Lies Women Believe Book Study Week 6

Hello ladies. It's my privilege to host this book study for Karen while they are relocating and getting settled. Let's be sure to pray for Karen and her family at this time.

Since we didn't 'meet' last Monday, I'm going to review our assignment.

Assignment 6

Reading:

Read chapter 4, pages 91 - 114.

Questions:

I have decided not to give any discussion questions this week. This chapter is lengthy. For your posts next week, share what is on your heart at that time for Chapter Four.

Our Memory Work:

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:32 (NIV)

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free..."

Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

My Thoughts:

Once again, I have believed some of these lies in my past. Praise God, I've been set free!

The five lies exposed in this chapter are:

1) I can sin and get away with it.

2) My sin isn't really that bad.

3) God can't forgive what I have done.

4) I am not fully responsible for my actions and reactions.

5) I cannot walk in consistent victory over sin.

Each one of these lies stems from how I view sin. Nancy Leigh DeMoss puts it so succinctly on page 100 - "The way to see the Truth about sin is to see it in the light of who God is. When we gaze upon the brilliance of His untarnished holiness we become acutely aware of the hideousness of our sin." She then proceeds to share a Puritan prayer (still on page 100):

"Unmask to me sin's deformity,

that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it...

Let me never forget that the heinousness of sin

lies not so much in the nature of the sin committed,

as in the greatness of the person sinned against."

Taken from: The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, ed. Arthur Benett (Carlisle, PA." Banner of Trth, 1975), 70, 79.

Putting sin in perspective:

Held up against the holiness of God, we are all guilty of sin. It separates us from God. But as the old praise song says, "Calvary covers it all." Because all of our sin was future at Calvary, all of our sin was paid in full! There is no sin too big or too small.

Praise God sin is just that...sin. That means it can be dealt with and put away because of the finished work of Christ. He's given us victory over sin. We don't have to lanquish in it or be in bondage to it for the rest of our lives.

We need to remember that sin is not greater than God's grace. To think that any of my sins are too great to be covered by Jesus' shed blood on the cross is both prideful and arrogant. I can I possibly think that anything I can do can possibly be too big for Him. Sin is just that...sin. A payment has been made for ALL sin by the only Perfect One. We do have a way of escape by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Because of that payment for sin, we CAN have consistent victory over it. I love what the author says on page 108 in regards to victory: "Remember that what we believe determines the way we live. If we believe we are going to sin, then we will. If we believe we have to live in bondage, then we will. If we believe that we can't live victorious lives, we won't."

It's also important to remember that we are each responsible for our own sin. There's no more "Blame Shifting". Oh how many times I have been guilty of that lie! "It's not really my fault, it's because of the way I was raised, because of the sins done against me and the sins I was raised around." My sin is just that...my sin. I'm not responsible for anyone else's. Yes, someone else's sin may have effected my life, but I am not responsible for their actions and their sin - they are! I must let God be God in all people's lives.

In Conclusion:

The steps to overcoming these lies is just the same as previous chapters.

1) Identify the area(s) of bondage or sinful behavior.

2) Identify the lie(s) at the root of that bondage or behavior.

3) Replace the lie(s) with the Truth.

With this particular set of lies, that means we must:

1) AGREE with God by identifying what lies I have believed about sin.

2) ACCEPT responsibility for the way these lies have manifested themselves in my life (my thoughts, attitudes, actions).

3) AFFIRM the truth of God's Word in my life. I must renew my mind by replacing the lie with the truth of His Word. Affirm what Scripture says about the nature of sin, it's effects in my life and God's provision for sin.

4) ACT on the Truth - develop an action plan that will set me on a path with the Truth.

5) ASK God to help me walk in the Truth. I can not do it alone.

Assignment #7

Karen has asked that we read Chapter Five - pages 115 - 134. This chapter deals with lies we believe about priorities. Oh my! This is an area the Lord has been convicting me of personally lately, especially the first lie she covers.

I've taken the liberty to create a few questions as well. Basically because I need to know my answers to these questions for my own life.

Questions:

1) What is the Truth that counteracts the lie "I don't have time to do everything I'm supposed to do"?

2) Are you guilty of the 'Superwoman' mentality - "I can do it all" or "I'm supposed to do it all"? You may share a personal story if you would like.

These next questions are for you to ponder upon and ask yourself. You do not necessarily have to answer publicly.

3) Do I have a time I've set apart just for Him, to meet with Him through His Word and in prayer? When is it? What is (are) the biggest hindrances to my getting alone with God?

4) For the season of life I'm in, what is a reasonable plan of action for having time with the Lord? Do I have someone to hold me accountable for my plan of action?

I'd like to hear from you on this final question if you are comfortable answering it publicly:

5)In what areas do I need encouragement in regards to my calling as a wife and mother (for those with children)?

Have a blessed week you all!