Ladies, I do hope that you are pressing on through this challenge…
We are a little less than two weeks in… and for anyone reading this for the first time… feel free to join this challenge at any point. Or to go back to the beginning and begin it from Day One.
We have covered a lot of ground thus far in this Thirty-three day challenge, so today I want us to spend some time just soaking the stuff in…
Today let’s remember why we are doing this…
We are doing this to open our eyes to lies and deception of the enemy that are so very prevalent in our society. We are doing this so that our hearts and minds might be cleansed and that we may draw ever so close to our Christ. We are the church, His bride, and we are to be making ourselves ready for the Big Day.
We began our challenge with a trash fast.
We are to be abstaining from media fed lies and disillusions that make us feel bad about ourselves as women or our husbands as husbands. We are fasting from movies, magazines, books, music, and tv shows that misrepresent women and try to tell you who you should be and how you should be apart from the Word of God. We are spending this challenge digging into God’s Word and learning who HE said we should be and how HE said we should be. Before, or as, we watch, read, or listen…
Ask yourself:
We are challenging ourselves to remember that we are fearfully and wonderful made… Psalm 139
If we want to read a love story we are to be picking up the Song of Solomon and reading this beautiful book of love and romance… I hope by the time you finish this challenge you will be able to sit down with your children or the young people in your life and use the Word of God to talk to the about love and marriage… and waiting… and guarding their hearts.
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart
brings forth what is good;
and the evil man out of the evil treasure
brings forth what is evil;
for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
Luke 6:45
We have talked about learning to make decisions and choices out of love not law by learning how to ask questions of integrity instead of questions of compromise…
Questions of Compromise vs Questions of Integrity
Are my actions lawful?
Are my actions loving to others?
Will anyone find out?
Is this something I’d be proud of?
Would anyone condemn me?
Is this my highest standard?
Is this socially acceptable?
Is this in line with my convictions?
Are my clothes too revealing?
Am I dressing for attention?
How can I get away with saying this?
Would this be better left unsaid?
Will this hurt anyone?
Will this benefit others?
We have discussed how our bodies belong to our husbands… visually. And we have discussed how our minds belong to our husbands… emotionally. We have learned that as women… our adultery begins with emotional attachment… not sexual arousal.
We have been challenged to be committed to not compare our husbands to other men and to not compare ourselves to other women…
For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves
with some of those who commend themselves;
but when they measure themselves by themselves
and compare themselves with themselves,
they are without understanding.
2 Corinthians 10:12
We also are to be searching out hearts for motives… as we dress… as we walk… as we speak… as we work… as we worship.
Are we doing what we do out of a desire to have power.
“Most of my single days are a tragic testimony of a young woman striving to gain some sense of power through inappropriate relationships with men. Rather than use what beauty God had given me to bring glory to Him. I used it as bait to lure men into feeding my ego. Rather than inspiring men to worship God. I subconsciously wanted them to worship me, and if I was successful in hooking a man with my charms, I secretly felt powerful.” ~ Shannon Ethridge
And we have the list challenge.
“I was seeking to understand why I still felt tempted outside of my marriage, so my therapist asked me to spend a week making a list of every man I had ever been with sexually or had pursued emotionally. I was shocked and saddened to see how long my list had grown through the years.
At the next visit, she asked me to spend a week praying and asking myself, “What do each of these men have in common?”
“As I searched my soul to discern why such a common thread existed in my relational pursuits, the root of the issue became evident: my hunger for power over a man.”
~ Shannon Ethridge
And the last few days we have been learning and reminding ourselves that we are accepted in Christ, we are secure in Christ, and we are significant in Christ.
Yes, we have covered a lot of ground… I pray that it has been a time of cleansing, repentance, revival, and renewal. I pray that you continue on in this challenge with me… there is so much more to learn 🙂
Day Thirteen
Today is Wednesday, another day that has been set aside for believers in Christ to gather together in order to praise and worship our Lord and Savior and fellowship together.
Today your challenge is to remember that we need each other. I know many churches no longer meet on Wed night, but if yours does and you usually don’t attend, if you are able, attend today. If your church doesn’t meet on Wed nights, maybe send a text out to several ladies from your church and invite them over for fellowship and a devotional on what you have been learning.
Today, precious one, spend today praising your God and worshiping Him in spirit and in truth.
If you have a job or an illness that keeps you from attending today… don’t be frustrated by this challenge… are there others around you in the same boat? If so get in the boat together and have church at work, in the hospital, in the home, start an online women’s group Bible study… but if you have a choice and are able, then gather in the house of the Lord with the assembly.
Today worship Him… remember all that He has done… and bless His holy name.