W@W - Women@Work for God

Let’s practice representing God well. Let’s live a life that put Jesus on display. A life that others look at and say: “I want what she has”. An extraordinary life that glorifies our amazing Father.   Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV): “... I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Let us live from a place where we truly believe that God is our strength. In and through His power that is at work in us, nothing is impossible!   Psalms 18:1-2 (MSG): “I love you, GOD - you make me strong. GOD is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God - the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout.”

Are you worried, stressed, lonely, discouraged, or just tired? There is only one place where we can find true rest and peace, where we can refresh ourselves and find the courage we need to boldly step out and become all that God created us to be. That is in the presence of our Father God. True happiness only comes from living in the Shadow of our amazing Father.   Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV): "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Let us be determined to daily give our lives - our eating, sleeping, drinking, working, EVERYTHING - in total surrender to our Father God. And let’s always have a smile on our faces - reflecting Jesus' light in us.   Romans 12:1-2 (MSG): “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering…”

Victory comes from TRUSTING and OBEYING God! Do you truly trust and believe that nothing is impossible for our Father? That you can be victorious in anything because of Jesus?   Deuteronomy 1:8: "See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them."

A God-first, Christ-led, Holy Spirit-inspired life is all about being intentional with how we spend our days. Intentional living is underpinned by simplification, good discretion, understanding and discernment in all circumstances; and in living a disciplined life. The book of proverbs teaches us that wisdom cannot be separated from discipline. Discipline is needed to obey God’s instructions, and to be intentional with our time and with what we do. That is what finally cultivates wisdom in our hearts. Being wise and in right standing with God ultimately leads to His gifts of protection, favour and blessing.   Psalms 90:12 (NIV): “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Joy is defined as “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune; or by the prospect of possessing what one desires”. A worker is defined as “a person who is actively involved in a particular activity”. How wonderful would it be if we could be defined as joyful workers in our Father God’s service? That is what would enable us to reflect an intentional God-first, Christ-led, Holy Spirit-inspired fulfilled life, that is an act of worship and thanksgiving to our Lord and a blessing to others.   Psalms 100: 1-2 (MSG): "On your feet now—applaud GOD! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence..."

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see ‘not good enough’, ‘not pretty enough’, ‘so many flaws’, ‘so many failures’? Why do we listen to what the world tells us about who we should be, how we should look, and how we should act? Please stop... let’s step back into the beginning. The bible says God spoke creation into existence (through the power of His word). But then He did something extraordinary – He formed man from the dust. He FORMED us. Just as a potter uses clay to create something beautiful, God formed and created each one of us by HAND. He got CLOSE and very PERSONAL. He had a divine design for your life... Oh... and it is spectacular! He was intentional when He made you!   Psalm 139: 13-15 (MSG): "Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God - you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration - what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something."

Have you ever stopped to consider what it truly means when we say that we were created in God’s image and likeness? That we are a reflection of our Creator? That we are like Him? Would that cause you to act differently? To look at yourself differently? To look at and treat those around you differently?   Genensis 1:27 (NIV): "God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female."

Regardless of our mistakes, our inadequacies, our weaknesses or our failures, we have a Father who loves us, and who created us fearfully, wonderfully, and perfectly. He doesn’t make mistakes and He has chosen us!   John 15: 16-17 quotes the words of Jesus: "You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. But remember the root command: Love one another.“

Can we be found in the presence of the One who made us? The One who has a wonderful plan for our lives? Do we really spend enough time with our amazing Father?   Genesis 3:8-9 (NIV): "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Do you sometimes feel like hiding because you’ve eaten forbidden fruit? Know and believe, that regardless of our sin, shame or fear, we never again need to hide from God. Know that we have LIFE because of the One who gave His life for us (refer to Galatians 1:4).   Genesis 3:11 (NIV): “And God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines GIFT as: "Something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation". What is the greatest GIFT you have every received?   John 3:16 (AMP): “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life."

As we think about Calvary, let’s celebrate and praise the Name of our Lord, JESUS CHRIST.   1 Corinthians 11:26 (Amp): “For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].”

Have you considered what it really means to be living attached to the one and only true Vine? Jesus says in John 15:4 (MSG): “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me”.   John 15:5-7 (NIV): “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing."

Do you understand how much God truly loves you? There is no greater act of love or kindness than laying your life down so that someone else can live a life of freedom!   1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV): “I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.”

We serve a good good Father, who wants the best for us, who holds our plans and dreams in the palm of His hand, and who provides and cares for us. He loves us more than we can ever comprehend!   Psalm 34:8 (MSG): “Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good GOD is. Blessed are you who run to him.”

Do you sometimes limit yourself or others? Do you do this merely because you don’t believe or dream big enough? Do you truly believe that for our amazing Father God – nothing is impossible?   Luke 1:36-38 (NIV): “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.” And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her.”

Wisdom is to know our Father God. To know Him, we need to spend time with Him. A God-first life is one in which we seek knowledge, understanding and insight from our Father God.  It involves setting our hearts to live in absolute obedience to His will, and to be 100% dependent on Him for everything.   Proverbs 1:7 (MSG): “Start with GOD - the first step in learning is bowing down to GOD; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning."

Prayer is powerful! How often do you spend time speaking to our Heavenly Father?   Matthew 6:6 (NIV): “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”

We serve a good good Father. Do you really trust God as your keeper, provider and protector?  Do you expect Him to come through for you, not only in the big and scary things, but really in EVERYTHING, in every second of every day?   Psalm 121:5, 8 (AMP): “The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand. The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in [everything that you do]. From this time forth and forever.”

Do you know that our Father God cares more for us than we could ever understand, that He will never leave nor forsake us? His love for us will never fail, it will never run dry, it will never stop. Our Lord is Love! Love means life, hope, kindness, goodness, grace, mercy, compassion, wisdom, and above all, freedom!  It is ALL we could ever hope for – to be LOVED and to LOVE in return.   1 John 4:17-18 (MSG): "God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day - our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment - is one not yet fully formed in love."

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines contentment as: "The state of being happy and satisfied, it’s the freedom from worry or restlessness leading to peaceful satisfaction".   Philippians 4:12b-13 (MSG): “…I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am…”

What is disciplined living? Are you open to wise, Godly instruction and counsel? Do you know that disciplined living leads to self-control and good discernment? The Lord instructs us to have teachable and responsive spirits. This implies being open good counsel and correction in the right way of living.   Proverbs 10:17 (MSG): “The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you are lost for good.”

Have you lately come to a place where you simply just don’t know what to do next? Who do you turn to? Are you relying on your spouse, parents, mentors, leaders or friends for answers? I am not suggesting you don’t seek wise and Godly council – it is a Biblical principle. But where do you go FIRST?   James 1:5-6 (MSG): “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought…”

Are you aware of God’s directions and instructions (His sign-posts) as you travel along life’s road? Do you seek His will and allow His spirit to teach you every step of the way?   Isaiah 26:7-8 (MSG): “… We’re in no hurry, God. We’re content to linger in the path sign-posted with your decisions. Who you are and what you’ve done are all we’ll ever want…”

Desperate times call for desperate actions. Where do you turn first, when you hit the bottom of the pit? When it seems everyone is against you? When it seems there is no hope? When you see no easy outcome and it feels like you have nowhere to go?   Daniel 9:1 (AMP): O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! Do not delay, for Your own sake, O my God, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

What does it mean to know someone? The Merriam Webster dictionary helps us to understand it a little better: "To know someone means to recognize the identity of that person, to be aware of a truth about the person, to have information or knowledge about the person, to be acquainted or familiar with the person, to have an understanding of their importance and to recognize their nature". Do you know our Father God?   Psalm 9:10 (AMP): "And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You."

If I think about a tree, I think about life, fruitfulness, food to eat, strength, durability, shade for rest, and protection. If we compare our lives to that of a tree, what would it take for us to be stand-out trees for God, trees that bear much fruit for the Kingdom?   Jeremiah 17:8 (MSG): “But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers— Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season.”

Worrying leads to anxiety. Anxiety leads to tension, tension leads to pain, pain leads to fear. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to destruction, destruction leads to death. These are in contradiction to rest. Rest leads to trust, trust leads to favour, favour leads to happiness, happiness leads to joy, joy leads to peace, peace leads to love, love leads to hope, hope leads to life!   Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV): “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Do you know God’s will for your life? Do you spend time with our loving Father? Do you spend time in His Word, allowing Him to teach you and direct your ways?   Psalm 25:4-5 (AMP): “Let me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me. For You are the God of my salvation; For You [and only You] I wait [expectantly] all the day long.”

To praise the Lord is to bless Him, to give Him thanks and to exalt Him as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. It implies that we proclaim His name as the Name above all names. It’s to make His name known and to talk about what God has done for us.   1 Chronicles 16:10-11 (AMP): “Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually [longing to be in His presence].”

Do you want to get well? Consider the following: What is driving you? Have you grown complacent? Do you often believe the lies of the enemy? What is paralysing you at the moment? Where is your focus? What is stealing your joy? What is stealing your time away from prioritising God and His word? Do you really want to get well, or have you allowed your condition or your fear to become your identity?    John 5:6 (AMP): “When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to get well?”

Have you taken time to really consider what it means to have abundant life, and full, eternal life?  Does this cause you to think differently about your time, your circumstances, your loved ones, and the things of this world you live in?   John 10:10b (AMP): “…I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

Who is in your boat? Would you invite Jesus on board? Let’s get rid of the fears, worries, doubts and darkness in and around our boats. Let’s invite Jesus on board. Let’s keep our focus on Him and not on the storm around us. Let’s trust Him to steer our lives according to our Father’s will. Let’s experience fullness of life by being 100% dependant on our Lord and Saviour.   John 6:20-21 (AMP): “But Jesus said to them, “It is I (I Am); do not be afraid.” Then they were willing to take Him on board the boat, and immediately the boat reached the [shore of the] land to which they were going.”

Who do you rely on when you are faced with a decision? How often do you try to do things in your own strength?   John 8:28 (AMP): "So Jesus said: When you lift up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will know then [without any doubt] that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but I say these things just as My Father taught Me."

Do you truly believe that you have LIFE - life in abundance, life to the full - not because of your own righteousness or good deeds, but because of our Father God’s unconditional LOVE through Jesus? What amazing grace and mercy! We have a HOPE and a wonderful future.   1 Peter 1:3-4 (CSB): “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Let us be determined to ask our Father God for His life-giving Spirit to be with us and to live within us.   Isaiah 11:2 (NIV): “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord…”

Do you want to learn more about who our Father God is? Let's explore who our Father God is, by studying His names. Let’s trust in and completely rely upon our Lord, walking in His ways and honouring His NAME as the Name above all names.    Isaiah 26:8 (NIV): “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

Do you know the desire of our Father God’s heart? Let’s bring glory to Him, worshiping and giving praise with awe-filled reverence and profound respect. He alone is holy. Let's love the Lord our God with all our hearts and souls. Let's submit to God in a way that puts His splendour and supremacy on display.    Deuteronomy 10:12 (NIV): “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…”

In Acts 23 we see that Paul is under persecution. There is an uproar against him, and he is facing death, and being held captive. How amazing is our God? During hardship, persecution, and a bleak situation, our loving Lord shows up to encourage him (Paul), to be with him, and to show him the way forward. Our amazing Father God wants to do the same for us today.   Acts 23:11 (NIV): "The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Jesus learned trusting-obedience by what He suffered, just as we do. That means suffering leads to growth. Growth doesn't come from staying in a comfort zone. Growth comes when we learn to persevere during our times of hardship, suffering, sacrifice, or being thrown into deep waters. Perseverance implies quietly waiting on and trusting in the Lord. This helps us to mature in our faith - and ultimately leads us to trusting-loving-obedience and alignment to our Father God’s will.   Hebrews 5:8 (AMP): "Although He was a Son [who had never been disobedient to the Father], He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered."

What is hope? Hope implies confidence and assurance, and therefore TRUST. But let’s also look at the opposite of HOPE: Hopelessness, disbelief, despair, discouragement, fear and even hatred. Do you know that we truly do not have to feel any of these negative feelings? That was never our Father God’s intention for us! Let’s declare today: “No more worries and negative feelings. We choose LIFE. We choose LIGHT. We choose HOPE!”   John 10:10 (AMP): “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

It is possible for our lives to glorify our Father God and reflect the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We’ve heard the saying so many times: “You may be the only Bible someone gets to read”. What is needed for us to reflect the Gospel well? Let’s learn from Stephen’s life in Acts 6. Acts 6 (AMP): “5…Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost… 8And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people… 10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

The Bible tells us that our Father God’s plans for us are good! What is holding you back in becoming all He created you to be? Isaiah 43:18-19: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”

Rest comes from total surrender, and trust that our Father God is almighty, sovereign and in control. To be at rest is to be at peace, which produces true happiness in our hearts. It implies that we are content, not worrying or in fear, but KNOWING that our Lord has our backs. Hebrews 4:1 “Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still remains and is freely offered today, let us fear, in case any one of you may seem to come short of reaching it or think he has come too late.”

Is it possible for our lives to truly reflect the beauty of the gospel? I believe that this is part of God’s strategy for our lives. Not an easy one… So where do we start? Let’s start by putting our Father God first in everything. Matthew 6:33 (NIV): “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

We are often paralysed by anxiety and fear, and by the busyness and the demands of the world. We feel overwhelmed and out of control. What is the root cause of this? Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV): “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise — in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

God has created us as relational beings. God’s DNA of compassion, care and love are woven into who we are. We long for communion and relationship. Not only with our Lord and Creator, but with one another. Ephesians 4:4-6 (MSG): “You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.”