When there is nothing left but God that is when you find out that God is all you ever needed to begin with.
1 Thessalonians 5: 23, 24
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
The goal for which we have set for ourselves, is to sanctify (set apart) ourselves completely, spirit, soul, and body. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are to striving to become blameless women. Why? Because He has called us and He is faithful in overseeing us become the woman He created us to be.
Another reason why?
James 4:14
Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air].
We are beginning to recognize that the life of a person with a born-again spirit is not about selfish motives but is defined by the daily effort to die to the self nature (1 Cor 15:31). The gifts/talents that God has given us are to be used and multiplied and bring glory to the Kingdom of God. (Matt 25:28) We have begun reaching out to those in need of a helping hand by understanding what it means to be a good Samaritan (Luke 10:33). By doing so, we are learning to love. For since God is love, the only way we are going to reflect the Son of God on this earth is by displaying to others the same love that He showed us.
Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
(Romans 5:8) That while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I believe physical and mental health will follow spiritual health. When you believed that Jesus died for your sins and accepted Him to be Lord and Savior of your life, you received a born-again spirit. Remember 1/3 of you became perfect when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Redeemer {from past, present and future sin} and as the Savior of your lost soul.
That 1/3 part of you is perfect, whole, complete. No need to change the part of you that is complete and perfect, but there are two other parts of you that are far from perfect. Our journey through life is about growing in wisdom and understanding and striving to perfect the other two areas.
Our goal for this class is to truly understand the spiritual healing that has taken place in your spirit. The way we do that is to stay in continuous communion with our Lord and Savior. Many times we continuously remain the same physically and mentally because we do not listen to God’s voice.
2 Corinthians 3:14
In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused (they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding); for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies (on their hearts), not being lifted (to reveal) that in Christ it is made void and done away.
Mark 15: 37-39
And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out His life. 38 And the curtain (of the Holy of Holies) of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion who stood facing Him saw Him expire this way, he said, Really, this Man was God’s Son!
How is it that you hear from God? Only through the reading of His Word.
We continue to repeat the same behaviors because they are enrooted in our DNA, unless we rely on the strength and power that resides within us which is the Holy Spirit power. Everyone is born with a spirit. God changed our spirit and gave us the power of the Holy Spirit when we freely accepted Him as our Savior.
Matthew 7:14
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Remember the definition of “few”? Few means not very many but more than one.
Praise God for your salvation and be filled with appreciation as the glaucoma begins to be removed from your eyes.
The eyes reveal your born-again spirit to the lost world.
Tonight we begin our mental healing with how the Word of God speaks to us about our thoughts.
Ephesians 4:23 says: And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude).
Your attitude/mind needs constant renewing through the spirit that resides within you.
I have spent a lot of years waiting and waiting for someone to love me. I would say, “If my mother would have loved me”, “If my husband would just love me”, “I my kids would just love me”, THEN I’d be OK.
Well guess what? Love is something we need to do on purpose. We cannot wait to feel loved, but instead we need to start choosing to be loving.
Romans 12:10 says: Love one another with sisterly affection {as members of one family}, giving precedence and showing honor to one another.
Precedence means: priority - it should precede everything else in your life…it should come first. Love shows precedence over everything else.
We must learn to think good thoughts about people.
This week we will practice doing this. We must learn to look for the good in everyone, not the evil. We all have faults and weaknesses, but we all also have things about us that are good.
Kelly sent out an email about a man who sent his four sons out at different times of the year to discover what life was all about. Each experienced a different season thereby having a different view of life.
It is like our life. One season might seem rather dismal with lots of problems and disappointments while another season may be filled with abundant blessings. But regardless of the season, there are blessings to be found.
And the reverse is that we need to understand that other people are in different seasons of their life too.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
[ Everything Has Its Time ] To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
Studying God’s Word is Health to the Bones. Sure beats calcium supplements!
Homework, Proverbs Chapter 16 Due January 30, 2007
Question – If you would, close your eyes and go to a very quiet place in your mind. Imagine yourself “living” what you would consider a “perfect life”. Write down your very first thoughts. Do not try to sound religious or put down what you think I want to hear. Be honest and do not be afraid to write what you really, truly feel and think.
The perfect world for me: The world would not be confused about what truth is and satan would not rule. People would refer to God’s Word for healing their spirit, their souls and their bodies; families would be restored; pastors would lead their congregation without thought of money or magnificent buildings. I wouldn’t bite my fingernails and my hair would have a little curl to it and forever without gray. Everyone would understand me. I want to laugh more, stress/cry less. {This is a very interesting assignment!}
1. 16:1 (NCV) People may make plans in their minds, but only the Lord can make them come true.
(NLT) We can gather our thoughts, but the Lord gives the right answer.
Now, knowing what Proverbs 16:1 says, look back at what you wrote and then write yourself a note from God:
My dear daughter: I, the Lord can make your perfect life come true. You have gathered your thoughts, now allow me to give you the right answer as to how I want your life to be perfect. For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11 Your Father, God
Verses 1, 3, 9 repeat this very important point.
Do you have any idea how long I have been waiting for a mentor while all along I have had the Greatest Mentor of all available to me. All I had to do was ask the question. Lord, what will you have me do with my life?
2. 16:2 Sometimes we believe we are doing the right thing, but what is your motive for doing what you are doing? Self recognition? Selfish motives? NRS – All one’s ways may be pure in one’s eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Please take time this week to dig into your motives for doing what you are doing. Motive: reason for, intention for, inspiration for. If your motive is not doing the will of your Father, then your motive is purely selfish. (sin)
3. 16:3 Look up the word commit – then determine if you “commit whatever you do to the Lord. (commit: to act, give over to, carry out, put into the hands of the Deliverer)
4. 16:5 define pride.- self-glorification, vainglory, egotism, self-love, self-satisfaction, define punished –corrected, disciplined, imprisoned Are we fearful of being punished? ___ I have gambled with this for the majority of my Christian life. _I lived as if I would never die. Serving myself instead of my Lord.
4. vs 6 Fear and respecting the Lord…we see this again. We are called to love …show mercy….have faithfulness…. These things will cover sin. Why? 1 Corinthians 13:13
And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love,
5. vs 8 Why is that we continue to strive for more money and more things? Maybe to cover the bills? My husband and I recently met with a Christian financial advisor. We were amazed at how little we knew about different aspects of our finances. Are your finances glorifying God? This is a question that is between you and God. Take time to discuss the question of money, your job, and your time with God.
6. vs 9 I love this verse and it is important to keep this posted so that we stop thinking we have any control over our own steps. Give an example of a time when you made a plan, but the Lord had you walk a different path. It is an everyday occurrence with me. I planned to move to DC, but God halted that. I now see why. I planned to work as a teacher for awhile, but God halted that and had me teach this Bible Study instead. I now see why.
7. vs 16 My neighbor told me that years ago her son invested $40K in silver. Today it is worth a few dollars. What good is gold and silver if you are unwise and ignorant? Proverbs is about becoming wise. Never ever give up trying to apply the principles given in this amazing book. Surely we all have seen the real estate crash. The American made auto makers are suffering a huge loss because Americans are buying economy foreign cars that get better gas mileage. Many investors thought it was a ticket to instant wealth to buy several houses. Wealth disappears, wisdom remains. I vow to learn to seek wisdom over the things this world has to offer.
8. vs 17 The Way to Go Lightly woman avoids evil by _following His Way_(I am so excited how God gave us this title) Notice what the second half of the verse says: Following the Way is SAFE! Translation: all other paths are not safe. WHY oh WHY do we continue to choose the evil path. Have we not hurt God enough with our disobedience?
9. vs 18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Somewhere along the line we combined this verse to say, Pride goes before the fall, but take time to look deeper into this verse and determine what it is saying to you by defining pride, destruction, haughty and spirit.
Pride - self glorification – egotistic – arrogance, to be satisfied with yourself. Yuck!
Destruction – ruin, destroyed, havoc, devastation
Haughty – arrogant, swelled head!, overbearing, conceited
spirit – disposition, attitude
Now combine those definitions and rewrite that verse.
I am choosing havoc, devastation and for my life to be destroyed when I choose to be self glorifying and arrogant. My arrogant and conceited attitude will destroy me. Instead, vs (19) I am to live my life humbly (gentle, meek, unpretentious).
10. vs 20 The older I get the more I realize that the only place to find blessed assurance is with the truths in God’s Word. Man’s advice will fail you every time. Elaborate on this statement with vs 20. Vs 20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be happy.
Amplified version says: He who deals wisely and heeds (God’s) word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord—happy, blessed, and fortunate is he. –
I want to prosper in the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, long suffering, Gal 5:22
Look at this verse
Psalm 92:14
[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure – defined: flourishing vegetation, greenness, fresh [of trust, love, and contentment].
ADD vs 22 Understanding is a well-spring of life to those who have it, but to give instruction to fools is folly. {I cannot fix people. I can only let them know who I am in Christ}
11. vs 24 Kind words, kind words, kind words are like honey. What else do kind words, kind words, kind words do? (previous vs) Health comes from kind words. Try finding 10 kind words….write them out…say them 20 times!!!! And see how much healthier you feel.
Did you know that another word for love is rapture! Sisters-in-Christ, friend and confidant, agreeable, cherish, treasure, proud of you, honor, rejoice,
12. vs 28 Are you a perverse, troublemaker? Gossip? Plant seeds of strife? Is the internet a form of gossip when you forward forwards that you have no idea if they are true or not. Whenever you become aware of an area you are being corrected in, you start to notice it in other people. I promised my husband that I would not discuss him or men with anyone. Then I got around two of my friends whom I usually engage in men-cutting remarks. It felt very wrong to me what they were saying but I was bordering on joining in with them. I praise God for the wake-up call to stop internet gossip and the desire to stop saying evil things against him. The battle now begins to stop doing it when the temptation comes.
13. vs 31 Gray hair…(.whohoo) is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a righteous life! Personally gray hair makes me look old and feel old. Is there vanity in that statement? Did Solomon have gray hair? Why would he say this?
14. vs 32 Find another verse in Scripture very similar to this. Biblegateway.com Slow to anger...are you getting there?
Proverbs 14:29
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exposes and exalts his folly
Psalm 145:8 You see, God is slow to anger. It is a characteristic of His.
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness
14. I love vs 33! Even something as simple as throwing dice, the Lord knows the outcome! People do just about anything to gamble with their life. Ultimately, the answer/decision about our life comes from the Lord alone.
Amplified Bible- The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord {even the events that seems accidental are really ordered by Him}.
Homework Questions for Proverbs Chapter 17
As you begin studying, get alone with God, praise Him for choosing you as His daughter. Think of ten things you are appreciative for and give Him the praise for them. Confide your worries, concerns, disappointments and desires with Him. Remember, He already knows what they are so nothing can be hidden from Him. Ask Him for forgiveness and then forgive yourself for whatever you have done.
1. Proverbs 17:1 What would you be willing to forego at your dinner table for sweet quietude? Is there sadness at your table? Even if you eat alone, is there a heart of anger or a heart of quietness. Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) even at the dinner table. Are you angry when you prepare meals? Is there strife in your responsibility to prepare food for your family? ________________________________________________________
I challenge you to prepare all meals this week with love and with a servant’s heart. Prepare each meal as if Jesus Himself was coming to dinner. Did you know that He is? If you are there, Jesus is there. That changes things, wouldn’t you say!
2. vs 3 What does it mean to “try the heart”?
3. vs 4 What have you listened to lately that was not truth? ______________________
Be careful, in every field there are lies and false teaching.
4. Let vs 5 speak to you personally by looking up the words mock, insult, calamity, gloats, and punished.
5. vs 8 (NCV) Some people think they can pay other to do anything they ask. They think it will work every time. Pay may not mean specifically money. Give an example of what you have done to get you way. Then ask yourself if life is about your way or THE WAY?
6. vs 9 Forgiveness – who must you go to if someone offend you?_______________
If someone comes to you ragging on someone else, you can bet they are ragging to someone else about you! It’s human nature but not God’s nature.
7. vs 12 How mad is a bear that has been robbed of her cubs? ______________
Look it up! Now site an example of a time when you were as mad as a bear that has just been robbed of her cubs. Why were you mad? (self might have something to do with your answer). Be prepared to share your foolish folly.
8. vs 13 What does it mean to repay evil for good?
9. vs 14 Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before a fight break out (NCV) Think about that. Put it into action. The tell the class about your transformed soul.
10. vs 17 When does a friend love you? ______________________
So if you truly do what you answered on that line, why is it that we are not available when a sister is in trouble? _____________________________
11. vs 19 Do you love to argue? Do you love to sin? Do you brag a lot? Do you always have to have the last word? Is what you have your own?
12. vs 20 Define deceitful heart. The tongue has two guards on it. Why?
13. vs 22 Find a funny joke to share with the class. No one has ever died from laughing too much, but sadness dries up the bones. Check your laughter gauge.
14. vs 24 What do you keep your eyes glued to? Everything is filtered through the eyes and through the eyes ones’ soul is revealed.
15. vs 27 Memorize it! NLT A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Write it out in your notes 7X70!
16. vs 28 What does this verse say to you?
Thank you for persevering. Doing homework is God’s way of talking to you. Be excited about the new creation that you are becoming!
Physical Healing – So often we take balance for granted. Gambling with our health and expecting it to remain indefinitely is ignorant (as the Bible says). The following is a test to see how physically balanced you currently are. Remember: If you find yourself out of balance, today is the day to press forward and “GET BALANCED”!
Balancing Act
With a counter or sturdy furniture near enough to steady you if needed, perform this test:
1. Stand straight, wearing flat, closed shoes, with your arms folded across your chest. Raise one leg, bending the knee about 45 degrees, start a stopwatch and close your eyes.
2. Remain on one leg, stopping the watch immediately if you uncross your arms, tilt sideways more than 45 degrees, move the leg you are standing on or touch the raised leg to the floor.
3. Repeat this test with the other leg.
Now, compare your performance to the norms for various ages:
¶ 20 to 49 years old: 24 to 28 seconds.
¶ 50 to 59 years: 21 seconds.
¶ 60 to 69 years: 10 seconds.
¶ 70 to 79 years: 4 seconds.
¶ 80 and older: most cannot do it at all.
If you are wise, whatever your age, you will want to strive for the norm of those younger than 50. To increase stability and strengthen the legs, stand with feet shoulder-width apart and arms straight out in front. Lift one foot behind, bending the knee at 45 degrees. Hold that position for five seconds or longer, if possible. Repeat this exercise five times. Then switch legs. As you improve, try one-leg stands with your eyes closed.
You can also incorporate one-leg stands into daily routines — while on the telephone, for example, brushing your teeth, waiting in line or for a bus, or cooking and washing dishes.
Exercises to Build a Motor Skill
Two main routes improve balance — exercises that increase the strength of the ankle, knee and hip muscles and exercises that improve the function of the vestibular system.
Sit-to-stand exercises once or twice a day increase ankle, leg and hip strength and help the body adjust to changes in position without becoming dizzy after being sedentary for a long time. Sit straight in a firm chair (do not lean against the back) with arms crossed. Stand up straight and sit down again as quickly as you can without using your arms. Repeat the exercise three times and build to 10 repetitions.
Heel-to-toe tandem walking is another anytime exercise, resembling plank walking popular with young children. It is best done on a firm, uncarpeted floor. With stomach muscles tight and chin tucked in, place one foot in front of the other such that the heel of the front foot nearly touches the toe of the back foot. Walk 10 or more feet and repeat the exercise once or twice a day. Also try walking on your toes and then walking on your heels to strengthen your ankles.
Another helpful exercise is sidestepping. Facing a wall, step sideways with one leg (bring the other foot to it) 10 times in each direction. After mastering that, try a dancelike maneuver that starts with sidestepping once to the right. Then cross the left leg behind, sidestep to the right again and cross the left leg in front. Repeat this 10 times. Then do it in the other direction.
DEVOTION FOR REFLECTION THIS WEEK: Ask yourself, how wise am I becoming?
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
We live in confusing times. The world confronts us with complicated situations, dilemmas and issues. Knowledge is not enough. We must have wisdom. Wisdom goes beyond knowledge. It is the understanding and ability to make sense of things and then act with a wise decision in difficult circumstances.
Wisdom is practical discernment. It begins with respect for God. When we respect God we seek to live in a right relationship with Him and with people. Wisdom helps us in the most basic ways to tell right from wrong. God is willing to give us this wisdom, but we will be unable to receive it if our goals are self-centered instead of God-centered. In order to learn God's will, we need to read his Word and ask him to show us how to obey it. Then we must do what he tells us.
It is not enough just to have a good "take" on a situation. We must have the courage to act wisely and to make the right choice.
Where do we find this wisdom? James gives us a wonderful promise from God's Word. If you will seek, you will find wisdom. Whenever we need wisdom, we can pray to God, and He will generously supply what we need. Christians don't have to grope around in the dark. We don't have to simply hope we will stumble upon answers. We can ask for God's wisdom to guide our choices.
Jesus said: Ask and it shall be given Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened. But have you ever felt you were not even worthy to ask? James suggests a remarkable thing. He says that this wisdom is given by grace or "without finding fault". Even in our most difficult and broken times, when our minds are confused and clouded with our own failure, God is faithful to this promise and will give the wisdom needed. On the worst day of your life, God's ears are not blocked from hearing your cry.
Lord, I do not know what this day holds but You know the wisdom I shall need. Lord give me the wisdom to know Your will and Your way. Give me courage to act in obedience to Your wisdom. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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