We made it to Friday! Whoo hoo! This week actually went by pretty quickly. I hope you had a great week and are able to have a relaxing weekend 🤗
Alright, here are this week’s questions:
Chapter 4 How Strong Can a Woman Be?
*How would you answer the question this chapter poses: how strong can a woman be? Where does our strength come from?
*The authors suggest three principles to help us in our spiritual warfare:
- Aggression toward the enemy
- Ruthlessness against our pride and selfishness
- Tolerance and love toward one another
Why are these three principles so important in spiritual warfare?
Chapter 5 The Disciplines of a Spirit-Empowered Woman
*In this chapter, the authors discuss the disciplines of a spirit-empowered woman. They are:
- obedience
- fasting
- hardship
- captive thoughts
- declarations
- discipline
Did any of the items discussed surprise you that they are a discipline? Do you struggle with any of these disciplines?
*How does prayer play a role in employing these disciplines in our lives?
Chapter 6 Our Weapons and Strategy
*The weapons and strategies we can employ are:
- the name of Jesus
- the blood of Jesus
- the power of praise
- the power and voice of action
- the strategy of agreement
- the strategy of nonjudgment
- the strategy of binding and loosing
Are these weapons and strategies new to you?
*How do we apply wisdom to when to use these weapons and strategies?
Chapter 7 An Open Door to the Enemy
*Looking back on your life and your family’s (your parents, grandparents, etc.), can you identify any generational sins?
*Why is it so important to know what doors can be opened in our lives to the Enemy? How do we close these doors and fight for ourselves and our families?
Scripture of the Week
2 Corinthians 10:5
Revelations 12:10
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
Prayer of the Week
Father God, thank You for the weapons You have given us to fight back against the Enemy. Would You give us wisdom and humility as we walk with You? Help us to know which strategies to employ when we come against the Enemy. Help us to be bold and persevere in prayer and to close the doors towards the Enemy. Thank You for the power we have in the name of Jesus and for what His blood has accomplished for us. We know You have not left us alone and we thank You and praise You for who You are and what You are doing on our behalf. We love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Next Week
*Read Chapters 8-10
I think God is teaching me what perseverance really looks like…UGH!?
Lately I’ve been discouraged about certain things not changing and frustrated at the fact that I have to keep going. “There’s always something” has recently been my motto, and while I know there really is (and will always be) something going on, something that needs to be taken care, I have never felt the weight like I do now.
During these times, it’s easy to not pray because it feels pointless. God could change things, but here we are left with the same old drama with no end in sight. I know there’s a purpose for what God allows, but I’m shocked at how long it can take to see results!
I am so glad the Holy Spirit and Jesus pray on our behalf. Sometimes I don’t have the words – or am too frustrated – to pray, and it’s so encouraging to know God knows not only how we feel but also what we need.
This week’s chapters were helpful in reminding me that our enemy is not who we think it is. The enemy is the devil who was created and has no hold on us because Christ overcame death and has the victory! I have been trying to remember this when dealing with the chaos. Furthermore, I have been trying not to dwell on the drama and focus on God. “Regardless of how impossible your situation appears, it is important to keep your eyes on God, not just the problem.” (Page 72) I may not know what God is doing, but I can trust He is doing something – and it is something good because He is good.
We all have the choice to choose to do good or not, and that is why there are problems: we are flawed and can’t do right on our own. God doesn’t stop our freewill because that’s not how true love works. True love doesn’t force one to do something or be a certain way. So left to ourselves, we miss the mark, which God knows, and that is why Jesus took our place. He didn’t – can’t – miss the mark. And He helps us through this broken life.
It’s one thing not to pray when times are difficult; it’s another thing to praise God through difficulty. I think this is very important though because, again, it gets our focus off the problem and onto the Father. “But we can ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to take captive our false thoughts and to make them obedient to Christ.” (Page 75)
The enemy is real and active and sneaky. He gets in wherever he can, and while he doesn’t have power over us, he can trip us up even with our armor on because we’re human. We get tired, but God doesn’t. As it says in Psalm 121, “I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip–He who watches over you will not slumber…” (verses 1-3) We can be confident knowing He is with us, watching over us, and guiding our steps…even if that means we enter into crazy situations.
There is power in prayer because there is power in the name of Jesus. “Therefore God exalted Him (Jesus) to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name.” (Philippians 2:9) When we pray in Jesus’ name, it matters. We may not see the fruit of it in this life, but we can be certain it makes a difference.
As defeated as I have felt lately, I am holding onto the truth that Jesus has overcome so I don’t have to let feelings of despair overcome me. “[W]e fight from a position of victory, not defeat.” (Page 88) I love that God is not on the sidelines but fighting our battles. This shows He not only cares, but loves us enough to actually do something about it.
I think the battle I’m in now will last awhile longer. I also think there are more to come. So I have to direct my prayers to God and my warfare at the enemy (paraphrased from Page 96). God has already made a way through Jesus. He wants to move us “to a higher level of effectiveness in prayer and spiritual warfare (Page 110) We can trust Him with our lives, even if we don’t like where we’re at or what we’re dealing with. He sees, He knows, He cares. He is enough, and we can be assured that He’s holding onto us.