I never finished college. Like a big ol’ bully, those four words used to embarrass, intimidate, and threaten me from obeying God’s leadership in my life.
The primary focus of that bullying was related to the fact that God had called me to do something – teach and write Bible studies – for which I had no formal college education or degree. Even when I stepped out by faith and started teaching and leading Bible studies, I was always looking over my shoulder waiting for the real teacher – the one with the college or seminary degree – to show up.
She never did. But God did.
He taught me. He trained me. He used others to mentor and teach me (thank you, Lord, for Precept Ministries). But most of all, He empowered me.
One of my favorite verses is 1 Thessalonians 5:24: “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (KJV). I cannot tell you how many times that verse has kept me moving forward when I felt like retreating, as did these:
“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NASB
Precious sister, do you ever struggle with God’s calling and leading in your life? When you sense that He is leading you to do something you’ve never done before, are you bullied by a long or short list of reasons that disqualify you?
If you answered yes to one or both of those questions, I hope you discovered in this week’s Are You a Disciple? homework that the power of the Holy Spirit is greater than any bully who threatens to keep you from following and fulfilling God’s call upon your life.
The promise and call Christ proclaimed in Acts 1:8 is for every believer.
Every. Believer. Including you.
No matter how big your bully may be, the Holy Spirit is bigger — and far more powerful. So, follow Jesus, dear disciple. And if He leads you to college or seminary, to your next-door neighbor or Africa, or to anywhere or anything in between, go and know that His power will always be enough for you to follow wherever He leads.
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…” Acts 1:8 NASB
One Year Bible Winner & New Drawing Next Week:
Congratulations to Rose who is this week’s winner of the One Year Bible! To claim your prize, please email (priority@priorityministries.com) your mailing address to me, and I’ll get your gorgeous Bible in the mail to you. And Rose, thank you for sweet testimony and for your desire to share and defend the faith (1 Peter 3:15).
Next week we will have a new drawing. To enter, post a comment to one or more of the discussion questions (below) and you may be the winner of a $50 shopping spree on Priority’s online store. And remember, if you post a comment every week, you’ll be entered in our Are You a Disciple? Grand Prize Perfect Attendance drawing! Yay!!!
Discussion Info:
When you are ready to discuss what you studied in your Week 4 homework, here’s how the online discussion works:
- Post your comment to one or more of the discussion questions below.
- Read and reply to comments other group members post as the Lord leads you. It’s super easy, so go for it!
Week 4 Discussion Questions:
Question 1: How have you experienced the the work of the Holy Spirit in your life recently? How has He helped, taught, or spoken to you? (Day 1, question 3).
Question 2: What was the most important principle God taught you as you studied prayer (Days 4 & 5)?
Question 3: I told you about the bully in my life. Now it’s your turn. How have you struggled with God’s call upon your life, and how did He encourage you through His Word this week?
Our Assignment This Week:
- If you ordered the Are You a Disciple? downloadable videos, watch the Week 4 video and fill in the listening guide on p. 101 in your workbook. If you didn’t purchase the videos, but you’d like to watch this week’s video, click here.
- Complete the Week 5 homework which we will discuss next week.
- Watch your email next week for my Week 5 online study post AND the announcement of the $50 shopping spree.
Sisters, we are officially halfway through our Are You a Disciple? online study! Thanks to all of you for your faithfulness. Although only a handful of you are posting comments, I know that many of you are doing the study and reading these posts. If you haven’t commented yet, I encourage you to be brave and bless us by letting us hear from you this week.
I love you, I’m praying for you, and I can’t wait to hear from you!
Your sister in Christ,
