

AMEN!!!

#Empowered

Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study blog answer....

#Empowered. How does this week's word empower you?

First of all, empowered is a VERB which indicates action. The definitions are: To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority.
To equip or supply with an ability; enable. 

Being empowered enables me to TAKE ACTION. I don't have to be a passive participant in life. I can TAKE ACTION to overcome temptations and distractions that are keeping me from reaching my goal.

The best part of this empowerment is that it comes from and through God. I am invested with God's power and strength to fight this battle. I don't have to try to fight it alone in my own feeble power.

God equips me and supplies me with the ability to persevere in the war to reclaim my health. 

Made To Crave

I have joined the Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study for "Made to Crave," along with over 40,000 other women. Wow!

If you have never heard of the book "Made To Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desires with God, Not Food" by Lysa TerKeurst, I highly recommend it. I read it on my own sometime last year, and am now re-reading it along with the other participants of the Bible Study.

Here is a link to the Proverbs 31 Ministries: http://proverbs31.org/ They have a lot more than just the Online Bible Studies on the site. Explore. It's great. And the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/P31OBS?ref=br_tf and the Twitter: https://twitter.com/P31OBS

Here is a link to Made To Crave information: http://madetocrave.org and Twitter: https://twitter.com/madetocrave

I am really looking forward to the interaction with a lot of the women in the study (don't think it will be conceivable to interact with them ALL!) :D

Quotes that uplift me...

As I do my daily morning Quiet Time (or Coffee with God), sometimes certain phrases or passages speak to me. Here is a collection of recent ones:

When we truly worship God, we're transformed into His likeness and become people who reach out to others and serve them. - Turning Points 11/4/2013 devotional

God is more interested in "heart" than "art" in your singing -- or in whatever ministry you possess. He gives us talents to showcase His grace, not our glory. Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord and for His honor alone. - Turning Points 11/11/2013 devotional (This is one I need to remember to take the fear out of signing solos in church!)

...humbly pray and ask the Lord to reveal any hidden areas of pride in your life... D.L. Moody once observed, "God sends no one away empty except thos we are full of themselves." - In Touch 11/1/2013 devotional (Makes you stop and think, doesn't it???)

How many times have you been reading a Scripture passage when suddenly a light seemed to flip on in your mind? ...All we have to do is say, "Lord, I need you at this moment." And He is there -- always. - In Touch 11/4/2013 devotional (I wish the light would flip on more often!!!)

Too many Christians are content merely to dip their toes into faith because they fear life might not turn out according to their plan. But how much greater their loss will be if life doesn't turn out according to God's plan. He can do much more with a surrendered existence than a sheltered one. - In Touch 11/11/2013 devotional (Sometimes we just need to get out of our own ways and follow God's ways!)

...when you really want to do the Lord's will, He will move heaven and earth to show you the way. - In Touch 11/14/2013 devotional (I just have to recognize it when He does!)

Repentance means that we commit to make an about face and head in the opposite direction from our sins. - In Touch 12/4/2013 

We'll...need to realize our family of origin does not define our true identity. Once we become daughters of the King, we have a royal inheritance that determines who we are. - A Confident Heart by Renee Swope, pg. 90 (It's good to be the princess!!!)

In the same way a radio has AM and FM frequencies, so do our thoughts. They are either AM (Against Me) or FM (For Me) thoughts. - A Confident Heart by Renee Swope pg. 111. (I choose FM!!!)

In his book, Victory Over Darkness, Dr. Neil T. Anderson says, "the more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!" - A Confident Heart by Renee Swope, pg. 107

God will never abandon you. He will disperse your enemies before your eyes, bringing you through the difficult time to victory. - First Place 4 Health Making Wise Choices, pg. 18 (My enemies are procrastination and gluttony.)

A person's love ought to reach in three directions -- upward to God, outward to others, and inward to self. - Dr. Charles F. Stanley, In Touch, Jan. 2014, pg. 8 (That about covers it, doesn't it?)

We worry and wring our hands when it would be far better to lace our fingers together in prayer and surrender ourselves to God. - Jamie A. Hughes, Compass the City, In Touch, Jan. 2014, pg. 11 (I like the image of changing our hand positions -- simple but effective!)

Just a few thoughts to ponder and interpret for yourselves. Happy New Year!!!