Hey ladies! I hope that everyone is finding time to relax this summer in the midst of all of the to do lists, new homes and summer jobs! I know that we are all at different places in the book right now, but in order to get the most out of this on-line approach for the study I thought maybe it would be best to go ahead and start posting....so whether you haven't started or you have already finished week 1 (Kristy and Cary Beth...our overachievers!) I thought now would be as good of a time as any to talk about what we are expecting and what we think so far.
I have only read days 1 - 3, but I am really loving this study so far. Kelly Minter has a way of opening the door to revelation of things in my life that are just not the way that God intended them to be, but she does it in such a real and humble way that doesn't make me feel guilty about it...it just makes me want to change it.
In the first 3 days, I have named a couple of "Pharaohs" in my life...things that have a power over me that shouldn't. I know that a blog is not necessarily the easiest place to "lay out all your dirty laundry", but I do think it is important to confess our sins to each other so that we can hold each other accountable and love each other in our imperfection, so if you don't feel comfortable, please find someone in the group that you can meet with face to face to discuss what God is teaching you and showing you.
For me, the main "functional god" that I have identified I am having trouble putting into words. It is more of a thought and feeling than anything, and I am sure you all understand when I say that sometimes our feelings and thoughts are difficult to express with words...especially in this form.
With that being said...here is my attempt: this week God has truly humbled me in a way that I haven't been humbled in a long time. He has been revealing many selfish and prideful areas of my life that I truly am embarrassed to admit. He has revealed the desire in my heart to reflect my perfection (which doesn't exist) instead of His, and, through this study and life events and circumstances, He has clearly pointed out how these attitudes not only hurt me, but they also hurt the people I love.
I always try to do the right thing and try to make decisions taking into account the feelings and needs of others, but God has been revealing that often my intentions are not pure. I want recognition. I want people to see what I am doing and be impressed! This couldn't be any further from what God really wants. God wants our motives to be pure and holy. HE wants to be our motive, and if my motive is anything other than to bring glory to Him I need to reevaluate.
What about you? What do you all think? Who or what are your "pharaohs"? Any realizations that you have had since starting "no other gods" that you want to talk about? Or maybe you just want to chime in or give advice for what I posted....
I hope you girls are learning as much as I am and that you feel free to share in this setting! Love you ladies!
Taylor
I like how this week's lessons make you look at all the things that could be idols. Prior to this, I felt a lot people had idols that were material, but I am realizing they can take on many forms; items, people, thoughts, and actions.
ReplyDeleteI think my biggest idols are food (i'm obsessed with food and when I will eat it. I plan my life around food and get excited about eating certain things at certain places.) and work (I spend a lot of my time working when I know that I need to carve time out of that for God).
Shannon
Wow - sounds like me. If it's hot, then it's an icee day. If I'm reading or doing Bible study, I'm munching on m&m's - one at a time- to make them last. I think way too often/much about chocolate and food.
DeleteSo for a lonnnnng time now (sadly), God has put it on my heart to fast from chocolate. I'd ask God what he wanted of me and the thought chocolate would pop into my head. Repeatedly. So I justified it by saying...that's it? Chocolate? How's that gonna help or serve you, LORD?
So finally, I committed to a 40 day fast from chocolate. (Today is #20). Along the way, God has shown me it's not just chocolate, but how I use food as comfort and pleasure. And He wants to be my first comfort and my first desire/pleasure.
There has been a freedom and joy from the moment I decided?! Craziness. God always knows. He prunes and prepares for whatever is next??? And I pray to grow in INSTANT obedience. Not ignoring/choosing my will over His.
...His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. John 10:4
Carol