Donna Partow - Becoming a Vessel God Can Use

Books by

Donna Partow

Becoming a Vessel God Can Use

Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be

Becoming the Woman I Want to Be

Living in Absolute Freedom

Standing Firm

This Isnt the Life I Signed Up For

Becoming a Vessel God Can Use

Copyright 1996, 2004

Donna Partow

Cartoon illustration by Chuc Forsythe

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

Verses marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

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, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright owners.

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55438

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 0764229184 (Trade Paper)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Partow, Donna.

Becoming a vessel God can use / Donna Partow

p. cm.

ISBN 0764229184 (pbk.)

1. WomenReligious life. 2. Spiritual lifeChristianity.

I. Title.

BV4527.P37 2004

248.843dc22 2004004895

CIP

DONNA PARTOW is a bestselling author and Christian communicator with a compelling testimony of Gods transforming power. Her books have sold nearly three quarters of a million copies worldwide and have been translated (in part or in whole) into numerous languages, including Arabic, Chinese, German, Indonesian, Korean, Mongolian, and Portuguese.

A powerful speaker, Donna toured with Women of Virtue for three years, sharing the platform with many of Americas most popular Christian communicators, including Barbara Johnson, Patsy Clairmont, and Stormie Omartian. If your church or organization sponsors an annual womens event, you can find more information about Donnas ministry at her Web site: www.donnapartow.com.

Donnas Web site also features a wealth of resources and inspiration for women who desire to become all God intendedin spirit, soul, and body. You can sign up for Donnas free weekly Internet devotional, The Word for the Week, or join one of several online encouragement groups, including The 90-Day Renewal (weight loss) or The Mighty Musk Ox Warrior Princess Brigade (for prayer support). Plus, theres a Leaders Corner for those who are teaching this book around the world.

A summa cum laude graduate of Rutgers University, Donna also attended the University of Pennsylvania, one of Americas Ivy League schools. She has been a popular guest on hundreds of radio and TV shows, including Focus on the Family and regional Good Morning, America programs. She had her family reside in Arizona.

Contents

THIS WEEKS FOCUS VERSE:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:89

If youre looking for a book by one of todays most admired Christian women, an ideal Christian wife who hasnt argued with her husband in over twenty years

If you want know-how from an adoring mother who never raises her voice, has perfectly disciplined children, and maintains a spotlessly clean houseI mean a woman whose domestic skills put Martha Stewart to shame

If you want to read words of wisdom from a woman with colorcoded closets, who not only makes her own clothes but gives fabulous handmade gifts for every occasion; a woman who rises at the crack of dawn, jogs five miles, and returns home in time to bake bread from scratchall before her husband leaves for work

If you want to get the inside track from a woman who is universally adored and admired by everyone who meets her

If you want to follow in the footsteps of a woman who has conducted neighborhood Bible studies for twenty-five years and led four hundred women to Christ

Quick, do not delay! Put this book down immediately! You must have me confused with some other Christian author!

If, on the other hand, youre willing to read a book written by a woman who has been known to blow it big time, a woman who, by Total Woman standards, would have to be labeled 2 percent. If youre willing to spend some time with a woman known to leave her dishes unwashed for several days, and who, even as she writes these words, is watching her five-year-old daughter clean the windows with furniture polish, then pour yourself a cup of tea and take a seat. Were about to begin an exciting journey together.

This book is not about becoming like me. Its not about how Ive got it all figured out and now I can impart to you the Ten Surefire Steps to Super-Spirituality. I did not write this book because I consider myself a shining example of a vessel God can usefar from it. I wrote this book because becoming a vessel God can use has been a far more difficult and personally painful journey than I ever imagined possible, and I want to minister out of that pain. I want to comfort you with the comfort I have received.

The exciting truth I want you to grab hold of is this: God can use imperfect vessels like you and me. In fact, he often delights in choosing the most unlikely people to accomplish his purposes in this world. Everyone around you may consider you the least likely job candidate, but fortunately, God works as his own employment recruiter! No matter who you are, if you will yield your life to God, you can become a vessel God can use.

I urge you to set aside time daily during the next ten weeks to concentrate on your relationship with your heavenly Father. The study should only require ten to twenty minutes per day, five days a week. Then, once a week, you should join with a small group of women to review the discussion questions, to pray and encourage one another, and to hold one another accountable. Be sure to place top-priority on memorizing your weekly verse. To make it easier, youll find cutout verse cards at the back of the book. Carry these cards in your purse and review them when you are on the run. You can also make an extra set to post in a conspicuous placelike the refrigerator door or over the sink where you do dishes or wash your face each morning.

I hope you will make this study a genuine priority in your life. The housecleaning will wait; someone else can bake the brownies for a while; all your favorite TV shows will still be there at the end of the journey. Nevertheless, I understand that hectic weeks may come and youll find it difficult to complete each days study. In those instances, let me suggest that you focus on Day 1, because it introduces the theme, and Day 5, because it crystalizes the weeks study. Then, as time permits, complete the remaining days for a fuller understanding of the material. Again, the ideal approach is to complete each days study on a daily basis, rather than cramming on the morning of your weekly small group.