Welcome to our third week of womens online bible study as we study Breaking Free by Beth Moore. Last week we learned about the five primary benefits God extends to His children. This week we learned about obstacles in our path to freedom. This is the major point in our Breaking Free study where the enemy of God wants you to sway, turn back and leave obstacles in your path. Pay attention to the week ahead and do not quit your online Bible study.

The goal of the enemy of God is to throw you off course and take away your glory with God. God wants to do mighty work in your life, don’t let the enemy get a foothold. (Beth Moore) This may be the most challenging week yet. We’re looking in the mirror and facing our obstacles. Resist the temptation to run away and hide in your busyness. When the study becomes uncomfortable, spend more time with God, not less.

What obstacle do you look forward to pushing off your path so that you can live an abundant life with Christ: unbelief, pride, idolatry, prayerlessness, or legalism? For me, the pebbles are easier to push off. Little things have caused our walk with God to be less than we desire. As we walk around the corner we may suddenly encounter a big boulder. Unexpected and huge. If you encounter a big boulder, get off the path and get some assistance. Call a pastor or therapist and break through the boulder in a safe place. We are Bible teachers, not therapists or counselors and you may need special assistance as you break free.

In our study this week we examined the obstacle of unbelief. Unbelief is when the outcome is centered on me. When I put myself between God and my prayer need, my limited view of what I can accomplish is a symptom of unbelief. I don’t ask God when my view is small. One of my life verses is John 3:30 He must become greater, I must become less.

Challenging for myself and many Christians is the obstacle of pride. This obstacle disguises itself as gossip and slander. We often hear someone bragging about how her Bible version is better, she spends more time in prayer, or she checks all her boxes for religious life. Be careful if this speaks into your heart and guard yourself against the temptation of pride.  According to Beth Moore, “Being filled with pride comes naturally and humility takes supernatural strength.”

We also looked at idol worship this week, substitutes for a relationship with God.  Some of the things we can accidentally or intentionally turn into idols: are cars, vacations, houses, money, children, politicians, celebrities, and the ones who caused us harm. Even an illness can become an idol when it takes center place in our life instead of God. He alone is on the throne.

When we feel a nagging dissatisfaction in our life, we are tempted to turn to idols. These may appear as food, addictions, people, or entertainment. GOD alone satisfies our soul, when we thirst or hunger spiritually. Guard your heart against modern idols.

Open your Bible to Isaiah 2:8 NLT: Their land is full of idols; the people worship things they have made with their own hands. 

As we learned this week, prayer is a weapon for spiritual warfare. The war is invisible, and we don’t even know we are on defense. Prayer helps us align Heaven on earth, His will, and discernment for today.

Do your very best to pray constantly!

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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.