Godly Speech - Week Three

Essential Two

(THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT: READ CHAPTER THREE IN YOUR BOOK,

STUDY IT, & SHARE YOUR GLEANINGS!)

Hello everyone! So how was your second (& last) week of studying Godliness? I am amazed and even somewhat overwhelmed of all that I should be doing as a woman of God! The Lord has definitely been pointing out to me how much I need to improve and areas in my life in need of major change. I'm so thankful I don't have to live out this godly life in my own strength, because I would most certainly fail! Only through Christ's strength and power can these truths we've been learning ever become effective in mine and your lives.

"But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 ERV

I loved her (Elizabeth George's) 5 guidelines for controlling our thoughts:

• Make a decision every day to seek to dwell on the Lord
• Make sure my thoughts meet the guidelines of Philippians 4:8
• Master the great hymns of the faith
• Memorize Scripture
• Mark out certain times each day for praising God

What great ideas and reminders for focusing our thoughts upwards! (One of those areas in my life in need of changes!) I was really excited to discover something in Philippians 4:8 that I had never realized before. (And I've heard & memorized this verse many times!)

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

There are eight things listed here that we are supposed to think, dwell, and meditate on. They are things that are TRUE, HONEST, JUST, PURE, LOVELY, of GOOD REPORT, VIRTUOUS, and full of PRAISE. Here's my exciting discovering...Only God is ALL of these things! Everything else in this world dims when compared to Him. Only He is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and worthy of praise. Therefore the key to focusing my thoughts is to simply focus on GOD! Meditating on Him, His goodness, His attributes, His Word, etc.

In the Greek the word for THINK is "logizomai" meaning "to make those things the subjects of your thoughtful consideration, or to carefully reflect on them, to reckon, count, dealing with reality..."

Thinking on the Lord, focusing on Him, and meditating on His Word, will certainly make Psalms 19:14 a reality in our lives: "May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock - the One who rescues me." ERV

Anyways, that was just some of my thoughts on this last week's study. :) Did you all choose a hymn to memorize?? I loved the idea of memorizing a hymn each month! I'm going to give it a try. :) The first hymn I'd like to memorize is I Surrender All. I'd love to hear what hymns you're memorizing!

Thanks so much everyone for your encouraging comments & for joining me on for this study! I am just loving it and hope you are too. :)

Love & Prayers, Nicole

"All to Jesus, I surrender; All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender; Humbly at His feet I bow,

Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus, I surrender; Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power; Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender; Now I feel the sacred flame.

O the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory, to His Name!"