This is the fifth week of exploring our Remarkable Faith, a series where we are reflecting on our most memorable moments in our faith walks. I’m saying “our” because I want this series to be an opportunity for you to share part of your own remarkable faith, not just a time for me to tell more stories about my life. So, check out the weekly topics and link up when you have something to say! And if you don’t have a blog but would like to share, please, talk to us in the comments.
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Several bible studies have been instrumental in shaping my faith and developing friendships. Learning why I believe what I believe in college, spending more time than I ever wanted in the book of Acts with my Sunday school class, dipping my toes into my first Beth Moore study with a dear friend, and – most recently – working through my own wilderness with Priscilla Shirer (through video and her book, of course) and my friend, Brittany.
But two studies have stuck with me over the past few years, placing sweet words of wisdom in my head that pop up unexpectedly and bring me back to truth when I get, well, crazy.
About seven years ago, I joined a group of girls from my Sunday school class for a Beth Moore study called Believing God. I’d done a couple of her studies before, but this was the first time I was seeing the accompanying videos. This study has stuck with me for a few reasons. First, I loved those girls so much and had a great time growing closer to them and to God, with them. Second, I really enjoyed the video component of the study. And third, the result of being forced encouraged to memorize five belief statements is that they just stick with you.
[That's God is who he says he is; God can do what he says he can do; I am who God says I am; I can do all things through Christ; and God's Word is alive and active in me if you're wondering.]
I did a little looking for you, just in case you’d like to do this study yourself. You can buy the book, Believing God, on Amazon (affiliate link). Or, you can actually do an online study at Lifeway. It costs $24 but you get video, notes, an interactive community and other tools. (No affiliate link here. Just a great resource that I was so excited to find!)
The other study that has really influenced me is the one I did right here on this blog two summers ago: Me, Myself & Lies: A Thought Closet Makeover by Jennifer Rothschild.
For as long as I can remember, my internal response to any mistake – from negligible to life-altering – has been to think, “I’m so stupid!” I won’t try to tell you that Me, Myself & Lies gave me a rock-solid self-image that never falters. You know me better than that. But it has changed some of my mental soundtrack, virtually erasing “I’m so stupid!” from my playlist.
And that’s kind of a big deal.
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Has a Bible study played a part in your story or shaped your beliefs – and your life? Do you have a remarkable faith?
If you write about this on your blog, please link up! (And remember, use the URL for your specific post, and include a link back to Giving Up on Perfect in your post so others can link up, too!)
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Love it! Believing God was a pivotal study for me..I even reference it when I am giving my testimony to groups of women. Knowing that God had been there all along was comforting to me and made me feel closer to God than I ever had. I have never done the Jennifer Rothschild one..will have to go look into that.
One of the biggest impacts to my life was doing Life-Transformation Groups at my home church in Washington. These groups are more than just the normal small group or bible study. It’s two people meeting weekly and asking the hard questions: addictions, finances, sex, attitudes, and more. Add to that reading 25+ chapters of scripture a week and intentionally praying for others…what a group! I was involved in one throughout high school and my early college years, but I have slacked in it lately. I am looking forward to my return to Washington this summer, because I know who I can ask to join me in meeting weekly once again. :)
I have yet to start and complete a Beth Moore study – and in my circles I feel like this is about the same thing as saying that I have never had an ice cream cone! I have heard so many good things – perhaps it’s time!!
This is my top 10 list in no particular order. Each of these books/studies changed and/or greatly enhanced my viewpoint on the topic being discussed…
1. Ragamuffin Gospel (Brennen Manning)
2. Sacred Romance (John Eldridge)
3. Marriage Without Regrets (Kay Arthur)
4. Beth Moore Daniel Study “Lives of Integrity”
5. What’s So Amazing Grace? (Phillip Yancey)
6. True Woman (Elizabeth Hunt)
7. Lady in Waiting (Debby Jones)
8. Every Man’s Battle (not sure on the Author)
9. Lord is it Warfare, Teach me to Stand (Kay Arthur)
10. If God is in Control, then Why is My Life such a Mess? (Michael Youseff)
Thanks Mary for mentioning Me, Myself and Lies, since that’s how I found your blog. My friend Terri in MD and I were going to read through the book together and talk weekly by phone. When I keyed in the title of the book….your blog came up and well..the rest was history, I’ve been following you ever since. I read your back posts about the book and Terri and I had a great revelation too about how we had been storing negative thoughts about ourselves. We’re still filling our heads with God’s truths and are able to recognize when our Thought Closet needs to be cleaned out a bit.
I also did Beth Moore’s Believing God bible study at my church and you’re absolutely right. I can still recite the 5 Statement Pledge of Faith too. It was an amazing journey looking back over my life and how all my experiences were leading me toward God whether I realized it at the time or not.
I did the Believing God study a few years ago and grew so much from it! I don’t speak as highly of all of Beth’s studies but that one is worthy of praise. It drew me closer to God and a lot of the truths I learned still come to mind on a daily basis.
Well I went and took a week long bible study course called For My Life, and it was life changing. I was healed there, but more than that I learned how much God loved me and where he was during the bad times… My life growing up was not exactly picturesque, and I really had some baggage. They totally teach you how to unpack your bags!! There is a book, but I didn’t like the book so much. I went becasue of a testimony. How lifechanging is this course, well I left healed of heart liver brain and immune system damage due to advanced lyme disease. I was allergic to everything and had 22000 extra heartbeats a day, balance issues, adrenal fatigue, short term memory loss, incredible joint pain and vitamin deficiencies everywhere…I left with normal heart rhythm, threw away my epipen, remembered the entire course nearly word for word, LOL, no neck pain, normal liver enzymes, no vitamin deficiencies except vit D:)–oh and 20 years of migraines are finally gone. I had been too sick to take care of my own kids..I had an 600-800 per month pharmacy bill and left there needing none of that. My healthy husband took the class and got saved, as well as my Buddhist friends. My hubby grew up in a legalistic church where everything was a sin, music was a sin, wearing shorts etc. He needed to meet a loving Heavenly Father and reevaluate his atheist position. HE did!!! A couple other friends got healed. Anyway, I mean it when I say lifechanging. It rocks….
http://www.beinhealth.com The course is in THomaston GA, and I live in KY, no affiliation! Calm peaceful place with calm peaceful lectures. I felt like I was back in college
My church is doing Beth Moore believing God right now…and I like it. She yells a bit though, but I hung in there. Good content, I agree!!
The best quick mini mini study on Gods love is
http://www.fathersloveletter.com
The best new Christian bible study is IMO a Self Bible study by Derrick Prince. It hits all the highlights.
http://www.amazon.com/Self-Study-Bible-Course-Expanded/dp/088368750X#reader_088368750X
Then I am doing a yearplus long study…I have been slacking on it, haha, but its massive. Gods Plan for Man by Dake. I think it would go quicker if they had a large print set of volumes:) Talk about nailing stuff down, it brings up stuff I never thought about.
Thanks for this post. I can’t wait to check out some of these suggestions!! Oh and also, I like Joyce Meyers. She is so real. I relate to her and DVR her show, although I know some people cannot stand her.
Thanks, Mary! As I am preparing to speak in May I have found valuable insight on my topic from your post and the comments and posts of those that linked!
I have had a huge light bulb moment as a group of ladies and I went through Nancy Leigh DeMoss’s Choosing Gratitude. I chose the study because I thought it would be “light”. It was perfect! I never realized choosing gratitude was praising and worshiping God. I never realized the enormous sin that ingratitude is!! Choosing gratitude is a life preserver that rescues you from your own emotions. Choosing gratitude is the sure path to peace. Choosing Gratitude is “the chief way God infuses joy and resilience into the daily struggles of life”. Choosing gratitude changes your entire perspective on life! Everyone needs to read this book and choose gratitude over self! :)
I blogged about the study from an organizer’s perspective here… Thanks! http://www.simplysquaredaway.com/index.php/Blog/our-perspective-guided-by-gratitude.html
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve done the Beth Moore one, but not the Jennifer Rothschild and I LOVE her! I liked up with this post http://melissanesdahl.blogspot.com/2011/08/caught-in-middle.html about Lazarus Awakening. It is another GREAT study!