A Woman Inspired

From Cindy Beall's blog (thanks Cindy!):


See that little, blue button with the gal raising her arms? → → → →

Well, it just happens to be a women’s conference that is totally online.

I know!

No need to get a sitter. Or do your hair. Or get out of your pajamas, for that matter!

You can hear one speaker share her message or stick around and hear all 16! This gal and this gal and this gal are all speaking.

I know!

It’s a pretty cool idea, if you ask me.

So, hop on over to the site by clicking that pretty, little, blue button.

I think you’ll like it :)

Week 6 - Group it!

GROUP “SHARE!” TIME

Consider sharing methods that you use to slow down. Today in
our groups, we will stop the distractions, be still and spend time
with the Father.

INDIVIDUAL SEEK TIME

Find a private place to dwell on God, His presence, His names
(from week 3), a scripture (some are listed below), pray, or just
rest in Him. Decide how you would like to spend your time.

Scriptures

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me
lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he
restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his
name's sake. Ps. 23:1-3

If you are not having periods of rest, maybe you should ask,
“God, am I missing it?”

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes,
in undisturbed places of rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. Mt. 11:28-29

Are you at rest? I am not talking about the sleeping kind of rest,
but a peacefulness that is unexplainable in your soul? I (Sheri)
lost my mom to cancer in 2006. I grieved and missed her so much,
but with all the pain, I had a peacefulness in my soul that could not
be explained in words.

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane,
and he said to them, "SIT HERE while I go over there and pray."
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he
began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My
soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. STAY
HERE and KEEP WATCH with me." Going a little farther, he fell
with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is
possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as
you will." Then he returned to his disciples and FOUND THEM
SLEEPING. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one
hour?" he asked Peter. "WATCH AND PRAY so that you will not
fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." He
went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not
possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your
will be done." When he came back, he AGAIN FOUND THEM
SLEEPING, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and
went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same
thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "ARE
YOU STILL SLEEPING AND RESTING? Look, the hour is near,
and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. RISE,
LET US GO! Here comes my betrayer!" Matthew 26:36-46
If you are listening, Jesus will tell you through the Holy Spirit
what to pray, when to rest, when to keep watch, when to pray,
when to be still, and when and where to go.
NOW “SHARE!”

Gather back together. Share how this quiet time ministered to
you.

How is God transforming you in your relationship with Him?

Celebrate and pray for each another.

Week 6 - Share it!

SHARE! - Week 6
SEEK GOD

Know God through Prayer

Week 5 Review Question: Share how, since last week, your
prayer time has changed?

Objective: To seek to know God through prayer while resting,
listening, and delighting in His presence.

Key Verse: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted
among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Ps. 46:10

There is a video to go with this week. I will be getting it from church tomorrow and uploading (hopefully!).

It is so hard for me (Sheri) to be quiet! There are so many
distractions that divide my attention: work, children, television,
other people, sports, etc. Maybe you are a person who is the great
listener, or like me, maybe you are the one that never stops talking
long enough to listen.

When I am busy, distracted, talking or formulating a response, I
cannot possibly listen and truly hear others. The same is true
when we are trying to hear from the Lord. He is gentle and kind.

To hear Him, we need to learn the art of listening. We need to
intentionally be still and wait on the Lord.

1. Can you tell the difference between your head and God’s
voice?

2. Have you heard from the Lord before? If so, when do you
typically hear from God? I hear many people say, “The
shower”. Why? Because we are still and there is nothing else
to distract us in there.

I (Sheri) remember a time when I had no idea how to discern my
ideas from God’s. I would say things like, “Is this God or is this
me?” I was such a busy person that I didn’t know God’s voice
because I was never still.

If you haven’t ever known how to hear from the Lord, do not be
discouraged, this is the right study for you!

Week 5 - Day 5

DAY 5 – Read 1 Thes. 5:16

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and
self-controlled so that you can pray. 1 Peter 4:7

TODAY, DO GOD’S WILL AND PRAY!!!

CRAVE IT! THE EXTRA MILE
Check out these scriptures. Read them. Pray or meditate on
these this week.
• Psalm 86:1-13
• 2 Chronicles 7:13-16
• John 17

Week 5 - Day 4

DAY 4 - Read Gen 32:24-32
Jacob wrestled in prayer! Isaiah 64:7 states, “There is no one
who calls on Your name, who arouses himself to take hold of
You;” May this statement never be true of us! I desperately
desire to “take hold of God” in prayer!

“We are told by the prophet Hosea (Hos 12:4) how Jacob
wrestled: he wept, and made supplication; prayers and tears
were his weapons. It was not only a corporal, but a spiritual
wrestling, by the vigorous acting of faith and holy desire; and
thus all the spiritual seed of Jacob (all believers) that pray, in
praying, still wrestle with God.”(Matthew Henry's
Commentary)

Jacob’s name was changed to Israel that night in battle. Israel
means “he who strives with God”, “he who perseveres”, also,
the name Israel suggests royalty and power! This is not
surprising. Believers are a royal priesthood and we are called
to preserve in faith!

Just look at this verse in 1 Peter 2:9!
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light.”

Let’s realize today and forever that we can and should strive
to “take hold” of God in prayer. Give God your all in prayer.

Week 5 - Day 3

DAY 3 - Read Nehemiah Chapter 1
This is a great passage of repentance. Be very sensitive to the
Spirit. Allow God to reveal to you areas of sin in your heart.
This may go on all day. Write them down if you want to.
Repent and ask Him to refine you as silver and gold. Keep
practicing going to your quiet place of prayer!

Nehemiah 1

1 These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah.

Nehemiah's Concern for Jerusalem

In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign,* I was at the fortress of Susa. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, "Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire."
4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I said,

"O Lord , God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.
8 "Please remember what you told your servant Moses: `If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.'
10 "The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. 11 O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me.* Put it into his heart to be kind to me."

In those days I was the king's cup-bearer.

Week 5 - Day 2

DAY 2 - Read Matt. 6:5-24
After reading the Scriptures, write down (make a list) in your
SOAR notebook everything these verses taught you about
prayer. Lifechurch campus pastors taught the 5 P’s of Prayer
from the Lord’s Prayer. You may want to write them down,
too.
They are: His Presence, His Priorities, His Provision, His
Pardon, and His Power! Spend as much time as you can in
prayer (as described on day 1) today! Enjoy the Father.