Archive for 'My Bible Study Notebook'

How often do we feel like we aren’t enough. Like there is something about ourselves that we need to change. Whether that be something we need to change about our physical selves, like our weight or our hair. Or something we need to change about our inner selves, like being more patient, having more faith, or simply spending more time in God’s Word.

Often, we look at ourselves, and we feel like the very essence of who we are just isn’t enough.

Yesterday, as I was endeavoring to go deeper and connect with God during praise and worship at church, God spoke something very powerful to me through His Holy Spirit.

He simply said, “You’re Enough.”

I paused for a second, a bit confused. Then, I heard Him speak the same words again, “You’re Enough!”

Suddenly, I could feel the tears beginning to fill my eyes.

Of course! It finally hit me, if the God Who is more than enough not only lives inside of me, but literally created me in His image, wouldn’t that at least make me enough?

I mean, think about it for a second…

No, you are not perfect…I am NOT perfect. But, I am fearfully and wonderfully made in the very image of God. Follow me for a second here…

That means that the person that God originally intended for me to be, the person that I am predestined to become, that person, in the eyes of God, is enough.

That means that my goal should no longer be to simply “change,” but to “Become”! To become the person God originally created us to be.

So many times you hear people say things like, “I can’t change…this is just who I am.”

Well, I have some great mews for those people-you don’t need to change, but rather to become! And that is NOT who you are, but rather who Satan wants you to be stuck as.

Really, it’s about growth. Growing into the person you were created to be. While change can often seem impossible, growth, on the other hand, given the proper nutrition is inevitable.

Think of a child. My son is always growing. He outgrows clothes and shoes like nobody’s business! Why? Because he’s slowly becoming the man that God created Him to be.

Now, you may be thinking, “Sister Ameerah, he’s only one! What are you talking about growing into a man?” Well, God is not simply looking at where you are now, but the end result of who He predestined you to become. That’s why, to Him, you are who you were created to be, just like my son. You are enough.

All you have to do is grow.

Now, I don’t want to imply that growing and becoming is easy. It takes constant communion with God so that He can reveal the areas in you that He wants to heal, restore and transform. It takes meditating on His Word so that you can renew your mind and begin receiving the mind of Christ. It takes time. It takes effort. It takes patience. It takes faith.

But, it is not changing into some unattainable ideal. Rather, it is becoming the Real you. Doesn’t that sound worth it?

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As my little on sits momentarily distracted playing with some toys on the floor, I decided to “steal a moment away” with the Lord and continue my personal study of the Book of John.

I find that, with an adorable one year old in need of my constant attention, I have to stay sensitive to God’s leading and keep an eye out for even the shortest moment I can steal some time with Him.

So, Today I read John, chapter 2. It’s kind of a short chapter, sharing John’s account of Jesus’ first public miracle (turning water into wine at the wedding), and His rebuking the money changers and merchants at the Temple. But, what struck me most as I was reading it was the final verses of the chapter:

“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” (John 2:23-25)

What struck me was that, though these people believed in His name, He did NOT commit Himself to them. “Why?” I asked myself.

Two reasons stood out to me:
1. When did they believe? Only after they saw the miracles that He had done. Now, I don’t think there is anything wrong with believing God for a miracle. I’ve believed for, and received, kore than my share of miracles from the Lord, both big and small. But my relationship with Him can not be based on what He does, but rather on who He is. If my relationship with God is based on Him doing what I want Him to do, them my love for Him is totally conditional. That means He couldn’t trust me. I’d be what people like to call a “fair weather friend” of God.

2. Verse 25 said He knew what was really in their hearts. How often do we forget that God knows what’s really going on under the surface. In fact, He knows our hearts better than we do. Many times we convince ourselves that we are standing in faith when, in reality we are trembling in fear. We try to convince ourselves that we want God’s will, but in reality we pout when He doesn’t give us what we want. But, He knows how strong our conviction for Him really is. He knows what it’s really based on. If our love for Him is that “What have You done for me lately?” kind of love, can He really trust us?

Let us each seek to become those whom Jesus can trust. Those who love Him with a pure heart that seeks after His face and not His hand.

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God has really been putting on my heart to study the book of John. Of course I’ve read this book of the Bible before, and have no idea what He wants to reveal to me this time through. But I’m excited to dig into His Word, and invite you to join me on the journey!

This is not going to be an in depth teaching Bible study, but rather my own personal study journal where I share the things God reveals to my heart as I meditate on His Word.

I LOVE how John starts so differently than all of the other Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4

It’s so powerful and in your face!

It also reminds me that Jesus’ beginning was not in Mary’s womb, but that He was there in the beginning.

When God said, “Let us make man in our image…” Jesus was a part of that us.

Then, to step back and reflect on the fact that Jesus is God’s Word made into flesh. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. He was every law, every promise, and every single provision God has ever made for us, alive and walking upon the earth – How amazing is that!

And yet, “the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:5) Let it not be said of us that God’s Light shined into our lives, and we comprehended it not. Let us instead be seekers of His Light, quick to repent of the missteps it reveals in our lives.

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As Christians, we all want to glorify God, but when is God glorified? Is He glorified by how much suffering we can endure for His sake? Or is He really glorified when we bear good fruit in His name?

Here is the third installment into my Christian Joy Bible study notebook.

Date: March 20th, 2008

Scripture:

When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me]. If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love. I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing. ~John 15:8-11 (AMP)

My Thoughts:

I think that sometimes we as Christians get confused about how to glorify God. Many of us have been taught that God is glorified by our suffering. But that is not what Jesus tells us in this scripture. He says that our Heavenly Father is glorified when we bare good fruit for Him – When we are producing a harvest.

That is so significant to me because I know that I have been in churches before that preach a certain kind of theology that makes you feel like God is only glorified by our pain and suffering. Somehow I had internalized the idea that if I was enjoying my life that I was doing something terribly wrong. It was like I had to be miserable to be a good Christian!

When I read all of John: 15 I was actually amazed by one thing in particular. The entire scripture focuses on baring good fruit for God, and then Jesus adds in: “I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.”

His goal and intention for speaking with them about baring good fruit and glorifying God was not for His benefit, but for theirs – For ours. He wanted us to have joy and gladness that overflowed!

Where was that joy supposed to come from? From following the Lord’s commands, abiding in Jesus’ love, and baring good fruit.

Well, I’m not perfect, but I do try my best to follow the Lord’s command’s, Jesus’ love does abide in my hear, and I do try to bare good fruit.

So, I have to ask myself, do I have joy and gladness that overflows? Am I filled with God’s joy and delight as Jesus said He wants me to be?

Day by day I am more able to say “yes” to that question, but still only with a little “y.” But, I want to be able to say “YES! God’s joy and gladness is living within me!” I want it to bubble up until it overflow onto others.

Why?

Because then my joy can be a witness to the world of the joy available in Christ.

Then, my joy will bare good fruit, and that is how I truly glorify God!

My Closing Prayer:

Lord, please help us all to bare good fruit for You so that You may be glorified. Please guide each of us to the callings and giftings that you have stored up inside of us. Help us to use them to reach out to others in the world and bless them in Your name. Help us all to rid ourselves of any thoughts that we are not meant to enjoy our lives as Christians. Fill us with your joy so that it can be a witness in a world that has lost their’s. – In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

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Jesus died so that we could have an abundant life. So that we could enjoy every single day, and live our lives to the fullest, until they overflow.

Here is my second installment into my Christian Joy Bible Study notebook.

Date of Entry: February 26, 2008

Scripture:

I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live).
He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have and enjoy life,
and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. ~ John 10:9-11 (AMP)

My Thoughts…
Jesus came to this earth. He suffered the cross. He sacrificed His life and went to the pit of hell for 3 days to pay the price and take something back for me. Something that Satan wanted to steal and destroy – An Abundant life.

Jesus says that He came and paid the price so that I could have and enjoy my life. I have to stop and ask myself: Sure I have my life, but am I really enjoying it? Am I living it to the full, till it overflows? That is the abundant life that Jesus sacrificed to buy back for me. It is mine for the taking, but I have to be willing to step up and take it.

In this passage, Jesus calls Satan a thief. What do thieves do? They steal things that they have no right to. They con and deceive people into giving them what they want. And, Satan is the same way. If we let him, he will con and deceive us into living a life well below the one Jesus died to give us.

And I realize now that was exactly what I had been allowing him to do to me.

As long as I live, there will always be work to be done, but, work is not everything. My worth is not dictated by how much I can get done in one day, but by the fact that my Lord in heaven loves me. There is nothing that I can do that will add or subtract from my true worth.

Of course, as I said before, that does not exempt me from using the talents that God has given me. But, it does open up the opportunity for me to enjoy the life God has given me. For me to live it abundantly – Until it overflows!

My Closing Prayer…
Lord, please teach us how to really enjoy the lives you have given us. Jesus gave up His life so that we could have and enjoy ours. Help us to remember that, and to make enjoying our lives a priority. Help us to slow down to enjoy our families more. Show us Your joy, even in everyday tasks that can become so mundane, and in the special work that you have given each of us to do. Let us rediscover the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. Let us live it to its fullest, until it overflows on those around us, that they too might be filled with your joy!

Create Your Own Online Bible Study Notebook for Free at The Hem!
I provide th online Bible and free webspace, you bring the topic, and God with supply the revelation!

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This is the first entry into my personal Bible study notebook on Christian joy.

Date of Entry: February 19, 2008

Scripture:

Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold. – Nehemiah 8:10 (AMP)

My thoughts…This scripture is so key! That is one of the reasons that Satan tries so hard to steal our joy as Christians. It is why so many of us struggle with Christian depression and anxiety disorders. God has given us His joy to be our strength.

In the Greek, the original word they used for strength in that verse meant defense, force, fortress, strength, stronghold, and rock! Christian joy is supposed to be all of those things for me on a daily basis.

If Satan can get me to live a life without joy, it will inevitably be a life without the power to fight the good fight of faith.

The other key part that I’m seeing here is that true joy comes from the Lord. It says that the joy of the Lord is my strength. That should have been evident to me since joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit, but I really hadn’t been thinking about how the connection relates to me personally.

Any joy that I try to create within myself is always going to be fleeting. I need to depend on my Heavenly Father to be my source of joy. This means I don’t have to beat myself up for not having joy. I need to stop and turn my eyes to God, seek His face, and receive a fresh infilling of His Holy Spirit and His joy.

This also emphasizes the importance of joy. Of all things, Christian joy is what God says is my strength. When I am denying myself the opportunity to enjoy my life, I am actually disarming myself against the enemy’s attacks. I am robbing myself of my ability to fight back by draining my “strength reserves.”

Of course, life can not be all fun and games, but there is definitely a such thing as balance!

Questions it brought to my mind…

1. Why, of all things, does the Bible say joy is our strength?
2. How exactly does it strengthen us?
3. How can I safeguard myself to make sure I do not fall back into the trap of denying myself any joy and being totally out of balance?

My closing prayer…

Abba, Father, please help us all to understand the importance of Christian joy. Strengthen us with a fresh infilling of Your Holy Spirit and Your joy. Help us to rediscover Your joy in the simple things in life, and to experience it to the fullest.

Create Your Own Online Bible Study Notebook for Free at The Hem!
I provide th online Bible and free webspace, you bring the topic, and God with supply the revelation!

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In the free Bible Study Basics eCourse on how to study the Bible , I talked about how one of the most effective ways to study is to use a Bible Study Notebook.

I decided, as a way to help myself stick with the commitment that I made to God to spend more time in His Word for my own edification, I am going to dedicate a portion of this blog to be my personal online Bible study notebook.

Of course, you are invited to join in and share your thoughts and ideas. But, ultimately, the studies will focus on areas that God is showing me I need to address personally.

Still, I pray that God will be able to use my study to be a blessing in your life, and to help you to grow closer to Him through His Word.

First Online Bible Study Topic: Christian Joy

I’m doing a study on joy because God blessed me with what people call a Type A driven personality. I’ve noticed that, just as with all personality types, there are certain areas of the driven personality that Satan likes to exploit.

For me personally, the issue that I have struggled with is the idea that joy is not important – Only productivity. Rest, relaxation and fun can seem like sinful indulgences in my mind, and doing anything for myself typically feels selfish and fills me with feelings of guilt and shame.

How dare I drink a cup of tea and enjoy the sunset that God so beautifully created? How dare I take a long shower or even spend money on things I actually need? That is one of the reasons why I have not done a Bible study for myself in so long – Why be selfish and study for me when I could be writing studies for others to help them grow spiritually?

But, God has convicted me of this. Jesus died so that I could have an abundant life filled with joy.

So, I invite you to join me on an in-depth study of Christian Joy. I pray that it will be a blessing to you, and that God will use it to inspire you to experience the joy He has in store for all of us.

Create Your Own Online Bible Study Notebook for Free at The Hem!
I provide th online Bible and free webspace, you bring the topic, and God with supply the revelation!

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