Elizabeth George - Small Changes for a Better Life Growth and Study Guide

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Italicized text in Scripture quotations indicates authors emphasis.

Cover by Terry Dugan Design, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cover photo Dana Edmunds, Getty Images

Acknowledgment

As always, thank you to my dear husband, Jim George, M. Div., Th. M., for your able assistance, guidance, suggestions, and loving encouragement on this project.

SMALL CHANGES FOR A BETTER LIFE GROWTH AND STUDY GUIDE

Taken from Gods Wisdom for a Womans Life

Copyright 2003 by Elizabeth George

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN-13: 978-0-7369-1784-1

ISBN-10: 0-7369-1784-5

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Gods Plan for Your Life

Gods Plan for Your Spiritual Life

Gods Plan for Your Daily Life

Gods Plan for Your Family Life

Gods Plan for Your Personal Life

A Word of
Welcome

Dear Reader

As you hold this book in your hands and prepare to launch into this exciting growth and study guide designed to help set in motion the changes you desire, the changes that will help you live out Gods plan for your life, please do these few things:

O pen your book and review each chapter in the book Small Changes for a Better Life.

O pen the Book, the Bible and follow along through the scriptures in each lesson to see for yourself what God has to say about His plan and your life.

O pen your eyes to Gods message to you personally about any changes that would be helpful or are needed. Remember, prayer is essential.

O pen your heart to any changes God prompts you to make. Look for His lessons from His heart to yours.

O pen your heart to others. If you want to study with others who are seeking a better lifea life that glorifies God by living out His planyou can find information for Leading a Bible Study Discussion Group in the back of this study guide or on my website: www.ElizabethGeorge.com.

As you follow these few steps, youll see God causing you to be transformed by the renewing of your mind and conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 12:2 and 8:29).

In His everlasing love,

In your copy of Small Changes for a Better Life read the chapter titled Small Change #1Ask for Wisdom. What from this chapter meant the most to you, offered you the greatest challenge, or helped you make the changes necessary for a better life?

As you launch into this exciting study about the small changes you can make for a better life, take a minute to write a few sentences that describe your lifestyle and the kinds of decisions you must make on a regular basis.

Review the quotations at the beginning of this chapter in your book. Write here the one you like best and why.

Lord, Give Me Wisdom

Read the story about King Solomon from 1 Kings 3:4-15 in your Bible. Also read the corresponding account of Solomons encounter with God in 2 Chronicles 1:6-13. From these accounts, in what ways do you witness Solomon following the guidelines for wisdom taught in these scriptures?

Proverbs 4:7

Proverbs 4:11

Proverbs 8:11

James 1:5

Now for youHow are you faring in following Solomons example of actively pursuing, desiring, and asking for wisdom? Note any weak areas. Then write out what you will do to begin asking for wisdom on a more regular basis.

Daily Steps Toward a Better Life

Write out each of the four steps toward wisdom from your book and answer the questions regarding them.

Step 1

Consider Solomons situation again. Above what other things did he desire Gods wisdom (see 1 Kings 3:11)?

Regarding long life: What did Solomon write regarding wisdom in

Proverbs 3:16?

Proverbs 9:11?

Regarding wealth: What did Solomon write regarding the value of wisdom in

Proverbs 3:13-15?

Regarding triumph over enemies: According to Proverbs 16:7, why was seeking wisdom a good choice?

Step 2

Again, recalling 1 Kings 3, how did Solomon model for us this step toward wisdom?

Look now at another great man and leader of Gods people. How did Nehemiah also live out this most important step toward gaining wisdom in Nehemiah 1:4-6?

Step 3

Look up and read Proverbs 2:1-6. What efforts must be made to obtain wisdom?

What does verse 6 have to say about where you are to seek wisdom?

Now look at Proverbs 8:17. What do you learn here about how hard you must seek wisdom?

Revisit James 1:5. Where did James say you are to seek wisdom?

Step 4

As in every area of your life, you must also grow in wisdom. What are some keys to growing in wisdom according to

Proverbs 4:6?

Proverbs 8:33?

Proverbs 8:34?

Bonus blessing #1 For a glimpse at Gods blessings upon King Solomon due to his request for wisdom above all other things, read 1 Kings 3:16-28 and 4:29-34. In a few words, how did God bless Solomon?

Bonus blessing #2For an example and a glimpse of Gods answer to Solomons request for wisdom above all things, read 2 Chronicles 1:14-17. In a few words, how did God bless Solomon?

A Woman of Amazing Wisdom

Meet Abigail Acquaint yourself with her splendid wisdom by scanning 1 Samuel 25:2-39. As you read, note here in a few words how Abigail exhibited

wisdom

discretion

faithfulness

What do you most admire about Abigail that you want to take away from this lesson and make true in your life?

Just for Today

A note of instructionI will not be guiding you through this practical and personal section on the lessons to follow, but I do want to walk through a sample of how you can work the suggested exercises in the book Small Changes for a Better Life. The point is to do as much as you can to apply Gods principles to your life. If you are completing these lessons on your own, your answers testify to your diligence, faithfulness, and sincerity in seeking out Gods plan for you. They provide a record and mark your progress as you journey toward putting Gods principles to work for you. If you are part of a group, write what you will share as you are accountable to others and encourage others.

Also consider purchasing a personal journal for logging your growth. This will encourage your heart and add yet another discipline to your life. As Donald Whitney writes in his book on spiritual health, an example of practicing personal discipline is in the keeping of a spiritual journal.