I have loved reading all your comments about what stands out about meno to each of you. How lovely and loving that God embraces us and we get to abide in Him! Thank you for continuing to share and study with us!
If you have any questions about how this study works, we’ve answered most of them here.
Catching up? That’s okay! We’ll leave the videos up, so you can take your time.
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Okay, now onto the video! We’ve posted the questions to answer in the comments and your study assignment for the week below.
Questions to answer in the comments:
- Describe a time when the Lord helped you overcome something. (page 107)
- How does the truth of God’s pursuing love for you silence your biggest fears? (page 116)
- Why do you think obeying God’s commands is synonymous with loving Him?
This week, complete Session 5: Experiencing the Word. I look forward to reading your comments and meeting back here next week!
1. I used to worry all the time but I got tired of being tied up in knots all the time and decided to take God at His word (specifically Matthew 6:25-34). Over time, He helped me overcome my constant anxiousness.
2. If I’m honest, my focus has been too much on my fears and not enough on God’s love for me. Looks like I have something to work on…
3. Obeying God’s commands is synonymous with loving Him because that is how you show it. With humans, if we say we love someone but never “have time” for them or we know they don’t like chocolate and are always forgetting and bringing them some, they won’t really think we love them, no matter how often we say the words. If we say we love God but don’t do the things He asks of us, do we really love Him?
1. Describe a time when the Lord helped you overcome something. (page 107)
A few months before we got married, my husband lost his job. He was able to get a part time job. We have been married for almost 10 months now, and he is still at that part time job and no doors have opened for him to get something better. I am currently the breadwinner. God has helped me overcome feeling superior to my husband and is continuing to show me how to respect him and be submissive to him as the head of our household. I tend to be arrogant and belive that because of my education, I have a right to be. God is helping me overcome this. I am thankful that He is patient with me, and has given me a husband who forgives me when I act with this ungodly attitude.
2. How does the truth of God’s pursuing love for you silence your biggest fears? (page 116)
I have always had fears of being alone and that I would never have a romatic love. But the fact that God pursues me to love me is something that has helped me not worry about being alone. I’m never alone. I have the Holy Spirit living inside me. And because I realized that God has always just wanted me to love Him, it has freed me from worrying about others loving me.
3. Why do you think obeying God’s commands is synonymous with loving Him?
I firmly believe that you can’t obey God and not love Him. I personally would not obey Someone that I did not love.
1. Describe a time when the Lord helped you overcome something. (page 107)
Looking back on my life, I can see so many times when God has helped me overcome obstacles and challenges. In my teen years He helped me overcome my feelings of inferiority. As a young mother, He helped me overcome my feelings of inadequacy. Many times the Lord has helped me conquer my fears.
One concrete example that comes to mind is when I first started teaching High School. A lot of my students were bigger and taller than I was. Though I was confident in teaching my subject matter, I was nervous about managing student behavior, so I started a prayer journal. Every morning I would get to school early. Before the students arrived, I would write in my journal about my concerns for the day and specific students who had special needs. I really believe this helped me release my fears and concerns to the Lord and made me a better teacher.
Another specific fear was the fear of driving. I didn’t learn to drive till I was in my late 30’s. Even with driving lessons, I was terrified of taking the driving test. After overcoming that hurdle, I was able to drive to work and to the store, but I didn’t venture very far. One day a friend told me about a lady in a nursing home, who was in need of visitors who could speak to her in Spanish. I knew the Lord wanted me to do this, but I was afraid of getting lost or having an accident. However, I put aside my fear and started visiting this beautiful lady, a former pastor’s wife. She was blind, but every time I would come into her room, she would say: “ I’ve been praying for you, Carmen.” Those words were such a blessing to me, and well worth the effort it took to get there.
2. How does the truth of God’s pursuing love for you silence your biggest fears? (page 116)
As a young college student, my goal was to “find” the Truth. What I didn’t realize was that I had grown up knowing the TRUTH. From an early age, I saw how my parents trusted God for everything. In my pride, however, I set out to put that truth to the test. I explored every “ism” and “ology” and could not find the Truth. I “sat in darkness and the deepest gloom”. Like the people in Psalm 107. I was an intellectual wanderer, but God did not give up on me. He was right there waiting for me to surrender to the real TRUTH. One day, when I was bruised and broken and none of the “isms” and “logistics” could help me, I cried out to the one I had known about from the beginning, and He (not and “ism” or an “ology” but a person) heard me, and he rescued me. He took away the gloom and doom of depression and gave me hope instead of despair, faith instead of doubt, light instead of darkness and truth instead of lies. Since the, I have not departed from that truth. I am so thankful he loved me enough that he presumed me and did not leave me in the darkness.
3. Why do you think obeying God’s commands is synonymous with loving Him?
Jesus showed His love for us by obeying The a Father even unto death. Jesus showed us what it means to love, he showed us the way and we have to walk in it by obeying His commands. Obedience is the ultimate test.
Though I have more room for growth in this area, God has certainly worked in me a lot regarding jealousy or envy over someone else’s situation in life, especially women who are in relationships. He has taught me this primarily by reminding me that 1) everyone’s story is different and beautiful and is directly from Him, 2) we don’t see all the ugly details or even the tough back story in someone else’s life. I have especially struggled when God brings fabulous blessings into the lives of my friends who have openly rebelled against Him, while I have been faithful in waiting for His plan. Of course, God reminds me often enough of the story of the Prodigal Son, in which the older, obedient son was the loser in the end. I think He has definitely grown in me a joy and celebration for others when they are blessed, and reminded me that none of us deserve His blessings.
My biggest fears always entail things I don’t understand well, like concepts of eternity and infinity. The fact that these big, scary concepts are directly tied to my relationship with and knowledge of God is ironic, to say the least. The moment my brain gets too overwhelmed with these ideas is the moment I grab more tightly to Him!
I think it was mentioned somewhat one day that trust is the link between love and obedience. If I really love God, I will put my trust in Him. If I really trust Him, I will certainly do what He says, because I believe He is what He claims: all-knowing and all-benevolent. I know that He will work all things for my good. Conversely, if I didn’t know my trust by obeying Him, my love would not be sincere and would not have true roots in my heart.
1. The Lord has helped me overcome so many things but the biggest is dealing with my insecurity. The knowledge that He loved me, no matter how flawed I was made a huge difference in how I saw myself.
2. When my fears start to speak to me I go to the scriptures as a reminder that God loved me so much that He sent his son to die on the cross for my sins. I am going to be retiring at the end of this year so I am facing the fear of not having enough money to live on, not fining another job. When that happens I remind myself that God loves me and is right here with me.
3. Our obedience is our action in response to God’s love. My obedience to God shows I trust in God and his love for me.
1. When I quit my job several years ago to be a stay-at-home mom, I felt the Lord nudging me to join the Women’s Bible Study at church. This was a huge step for me, because I am very shy and introverted. But over the years, I was able to overcome some of my fears of sharing my answers in a group.
2. A few years ago, my husband lost his job and ended up being unemployed for two years. I had a little one at home, so I wasn’t working either. During that time, a lot of fears surfaced. It was only through God’s abiding love that I was able to have hope that things would work out.
3. I don’t think you can love God without wanting to obey His commands. The two go hand-in-hand. We are not forced to obey them. But our love for God compels us to want to obey them.
Session 5
1. Describe a time when the Lord helped you overcome something. (page 107)
There have been several insecurities about myself that I have had to surrender to God in order to overcome. The surrendering of those securities (and the admission) were some of the hardest moments. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to get rid of them, but that they had in essence become part of what identified me. A dear friend reminded me that my identity is in Christ.
2. How does the truth of God’s pursuing love for you silence your biggest fears? (page 116)
He has known me at my worst, and chose to love me anyway. He hasn’t given up on me. Though I sin, He will never forsake me or leave me helpless.
3. Why do you think obeying God’s commands is synonymous with loving Him?
I think the knowledge of God’s love for me helps me to remember that His commandments are for my good. As John writes, they are not burdensome. And knowing that the commandments are not burdensome and for my good drives me to obey Him, thus deepening my love for Him.
1. I had to overcome being a legalist. Through bible study He opened my eyes to this problem and also showed me a way to overcome it. Not to say legalism doesn’t still pop up occasionally but now I am quick to acknowledge it and seek His help in correcting it.
2. No matter my circumstances or how far I miss the mark, God loves me! If I am listening He is speaking truth and love over my life. When I hear that how can I be afraid?
3. Obedience is an action and so is love. You cannot separate the two. Plus God’s only asks us to do things that are for our good. Failure to obey causes us to miss out on the blessings and the outpouring of His love!
Cher – Toledo, OH
1. I’ve overcome feelings of rejection (parents divorced when I was a year old & my dad was pretty much out of my life for most of my life – his choice.) I realize now that I am a child of God & He lavishes His love on me – I can’t earn it, don’t deserve it but He wants me to have it.
2. God silences my fear that I’ll let Him down by continually reminding me that He’ll make a way for me. He does the hard part and each time I trust Him, my faith grows stronger.
3. When I feel love for my kids, it makes me want to see them, spend time with them, do things for them. I think that’s what loving God is like – wanting to talk to Him, be with Him, & do the things He asks of me. My children are all grown now but when they were little & would do what I’d asked them to do, it created such a joy in my heart. There weren’t arguments or stress – it was pleasant & I think that, too, is how God feels when we simply respond in obedience without arguing or looking for reasons why we can’t or don’t want to do what He asks. I think genuine love creates the desire to respond with obedience.
I loved you answer to question 3. A good example,e of how perfect love leads to obedience.
1. I am currently struggling with a friendship that isn’t an easy relationship and I don’t understand for sure what direction I’m to go. I do believe God for deliverance and I’ve prayed hard for wisdom and discernment. James promises that God will give wisdom to all who ask. I trust Him to overcome. I struggle with showing Christ’s love and kindness, but knowing when sometimes you have to walk away and cut ties. Some people can suffocate you. I am learning patience in the process of praying and waiting. Any prayers for discernment for me much appreciated!!
2. God loves me. God is good all the time. God sees the big picture. God knows every single place I have to walk, every single struggle, every single hard time. He is there and He can handle it. I believe it. BUT, I still struggle. I still give in to fears. I’m so glad He is so big and so awesome and so capable. I can’t even handle the job of giving my fears to Him! 🙂
3. It’s easy to say “I love you.” If I tell my family that and then treat them unkindly or won’t do anything for them or act selfishly in everything or ignore them and just gloss it all over and continually say, “It’s ok, because I do love you,” Are they going to believe my love for them? Which are stronger? My actions or my words? Loving God means loving to walk in His ways and choosing to live in His commands and serve Him with a huge heart of love.
I’ve been in that horrible position as you suggest in 1, Deborah, and after years of being involved and supportive, she made some critical moves that put a natural distance between us, such as habitual absence from church services, job changes, relocations. She knows she can come to me when she chooses, though, and I am grateful to God for helping me maintain a Godly influence when her choices would drive me nearly insane. I reminded myself that our backgrounds are starkly different and that God knew what He was doing when He placed her in my life…if only for a decade or so. I still pray for her, but am not consumed with it. I’ll pray for you, Deborah.
Thank-you!!! I can never be prayed for too much. I appreciate prayers and knowing people are praying for me. Have a blessed week.