Thursday, August 8, 2013

#PalmsUp

Welcome to my blog & the 1st post for the online bible study for What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst hosted by Melissa Taylor through Proverbs 31 ministries.

For this weeks topic, I chose #3 #PalmsUp.
In the bible study section at the end of the chapter Lysa asks, "What is holding you back from going deeper in your relationship with God?" List one or more things you sense holding you back (fear, intimidation, time, lack of confidence, etc). Use your bible study tools to find scriptures that will help you apply God's truth in this area. Determine to release, surrender, and move forward with #PalmsUp receiving all God has for you.

I first chose this topic when the OBS email was sent on Sunday. I hadn't even read the 1st chapter yet, but I already knew this is the one I wanted write about. It was mostly due to the word "surrender" - which happens to be "My One Word" this year - or at least this 2nd half of the year. I didn't chose my word until mid June, but the Lord has definitely confirmed my choice. 

Then last night at mid week Bible study at church, my Pastor spoke on "What Is In Your Hand?" He talked about how God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt & Moses told him how he was unqualified. Then in Exodus 4:1-5 God asked him "what is that in your hand?" And Moses said a rod. God told him to cast in on the ground and when he did it became a serpent. 

My pastor said that it wasn't until Moses released what he was holding onto that God was able to finally bring it to life. God can't use anything we are tightly holding on to.

For me, I believe that fear is one of the things that keeps me from going deeper in my relationship with God. Fear is very paralyzing and it is also the opposite of faith. I know deep down that I need to trust God more - especially in the areas of finances & my future - so that is why I chose the word SURRENDER. I want to surrender those fears to Him, let go off those things that I'm trying to hold on too tightly and live my life with my PALMS UP ready to receive what it is that God wants to give - or take away - as the case may be.

I wanted to share a few of my favorite quotes from Chapter One that really stood out to me.

In this first one, I love that she says we don't need perfect circumstances or the perfect religious attitude or all the answers. We just have to surrender - there's my word - all that's clamoring for attention in our heart.

You don't need perfect circumstances to be a woman who says yes to God. You don't need the perfect religious attitude or all the answers to religious questions. You simply have to surrender all that's clamoring for attention in your heart with the answer God is longing to hear spill from your lips, "Yes, God." - p. 13 &14

This is a great quote on radical obedience.
You may be surprised to discover that radical obedience is not really that radical. It is really biblical obedience - but we've strayed so far from biblical obedience that it now seems radical. Then a little further down that paragraph, Lysa says, we will never experience the radical blessings God has in store for us without radical obedience. It is the road that leads to blessing. It is what happens when women say yes to God- p. 18
And here is another one with my word "surrender" along with radical obedience.
Saying yes to God isn't about perfect performance, but rather perfect surrender to the Lord day by day. Your obedience becomes radical the minute this desire turns into real actions. Radical obedience is hearing from God, feeling His nudges, participating in His activity and experiencing His blessings in ways few people ever do. - p 19 

The following is a screenshot from my iPhone the quote about "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." I've seen it posted in emails and on FB and I just love it because all the people that did great things for God in the Bible were just like you and me. Imperfect with our flaws & maybe even a past we're not too happy about, but the great thing is God loves us and will use us despite our human imperfections. All we have to do is being a willing vessel and follow Him wherever he wants to lead us.
 


4 comments:

  1. I love your post. Thank you for being honest.

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  2. I love your one word and I loved when you said: "God can't use anything we are tightly holding on to." Such a great reminder. Your pastor's visual example of that with Moses was spot on. Thanks for linking up to the OBS blog hop. It's so amazing to see how God is already working through this study.
    Blessings to you on your #YestoGod journey,
    Katrina Wylie (FB Small Group Leader

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  3. Thanks Katrina for the kind words. I'm glad you liked my post. :)

    ReplyDelete

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