Being a Faithful Woman

On the average day, could you look back and feel that you were completely faithful in all things? The small things as well as the big? Do you ever feel discouraged when you think of the areas you struggle with being faithful in? Maybe each day you don't feel that way, but instead there are areas that you could be more faithful in over time - to-do lists, eating habits, exercising, prayer, Scripture memory, devotions with God.  I have areas to work on for sure!

I've been going through Elizabeth George's book, A Young Woman's Walk with God with a couple friends during our lunch break at work.  The book breaks down each of the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.  It's definitely given me a new perspective on those verses!  It's so cool how God's given me opportunities to work on each "fruit" throughout the week or two that we're studying it.  This past week we studied faithfulness. It was probably one of my favorites to dig deeper into and definitely one that I need and want to work on in my life!  There are sooo many areas to be faithful in - but most importantly is our walk with God.  Faithfully spending time with Him in His Word and prayer is the only way we can successfully be faithful in other areas, because the only way we can be completely faithful is through Jesus and the grace He gives us to do it.

Wanted to share a few things from our book study because Elizabeth George says it way better than I can. :)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What does faithfulness do? What does faithfulness look like?

If you were watching a woman who is walking with God by His Spirit, you would note these marks:

• She follows through…on whatever she has to do.
• She comes through…no matter what.
• She delivers the goods…whether a returned item or school paper.
• She shows up…even early so others won't worry.
• She keeps her word…her yes means yes and her no means no. (James 5:12)
• She keeps her commitments and appointments…you won't find her canceling.
• She successfully transacts business…carrying out any instructions given to her.
• She is regular at church…and doesn't neglect worship.
• She is devoted to duty…just as Jesus was when He came to do His Father's will. (John 4:34)

Areas to be faithful in (and I'm sure we could all add to this list!):

• Devotions.  Faithfully going to God's Word on a day-to-day basis.
• Church. Faithful attendance promotes your Spiritual growth. Church is also where you serve God's people, which calls for faithfulness.
• Friends. You need to be a faithful friend, but first you must be sure you have the right kind of friends - friends who know and love Jesus Christ. And for those friends and acquaintances who don't yet know Jesus, be kind and friendly…and faithful to share Him with them.
• Homework/Tasks. Being faithful in the things God has called us to each day. Not just the things we like or enjoy, but all things! "He who is faithful in a very little thing, is faithful also in much…" Luke 16:10

Struggling to be faithful?

Pay attention when these thoughts pop into your head and remember…."I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

• Tiredness says, "I can't do it!"
• Laziness says, "I don't want to do it!"
• Hopelessness says, "It doesn't matter if I do it!"
• Procrastination kills faithfulness with its attitude "I'll do it later."
• Rationalization says, "Someone else will do it!"
• Apathy says, "I don't care if I do it!"
• Rebellion says, "I won't do it!"

Praise God that you and I can choose to go to Him when we are too tired, too lazy, too uncommitted, too sick, or too sorry for ourselves! We can choose to do as David, the shepherd-king of Israel did. He "found strength in the Lord his God." (1 Samuel 30:6) David repeatedly declared, "the Lord is the stronghold of my life." (Psalm 27:1) We, too, can find in Him the strength (His strength), the vision (His vision), and the faithfulness (His faithfulness). He is waiting to give us His faithfulness!

Things to Do Today to Walk in Faithfulness

• Choose to call upon God in prayer.
• Choose to be faithful in small things.
• Choose to rely on God's strength.
• Choose to fight self-indulgence.
• Choose to eliminate laziness and idleness.
• Choose to begin at home.
• Choose to be faithful in all things.
• Choose to take a quick inventory of your own Christian walk. Then ask God for His strength to go to work on getting His faithfulness in your life…just for today!

"The fruit of the Spirit is…faithfulness."

Galatians 5:22

He is Good

Was reading through some letters the other day that were sent to our church from missionaries we support. It’s always so cool to hear how God is working in far away places!  The recent letters were re-capping the past year and different things God had done in 2011.  One paragraph stood out to me in particular — “We have experienced much joy, a little sadness, great victories and minor defeats, real trials and wonderful blessings. Through it all, the Lord has been gracious and good, as always. What a great God we serve.”  I’m sure that could sum up in a few words what most of us could say about 2011.

Yeah, last year had it’s ups and downs, joy and sadness, victories and defeats, trials and blessings. I love the perspective this ends up with though — Through it all, the Lord has been gracious and good, as ALWAYS. What a GREAT God we serve! Just this morning I was thinking of some things I had wanted to happen last year that didn’t happen and found myself thanking God that He was, and is, in control! He wants the best for us so much that He doesn’t just give us everything we want.  We can’t see the whole picture, but God can. I’m so thankful for that!  

Sometimes we have to follow Him even when we don’t want to.  I remember when we first moved to Guam. I didn’t want to come at all, but at the same time there was a peace in my heart that God wanted me to come. So I came. Now I don’t ever want to leave! God knows what’s best. Every. single. time. 

At the end of 2012 I have no idea where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing, but I do know that whatever happens, wherever God leads me, no matter what joy and sadness, victories and defeats, trials and blessings come my way I want to be able to say, “Through it all, the Lord has been gracious and good, as always. What a great God we serve!”

“Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart;

for consider what great things He has done for you.”

~1 Samuel 12:24

Living With an Eternal Perspective

“What will you do this week that will count for eternity?" I Read that question on a friend’s Facebook status tonight. What awesome words to live by!  Just made me think of how many ways my outlook and purpose in life would change if I really lived by that each day. My overall goal in life is to live with an eternal perspective, but just breaking that down to “what will I do this week?” or “what will I do TODAY that will count for eternity?” creates a lot to think about.  I know there are changes I need to make in this area for sure.

If I did away with everything in my life that won’t make any difference in eternity, what would be left? If I changed all my desires and things that I hoped for to being in perfect alignment with God’s desires, what would my heart look like? If changed everything that I strive for and aim to accomplish each day to what God sees as important for me to accomplish, what would my days look like? Of course, as imperfect people we won’t ever be able to live a perfect life like that, but just living with that eternal perspective each day and keeping our focus on eternal things will bring us closer and closer to accomplishing that goal.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

~Ephesians 2:10

What will you do this week that will count for eternity?  What will you do today that will help accomplish your goal for this week?