Kay Arthur - Lord, Only You Can Change Me: A Devotional Study on Growing in Character from the Beatitudes

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L ORD , O NLY Y OU C AN C HANGE M E
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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible . (nasb). Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ( KJV ) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. KJV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Portions of this study were previously included in the book Lord, How Can I Ever Be Righteous?

Copyright 1995, 2000 by Precept Ministries International

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Arthur, Kay, 1933
Lord, only you can change me : a devotional study on growing in character from the Beatitudes / Kay Arthur.[Rev. ed.],
p. cm.
eISBN: 978-0-307-56890-8

1. Sermon on the mountStudy and teaching. 2. Sermon on the mountCriticism, interpretation, etc. 3. Christian lifeStudy and teaching. I. Title.

BT380.2 .A79 2001
241.53dc21

00-068622

v3.1_r2

Y ou stand and gaze in the mirror, evaluating what you seethe way you will appear before others on the outside. But what about the insidethe character that counts, that enhances what others see and never belies the appearance you give when you are on display? What are you like, Beloved, in the inner man? Is it any different from what you once were? Is there a growing, a changing into His image? Is your character being transformed more and more into His likeness? Are you distinguished from those you work with in the world, as well as from those who call Him, Lord, Lord but really dont do the things He tells them to do?

This is a devotional study on characterthe character that belongs to those who genuinely belong to God. It will reveal what godly character looks like for you in the home and in the marketplace in fact, wherever you are. Among many other things, its about humility (meekness) and mercy and purityqualities that were so often deficient in and that we want to grow in until finally we are perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect. Built into the definition of this word perfect is the idea of maturity, attainmentand that is what we are after in this study, Beloved: growth on the inside that far outshines and outweighs our physical appearance and accomplishments.

You are about to immerse yourself in a study of the Beatitudes to help you mine and explore many spiritual gems that will enrich your life, helping you to prosper spiritually in a way that will delight you and be noticed by others. The water of His Word will bring a growth that will be well worth the discipline of daily study.

This is a study you can do aloneits used by Christian counselors as part of their counseling. But it is also a study that can be done in groups and even become a ministry for you, Beloved of God, as you desire to reach the hurting of this world and see them healed. If there is that possibility of your using this as a group study in which you would be a facilitator, then read Guidelines for Group Use in the Study Resources section at the back of this book, where youll find other valuable tools to enhance this study.

If you would like to develop your skills in handling the Word of God more accurately or in leading others in group studies designed to minister to people of all ages at any level of commitment while respecting the restraints on their time, we can provide training. For more information, simply call Precept Ministries International at our toll-free number (1-800-763-8280) and let one of the staff members help you. It would be their pleasure. Were known as The Inductive Study People: everybody, everywhere, any time, any place, any language, any age. One message: the Bible. One method: inductive. Please dont hesitate to call us.

Finally, let me share my visionits the possibility of a new avenue of ministry for you, Beloved of God

A new beginning
An avenue of ministry
A sense of doing something that has eternal value

These are three things I think are so important for you and for me. Theres so much to learn, to know, to experience, to doand we never want to lose sight of that. To do so would be to miss what God has for us. To fall short of the tremendous potential of our livesa potential that is ours because we are His, because we are children of the Creator of the Universe, indwelt by His divine Spirit and given the mind of Christ. You and I, Beloved, are Gods workmanship gifted by the Spirit of God and created in Christ Jesus unto good works that would absolutely stagger our minds if we were to see them before they ever happened.

And what has God put into your hands? What are you holding and reading right now? Is it an accident? A coincidence? No! You are holding a devotional study that first and foremost will be the beginning of a new depth of understanding about growing in godly character.

God is going to speak to you because through this book you are going to come face to face with the living Word of Godthe Word that not only discerns the thoughts and intentions of your heart, but becomes the means of throwing His light on the direction your life is taking so you can know with absolute confidence where you are headed. If you listen to what He saysand by that I mean ordering your life accordinglythen there is, in a sense, a new beginning of understanding, of purpose. A new level of Christlikeness is attained. You will be, as Paul would say, pressing on and attaining that for which Jesus Christ laid hold of you.

Which brings me to my next pointan avenue of ministry. What you have learned, God intends for you to share. I have a vision, and you, Beloved, are part of that vision. Our Lords commission in Matthew 28 was that we make disciples of all menthat we teach them to observe all that He has commanded us. Acts 1 tells us that when we are saved and receive the Holy Spirit we become His witnessesyet the question is often, How?