June 27, 2013
Pursue Everything Patiently
“Sometimes it can be very hard for us to wait on God to do things in His time and in His way. It doesn’t occur to us that He has intentionally delayed answering our prayer or fulfilling His promise because He has a higher, greater purpose in mind than just giving us what we want, when we want it, the way we want it. Delay doesn’t necessarily mean denial. It’s just that God often uses the delay to develop our faith in Him as we struggle to patiently pursue everything He has for us.”
The Magnificent Obsession, p. 110
How is your patience? Have you ever stepped in to help God out with your own life? Have you ever run ahead of Him because He’s simply moving too slowly?
What is it that makes us elbow God out of the way and grab the reigns?
Are you afraid that: God is not moving fast enough; He’s forgotten you; He’s changed His mind about what He’s promised? Are you becoming impatient?
That’s why patience is called a “virtue” and “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6).
There is great gain in waiting on the Lord. There is usually more pain that comes from moving ahead with our own plans.
Often, the most frightening thing about getting ahead of God is not the earthly consequences, but instead God’s silence. Notice, after Abraham and Sarah’s baby debacle they didn’t hear from God for 13 years.
The Good News: God can and will redeem our self-effort when we humbly surrender to Him, turn around, and get back to His plan.
Life is a whole lot easier when we let Him lead.
THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENT:
- Scripture Reading: Genesis 16 & 17
- Read Chapter 4 – Magnificent Obsession
1. What are some ways that women try to run ahead of God?
2. Can you recall a time when you ran ahead of God? His Word, His will, His way? What was the outcome? The consequences? How did you “turn around”?
3. What causes you to become impatient with God? When are you most impatient? What are your “triggers”- the kinds of things, feelings, circumstances that can throw you into “self-help” mode? When do you feel the overwhelming need to take matters into your own hands.
4. Do you see any correlation between your own vulnerabilities and your lack of trust in God’s truth… His promises? Explain.
5. Where are you struggling with patience to trust God’s timing and ways? Would you be willing to share that with your group for prayer accountability?
6. Find one or two promises in God’s Word that relate to your particular area of impatience. Please share them. Now claim them!
For Personal Prayer & Reflection:Pursue Everything Patiently~
In your notebook or journal, list 3 ways you are struggling to trust God’s plans, purposes and timing in your life. What frightens you most about surrendering to God’s will? Take some time to honestly talk to Him about your fears. Record your thoughts along with His response. Look over the list you made last week- the things that you need to entrust completely to God; there may be some overlap there. Let’s make this a new beginning by being honest about where we struggle to “let go and let God”. What else has the Holy Spirit brought to your heart and mind during this lesson? Record those thoughts as well
No comments:
Post a Comment