A small group of women from my home town are gathering together every week to read The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer. When I’m able, I prepare an additional lesson from Scripture to accompany our discussion. I’ll share my thoughts with you, too.
The first week we met, I felt that it was important to explore where we’d get the power to keep the 13 noble resolutions. Even I can admit that when it comes to habits of the heart, checking off boxes on a colorful chart does not guarantee success. Besides, the results of a “try harder” attitude wouldn’t be ideal.
If we were glowingly successful, we’d reap pride.
If we were dismal failures, we’d reap depression.
There must be something more. We read Ephesians 4: 17 – 24 and talked about how Paul is constantly talking about putting off the “old man” and putting on the “new man”. He’d love Shirer’s new book; he’d love our resolve to live more like Christ. But he’s also the same guy who wrote Romans 7 : 21 – 25: he knew that none of us could exert enough effort to be that “new man” by ourselves. After expressing his frustration that we cannot make the choice to live godly lives, Paul concludes with the definition of hope: Thanks be to God for rescuing me! I can live a holy life because Jesus Christ already has lived it for me.Â
We cannot change ourselves. Jesus is the one who changes us, and He does it through the Holy Spirit. His entire life – from conception to ascension – took place by the power of the Holy Spirit to show us that we are to live in precisely the same way. From our spirit’s first renewed breath to our last, we can – no, we must – live without sin by the power of the Holy Spirit. Above all, we must remember that the “old man” is me. The “new man” is not “a better me”. The “new man” is Christ himself.
We’ll be memorizing Romans 8: 13 – 15 as we read the book so that we do not forget that the motivation and the power to live holy lives rests wholly in Jesus. As we resolve to be content, compassionate, courageous women, we will often feel a desperate need for help! That’s been God’s plan all along. So, we call out “Abba! Father! Please help me, Holy Spirit!” and He does.
“I am crucified with Christ therefore I no longer live; Jesus Christ now lives through me.” Galatians 2:20
Are you reading The Resolution for Women? Would you share your ideas to complement the reading?
8 Comments to "The Resolution for Women: Week 1 Bible Study"
Thank you for this great post. It’s good for me to be reminded that the motivation and the power to live holy lives rests in Jesus. I often forget that. And I get discouraged.
God bless you.
YOU ARE SOOOOOOOO RIGHT!!!!
I LOVE MY MIXING BOWLS AND THE COLOR CATCHER LAUNDRY SHEETS!!!!!
We are getting our Dyson in a couple days
I might cry too. Alan and I will have a homecoming party for it.
Love
erin
P.s. Also wanted to recommend a book to you… Creative Counterpart by Linda Dillow. I read it a few months ago…and now I am reading through it again! Love it!
It starts off the same way as the book you are reading too…. my favorite line from Linda is..”The Key to her success was that she feared the Lord”
I AM reading this book and it’s ahmazing! My dad purchased one for us kids, mom, and my brother’s girlfriend to read. I am highlighting like crazy these days…
It’s truly very difficult in this full of activity life to listen news on TV, therefore I simply use internet for that purpose, and get the most recent information.
I truly love your site.. Great colors & theme. Did you create this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my own personal blog and would love to know where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Thank you!
I really like it when individuals get together and share ideas. Great blog, stick with it!
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