Elizabeth George - Nurturing a Heart of Humility: The Life of Mary

T his book belongs to

__________________________

a woman after Gods own heart.

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

Eugene, Oregon 97402

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version, Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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

Verses marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible, Copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

A WOMAN AFTER GODS OWN HEART is a registered trademark of The Hawkins Childrens LLC. Harvest House Publishers, Inc., is the exclusive licensee of the federally registered trademark A WOMAN AFTER GODS OWN HEART.

Cover by Terry Dugan Design, Bloomington, Minnesota

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.

Elizabeth George is a bestselling author and speaker whose passion is to teach the Bible in a way that changes womens lives. For information about Elizabeths books or speaking ministry, to sign up for her mailings, or to share how God has used this book in your life, please write to Elizabeth at:

Elizabeth George P.O. Box 2879 Belfair, WA 98528

Toll-free fax/phone: 1-800-542-4611

www.ElizabethGeorge.com

NURTURING A HEART OF HUMILITY

Copyright 2002 Elizabeth George
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN13: 978-0-7369-0300-4
ISBN10: 0-7369-0300-3

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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F or some time I have been looking for Bible studies that I could use each day that would increase my knowledge of Gods Word. In my search, I found myself struggling between two extremes: Bible studies that required little time but also had little substance, or studies that were in-depth and demanded more time than I could give. I discovered that I wasnt alonethere were many other women like me who were busy yet desired to spend quality time studying Gods Word.

Thats why I became excited when Elizabeth George shared her desire to create a series of womens Bible studies that offered in-depth lessons that could be completed in just 15-20 minutes per day. When she completed the first studyon PhilippiansI was eager to try it out. I had already studied Philippians many times, but this was the first time I had come to understand exactly how the whole book fit together and how it can truly be lived out in my life. Each lesson was simple but insightfuland was written especially to apply to me as a woman!

In the Woman After Gods Own Heart Bible study series, Elizabeth takes you step by step through the Scriptures, sharing wisdom she has gleaned from more than 20 years as a womens Bible teacher. The lessons are rich and meaningful because theyre rooted in Gods Word and have been lived out in Elizabeths life. Her thoughtful and personable guidance make you feel as though you are studying right alongside heras if she is personally mentoring you in the greatest aspiration you could ever pursue: to become a woman after Gods own heart.

If youre looking for Bible studies that can help you grow stronger in your knowledge of Gods Word even in the most demanding of schedules, I know youll find this series to be a welcome companion in your daily walk with God.

LaRae Weikert
Editorial Managing Director,
Harvest House Publishers

I n my book A Woman After Gods Own Heart, I describe such a woman as one who ensures that God is first in her heart and the Ultimate Priority of her life. Then I share that one crucial way this desire can become reality is by nurturing a heart that abides in Gods Word. To do so means that you and I must develop a root system anchored deep in Gods Word.

Before you launch into this Bible study, take a moment to think about these aspects of a root system produced by the regular, faithful study of Gods Word:

Roots are unseenYoull want to set aside time in solitudeunderground if you willto immerse yourself in Gods Word and grow in Him.

Roots are for taking inAlone and with your Bible in hand, youll want to take in and feed upon the truths of the Word of God and ensure your spiritual growth.

Roots are for storageAs you form the habit of looking into Gods Word, youll find a vast, deep reservoir of divine hope and strength forming for the rough times.

Roots are for supportDo you want to stand strong in the Lord? To stand firm against the pressures of life? The routine care of your roots through exposure to Gods Word will cultivate you into a remarkable woman of endurance.

Im glad youve chosen this study out of my A Woman After Gods Own Heart Bible study series. My prayer for you is that the truths you find in Gods Word through this study will further transform your life into the image of His dear Son and empower you to be the woman you seek to be: a woman after Gods own heart.

In His love,

F inishing?! As you look at this title and consider that this lesson is actually the beginning of our study of the lovely life of Mary, the mother of our Lord, are you wondering why were starting this way?

As well discover, every finished masterpiece, including Gods great Masterpiece, is painted in stages. I well remember a privileged visit to the home and studio of artist Sandy Lynam Clough. Sandy has a special place in my heart because one of her paintings graces the cover of my book Loving God with All Your Mind. In fact, her cover painting is so expressive that women regularly tell me that it makes them want to curl up in a chair, drink a cup of tea, and read their Biblejust like the picture on the book invites!