Cynthia Heald - Becoming a Woman Whose God Is Enough

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Becoming a Woman Whose God Is Enough

Copyright 2014 by Cynthia Heald. All rights reserved.

A NavPress resource published in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Visit the authors website at www.cynthiaheald.com.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. (Some quotations may be from the NLT1, copyright 1996). Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked AMPCE are taken from the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ( ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB, and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version. Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture verses marked PH are taken from The New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Phillips, copyright J. B. Phillips, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1972. All rights reserved.

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ISBN 978-1-61291-634-7

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GREETINGS, DEAR FRIEND. THE STUDY you hold in your hands was written with joy mingled with tears. Joy because I was refreshed by, reminded of, and taught anew the wonderful sufficiency of God. Tears because these truths revealed my independent spirit and lack of trust and reliance upon the Lord. Why am I so inclined to take matters into my own hands? Why do I think I know what is best? Why do I seek satisfaction from the world? Why do I not believe that God is all I need?

As I have studied, I have been humbled by Gods magnificence and magnanimity. I can relate to the psalmists cry, O L ORD , what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? (Psalm 144:3). God is the one who gives life; God is the one who sacrifices on our behalf; God is the one who bountifully bestows grace and love. He gladly guides, protects, and provides for His flock. He is an all-sufficient Shepherd who yearns to be enough for us.

The opening quotation in the first chapter is penned by the late nineteenth-century author Hannah Whitall Smith. In it she proposes that all of Gods dealings with us are meant to teach us that God is enough. At the conclusion of the study, I nodded in hearty agreement. As we move through each day and encounter irritations, difficulties, and heartbreak, God ultimately is asking us, Am I your rock, your fortress, your strong tower? Do you trust Me to work all things for good? Do you believe that since I did not spare My own Son that I will freely give you all things? Am I enough for you?

One great lesson I have learned from this study is that God wants to be enough for us. He wants to be our God we depend on because He desires us to experience Him in His fullness. He is a mighty God, and He longs for us to plumb His depths and be blessed by who He is. For it is only as we trust and are dependent upon the Lord that we can truly fulfill His purpose for us.

As I communicate in one of the later chapters, I write so that I can learn and grow, and this Bible study in particular has challenged me to let God be my all in all. Gods Word has spoken to my heart in piercing ways concerning my pride, my little faith, my discontent, and my meager view of God.

My prayer for you is that you, too, will be challenged and brought forth into the richness and abundance of His extraordinary grace that freely gives you all things. I pray that your life will be eternally changed because you know that God is enough.

With love and blessings,

Cynthia Heald

Becoming a Woman Whose God Is Enough is suitable for group or individual study and for women of all ages, either married or single.

Each chapter includes personal thoughts and reflections from the author. Use these thoughts to prompt your examination and application of the study to your own life.

Most of the questions lead you into the Bible to help you base your responses on the Word of God. Let the Scriptures speak to you personally; there is not always a right or wrong answer. Each chapter begins with a foundational Scripture passage for you to memorize. Before or after doing the chapter study you may memorize the verse in any Bible translation you choose. Write the memory verse (from your favorite version) on a card or Post-it, put it in a place where you will see it regularly, and memorize the words. Thank God for who He is and for what He is doing in your life.

A dictionary and any Bible references or commentaries can be good resources for you in answering the questions. Youll also find them helpful in any further Bible study you might do on your own.