Scripture Saturday - September 19, 2015

Welcome, once again, to another installment of Scripture Saturday.  :-)

A few years ago, I was introduced to Beth Moore.  The first Bible study of hers that I participated in was called Esther.  Actually, there is an "anxiety story" behind this.  {It seems as though I have an anxiety story behind everything, BUT... the Lord always gives me ultimate victory in each circumstance.  He never wavers or gives up on me.  He always loves me and understands my quirkiness, reminding me that He will never leave me or forsake me.}

A few weeks before the Esther Bible study began, there was a stirring in my heart to participate in a ladies Bible study, but being new to the church, I didn't even know if they did Ladies Bible Studies and wasn't sure I would even attend  since I didn't really know anyone and just the thought of stepping out of my comfort zone like that caused anxiety.  Lo and behold,  the next time I attended Sunday services, an announcement ran across the screen that a Ladies Bible Study would be commencing in a couple of weeks, the Beth Moore Esther study.  I sat in the pew and thought, "Okay, apparently the Lord placed the desire in me because He wants me to attend the Ladies Bible Study and to stretch my faith in the midst of anxiety".

The first day of Bible study, I woke up nervous, but still persevered, praying that the Lord would go before me and be with me, and I headed out...

The first faces I saw were two women I happened to know from years ago who gave me such a warm welcome and who ran the Bible study.  I could feel my anxiety start to quiet.  Not even knowing who Beth Moore was or anything about her, I surprised myself with my reaction the moment the video started and I heard her speak.   I wanted to jump up and shout, "I want to be her friend!"  lol.   As the weeks, turned into months, and I watched Beth give practical lessons on, you guessed it, ANXIETY, I was able to draw on the Scripture verses and Christ-like mindset she taught about to strengthen my faith in overcoming anxiety issues.

Despite my own conflicted feelings of the desire deep in my heart to participate in a Ladies Bible Study and a heart that wanted to run from that desire, the Lord had a perfect plan to use Beth Moore's Bible study, where she shared her own experiences, insights, Godly wisdom and above all Scripture, to bring more healing to my anxious ways.

I've lost count of how many Beth Moore Bible studies I have done, each one having a lasting impact in strengthening my own Spiritual walk.  And it all began when the Holy Spirit gently moved in me to attend the very first Bible study despite my anxiety.

I was also happy to discover that Beth Moore teaches a short 15 minute Bible lesson on Wednesdays with Beth sponsored by Lifeway International.   During one of those lessons, she taught about the following verse:

The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;

Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting;

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Psalm 138:8

Her insights into this Scripture verse changed my prayer life from one that gave a list of things to God that I wanted Him to do, to prayers that trusted that He would take care of whatever concerned me in His perfect loving way.  The freedom I received in praying this Scripture verse was life changing.  

Since praying in this manner, I have received some of the most profound answers to prayer in the most unexpected and many times 11th hour ways; not even in the way I would have liked the process to go, but in the end, exceeding my hopes and expectations!

Next to my life verse, I hold onto this promise very tightly, calling back to my remembrance all that the Lord has done to accomplish all that concerns me.

I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit helped me along the way to attend that first Ladies Bible Study without which I would not have eventually reaped the incredible blessings that Psalm 138:8 has brought to me.

May the Lord accomplish all that concerns you...

You might find me on these link-ups:
Grace & Truth Link-up, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Growing in Grace Link-up, 3DLessonsLif4e, Livefree Thursday,Everyday Jesus, SDG Gathering, Inspire Me Monday Titus 2 Tuesday, A Wise Women Builds Her Home, A Look at the Book,  Sunday Stillness, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Soul Survival,  Give Me Grace, A Little R&R, Testimony Tuesday, Women with Intention Wednesdays, Still Saturday, Good Morning Mondays, Tell His Story, Blessings Counter Link-up Party,Faith & Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, Be Salty, Monday's Musings, The Art of Home-Making Monday, Tuesday Talk, Waiting on Wednesday,Dance with Jesus,Looking Up Link-Up, Reflect His Love and Glory Friend Sharpens Friend Link-Up, Words of Comfort Link-up, Wholehearted Wednesdays. Tell it to Me Tuesday, Faithful at Home Fridays, So Much At Home Link-Up, Literacy Musing Mondays