Day Forty-Five: With You or Within You?

Day Forty Five--- We are half-way through this study!! To all that have kept up with us-- Congratulations! Keep going. For those of you just starting-- no pressure.... it has only taken us six months to complete the first half so you should have plenty of time to catch up and keep up.


Getting Fit to Engage the Enemy

 Today's study is an excellent example to emphasize why an undertaking of such a study is important. During a family readiness briefing before one of my daughter's deployments her Colonel led a briefing about our soldiers' readiness for entering a combat zone. He had us look around at the troops-- who sitting there with their parents and siblings looked to some of us older folks, like kids more than soldiers. He explained how over the last three months they have been training hard, so hard, even though they may not look like it now, that should they engage the enemy they would automatically revert to their training without thinking. Their training would be so ingrained that at times of great duress they would not have to think about it  they would just do it.

Our training needs to be so well ingrained that when the enemy attacks us we don't have to think but without thinking we just do it. "Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. (prov 7:2-4)." I used to wonder why Christians were so adamant about memorizing scripture until I would be in a situation where I knew I had read the perfect scripture for this moment that would either encourage me or someone else or that would enable me to speak God's truth into the situation.  However, many times I could not quite remember the words. I started memorizing God's Word so that I could draw on the foundation of his word in times of great duress.

This is why we complete bible studies like this one and why we write God's word on our hearts. We want to be led by the Truth and not led astray; We want to be guided by God's spirit and not misguided by false teachings; We want to know which way to go to be with God and in his Holy Spirit and not make choices that take away from God's will and leave us lost in the world.

STUDY GUIDE

Follow along in JOHN: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore pages 215-218
Read John 14: 15-18
 Answer the questions in your study guide.
 Share a brief highlight or two from your thoughts and answers in a comment posted to the group. (Read guidelines and cautions posted August 1, 2010 before you post).
 Read the comments of others and share your thoughts and encouragement with them by replying to their comments. Identify which post you are responding to by addressing them and their subject or pasting a brief portion of their reply at the start of your post.

PRAY WITH ME:
Lord, thank you for your amazing word; your truth that holds up to ages of misguided teachings. You have given  all the knowledge and wisdom to those who open their hearts and let you in. Your word is the foundation we lay in our hearts and minds to draw upon in times of our greatest need and times of our greatest Joy. In Jesus name, Amen.