Elizabeth George - Moments of Grace for a Womans Heart

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

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.

Verses marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

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

Italics in Scripture quotes indicate authors emphasis.

Cover photo Dugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota

Cover by Dugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota

Includes selected excerpts from A Women After Gods Own Heart Bible study series.

MOMENTS OF GRACE FOR A WOMANS HEART

Copyright 2009 by Elizabeth George

Published 2013 by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-5129-6 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-5131-9 (eBook)

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.

Dear Reader,

Some words really stay with you. They are so memorable and make such an impression that you never forget them. Thats what happened to me when I was a brand-new Christian. Wanting to better understand my new Bible, I enrolled in a course on how to study the Bible. One evening the faithful, inspiring teacher made this statement: A good illustration is a window into the Word of God. He went on to say that a well-crafted illustration explains the Bible text and points the way to personal application.

As a result of my time in that class, I became an avid Bible reader, Bible student, and eventually a Bible teacher. One of my goals as a teacher and creator of study materials is to write stories and create illustrations that open up the messages of the Bible so they go straight into the hearts of readers. Hopefully these writings spark aha! momentsmoments of grace when God opens up a readers eyes and heart to understand and embrace vital truths from His Word.

In Moments of Grace for a Womans Heart , Ive included many real-life stories and illustrations that are dear to my heart. They are all taken from the New Testament studies found in my Woman After Gods Own Heart Bible Study series. Just as a window brings light into a room, these stories are meant to bring light to the Scriptures in a way that highlights its truths so you can grasp their meanings and apply them to your heart.

Im so excited you want to learn more about Gods Word! I pray that these teachings and the scriptures they illustrate will stay with you, impacting your life for Christ. Hopefully theyll be a delight to your heart, bring new life to your time in Gods Word, and transform your walk with Him.

In His everlasting love,

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path .

P SALM 119:105

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

J OSHUA 1:8

Today I stood in my driveway waving to my daughter Courtney and her four children as they got ready to drive to the Navy base at Pearl Harbor. Courtney was meeting her husband to finalize their move to Hawaii. It was a beautiful day, and wed all just witnessed a double rainbow! That incredible sight and the fact that my daughter is happily following her Navy husband as he pursues his career makes me happy too. Why?

Because Courtney, in her sometimes difficult roles of being a wife to a submariner and the mother of four small children, is following God with all her heart. Thats the key to success for her. She understands and accepts the responsibilities God has given her and is being obedient and doing her best to fulfill them.

God is also asking you to follow Him wherever you are in life and in whatever youre facing day by day. How can you be successful in following Him through the many opportunities He gives you to serve and help others? Start by reading and meditating on Joshua 1:8. God is showing you the way to successHis kind of success! Joshua was in need of strength, encouragement, and wisdom for handling his assignments, his work, and his challenges. Gods advice? Know the Scriptures and follow its wisdom.

If we will choose to follow Gods advice, like Joshua did, God assures us of good success. As we focus fully on His Word and His promises, relying on God in everything we do, well experience courage, confidence, and victory.

Where does God have you today? What roles and responsibilities have been given you by your Lord? And how about your dreams and your hearts desires? Many of these indicate Gods directions for your life. I encourage you to take some time to discover what the Bible says about your rolesand then pray about them. Why not jot down some dreams you have too? Write them down in your Bible, your prayer book, a personal journal, or a special notebook dedicated to dreaming and planning and doing as you become a woman after Gods own heart.

Gods road to success is quite simple: As you faithfully follow Him with all your heart and are obedient to fulfill His will for you, you will be blessed. You will enjoy success. Yes, youre human, and you will have moments when you fail, slide back, fall down, or stay in one place for a while. But as you rely on God and do what He asks of you through His Word and prayer, He will give you the desire and confidenceand powerto move on and enjoy life in Him.