Tonight was the beginning of our Ladies' Bible Study. This year we are using the book and DVD entitled Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl, a six week Bible study by Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries. While I was looking at book options, this particular book kept popping up as I searched - and for very good reason! Once I received a copy of the book and began to read, it was exactly what I had felt God had been speaking to me about..
As always, I enjoy gathering together with such a tremendous group of ladies to delve into God's word together. This evening we discussed Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl - In My Heart. This evening's discussion centered on false idols in our lives and what the Bible has to say about our insecurities and failures. Good stuff, all of it! As we explored the false idols in our lives, we studied one of my favorite scenes from the Old Testament. Proof that sarcasm is not a modern invention (not that anyone ever said it was).
.Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire." So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
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At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
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1 Kings 18:25-39 NIV
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At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
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1 Kings 18:25-39 NIV
Isn't that the same result we get when we seek fulfillment from things rather than God? And yet we all do it over and over and over again. We are so fortunate though, that He promises us:
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For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
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For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
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Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV
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What more could we possibly ask?
2 comments:
I love that passage too. Can you imagine? Elijah was one bold prophet... taunting and speaking out so fearlessly. I think about idolatry here, but also how we need to be willing to speak His Truth, no matter what the consequences. Good stuff!
Blessings!
We all need reminding now and again about who deserves our worship our Lord not our belongings.
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