Girls To Grow

Good morning! I hope you’re enjoying this Monday so far. My husband is off work today, and I think we’re just going to enjoy some time together at home.

I decided to mix things up a bit with a different posting schedule this week. Rather than put up one longer blog post on Wednesday, I’m going to do one shorter post each weekday. It’ll be a brief series, and each post will focus on one of the basic disciplines of our Christian faith. Each day’s blog post title will start with, “Why Should I…”

So today’s post asks the question, “Why should I read my Bible daily?” It’s something we’re taught that we should do even as a brand new Christian. But why is it important?

Here are five reasons.

1. To learn about God.

The Bible is God’s Word. It’s a written document, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that is the best tool we have to learn about the God we want to love and serve. Whether it’s through verses that tell us directly about Him or through the stories that reveal how He interacts with people, we begin to grasp His character as we read and study the Bible

2. To know how to live.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” ~2 Timothy 3:16-17

From the Bible, we can learn what pleases God and what doesn’t. He gives clear direction, beginning with the ten commandments in Exodus and going through the gospels and epistles in the New Testament.

3. To be encouraged.

Going to God’s Word for encouragement is a precious gift. How many of us run to the Psalms when we’re deep in our feelings! We can identify with David’s writings when he’s struggling and can find hope through the same God that he followed.

4. To renew your mind.

We live in a world that is full of sin and corruption. We can easily get caught up in the temporary pleasures and pains of now and lose sight of living with eternal values. Spending time each day in the Bible gets our focus back where it needs to be – on growing to be more like Christ and sharing our faith with others.

5. To find God’s promises.

I want to know what God has promised me! Therefore I need to be in His Word so that I can find His promises and claim them for my own.

Reading the Bible daily is definitely a discipline! We have to plan for it or it won’t happen. It’s easiest for me to do it first thing in the morning. But regardless of the time of day we choose, let’s prioritize reading God’s Word.

Related posts:

• 5 Powerful Promises from God’s Word for You
• 7 Truths About Finding Joy in God’s Word
• 10 Things We Can Know About God’s Goodness

Welcome to Girls to Grow today! It’s the last Wednesday in August…which means I want to believe that when September arrives, fall weather will come with it. However, I’ve lived here in South Carolina long enough to know better! 🙂

I did buy a new sweater last week, but it will likely be November before it actually gets worn. I’ve noticed, though, that the days are starting to get shorter, so I plan to enjoy the rest of summer while it lasts.

We all have dark days, whether they’re for a brief time or through a longer season.  Financial difficulties, illness, death of a friend or family member, career struggles – no matter what form they take, these trials can make us feel as if the darkness is surrounding us.

If you’re in one of those times today, here’s a verse that I hope will encourage you.

“For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.”  ~ II Samuel 22:29

When the darkness comes, we’re not alone.  No matter how dark it seems, God is with us. Just knowing that He walks with us through our troubles can make the darkness feel less overwhelming.

What else does light bring us?  Here are five ideas.

• Light illuminates the path. Once we have light, we can see which way to go.  Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”  Letting God’s light shine into our situation can help us know how to proceed. Psalm 119:105 tells us that God’s Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. Reading and studying our Bible will help us see the way to go.
• Light removes the fear of the unknown.  When you can see what’s around you, you’re not as scared.  A verse that comforts me in times of uncertainty is Psalm 112:7, which says of the righteous, “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.”  I don’t have to be afraid of the unknown if I’m trusting God to take care of me.
• Light brings comfort.  If you’ve ever had a child (or been one!) who’s afraid of the dark, you know how comforting it can be to see a little night light shining in the darkness.  God is called “the God of all comfort” in II Corinthians 1:3 and He is able to comfort us at every step. 
• Light reveals imperfections.  When the light of the Lord shines on us, we can see how much we need Him.  Through His Word and His Holy Spirit, He reveals our sin and our weakness. As we acknowledge them, God can show us Himself and His ability to meet our every need.
• Light leads us to our ultimate desination. I think of being lost outside on a cold, dark, wintry night. Just when I feel like giving up, I see a light in the distance. That light gives me hope to keep going, trusting that there’s warmth and something hot to eat and drink where I’m headed! In the same way, we may struggle along here in the darkness of the world, but as Christians, we have a home in Heaven where the light of our Savior always shines!

If you’re going through a dark day, I pray that you will let the Lord shine into your darkness!

Related posts:

• 5 Powerful Promises from God’s Word for You
• How to Praise God When Life Is Difficult
• 10 Things We Can Know About God’s Goodness

Welcome to Girls to Grow today! I took a bit of a blog break over the last couple of weeks, but I’m happy to be back.

Last week my husband and I were able to join a group of people from his company on a cruise in the Caribbean. We had a nice, relaxing time and especially enjoyed visiting Puerto Rico for the first time.

Now we’re on the countdown to college for our girls! I’m slowly but surely marking things off the list with our freshman. She’s been able to connect with two girls who will be her roommates, so that’s been fun.

Recently I’ve been reading in the book of Matthew during my morning Bible time. It struck me one day how often Jesus comments on a person’s faith.

Here are several examples.

“When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” [8:10]

“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” [8:26]

“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” [9:2]

“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” [9:22]

“Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.” [9:29]

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” [14:31]

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” [15:28]

Many of these people had great faith for healing, either theirs or someone else’s. The disciples, though, had little faith when the storm came and rocked their boat. Peter needed faith to walk on the water.

Fatih sounds like such a big, important word..and it is. According to Hebrews 11:6, we can’t please God without it. Maybe, like me, you’re in the midst of a transition or facing a situation with an uncertain outcome and you need faith.

Let’s look at some truths about faith.

Faith is complete confidence and trust in God.

Do you see that word “complete?” That means totally and fully putting our trust in God. It’s not, “Yeah, I believe God is going to meet my need/answer my prayer, but I’m also trying to work it out on my own over here just in case He doesn’t.” Anyone but me ever been there?

I don’t think the blind men who come to Jesus for healing in Matthew 9 had a backup plan. Their faith was in His power to give them sight. And He did.

It’s not “blind” faith when we put our trust in God.

There are several things we can base our faith on. The first is what we know about God from His Word. Deuteronomy 7:9 says that He is the faithful God. Faithfulness is part of His character.

Not only does the Bible tell us that our God is faithful, but it shows us through the stories we find there. Hebrews 11 is full of them!

Our faith is also based on previous experiences in our lives. You don’t have to be a Christian for long before you’ll go through a trial and you will find that God is faithful. What we’re facing today may be a different circumstance than in the past, but we know God will be faithful again.

Faith will drive out fear.

Notice in Matthew 8:26 above that Jesus asks the disciples why they’re afraid. It’s because their faith was so small. I’m not judging them – I wouldn’t have been calm tossing up and down in a boat during a storm! But they had Jesus right there with them. And He’s also with us in whatever our storm is, wanting us to demonstrate our faith in His ability to keep us safe.

It’s in seasons of waiting that our faith grows.

My flesh doesn’t like this one. Waiting is hard, y’all. Yet in the seasons of waiting, we can cling to God’s promises.

It’s so easy to want to run ahead of God. Remember Abraham and Hagar? God had promised Abraham a great seed. But instead of waiting on God’s timing, Abraham and Sarah took the matter into their own hands. What a mess that was! But what a wonderful day when all the waiting was over and God blessed them with Isaac just as He had promised.

Don’t you want to be one of those that Jesus commended for having great faith?! With God’s help, we can be.

A prayer for today: Dear God, give us faith that we might please You. Help us to fully and completely put our trust in You. We have seen your faithfulness in the past and claim the promises we find in Your Word. Drive out the fear that threatens our peace. You have everything under control, whether we feel like it or not. And when you ask us to wait, may we do so with complete confidence that You know best and are always working for Your glory and our good.

Related posts:

• What Sarah Teaches Me About Faith
• How to Keep on Going When Your Faith Is Weak
• 5 Bible Promises to Pray Over Your Life Today

A lot of times I write about women in the Bible and how we can learn from or be inspired by them. But today I want to talk about Joseph. Not the Joseph of the Old Testament, though he’s a great guy. No, I mean the Joseph of the New Testament. The one who served as an earthly father to Jesus.

As I read about him in Matthew chapters 1 and 2, I find that his life is marked by one word. It’s not flashy or spectacular or radical. It’s a very simple word.

Obedience.

Four times God came to Joseph in a dream. He is given four different, direct commands. And Joseph has the same response every time.

Let’s look quickly at these four passages.

“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost…Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:” ~Matthew 1:19-20, 24

Joseph is already classified as a “just man.” Yet surely this command from God was unexpected. I feel like I’d have wanted something more than just one dream to confirm that I needed to make such a life-changing decision. Remember Gideon and the fleece?? Maybe something like that. But Joesph woke up from his dream and did exactly – and, as far as we can tell, without question – what God told him to do.

He obeyed.

Here’s the second dream.

“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:” ~Matthew 2:13-14

The wise men have just left Bethlehem. Joseph has a dream and is told to take Mary and Jesus out of the country. Not just to another village, but to a totally unfamiliar place. And traveling then wasn’t like it is today, with GPS and car rental and hotel reservations along the way. I don’t know if Joseph had planner tendencies like I do, but it probably would have been nice to have a little more notice before taking off on this big trip.

How did Joseph respond? When he got up out of bed, he took Jesus and Mary at night and left for Egypt.

He obeyed.

And here’s the third dream.

“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.” ~Matthew 2:19-21

Another dream, another trip. We don’t know exactly how long the little family had been in Egypt. But now God tells Joseph it’s time to return to Israel. Perhaps this was a welcome command. Certainly, there must have been relief in knowing that those who’d wanted to kill the young Jesus were dead. Once again, Joseph does what he’s done before.

He obeyed.

And finally, just a short time later, we find the last recorded dream of Joseph.

“But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” ~Matthew 2:22-23

And here’s the fourth dream, the fourth time God tells Joseph what he should do. This time, God’s direction leads Joseph to Nazareth, the town that Jesus would be associated with when He grew to be a man. [Matthew 21:11; Mark 1:24] Joseph responds to this directive just as he has all the times before.

He obeyed.

We may not speak or sing on a stage or be recognized for our large charitable contributions. We may not feel like we have any great talent that God can use. But you and I, we can be like Joseph.

We can obey.

We can look to God’s Word for instruction and follow it. When the Holy Spirit impresses a particular action on our heart, we can follow through. We can pray for discernment to know God’s will and do it to the best of our ability.

I believe that whether it was here or in heaven or both, God honored Joseph for his obedience. And I believe that’s why he was chosen to have such a close, earthly relationship with God’s Son. May we, like Joseph, be obedient to what we know God would have us to do today.

Related posts:

• 5 Tips to Keep You from Getting Your Own Way
• 10 Key Lessons the Israelites Can Teach Us Abouth the Christian Life
• God Will Prepare the Way

Welcome to Girls to Grow today, whether you’re a first-time or long-time reader! I hope your summer’s going well so far and that you had a good 4th of July holiday weekend. It’s a fairly quiet week here, so we’re fitting in a couple of routine doctor appointments and starting the dorm-room shopping process with my younger daughter.

Lately, I’ll admit to having to work hard to keep my thoughts positive. It seems like I run to the negative side of things very quickly! I get down on myself or someone else. Or I dwell on what’s wrong in a situation rather than choosing to trust God and His timing.

But I know that’s not how God would have for us to live. He wants us to walk in His truth. In order to do that, we need to fight those negative thoughts with God’s Word. It is our sword [Ephesians 6:17], and we can use it to get victory over those thoughts.

Here are four common defeating thought patterns along with Scripture to overcome them.

1. I’ve messed up too many times for God to still love me.

Saved or unsaved, you can have this thought. Let’s remind ourselves about some truths regarding God’s love for us.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” ~1 John 4:10 We weren’t the ones to initiate love towards God. He loved us first.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ~Romans 5:8 So often we think of love as conditional. As imperfect humans, it can be hard to grasp that God’s love was so great that He loved us and sent His Son to die for us while we were still in our sinful state, far from wanting the redemption we needed.

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” ~Jeremiah 31:3 God’s love is everlasting. Nothing can separate us from that love. [Romans 8:38-39]

2. God doesn’t know or care about the little things in my life.

We get discouraged, and while we know in our heads this isn’t true, our hearts may feel differently. Thankfully feelings don’t equal truth.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” ~Luke 12:6-7 The God who remembers every sparrow and knows the number of hairs on your head knows and cares about every detail of your life.

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” ~Psalm 139:17-18 What an idea to meditate on – God’s thoughts about me are precious and more in number than the sand!

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” ~Psalm 37:23 God knows not just our whole path, but each step that we’re taking along the way.

3. No one else has the same struggles that I do.

This one has come up often for me as a mom. Other moms seem to have this whole parenting thing down way better than I do! She doesn’t seem to struggle with __________ [insert whatever difficult behavior my child is currently displaying]. But we can also allow this thought to defeat us when it comes to any type of temptation or difficulty we’re facing.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” ~1 Corinthians 10:13 This verse is pretty clear – temptation is common to all of us. Yet God knows what we can handle and makes a way of escape for us.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” ~Hebrews 4:15 Jesus, all-God yet all-man, understands what it’s like to live on this earth with its trials and temptations.

“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” ~Hebrews 2:18 We can run to Christ for comfort and support. We don’t have to do it alone.

4. My prayers aren’t doing any good.

Have you ever prayed for something that, as far as you know, is in God’s will, but it doesn’t seem to get answered?

“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” ~John 9:31 The Bible says over and over that God hears our prayers.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” ~1 John 5:14 If we don’t see our prayer answered right away, it doesn’t mean that God hasn’t heard us. We can’t know the mind of God, but we can trust that He is working out what is best.

“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.” ~Revelation 5:8 I love this verse that tells us that our prayers are before God as sweet incense!

And finally, in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we’re instructed to pray without ceasing. Why would we be told to do this if our prayers don’t do any good?

Let’s be purposeful about choosing our thoughts today. If the defeating thought you’re facing isn’t on this list, find a Bible verse that will help you overcome it. May we use God’s Word to live victoriously as Christian women today.

Related posts:

• Who’s the Boss – Feelings or Truth?
• How to Praise God When Life is Difficult
• A Time and a Season for Every Thing

Has your June flown by?? I knew this summer would go by fast, but the fact that tomorrow is July still seems unreal!

There was no new post last week since we’d just returned from our family vacation. We had a great time with a nice mix of activities and relaxation. Now we’re all home for a couple of weeks, and then the travel starts up again!

Has there been a time in your life when you weren’t sure how to pray about a situation? Maybe it involved a spouse or a child, a financial decision, or a move to another state. Perhaps you just couldn’t get clear direction. And we’ve likely all had times when we were just so overwhelmed with life that we couldn’t even think clearly enough to know how or what to pray.

When we’re not sure how we should pray or what to ask for, here’s a list of five things we can do.

1. Believe that the Holy Spirit will help us.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” ~Romans 8:26

The Holy Spirit knows the mind of God. He intervenes for us and speaks to God on our behalf. The Spirit strengthens us when our faith is weak. He can take the deep, inexpressible cries of our hearts and bring them before God. When we’re perplexed about how to pray, He already knows what’s best for us.

2. Find Bible examples of how others prayed in difficult situations.

We know that David often cried out to God in the Psalms. In chapter 59, verse 1 as he deals with enemies, he writes “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.“

There’s Hannah’s prayer for a son when she was barren in 1 Samuel 1:11. “And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life…”

And our ultimate example, Jesus in the garden before His crucifixion. In Matthew 26:39, we read, “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.“

3. Pray to God directly from His Word.

Find a verse that pertains to what you’re facing or one that brings you comfort and just pray it to God. I often take Proverbs 3:5,6 to pray for myself or someone in my family.

“Lord, help me to trust you with all my heart and not rely on my own wisdom or understanding. May I acknowledge You in every area of my life so I can know that you will direct my path.“

4. Write out what you’re struggling with.

I realize that this is easy for me because writing is one of the best ways I have to process my thoughts. Even if that’s not true for you, try to at least write out a sentence or two that summarizes how you’re feeling. Sometimes just seeing it written down on paper can help you gain a better perspective. This practice might guide you in how to pray.

5. Remember that God knows our hearts and our minds even when we can’t fully express what we need or want.

We’re likely all familiar with Psalm 139. “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.” [Verses 1-4]

What a comfort it is to know that God knows us so deeply and individually! He knows us better than we know ourselves and is so faithful to meet our every need. When we don’t know how we should pray or what we should ask for, He is still able to give us exactly what we need.

I remember a time a few years ago when I was confused and heartbroken over a particular situation. Honestly, I didn’t feel like praying. I didn’t have the words to tell God how I was feeling. Yet as always, He was faithful. He brought me through those days and I learned more about Him and about myself.

In the days ahead when we struggle to know how to pray, may we remember to rely on the Holy Spirit’s help, look to God’s Word, and rest in the fact that God knows our hearts and will continue to keep us in His care.

Related posts:

• 10 Things to Pray for When You’re Seeking God’s Guidance
• 6 Steps for How to Pray When We’re Anxious or Afraid
• 5 Bible Verses to Encourage You in Your Prayer Life