Girlfriends in God

[Judy Harder]

August 21, 2103
The Perfect Groom
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth (Isaiah 54:5).

Friend to Friend

I was five years old; just a wisp of a girl living in a dream world all my own. On one particular afternoon, I gathered my supplies and prepared for the big day. First, I wrapped a long white sheet around my slender body and tossed the excess over my shoulder and down my back. Then I draped a bath-sized towel over the crown of my head like a veil and clutched a bouquet of plastic flowers to my chest. I stood at the end of my home's long hallway, and the processional began. I could almost hear the organ playing "Here Comes the Bride," as I sashayed down the "aisle" with imaginary friends and family looking on.

Little girls and big girls dream about the day they will become brides. And for many, that dream doesn't turn out the way they had hoped. But here is some good news—some great news, actually: no matter what your marital status this side of heaven—never married, once married, happily married, not-so-happily married, widowed, or divorced—God is your holy Husband who longs to protect you, provide for you, and cherish you through all the ups and downs of life.

We first see God's name as Ish, or Husband, in the book of Isaiah: "For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth" (54:5).

We see it again in the book of Hosea, as God speaks about drawing the unfaithful Israel back into His arms: "'In that day,' declares the Lord, 'you will call me "my husband";... I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord'" (Hosea 2:16,19-20).

In the New Testament, Jesus is also referred to as the husband of His bride, the Church. The Greek word is aner, and it is translated "husband" or "bridegroom."

When Jesus was questioned about why His disciples did not fast, He replied, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast" (Matthew 9:15).

And in the book of Revelation, Jesus' return is referred to as the "wedding of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:6-9).

I asked my husband what visual image forms in his mind when he reads that he is part of the "bride of Christ."

"Nothing really," he replied.

Granted, I can't picture Steve walking down the aisle in a pearl-studded wedding gown. But oh, sister, I can see myself waltzing down the aisle to meet my Jesus. Can't you? What a blessing God has given His female image-bearers as the bride of Christ, our Husband!

Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing me to be the bride for Your Son. Help me to always be alert and ready for the day He comes to take me to my heavenly home. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

In ancient Jewish tradition, the father chose a bride for his son. If the girl's father accepted the proposal of marriage, the groom paid her family a "bride price" of a few cows, a couple of sheep, or perhaps some gold trinkets. The couple drank from a cup of wine to seal the marriage covenant between them, and would not drink of it again until the day of the wedding ceremony. Then the groom left his betrothed and went back to his father's house to build a home for her. Once the home was completed to the satisfaction of the groom's father, the young man returned to whisk away his bride. Usually this took place in the middle of the night, with torch-toting groomsmen whooping and hollering to let her know they were on their way. The bride's responsibility was to be prepared, to be ready at all times.

And so it is with you and your Groom. Look up the following verses and note the similarities:

Who chose the bride for Jesus? (Ephesians 1:4)

What was the bride price? (1 Corinthians 6:20)

When did Jesus say he would drink of the fruit of the vine again? (Matthew 26:29)

Where is Jesus right now and what is he doing? (John 14:2-3)

When will Jesus come back and get his bride? (1 Thessalonians 5:2)

More from the Girlfriends

Today's devotion was taken from our new GiG book titled Knowing God by Name. The book is an eight-week devotional study of 40 names of God written by Mary, Gwen, and I. To learn more, click over to our Knowing God by Name page to download a free sample chapter and watch free videos. We'll see you there!

Beginning August 1, the content of my blog will be completely different from the Girlfriends in God devotions. So if you are not signed up for my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com, please do it today...and invite all your friends. I'm going to have more give-a-ways, more personal interaction, and more inspiration than ever before!

[Judy Harder]

August 22, 2013
I Want to Know God
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

I want to know Christ (Philippians 3:10, NIV).

Friend to Friend 

When our family moved from Florida to North Carolina, we were all very excited about the move – well, most of us were excited. Our sixteen-year-old daughter, Danna, was leaving behind some very special friends and making the first major move of her life. When I asked what her greatest fear about moving was, her answer surprised me. I thought surely she would say, "I won't know anyone." Instead, she responded with an interesting perspective, "No one will know me."

That may very well be our greatest fear about God. We find it almost impossible to believe that we can really know Him or that He really knows us. That one truth alone changes lives and alters eternity. What does it mean to "know" God? I believe we can know God on different levels.

The first level is the "acquaintance level" where we think to know God means to encounter Him at certain pivotal times in life. It could be during an especially moving worship service or perhaps in a life crisis. In that moment, we really do sense something different and may even go as far as to make a shallow commitment. But in our daily lives, there is very little - if any – change in our behavior, attitudes or habits.

The second level is the "friendship level." Knowing God is not just experiencing a moment of spiritual excitement, but is a commitment to be actively involved with God. Friends spend time together and are involved in each other's lives. At this level, we are involved with God - to a point. We come to church and participate in its activities. We try to have a daily quiet time, and we may even attempt to be disciplined in spiritual habits. In other words, we are really working at this friendship. However, if the friendship level is as deep as we ever go in the pursuit of a relationship with God, sooner or later we will long for something more – because we were created for an intimate relationship with God. No one and nothing can fill that God-shaped hole in our lives.

The third level is the "marriage level" of knowing God. I believe that when Jesus says we can "know" Him, He is talking about a "marriage level" relationship. The first time that the word "know" is used in the Bible is in Genesis 4:1, "Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain." When the Bible talks about "knowing" someone, it is not only referring to a physical knowledge, but to an even deeper level of intimacy. Many of us settle for a nodding acquaintance or a mere surface friendship with the Father, when what He really desires and what we really need is the marriage level relationship. There are many people in the Bible who had a marriage level relationship with God. 

David was a man after God's own heart.
Moses spoke with God face-to-face.
Mary, Martha and Lazerus were close personal friends of Jesus.
The disciples served beside Him day in and day out.
The good news is that you and I can have what those people had! In 1 Chronicles 28:9, we discover how to have an intimate relationship with God. "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you" (NIV).

How can we really know God?

First, there is the simple but profoundly impacting promise that if we seek God - He will be found. We sometimes think that God wants to engage us in some kind of heavenly game of "hide-and-seek." We picture Him doing all of the hiding while we do all of the seeking. Since many of His "hiding places" are not the places we would logically think to look for Him, we give up and are content to be lost. When we look and don't find Him, we assume that He is laughing at our foolish and futile efforts.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

The spiritual reality is that more than you want to find God - He wants you to find Him! In fact, He made a way for us to know Him when He bridged heaven and earth by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross – for you and for me. If we seek Him we will find Him!

Second, remember who is speaking and who is listening in this passage of scripture. King David, one of God's closest companions, is talking to Solomon, his son. At this point, Solomon is not even seeking God, but David tells Solomon that he can have the same relationship with God that David himself has enjoyed through the years. Solomon never did – but he could have. And so can we – by doing what David told Solomon to do.

Acknowledge God as God. To know God is to admit and recognize Him as the One and only true God, our Savior and the risen Lord.

Surrender everything you are to Him. To know God is to lay down at His feet everything we are, have been or ever hope to be, exchanging our life plan for His, knowing that His plan for our lives is the highest and best plan for our lives.

Serve Him with absolute devotion. To know God is to live every moment of every day every day as a living sacrificial offering of worship to Him.

Seek Him wholeheartedly. To know God is to abandon everything we are to Him, actively searching for Him and His will in every life circumstance.

Inviting Jesus Christ to take over your life is the most important decision you will ever make. He stands, waiting for you to come. Come today, just as you are, and you will know God.

Let's Pray

Lord, I want to know You personally. I want to see Your face in my everyday life. I want to hear Your voice through Your Word and through prayer. I want to know You, Lord through obedience and through the lives of others. Lead me in paths that will draw me to Your side and mold me into Your fully devoted follower. Right now, I turn away from my old life, and turn to You. I surrender all that I know about me to all that I know about You. Thank you for being my Lord. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Determine the level of your relationship with God. Do you really know Him?

What level of relationship do you really want with God?

Are you willing to pay the price to know Him in a more intimate way?

Seeking God? Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

More from the Girlfriends

It's finally here! Sharon, Gwen and Mary's new book, Knowing God by Name, is now available. This is the perfect book for individual study or for gathering a group of friends in what we call GiG Groups. With impactful devotions, study questions, journal pages, and free on-line video intros, this book is a resource you'll refer to time-and-time again.

Looking for a Bible Study? Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, From a Mess to a Miracle. If you enroll now, you will also have access to all of the 2013 lessons from Proverbs. Check it out! And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

August 23, 2013
My Song
Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

For the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2b, ESV).

Friend to Friend

Just try to keep my daughter from singing. Go ahead and try. You will fail. She must sing. It's just her thing. Some days when I'm writing, or simply trying to piece together a coherent thought, I dream that she could travel to a land far, far away from me and hang out in a sound proof room. Shhhhhhh! Embrace "quiet" already, girl. I know. When it comes to 24/7 musical expressions, mother-of-the-year I am not. And I'm okay with that.           

The irony, of course, is that I, too, love to sing—just not all day every day like my daughter, and certainly not when I'm writing. Oh, but I do love music. It's central to who I am as a person. I love writing songs, singing songs, learning songs, and playing songs. If my iTunes library were in book form, it would fill the Library of Congress. In many ways my life is processed through melody and verse. And I can scarcely pick up my Bible and spend time in God's presence without having to run to the piano in responsive worship. When His deep calls out to my deep, I just have to chase it musically!           

Why?         

What is the big deal about songs?         

I could never hope to understand the full scope of the answer, but I know this: music is powerful. It heightens our emotions and allows us to feel our way through a thought. Think back to the first time you heard Judy Garland sing "Over the Rainbow"...or Darlene Zschech singing "Shout to the Lord"...or Ray Charles singing "Georgia on My Mind"...or Gloria and Bill Gaither singing "Because He Lives"...or Aretha Franklin singing "Respect"...or Celine Dion singing "My Heart Will Go On"...or Chris Tomlin singing "How Great Is Our God." Pure melodic magic. Notes strung together in excellence can raise us to our feet or push us to our knees.     

Because music touches something at the core of our being, it should come as no surprise that one of the names of God found in Scripture is My Song. First seen in Exodus 15:2, My Song is a name that Moses used to describe God as he celebrated the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. Can you imagine how his heart swelled as he watched God turn a massive body of water into a walking trail for millions of Israelites? So Moses and his people threw down a big ol' God-party on the victory side of the Red Sea!

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,

"I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Moses had to sing because is heart couldn't contain the gratitude and awe he felt for God. He called the Lord My Song. He felt compelled to worship. I totally get that. God had freed His people through a medley of miracle after miracle. How could they not respond in grateful worship? How could He not be their Song?       

How could He not be ours, as well?         

The greatest commandment of God to His people is not vague. It is crystal clear. Both the Old and New Testaments tell us that the most vital calling in life—your greatest purpose—is to "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment" (Matthew 22:37-38).     

Bam! That's it. What better way for us to express love to God than by living out a life that sings His praise and features Him as the ultimate object of our desire? There's a stanza of an inspired old poem called The Life That Counts that speaks to this beautifully.

"The life that counts must hopeful be,

In darkest night make melody,

Must wait the dawn on bended knee –

This is the life that counts"         

I really want to live a life that counts. Don't you?           

I will be the first to admit that my feeble attempts to live out the greatest commandment fall short every single day. I want to love Him perfectly, but I'm just not able to. I want to love Him with all of my heart, soul, and mind. Sincerely. But the reality is I can't because I am a distracted worshiper.           

My life is busy with ordinary. The laundry never ends, the family activities never cease, dust dominates, and dishes fill my kitchen sink, even when I've just cleared it out. To sprinkle special on our ordinary days, we add music. We sing. We dance. We worship.         

So, as much as my daughter's constant melodious outbursts may wear me out, maybe she is on to something after all. If God is our song, then how can we not sing? How can we not find a song—our Song, God—in both the mundane and the miraculous of our lives? If He is our song, then let's raise our voices with His praise!

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, You are my Song. Thank You for giving us music! Thank You for inviting me to honor You in praise with instruments, voices, verses, and melodies. Help me to love You with my heart, mind and soul...more today than yesterday...and more the next day than tomorrow. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

In Psalm 40:3, King David expressed God's loving deliverance this way, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Has God given you a new song? Give Him thanks! Praise Him!

If you had to pick a song that captured your feelings for God today, what would it be?

Leave a comment on my blog or on my Facebook page.

More from the Girlfriends

Today's GiG devotion is adapted from Knowing God by Name by Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith, & Mary Southerland by permission of Multnomah, division of Random House, Inc. This is the perfect book for individual study or for gathering a group of friends in what we call GiG Groups. With impactful devotions, study questions, journal pages, and free on-line video intros, this book is a resource you'll refer to time-and-time again.

Love to worship? Add Gwen's Uncluttered CD to your playlist. Download some of her music from iTunes, or order her CDs from her website.

[Judy Harder]

August 26, 2013
The God of Second Chances
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

"For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found' so they began to celebrate," (Luke 15:24 NIV).

Friend to Friend

Perhaps one of the most memorable and heart touching stories of grace and forgiveness is recorded in Luke chapter fifteen. It's what we've come to know as the story of the Prodigal Son.  This young man demanded his inheritance while his father was still alive, spent it all on riotous living, and found himself dirty, destitute, and despairing. As despicable as pigs were to Jews, this young man took a job taking care of pigs and eating their food just to stay alive. But then he had an epiphany. He came to his senses.

"How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death.  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him?  'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'  So he got up and went to his father (Luke 15:17-20)."

And where was his father?  He was panning the horizon, hoping for a sign that his boy might return home. While "he was still a long way off," the father spotted his son on the horizon. Filled with compassion, he picked up the edges of his robe and ran. He didn't wait for his son to come to him, grovel at his feet, and beg for forgiveness. No, as soon as the father caught a glimpse of his son, he dashed toward his boy, smothered him with kisses, and welcomed him home.

If you remember, not everyone was happy when the prodigal son returned. His big brother resented the fact that he was given another chance. And you know what? There will be those who resent the fact that we get another chance as well.

Beth Moore states:

"Big brother won't mind if you come back as long as you hang your head and wear your shame. But when God has the audacity to give you a little dignity back and you dare lift your radiant face to heaven in liberated praise, big brother may be appalled! It's pride that can't celebrate with a prodigal-come-home.  Folks who won't celebrate are still kidding themselves into thinking they did something right to be loved by their Father."

I say, let him be appalled. Nothing makes some people angrier than grace. Big Brother is invited to the party too, and it's his decision whether or not he wants to join in the celebration. I'm just glad he's not the one in charge.

Let's Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for welcoming me back home when I go astray. I don't deserve your grace, but then, that's what grace is...undeserved favor. Help me to always remember the log in my own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else's. I pray that I will never, never be like the big brother who did not celebrate in his brother's return. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Today, I want to focus on Big Brother.

Have you ever been like the big brother?

Have you ever resented someone's being forgiven and restored?

Have you ever felt like some ought to "get what they deserve" rather than receive forgiveness?

These are tough questions and I love you too much not to ask them. After considering the big brother's attitude and how it must have appeared to the father, do you need to readjust your attitude toward any particular person in your life who has repented?

Let's commit to NOT be the prideful big brother, but to celebrate when a sinner repents and comes home. If you've got on your dancing shoes, click over to my Facebook page and say, "I am dancing at the party!"

More from the Girlfriends

Today's devotion was taken from my book; Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose in the Hurts of Your Past. This is a great resource to learn more about forgiveness. Whether it is forgiving those who have hurt you, or accepting forgiveness for yourself, it is time to let it go!

Beginning August 1, the content of my blog will be completely different from the Girlfriends in God devotions. So if you are not signed up for my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com, please do it today...and invite all your friends. I'm going to have more give-a-ways, more personal interaction, and more inspiration than ever before!

[Judy Harder]

August 27, 2013
What's in a Name?
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

The God who made you is like your husband. His name is the LORD All-Powerful (Isaiah 54:5, NCV).

Friend to Friend

When Dan and I were first married, I really struggled with what to call his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Southerland seemed too formal, but Jerry and Norma seemed too familiar and did not address my level of respect for them. On the other hand, "Mom" and "Dad" were just a little too intimate for me at the time. My dad died when I was only four, and my mom was both mother and father to me for most of my life. It almost seemed disloyal to address another woman as "mom."

So I solved my problem by not calling them anything – which was not really a solution at all.

I loved Dan's parents and wanted to convey that love to them. After years of marriage and the death of my own mom, I one day found myself calling them "Mom" and "Dad." It was not a conscious decision on my part. In fact, I did not even realize that I had made that transition until Dan commented on how much it meant to them that I would call his parents "Mom" and "Dad."

Over the years, I not only learned to love and respect Dan's parents more, but my relationship with them had grown to a new level. The same should be true in our spiritual journey.

How can we know God in an intimate way – on a marriage level? We get to know anyone we meet by first exchanging names. We taught our kids that a simple way to meet someone new is to say, "Hi! My name is Jered (or Danna). What's yours?" Names are very important.

God has a first name – Yahweh or Jehovah, a Hebrew word that means, "I am." "LORD" should be translated "Yahweh" meaning that Yahweh Almighty is His name. Translators did a great job with the Bible, but here they took the name of God and substituted a title. When you see "LORD" in all caps, read it as "Jehovah." Yahweh Jehovah is a personal name that reveals the very core of God's being, His sufficiency and His holiness.

God wants to be on a first name basis with us, and He wants us to come to Him just as we are – yes, in our weakness and incompleteness. When we come honestly before Him, sharing who we really are and what we really need, God then shares His last name. God's last name is always based upon the current need of our lives.

God came to Moses and said, "I want you to be on a first name basis with me. My name is Yahweh Jehovah." From that point on, whenever the people had a need, they cried out in their insufficiency saying, "God you are the I Am. Come and meet me!" God would then come, meet them and give them His last name.

In Exodus 16, the people cried, ""God we're out here in the desert with no food or water, literally starving to death! Jehovah Yahweh, where are You?" God says, "I'm right here. My name today is Jehovah Jireh, which means "Provider." All of a sudden, quail are raining down from heaven, manna is found on the desert floor, and new water begins pouring out of a rock!
In Exodus 17, the people come up against a vastly superior military force and cried out to God saying, "We can't do this! This army will wipe us out! Please help us!" God says, "I'll be there. My name today is Jehovah Nissi, which means "Banner." In Biblical times, when tribes went to war, flags and banners were carried out in front. Therefore, God is telling the people that He will go before them and fight the battle for them.
In other passages, people came to God overwhelmed and anxious. God says, "I am Jehovah Shalom, your Peace."
David came to Him in a moment of desolation and said, "God, I am in the wilderness totally alone." God says, "I am Jehovah Shammah. I am here."
Jesus cried out to God saying, "Abba Father" which means "Dearest Daddy." This name paints the picture of a broken-hearted child climbing up into the lap of the loving Father for comfort and safety. The Father wraps His arms around that child and becomes a refuge. 
God wants an intimate "marriage level" relationship with you, His child. You can come to Him, calling Him by name, and He will meet the need of your heart.

Let's Pray

Father, I want to know You more. I want to see Your face in my daily life and hear Your voice above all others. I long to see You in every circumstance, and sense Your presence with every breath I take. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Do you want to know God – I mean, really know Him? You can. Consider the following questions:

Understand that we can come to God on a first name basis.
Accept His invitation to meet Him at the point of your deepest need.
Recognize that intimacy requires honesty.
Be willing to come to Him – just like you are.
More from the Girlfriends

It's finally here! Sharon, Gwen and Mary's new book, Knowing God by Name, is now available. This is the perfect book for individual study or for gathering a group of friends in what we call GiG Groups. With impactful devotions, study questions, journal pages, and free on-line video intros, this book is a resource you'll refer to time-and-time again.

Looking for a Bible Study? Join women from across the world in Mary's Online Bible Study, From a Mess to a Miracle. If you enroll now, you will also have access to all of the 2013 lessons from Proverbs. Check it out! And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

[Judy Harder]

August 28, 2013
I'm not_______ enough.
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Friend to Friend

I'm not _____________ enough. You can fill that blank in with "smart," " talented,"  "gifted," "spiritual," or any number of positive attributes. But the root source of each one of those lies is "I'm not good enough."  It is one of the enemy's favorite weapons and he uses it to keep God's children in bondage to feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. The bottom line is, the enemy wants you to believe that you are "not enough."  Period.  But you are enough. You are enough and have been equipped and empowered to do everything that God has called you to do.

It seems the message of "I'm not good enough to earn my way to heaven on my own," has been transformed into I'm not good enough...period. God created man and woman and said, "It is good." We are so valuable to God that He gave His only Son to restore our brokenness.

To be honest, I could have been the poster child for this lie. If feeling inadequate was an Olympic event, I would have been on the Corn Flakes box. It was the undercurrent of my entire existence until I finally realized who I was in Christ. Bible teacher Beth Moore said, "In the dead of the night when insecurities crawl on us like fleas, all of us have terrifying bouts of insecurity and panics of insignificance. Our human natures pitifully fall to the temptation to pull out the tape measure and gauge ourselves against people who seem more gifted and anointed by God."  That was me.

Many women are living in silent defeat, comparing themselves to other women who are living in secret defeat. I'm not a good mother. I'm not a good wife. I'm not a good Christian. I'm not a good witness. I'm not a good housekeeper. I'm not a good decorator. I'm not a good cook. I'm not a good....  Women are caught in a cycle of the "I'm not good enoughs." One by one the petals fall from the beautiful flower God created us to be. Like ticker tape, our fragmented pieces of confidence litter the streets like the Macy's parade passing by.

Unfortunately, I wasted many precious years held captive by the enemy's lies before I held up my chained hands to God and said, "I'm ready for you to set me free."

Consider this:

Jacob was a liar.

Moses was a stutterer.

Gideon was a coward.

David was an adulterer.

Rahab was a prostitute.

Esther was an orphan.

Balaam's donkey was...well, a donkey.

And yet God used each one of them to impact His kingdom.

God doesn't call us because we are particularly gifted or talented. He uses us because we are obedient and dependent on Him. He doesn't call the qualified – He qualifies the called.

The truth is, if you have experienced new birth in Christ, you are deeply loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing and totally accepted by God. Because of Jesus Christ in you, you are equipped and empowered to do all that God has called you to do. You are good enough!

Let's Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You today. Because of Jesus Christ and His work of redemption in me, I am deeply loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing and totally accepted by You.  Because of Jesus Christ in me, I am equipped and empowered to do all that You have called me to do. Now, LORD, help me act like it. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Go back to that first sentence in today's devotion. What would you put in that blank?

Is that the truth?

What do you think God would say to you about what you have written in that blank?

If you are willing to stand on the truth, click over to my Facebook page and leave a comment and say, "I'm good enough because God says so."

[Judy Harder]

August 29, 2013
A Great Plan
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy" (Psalm 28:7).

Friend to Friend

I love the story of a tourist visiting the Grand Canyon. As he gazed in wonder at the sight before him, the tourist got too close to the edge, lost his footing and fell over the side. Just before he went out of sight, the man grabbed a scrubby bush and held on for dear life. Filled with terror, he called out toward heaven, "Is anyone up there?" A calm powerful voice came out of the sky, "Yes, there is." The tourist pleaded, "Can you help me?" The calm voice replied, "I'm sure I can. What seems to be the problem?" The man explained, "I fell over the edge of the canyon and am now dangling in space, holding onto a bush that's about to come loose. Please help me!" The voice said, "I will. Do you have faith?" The terrified man replied, "Yes! I have strong faith!" The voice said, "Then just let go. Everything will be fine." There was a tense pause. The tourist then yelled, "Is there anyone else up there?"

The first time I heard that story, I laughed and thought, "How ridiculous!" My next thought was that I have more in common with the tourist than I care to admit.

How often do I edge my way toward a dangerous cliff of disobedience and find myself giving in to temptation?

How many times have I cried out to God to rescue me from some self-made pit into which I have fallen, but dictated how I wanted to be rescued?

I can't begin to count the number of times when I have foolishly chosen to follow my plan instead of God's plan for my life.

Now that's ridiculous.

God has a unique plan for each one of us that is beyond human understanding or expectation.  It is called His will. God has been making His will known from the very beginning of time.

In the Garden of Eden, God revealed to Adam and Eve His will (or plan) for their lives. It is important to note that with the revealed plan God also gave Adam and Eve the choice to follow that plan because He is a loving Father and a gracious God. Knowing that His way was right, God still allowed Adam and Eve to choose the wrong way. They made the wrong choice, but He still loved them and forgave them. He will do the same for you and for me.

The Bible promises that God's plan is the best plan; the one for which we were created. Psalm 32:8 "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life." God agrees to not only show us the plan, but He also promises to provide all of the strength and resources needed to carry out that plan. His sufficient and constant power is unleashed by our choice to accept and follow Him.

We were created by the One who knows us best and loves us most. There are no accidents with God. He never has to say, "Oops!" Before we were ever conceived in the heart and mind of man we were conceived in the heart and mind of God. Wanted, loved and planned since before the world began. He had a plan in mind and lovingly, purposefully created us in response to that plan.

I know that there are days when the will of God seems completely wrong and we simply do not understand. Every moment is pregnant with darkness and our hearts are numb, paralyzed by fear and doubt. We are treading water in the storm tossed sea of life, desperately longing to see Him walking on the treacherous waves toward us, rescue in His hand.

It is in those shadowed moments that we must choose to trust the Plan Maker even though our faith is small, and we cannot understand the plan. His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. And one day, every one of our question marks will be yanked into exclamation points as we see that high plan as He sees it – perfect.

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT).

Today, my friend set aside your meager agenda. Lay down your limited life arrangement and look for God to meet you at the point of surrender - power and victory in His hands. Now that is a great plan.

Let's Pray

Father, please forgive me when I stubbornly choose to ignore Your plan for my life. Thank You for always being there for me, ready to rescue me from my own selfish desires and decisions. Help me to remember that Your plan is the highest plan for my life and give me the strength to follow that plan. I want to honor and please You, Lord. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now It's Your Turn

What things or people besides Jesus are you tempted to place your trust in during a crisis?

What keeps you from fully trusting the words of Jesus?

How would your life be different if you chose to place your trust in Jesus alone?

Read Matthew 7:24-28. How do these verses relate to your faith in God and the results of trusting Him?

Read and memorize Jeremiah 29:11. Record it in your journal.

More from the Girlfriends

I know that plans are rampant in your life - but the only plan that really matters is the one God has for you. Don't settle for anything less. Need help dealing with temptation? Check out Mary's Bible Study (E-Book download), Winning the War with Temptation.Don't miss Mary's weekly Online Bible Study, From a Mess to a Miracle. Enroll now and have access to all 2013 lessons. Be sure to connect with Mary on Facebookor through email.

It's finally here! Sharon, Gwen and Mary's new book, Knowing God by Name, is now available. This is the perfect book for individual study or for gathering a group of friends in what we call GiG Groups. With impactful devotions, study questions, journal pages, and free on-line video intros, this book is a resource you'll refer to time-and-time again.

[Judy Harder]

August 30, 2013
Take Your Need to God
Jennifer Kennedy Dean

We hope you are enjoying the Girlfriends in God daily devotions. We (Mary, Sharon, and Gwen) would like to introduce you to some of our special friends. From time-to-time, the Friday devotions will be written by one of our friends in ministry. We call them our "Friday Friends." So grab your Bible and a fresh cup of coffee and drink in the words from our "Friday Friend," Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Today's Truth

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16b, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Prayer is neither complicated nor difficult. It is so simple that any child of God can lay hold of all God's power and provision through His designated strategy we call prayer.

Decades ago God began to redefine prayer for me. I came to understand it as a continual interaction between the spiritual realm and the material realm. An unceasing flow from His heart to mine. I quit thinking about how to say prayers, and began to live a praying life.

The Holy Spirit can make direct deposits from His heart to mine and awaken His desires that define the content of my praying. In these years of learning how to live a praying life, I have come to realize that if God designed prayer to work, not to fail, then He surely designed it to be accessible and simple.

I think we see this pictured clearly in a story John records. He tells the story of a wedding at which Jesus was a guest, and His mother seemed to be in charge behind the scenes.

When the wine ran out, apparently the servants turned to Mary with their problem. I'm imagining the scene when a servant came running to Mary, concern apparent in his demeanor and his inflections. "Mary! They have no wine!" He puts the whole burden on her. Their wine less state has now become her responsibility. She has to come through.

I think she says something like, "Don't worry. I've got it covered."

She turns to Jesus and says, "Jesus, they have no wine." (See John 2:3)

He makes a response to her that our 21st century, perhaps Gentile, ears hear as a rebuke. But let's hear it again: "Woman!" He says. A word of endearment. The same word He used from the cross to say, "Woman, behold your son." Addressing her gently. Then He uses a Hebrew idiom that His contemporaries would have heard as, "[What do we have in common? Leave it to Me.]" John 2:4 (AMP). Finally, He said that His time had not yet come.

Did He violate His sense of timing to please or appease His mother? No. He was warning her that the time to reveal His actions publicly had not come. She had to let someone else get all the credit for what her son had done. The master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

Notice that the response did not deter Mary. She didn't slink away as if scolded. She turned to the servants and said, "Do whatever He tells you" (John 2:5). She knew Jesus, so she knew there would be action. She didn't know what that action would look like, but she had learned that Jesus would know what to do. She didn't know what He would do, but she knew that He would do.

Do you see how simple her request was? She knew that when she took the burden that sat on her shoulders and handed it over to Jesus, He would know what to do and how to do it. She knew that the secret to powerful praying is to take God the need, not the answer.

Sometimes the most powerful prayer sounds something like this: Jesus, they have no wine.

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, I realize that I often think my prayer needs to tell You the answer and instruct You in how to accomplish it. I embrace the release of knowing that when I bring You the need, You have the answer. I confess that I am empty unless You fill me. I am weak unless You strengthen me. I am helpless unless You come to my rescue. I have no wine. In Jesus's name, amen.

Now Its Your Turn

Are there times when you feel responsible for coming up with the answer for God?

What is burdening your heart right now?

Share your "they have no wine" prayer.

More from the Girlfriends

I find myself on a never-ending adventure as I learn daily how to live a praying life. I was a 20-year-old college student when the Lord first spoke that phrase to my heart.  For some forty years I have been learning something new, or something old at a deeper level. The journey never ends.

Recently I had the privilege of releasing Live a Praying Life in an anniversary edition. I added what I had learned about the concepts since losing my husband to brain cancer in 2005. I learned that when the rubber meets the road, truth holds. The truths I've been teaching all these years are road-tested and proven.

It's finally here! Sharon, Gwen and Mary's new book, Knowing God by Name, is now available. This is the perfect book for individual study or for gathering a group of friends in what we call GiG Groups. With impactful devotions, study questions, journal pages, and free on-line video intros, this book is a resource you'll refer to time-and-time again.

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Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
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[Judy Harder]

September 2, 2013
Be Still and Know
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

In him we live and move and have our being, (Acts 17:28 NIV).

Friend to Friend

The kids are back in school, the traffic has gone back to normal, and routine is setting in. Yes, it is fall! So I want you to settle down with me and a steamy cup of coffee. Go ahead and get it. I'll wait....

Now that you're back, here's today's devotion:.

I pressed the send button on my latest manuscript, What God Really Thinks About Women. For twelve months I had spent night and day with Jesus and the women He encountered while He walked the earth. I was going to miss them. Miss walking in their sandals. Miss breathing their air. Miss crying their tears. Miss carrying their water jugs. And while I wasn't going to be in their lives and in their business every day, their imagined faces were etched in my mind and they had become part of me for eternity. But it was time to move on.

I grabbed a cup of coffee, snuggled up in my favorite overstuffed den chair, and opened my Bible in my lap. "OK, God," I began, "that project is finished and tied securely with a bow. So what do you want me to do now?"

I wondered if I should get into a Bible study group, take a class at the local seminary, or finally write those magazine articles I had been putting off. Should I start a small group, volunteer at a charity, or start a new book project? I asked the question and waited.

God surprised me. Acts 17:28 came to my mind. I believed He put it there. In him we live and move and have our being.

Learn what that means, He seemed to say.  Let's just spend time together. No agenda.  No goal. No deadlines. I want to rekindle the romance. Will you let me?

His answer startled me. I hadn't even realized the fire had died down. Wasn't I working for Him?  Wasn't I doing God's will? Wasn't I busy about my Father's business? And then I began to see what He meant. He began turning the lens of my mind's camera and the fuzzy image grew clear. I wondered how I had missed it before.  In the middle of all my busyness for God, I had neglected my relationship with God.

I was made for goals, or so I thought. Sitting still wasn't in my nature, and perhaps that was what God was trying to tell me. My "nature" or natural bent of work was standing in the way of worship. My natural bent of activity for God was getting in the way of my communion with God. My daily routine of sanctioned quiet times was getting in the way of the divine romance in which He wanted me to engage.

Like the men caught on the stormy Sea of Galilee, I felt I had been reeling in the waves for years - never in danger of truly sinking – just reeling from one rolling wave of work and deadlines to the next. But on this particular morning, I began to see the cast of characters in this Galilean scene in a different light. I was definitely in the scene, but I wasn't in the boat at all. I was the storm.

I love how Eugene Peterson describes Jesus' words to the wind and the waves as his friend stirred him from his sleep to calm the squall: "'Quiet!  Settle down!' The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass."(Mark 4:39 The Message).

What does God really want from me? I've pondered that question since the day I first came to Christ. It was one of the two questions Saul asked when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus: "Who are you? What shall I do?" (Acts 22:8,10).

I think I've made my relationship with Jesus far too difficult. I have spent so much time striving to get closer to the heart of God. And all the while God has been whispering to me, "Cease striving and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10 NASB). "It's not that hard. Settle down. Be quiet."

And that is what Jesus was telling me that frosty January morning. But I realized I didn't really know how to be quiet and settle down. I had never mastered the idea of "be still and know." I knew that God was God. It was the "be still" part that stumped me every time. Now don't get me wrong. I can be still for a few minutes, maybe even an hour if need be. But much longer than that and I'm undone. Restless spirit syndrome begins to shake my soul, and the urge to get up and get moving wrestles me from worship.

So on this fall morning, as I share this with you, I'm asking...will you be still and know that He is God with me?  Even if you'll commit to do it for one minute, click over to my Facebook page and leave a comment that says, "I'm being still with God today."

Let's Pray

Dear Lord, Help me to learn what it means to live and move and have my being in You. Thank You for a New Year. I am excited to see what You have in store. In Jesus's Name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

How good are you at "be still and know that I am God?"

Have you ever felt God say those words to you?

Easy? Hard? What do you think stands in the way?

More from the Girlfriends
Do you long for more in your relationship with God? Do you feel like you are doing all the right things, but still feel far away from Him? If so, you're not alone. Join me in my journey to experience God's presence on a moment-by-moment basis, through my book, A Sudden Glory: God's Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More. You'll find that it is not what God wants from you, but what He wants for you that is the key.

[Judy Harder]

September 3, 2013
Do it Now!
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

To one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him, it is sin (James 4:17, NASB).

Friend to Friend

Procrastination is one of the greatest sources of stress in life. I once heard a preacher tell the old story of three demons who were arguing over the best way to destroy the Christian movement. The first demon had it all figured out. "Let's tell all the Christians that there is no heaven. If we take away the reward incentive, their movement will collapse," he said. The second demon responded with, "No, I have a better idea. Let's tell all the Christians that there really is no hell. If we take away their fear of punishment, their movement will collapse." The third demon offered, "Both of those are great ideas, but there is a better way. Let's tell all the Christians that there is no hurry." The other demons applauded in delight! "That's it!" they said. "Our best weapon of all is procrastination."

Procrastination is understandable and normal – humanly speaking – but procrastination is not part of God's best plan for our lives. We don't often view procrastination as sin, but it is. Sin is not merely doing wrong. It is failing to do what you know you should do – when you know you should do it. Knowledge equals responsibility. Procrastination and disobedience are just opposite sides of the same coin.

Sin usually brings pleasure for at least the moment. If you are on a diet and want to have just one bite of a chocolate candy bar – but end up eating three chocolate candy bars – it is because you wanted more of that chocolate pleasure and simply could not make yourself stop at one bite – right? Or maybe you go shopping with a set amount you can spend on a new pair of shoes and end up buying three pairs of shoes only to realize that you need a dress to go with them, and a new purse to go with the dress, and new jewelry to match the shoes, purse and dress and ... well, you get the idea. It is easy to understand how we get caught up in sins like gluttony, lust and greed because they all bring momentary pleasure.

Procrastination is different in that it helps us avoid doing the things we don't want to do – the tasks that require personal discipline and a commitment to godly goals. Wasting time often creates a restless feeling that produces a sense of failure. When the deadline we were supposed to meet has come and gone, or the dreaded task we keep putting off spirals out of control – guilt sets in. We try to rationalize it away when the simple truth is that we have sinned.

The key to dealing with procrastination begins with a commitment to obey God and exercise His wisdom. Joyce Meyer once said, "Wisdom always chooses to do now what it will be satisfied with later on."

We can choose to be led by wisdom rather than our momentary feelings.

We can choose to make right choices.

We can learn to be good stewards of the time God has given us.

I once attended a leadership conference that changed my life in many ways. The speakers did not talk about money or success. They focused on the fact that God created each one of us in response to His unique plan for our lives. One of the simplest but most powerful mottos I came away from that conference with was: "Do it now!" Do you realize that it takes as much energy to avoid a task as it does to do it? Procrastination drains energy while action produces energy. God empowers us to do what He calls us to do.

Matthew 6:33 (NCV) "The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you."

Truth is for now. God is not impressed with good intentions. Obedience today is the greatest preparation for every tomorrow. So do what you know to do today! The Proverbs 31 woman did. In fact, Scripture tells us she could "laugh at the days to come" (Proverbs 31:25). In other words, this woman fully lived in the present but carefully planned and prepared for the future. Proverbs 31:19 indicates that she made thread with her hands and weaved her own cloth: "In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers." Notice she only made thread and cloth – not the finished product of clothes. That was a task for the future. She was simply getting ready today to meet the needs of tomorrow. The result was a life filled with hope and lived out in purpose.

Let's Pray

Father, please forgive me for putting off what I know You want me to do. Help me learn to be more disciplined with my time. Teach me how to find and live by Your priorities for my life. I want to do what You created me to do, Lord. Show me how to live a life of power and purpose.

In Jesus's name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Procrastination is really about loving self and pleasing self above others. Romans 12:10 tells us that we should love each other deeply and honor others more than ourselves. The moments God give us really do matter now and eternally. We are responsible for how we spend them. Each moment in time represents an eternal opportunity. Evaluate your life in light of these truths. How well do you invest your time? What one change can you make this week to overcome procrastination? Ask a friend or family member to hold you accountable to make that change.

More from the Girlfriends

Looking for a Bible Study that is both practical and powerful? Check out Mary's E-Book Bible Studies. Each one includes a study guide that you can download for your personal use or for a small group study. Time: Friend or Foe will help you learn how to manage time and set goals.

From a Mess to a Miracle is Mary's Online Bible Study. Enroll now and have access to all 2013 lessons. Be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.