Session Eight - Esther 9:1-4

I loved this session because we learned how to turn-around Scenario #5 - "It's tough being a woman in the tight fist of fear."  I viewed that "fear" session at least five times . . . I am sure it was because God needed to drum into my heart - "If  ___________, then Me, GOD!!!!!!  I don't know about any of you but this is where the heat turned up in my own life . . . and God had prepared me (Deut. 31:8 - "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you . . .").  He is AMAZING!

Back to the session . . . Beth set the premise for the morning - "God can't turn a table that was never set against you" and tweaked that thought with another one - "Seeing purpose in tough scenarios increases the trust required for a turnaround".  How many times in our lives, as we look back on an event, do we think that if we could only have known the purpose we wouldn't have worried so much . . . struggled so much . . . we'd have been stronger . . . trusted more?  That's where we need the Word and each other - to remind us that there is a point.  There is a battle going on and it's about more than our own personal freedom.  How else wil we know victory unless there is something for which we need the tables turned?  I love what Beth said - "God wants to make the unseen forces afraid of us."  Sounds like if we want to be women of valor we have some tough scenarios to trust God with!

So, how do we turn around Scenario #5 - Beth reminded us that we are in something much tighter . . . Isaiah 49:16 says, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands."

"Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places."  (Deuteronomy 33:29)

"After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." (Nehemiah 4:14)

And, when "it's tough being a woman thrown a giant-size weight" (Scenario #4), know that God has the upper hand . . .

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

"However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but (He) turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you." (Deuteronomy 23:5)

Finally, when "it's tough being a woman in a mean world (and not get mean with it)" (Scenario #3), know that we are "not left to be victims of a mean world" but that we are called to "fight the good fight holding on to faith and a good conscience.  Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith." (1 Timothy 1:18, 19)
 
"For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)

Bless you . . . Jan : )