I will NEVER tell something they have to buy something to study God's word. Just get your Bible in your hand and your spirit in a place to receive what God wants to show you and you are welcome!
So, tonight (while the kids are asleep & John is at a church meeting) I thought I would give you a few notes about the first chapter.
Chapter 1: The Names of the Lord
At the very beginning of this chapter Kay asks the question, "Where do you run in time of need?"
We study the names of God to know where to run to find help in times of trouble, worry, and fear. When it seems like darkness is all around you and nothing you're doing seems to be working, where do you go? When you feel like you're lost and you just can't seem to get a handle on life and certainly can't find joy, you need a strong and powerful name you can lean on and run to - and God is just that kind of name.
Proverbs 18:10, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe."
My sweet friends, we may not be able to ever know the reasons why things happen in our lives, but we can know the God who is able to deliver us through every trial and circumstance. Do you believe this today? If you're not sure... hang on. Stick with us for this study. Test and see if your faith is not strengthened the more we get to know Him.
Psalm 20:7 says,
"Some boast in chariots, and some in horses;
but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God."
Do you know what it means to boast in the name of the Lord? To boast in something means to have confidence in or to trust. So to boast in the name of the Lord means to have confidence in His name.
Can you say that you boast in the name of God?
I think that we don't run to God or boast in God because we don't really know Him. I hope that you have taken time to read the many names of God at the back of your book. Did you know before this study that God even had that many names?!
Read all of Psalm 20.
In this passage look for every word that has something to do with trouble, need, or help and mark it in some way.
Now look for the Lord's promises - mark those too!
I also write a blog that bears the name "LIVING ABOVE' - we see in verse 1 that we can be set securely on high - we can live above whatever we're going through. What sets us there on that high place - THE NAME OF GOD!! Now that's some kind of power!
One last thing about this Psalm... verse 7 refers to chariots and horses.
What happened to the people who boasted in those?
What happened to the people who boasted in the name of the Lord?
Now don't you feel proud of yourself?! We've already covered Chapter 1!!
Comment suggestions:
Always feel like you can "share" or comment on anything that you like about this chapter. Even if you see something that I didn't bring up here! I love it when someone sees something totally different from the same set of scriptures that I read!!!
But if you're needing some help...
1. Contrast the two type of people - those who boast in the Lord and those who boast in horses & chariots. Did you learn something here?
2. Have you ever trusted in your own type of "horse & chariot" and if so what were they and how did they work for you?
3. Now name a time that you totally trusted in the name of the Lord. What were your results?
Please take time to pray over what you have learned from this first chapter. And I would love to encourage you to memorize Proverbs 18:10 - "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe."
I love you all dearly and welcome your input, insights, questions, and comments!
Your sis in the faith,
Pen
Okay - I'll go first! I would really like to encourage all of you who are following to leave comments as often as you can. Many ladies (more than you see in the following list on the side of this blog) are following this online Bible Study. And I know we could all gain more from God's word from the comments that we all have regarding this study!
ReplyDeleteOkay - in the first question - I basically learned that if you're leaning on anything but God - you're going to fall down! I trip and fall over my own self most of the time - I certainly don't need to add to my falling by trusting in someone other than God.
I've been thinking all week - what my "horses & chariots" have been in my life. Certainly asking others to pray for you in great - the Bible says we should definitely do this... but what about when we do this only - and not take things to the Father ourselves?! I have been guilty of this in the past. Also, I think many of us can use things to distract us - like computers, working long hours, and other means of distraction instead of facing our issues head on with a loving God.
I have many stories where I have had to trust God because if He didn't come through for me no one would. Don't you just love it when things work our too perfectly and can't be explained any other way except that it had to be God?! When John & I were first married we lived in Austin, Tx. The way that we got there was an example of totally trusting in God. 9-11 had just happened and my job was struggling as a result of the tragedy. The company I worked for wanted me to come back to Austin, but I wanted I was beginning to feel like it was time to go into full time ministry. John & I of course had just gotten engaged and I didn't want to leave him. So we prayed and decided to totally put our trust in Him. Days later, John shared with me that a group of church planters wanted him to plant a church in Austin! And an apartment ministry wanted me to be the director for their Austin division! God was so good. He brought everything together in His perfect timing.
It's stories like this (that I'm sure we all have) that give us the hope and energy to continue trusting Him in our current day woes and trials.
Remember - those who trust in the Lord will rise and stand upright! Today get up off the couch - walk away from your computer - stand up tall and declare that you will trust in the Name of the Lord!
I love you all dearly and can't wait to read your insights on this chapter!
pen