Welcome back to womens online bible study as we finish Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I did not want to write this today because I’ve been so blessed by the study and the women in my small group… I don’t want it to end! We’ve examined 40 lies women believe and we looked at numerous truths to counter the lies.
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Week by week Nancy has challenged us to look for the lies we’ve been living by. Her summary in chapters ten and eleven really pull this study together!
During the Bible study we saw how the enemy sets traps and tangles us with his lies. We also gained freedom from bondage by studying scripture. The two major points of our study were: Believing lies places us in bondage and The truth has the power to set us free. Our spiritual bondage begins when we accept the lie and allow the enemy to rule over our thoughts. Our freedom is claimed when we stand firm in Scripture. When Jesus spoke in Scripture he spoke of the truth. He even equipped us with the Spirit of Truth!
Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! John 8:45 NIV
Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? John 8:46 NIV
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13 NIV
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:18 NIV
Jesus came to teach because so many were misled by religious leaders and rituals, they did not recognize the Truth when they saw Him.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV
To know the truth we need to know Jesus. To know Jesus, we need to read Scripture. If you’re using the Companion Guide then you had the experience of writing out the truths and corresponding Scripture verses. Putting the words on paper, in my own handwriting, was a moving experience for me. As I wrote across the page I imagined the same words written into my heart. It was quite powerful! I then identified the truths I needed to claim most and printed them on a card with the related scripture verse. I’ll meditate and memorize them so I’m more resistant to deception.
Speak truth into your hearts. Stay in relationship with Jesus.
If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32 NIV
Have a great week…share what you have learned with others as you walk in Truth!
God is good…always!
Welcome back to the Womens bible study as we discuss Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, week nine. Some of you have sent emails letting me know you’ve already finished the study. Others started late and are reading behind the group. Next week is our last week of study and then we’ll have a three week break. This will give everyonw time to finish the current study at the Womens Bible Cafe™
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Our lesson this week examined lies we believe about our circumstances. The lesson was perfectly timed (as always) when I found myself encouraging my teenage daughter over her circumstances. In tears she cried “God hates me! He lets bad things happen to me and I just know He just hates me!” Sometimes as adults we can sound just like a teenage girl! We look up and instead of seeing a Father who loves us, our vision is clouded by our circumstances and we can’t see Truth. This is one reason why bBble study and reading Scripture is so very important.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss exposed these lies during week nine. Once we crawl out of this victim mentality, it’s easier to see its ugly head when it appears in others.
The victim mindset blames life on circumstances while the victor seeks Jesus.
The victim mindset stays in a comfort zone of depression, while the victor seeks healing.
The victim mindset lives in darkness, while the victor lives in the Light.
True identity theft is when Satan keeps you in bondage to victim mentality. He convinces you that you’re a victim of circumstances with no way out. -Christine Abraham
Nancy warns us “if we fail to see the hand of God behind our circumstances, we will be vulnerable to confusion, frustration, bitterness, anger and despair.”
Victim mindsets believe they are powerless and therefore do not seek the blood-stained hands of Jesus. They turn away from forgiveness, mercy, grace and love. They hide in their misery and their comfort zones.
As I explained to my teenager daughter, we will suffer on this side of eternity. Christian lives are filled with hope, not perfection. To be Christ-like and follow Him does not mean you will not suffer. Sometimes we suffer from our own actions, sometimes we suffer from the actions of others, and sometimes we suffer for unknown reasons. Yet in our suffering we find a magnificent God and an indescribable joy.
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Revelation 2:10 NIV
You my dear daughter…are an Heiress.
Truth is….it’s all about God and His will. Live in obedience, in suffering and in joy.
Be blessed by your relationship with the King no matter your circumstance.
Circumstance: a condition, detail, part, or attribute, with respect to time, place, manner,agent, etc., that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; a modifying or influencing factor: Source dictionary.com
Your circumstance is a condition and it changes over time, just as you went from being a teenager to an adult. May you persevere and walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor 5:7 NKJV
Assignment For Next Week
Pray for the women who are doing this study with you.
Read Chapter Ten and Eleven in your book and companion guide.
Look at the list of Key Resources on page 269 for topics addressed in this book
Check in with your Small Group Leader
Have a great week…share what you are learning with others as you grow in truth!
God is good…always!
Welcome back to the Womens Bible Cafe™! We’re almost finished with Lies Women Believeby Nancy Leigh DeMoss as we discuss week eight. Our lesson this week focused on emotions and truth in Scripture. Nancy writes “I know of no other tool the enemy uses more effectively to lead us as women into bondage than our emotions.” This past week we examined our emotions against Scripture and God’s promises.
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We saw that too often and too quick- we believe and act on these emotions.One example is how we react to the emotion of anger. If we sat in a room together and I asked how many of you regretted making a decision in anger, more than half of you would raise your hands. The feeling of anger can cause people to have affairs, gossip, use hurtful words, break something, seek revenge…and much more.
Sometimes we justify our anger by our physical situation- illness, menstruation, menopause, exhaustion, or ailments. Other times, we justify our anger with verbal defenses so strong, the best attorney couldn’t disagree with us. For this reason Scripture warns us to be on guard for anger and watch our words carefully. Satan can use your anger to hurt or injure another person and cause you shame for your actions.
Anxiety is another emotion we act upon. We’ve looked at several Scripture verses reminding us to keep peace and be calm. When anxiety overpowers us, Satan uses it to worsen our situation and draw us apart from God. We attempt to control the situation and prevent further trouble, yet in doing so we often dig deeper holes.
The best and obvious solution for controlling our emotions is Scripture and prayer. When we are in the presence of God, our emotions are easier to manage. We’ll recognize them and act upon God’s will, not our feelings at the time.
As I finished reading this chapter, I realize how some emotions stem from chemical imbalances and require medical attention. Mood disorders, depressions, addictions and such are best managed with professional help. Once the brain chemicals are in balance it becomes easier to filter your thoughts and control them. You should not feel guilty for taking antidepressants or mood stabilizers if your doctor has diagnosed a need for them. Too often men and women use mood altering behaviors- such as alcohol, recreational drugs, smoking, or promiscuity- to deaden their emotions and anxiety. Long-term use of this behavior has devastating effects on the person and creates an even larger problem then the one they were self-medicating!
If you haven’t done so already, take a moment and reflect on your emotions. Examine your past week and look for symptoms of emotions that need to be addressed. Then make a personal decision and commitment on how you will handle this in the upcoming week.
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Phil 4:7-8 NLT
Assignment For Next Week
Pray for the women who are doing this study with you.
Read Chapter Nine in your book and companion guide.
Look at the list of Key Resources on page 269 for topics addressed in this book
Check in with your Small Group Leader
Have a great week…share what you are learning with others as you grow in truth!
God is good…always!
Welcome back to online womens bible study as we discuss week seven of Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. We’re looking at some controversial topics in this bible study and this week we examined biblical truths about having children.
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Some of you may have skipped over this chapter because you do not have children. I encourage you to go back and read this chapter for three reasons:
God may place you in a position to minister to someone who has children or is planning on having children
God may place children in your life who need mentoring, such as nieces and nephews, or children of coworkers and friends
God may place you in a ministry role where you are working with children
There is no good reason for you to miss reading this chapter! Please remember as Nancy teaches on these controversial issues, she is reflecting her understanding of Scripture. You are not required to agree with her, however it would benefit you to search Scripture and find your own answers for anything you disagree with.
This week we looked at five lies:
The lie that children are a burden
The lie that children need exposure to culture
The lie that children must go through a rebellious stage
The lie that children are believers because of actions at an early age
The lie that parents are/ or are not responsible for their kids actions
Were you amazed when Nancy said it’s a lie to expect rebellion from our children? I can recall a few Bible stories about rebellious children, yet Nancy wants us to see the good in our teen children and not anticipate or tolerate the worst in them. As Christian parents it’s imperative that we monitor our children’s activities and maintain open communication with them. By spending time in their activities we’re able to influence them in some of the decisions they make. Many times we discover our children are trying to help their friends solve a problem and we need to be a voice of knowledge for them.
Finally, Nancy discusses the lie that we’re not responsible or overly responsible for our children.
Often I remind myself that my daughters belong to God, not to me. I’m their caretaker and a leader as I teach them to live according to Scripture and to love Jesus. Ultimately they are responsible for their own actions. I pray constantly that their hearts and minds are centered on God. -Christine Abraham
Wow…this womens online Bible study continues to amaze me! We just finished reading week six of Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Last week as we discussed God’s priorities for women, the conversation heated up here at the Womens Bible Cafe™. Some of you agreed with the author, while others felt angry and uncomfortable with her. Others sent me private emails and I was deeply touched by your comments. Most evident from last week’s discussion is that Nancy Leigh DeMoss has us stepping outside our comfort zones. We examined our priorities and see if they’re in alignment with Scripture. This week the lesson continues as we discuss lies we’ve believed about marriage.
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We now realize that marriage “was designed by God to reflect His glory and His redemptive purposes” as Nancy writes in chapter six. This is not an invitation to choose the meanest, smelliest, most offensive man you can find….marry him…and then say…Lord, show me the glory! The point of this week’s lesson is to encourage those who struggle and wonder why their marriages are not overflowing with joyfulness. “Happiness is not found in any relationship. True joy can only be found through Christ,” says Nancy.
If we depend on our husband for joy, then we’re likely to place him on a throne and pressure him to continue serving us. He’ll quickly become an idol. We are reminded in Scripture not to place anything above God as an idol, including our husbands. God meets all our needs, not our husbands.
We also learned to allow God to change our husband’s heart and stop trying to “fix” our men. In the book Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage by Lee and Leslie Strobel, Lee writes “Yes, I was an atheist, but she refused to let that term define me. Instead she tried to see me as God saw me: as a treasured part of his creation, a human being whose soul was etched with the likeness of God, a wayward son whom he longed to connect with.” His wife led her atheist husband to Christ by modeling her faith and introducing him to her best friend… Jesus. Her love for Christ influenced his heart, not her nagging and attempts to repair him. He says “In the end the issue of salvation is strictly between your spouse and God. Be devoted, be prayerful, be encouraging- but don’t try to be responsible. You’re not!”
Finally, we learned about submission from a spiritual perspective. We’re reminded to submit to God’s will and remain obedient to the Father, unless your life is in danger from an abusive husband. I’ve often recommended the book How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong by Leslie Vernick because she reminds us to keep our focus on God. “When our spouse acts wrong we can:
Choose to LOVE………………..rather than hate
Choose to SMILE………………rather than frown
Choose to BUILD………………rather than destroy
Choose to PERSEVERE………rather than quit
Choose to PRAISE…………….rather than gossip
Choose to HEAL……………….rather than wound
Choose to GIVE………………..rather than grasp
Choose to ACT…………………rather than delay
Choose to FORGIVE………….rather than curse
Choose to PRAY………………rather than despair.”
My grandparents modeled perseverance in marriage and so I asked why their marriage was so successful. My Grandpa said, “Each morning when I get out of bed, the first words out of my mouth are ‘I’m sorry.’ I know I’ll do something during the day to offend her, so I start my day with an apology.”- Christine Abraham
Safety Note
On page 69 of the Companion Guide Nancy writes “If physical danger or abuse is involved, a woman should seek protection, direction, and intervention from the appropriate civil and/or spiritual authorities, rather than attempting to handle the situation on her own.”
Assignment For Next Week
Pray for the women who are doing this study with you.
Read Chapter Seven in your book and companion guide.
Look at the list of Key Resources on page 269 for topics addressed in this book
Check in with your Small Group Leader
Have a great week…share what you are learning with others as you grow in truth!
God is good…always!
as she discusses keeping her faith after her son murdered a man. This book is powerful!
by Lee and Leslie Strobel, Lee writes “Yes, I was an atheist, but she refused to let that term define me. Instead she tried to see me as God saw me: as a treasured part of his creation, a human being whose soul was etched with the likeness of God, a wayward son whom he longed to connect with.” His wife led her atheist husband to Christ by modeling her faith and introducing him to her best friend… Jesus. Her love for Christ influenced his heart, not her nagging and attempts to repair him. He says “In the end the issue of salvation is strictly between your spouse and God. Be devoted, be prayerful, be encouraging- but don’t try to be responsible. You’re not!”
by Leslie Vernick because she reminds us to keep our focus on God. “When our spouse acts wrong we can:
