Abraham shows me how to leave everything behind

the year i studied Acts in BSF, i was captivated by a verse:

Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

i had actually been captivated a few years earlier (teaching at family camp) by the idea that in order to live this life NOW, living in the knowledge that eternity has begun for me, i had to depend on the Spirit of God to live through me.  more recently (in BSF) the part that caught me was that i am DEAD to any agenda i had devised for myself.  i have been crucified with Christ, and i no longer live--i no longer strive to make myself known.  i am still on this planet and this life is FOR CHRIST.  He gave Himself for me and is worthy of my SACRIFICE, my devotion.

a few weeks ago, i finally had to make a move to begin a structured study again (summers are hard for me!)--and i invited others to join me.  the choice was "The Magnificent Obsession" by Anne Graham Lotz.  the book itself had been recommended over a year ago and when i learned she's written a study, i was intrigued.  once a wise and dear friend recommended it, it was a confirmation that i should look at it.

"If you and I ever truly know God, it will not be an accident.  It will happen when, like Abraham, we abandon every other goal, every other priority, and embrace the God-filled life until He becomes our magnificent obsession." (p.22)


God brought a great variety of women into my home for our first session and i'm excited about studying God's Word together.  as i've told others about how i'm enjoying this study, my most common sentence is that we are not being spoonfed, it's not "read this, fill in the blank, read the next paragraph to find the answer."  i know myself, i'm lazy, i won't go dig through Scripture if i know they're about to give me the answer.

this week we were directed to read Genesis 12:1-13:4.  the account of abram being called out and going (even if he did stall out for a bit), about arriving in the promised land and worshiping, about him failing and how God was gracious when abram returned in repentance.  so much to learn from this passage...

seeing God as SOVEREIGN, FAITHFUL, MERCIFUL, GRACIOUS.

so many questions that i have asked myself--so much conviction from the Holy Spirit--not guilt-inducing lies from the enemy that tell me i've messed up and can only despair at the lost opportunities.  guilt is NOT from God, guilt that traps us in our past. CONVICTION is seeing a past failure as motivation to choose better, to rely on God, to know Him in a sweeter way because He is merciful and compassionate and continues to give us chance after chance.  the future is impacted, i am set free to learn from a mistake and rest in God's forgiveness and walk with Him so that i can have victory.

i'm excited to share my observations with the ladies in my Bible study.  i'm excited that we can walk together and encourage one another to listen to God and leave everything behind!

praying for us all to have hearts that want to learn and grow closer to Him, to be obsessed with Him alone.  :)