Good Morning Girls

We began the much anticipated #YouAreLoved Bible study at Good Morning Girls this week. Apart from the daily readings, there are also weekly challenges we are encouraged to participate it.

The Week 1 Challenge was this…

I really thought I would pass up on this challenge. I mean, it seemed pretty pointless. I’ve known about God’s love for as long as I can remember. And I’ve been actively growing in Christ for more than a decade. I already knew who I was in Christ!

{That, my friend, is spiritual pride. What a blow!}

Anyway, I thought I’d just do the challenge in my mind, but was persuaded to give it a proper shot. And boy, am I glad I did!

I took a clean sheet of paper and started listing down my failures, my insecurities, my weaknesses…

As I wrote,  my throat constricted… my heart became heavy as I thought of all the things that were defining me.

Mistakes I had made…

Words that had hurt me…

Experiences that had left behind scars…

As I filled up that page, I realized I had subconsciously allowed a lot of negative things to define me. But it didn’t have to be that way.

I wrote in bold words across the page, “Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ.”

I took a deep breath and tore the paper to bits!

Oh the freedom I experienced!

It is one thing to know you are free… but to physically do this was so very powerful.

I had a spring in my step as I walked over to the dustbin and threw the pieces of paper inside.

I am not defined by my failures, the past, words that have hurt me, or people who have let me down.

And guess what? Neither are you!

You are not defined by your past mistakes, the insults hurled at you, the abuse you’ve endured or what others think of you.

You are defined by who you are in Christ… and in Christ you are a conqueror!

…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

I want to urge you to take up this challenge today. Don’t put it off for tomorrow… it only takes a few minutes. And the end result is well worth it!

Have a blessed day, fellow conqueror!

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“…For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” (Luke 9:48)

I came across this verse during the Good Morning Girls Bible study last week and it immediately caught my eye.  The disciples were arguing about which of them was the greatest, and Jesus had to set them straight.  Surprisingly, the disciple argued again over the same matter on the eve of Jesus’ crucifixion!!!

These were the disciples who spent a lot of time with Jesus and were quite close to Him.  How easy it is to be side-tracked with things that honor us, rather than that which honors the One who made us who we are?!

The world tells us there is nothing wrong in seeking fame, popularity, fans, followers, likes, recognition…  We’re part of a rat race were every one wants to be the first, the best, the greatest…  But then Jesus tells us, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35).

In the upside-down kingdom of God, greatness is reserved for those who do not seek it.

When we humble ourselves, recognize we are nothing without God, He will lift us up.  Let us not seek to become great for our own selves, but for the glory of the One who has promised us greatness.  Whatever we are, we are because of Him.  And He has promised that as long as we walk in His ways, He will keep us on top!

“The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.” (Deuteronomy 28:13)

God will lift us up in due time, and everybody around us will recognize the hand of God in our lives.  To Him alone be the honor, glory and praise!

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I have long been striving to spend time with God everyday – but struggled with being consistent…  and then I came across an online Bible study led by Good Morning Girls.  They follow a method called “SOAP” where you read the Bible in small portions but get into a deeper understanding of every word you read.

For the first time in my life, I have been consistent with my Bible reading and have been able to get an in-depth revelation every single day!

This week, the verse that spoke to me was “…If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” (I John 4:12.)

How true it is that we who know God and love Him, have a responsibility to love others as Christ loved us.  And when we show our love to those around us, God continues to abide in us (He makes His home in us) and His love is perfected in us.

We as humans, tend to display imperfect love by loving people conditionally.  But Jesus is the perfect example of perfect love.  He loves us unconditionally – while we were yet sinners, He loved us and chose to die on our behalf.  He can make my imperfect love perfect.

I’m learning that Perfect Love is:

• Being patient when my sons get on my nerves.
• Greeting my husband at the door with a smile after an exhausting day.
• Taking the time to pick up the phone and check with a friend who’s going through a rough time.
• Being slow to anger.
• Being quick to forgive.
• Being kind to anybody I come in contact with.

I can go on… I am choosing to let God perfect my love in my everyday life.

How would you display Perfect Love in your life?

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