Happy Friday, friends! I’m so excited you are joining in for “The Women of Christmas” book discussion and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
Here are this week’s questions:
Chapter 1: Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room
*Elizabeth and her husband lived honorably before God knowing that it was God working in them that allowed them to do the right thing. Do you find it difficult not to praise yourself or others for doing the right thing? Where does praising ourselves lead to?
*Elizabeth was a righteous woman and yet a deep desire of her heart went unfulfilled for a very long time. Deep down do you have a feeling that righteous living should warrant the desires of our hearts? How is Elizabeth an example of being obedient to God even when we don’t get everything we want?
*Zechariah was struck with fear when the angel appeared. The angel told him, “Do not be afraid.” Where do you sense God might be telling you not to be afraid?
Chapter 2: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
*Zechariah was struck with silence because of his doubt regarding the angel’s message. How might that have affected his relationship with Elizabeth? How might a period of silence in your own life be beneficial?
*Elizabeth and Zechariah were both in advanced years. Though we don’t know how old they were, it seems they were at an age where they might have thought their best years were behind them. Yet God started them on a new journey of parenthood. Have you ever felt that your best years were behind you? How does their story give you hope for the future?
*Elizabeth knew that her pregnancy was God’s favor upon her. Have you seen the Lord’s favor upon your life (i.e. an open door, provision only He could have provided)? How can you give God glory for this?
Scripture of the Week
Luke 1:5-125
Isaiah 12:2
Prayer of the Week
Father God, in this Christmas season help us to make sure that we set aside our to-do list and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Help this be a season of growing closer to You and experiencing a fresh anointing of Immanuel “God with us.” May we remember that Jesus is the best gift and that You are good – always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Next Week
*Read Chapters 3 and 4
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
Lately, God has been helping me realize how transactional I have believed our relationship is.
Generally, I find it easy not to do the wrong thing. This doesn’t necessarily mean I find it easy to do the right thing; however, I tend to avoid doing the “blatantly” wrong things whether it be out of fear (I just know if I take the risk, I’ll be found out!?), reputation, or genuine personal conviction.
I don’t say this to toot my horn. As I said, this doesn’t necessarily mean I find it easy to do the right thing. That being said, I’ve realized I’ve had this mentality that if I do the right thing, God will do the right thing by me as well. I have felt that if I keep up my end of the bargain, so will He.
So when certain unpleasant things happen, I am perplexed, wondering how God could allow such and such, when I did my part.
I must confess an astounding revelation smacked me in the face when I read the author’s words:
“It may sound as if Elizabeth and her husband were obedient and so earned God’s approval, but, in truth, it was the other way around. God’s power and strength at work in their lives made it possible for them to do the right thing in the first place. (Page 7)
How dare I credit myself for my choices! Doing right and being righteous isn’t about us!? Too long I’ve felt that righteous living should warrant the desires of one’s heart…but I’ve been wrestling with the truth that our desires aren’t in fact right or good on our own.
Many have committed the following verse to memory, “He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4) Interestingly – and yet perhaps on purpose – we leave out the first half of this verse: “Take delight in the LORD”.
We incorrectly assume we are good and therefore make right choices believing we’ll get more good as a result. The spotlight though isn’t on the Savior, but on us – our desires, our wants. Is it any wonder then that we seek to praise ourselves?!
As the author highlights, Elizabeth was faithful and obedient to God despite her having to wait longer for the answer she was praying for.
Perhaps during the years of waiting she felt as though God were silent. I know I have been feeling this way recently. I talk and expect a conversation, only to find out it’s a monologue…mine.
It’s interesting how God is “silent” with Elizabeth and that He caused Zechariah to be silent until John the Baptist was born. God works in mysterious ways. The point though is understanding, and more importantly trusting, that He is working, whether we feel Him talking or not.
I don’t know what I’d do if God chose to silence me. I am a talker (haha) and can find my way into any conversation. Also I tend to take time to process things, so I think God would have to silence my mind so my thoughts wouldn’t run rampant!
Silencing – or at the very least quieting – my words allows space for me to get my focus off myself and see how He’s moving in my life.
In the last few months I have been trying to write down where I’ve seen God provide, and this has caused me to become more grateful. He has never left me, never failed me. I may not get the answers I’m wishing for – later or ever – but it’s not about me. He sees me and knows what I truly need. I’m continuing to learn I can trust Him and that He deserves all the praise.
I keep having to re-learn the lesson that it’s not a different set of circumstances that will fulfill me or make me happy, it’s the Lord. I’ve really had to question my motives for doing the right thing and also asking myself why I expect that God will hold up His end of this supposed bargain I’ve got going on with Him. That transactional relationship has been like a neon sign flashing in my head and I want to love God and follow Him solely for who He is but I get so caught up in the transactional part of it. It’s not even a transaction! That’s the crazy part. There’s nothing we can do that adds even one iota of righteousness or redemption to the story. It’s all Him. And Jesus never said that if we follow Him everything will work out and we’ll have everything we want just the way we want it. I know this and yet somehow I think I’m not asking for too much and if God could just toss a little pity my way and let me skate through that’d be great.
I feel like I could use some silencing this year lol I’ve had a looser tongue than normal and I really need to reign it in. But it’s so true that my thoughts would need to be silenced as well. I’ve felt so in my own head this year and definitely need to do some preaching to myself.