Luke 10

Divine Filter

January 7, 2019 by Aliene

Prioritize and plan your day focusing on God’s unique direction for your life through the filter of prayer. You were not created to do it all, and Jesus does not expect you to do it all. Live with intention by living led by the Holy Spirit day by day.

Pause treasured one, and pray to find direction and live with intention as you become the woman God created you to be.

Spending Time in Prayer

Jesus knows what it feels like to be pulled in many different directions. While he was here on earth there were so many under his care, so many wanting him and needing him.

People pressed in to meet Jesus. Sick people, broken people, and needy people wanting to find relief. With so many needing him, Jesus still paused to pull away in prayer with the Father.

“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ But Jesus replied, ‘We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.’ So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.” (Mark 1:35-39)

Jesus received clarity for where to travel after his time in prayer. He depended on God for direction to accomplish sharing the gospel.

Likewise, spending time in prayer gives clarity of direction and next steps for our journey to become the woman God created us to be. God-ordained direction diffuses distractions to make us more productive by living with intention.

Find confidence to say “no” to distractions that can leave you overwhelmed and drawn away from your true course in life.

Pray to find your unique direction for your life and for each day.
Uncover the difference between a “good work” and “God’s work” by seeking God.
Live with intention knowing God has your best intentions for you and those you love.
Guard your time to give yourself fully to God’s work for your life.

Your life’s vision or calling may remain the same, but often the Lord wants to change your direction. Daily time with him is vital to keeping in step with the Spirit. When we find the time to fix our eyes on Jesus, he will keep us on his perfect course for our lives.

Keeping in Step with the Spirit

The Bible tells us it is only after we renew our minds that we can “test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). Keeping in step with the Spirit can save us from striving and taking extra steps that are not part of God’s plan for our lives.

When the Lord brings clear focus into our day, our priorities come into place with his perfect will, and we can let go of any responsibilities he is not asking us to bear (Matthew 11:28-29).

Seek the Lord for simplicity and focus.

Ask him to show you his will for your life.

Know that adding anything else to our plate, however good it may be, can rob our joy and rob others of opportunities meant for them.

Jesus knows how much we can handle. Wise women live with intention by living led by the Holy Spirit. Prayer is a filter that helps us determine God’s priorities so that we live with focus each day.

Nourish Scripture: Luke 10:1-20

She Called Him Teacher

July 9, 2018 by Aliene

In Jesus’ day, rabbis did not teach women. In fact, a rabbi would not speak to a woman if he passed her on the street. But as we peer into the gospels, we see story after story about how Jesus broke through every cultural barrier and social boundary to reach out to women and nourish their hearts with life-giving truth.

I love that about Jesus – don’t you?

Jesus Was Their Teacher

Mary Magdalene called him “Teacher.”

“Teacher!” Mary Magdalene could have called him Savior, Healer, Lord—but she called him “Teacher.” The gospel of John records that precious moment when Mary Magdalene could not bring herself to leave Jesus’ empty tomb. Weeping, she turned from the angels still in the tomb and saw a man she assumed to be a gardener. But when Mary realized the truth—that her Savior was standing before her—she turned to him and exclaimed, “Rabboni,” which is teacher in Hebrew.

Mary of Bethany also called him Teacher.

Martha pulled her sister, Mary of Bethany, away from the mourners, whispering, “The Teacher is here and He wants to see you” (John 11:28). Mary’s heart, saturated in sorrow, did not understand why Jesus had not come in time to save her brother, Lazarus. “Why” was echoing endlessly in her heart when Martha took her to Jesus, who wept with her. A short time later, Christ resurrected her brother from the dead.

Yes, women in the Bible who held Jesus close to their heart called him “Teacher.” Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace, the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, Emmanuel (God with us), the Redeemer, King of kings and Lord of lords, but in these moments of great despair, these women called him “Teacher.”

He Empowered Women

Jesus loved and valued women.

He taught them.

And with his words of truth, women were empowered to walk in a new way—by faith and not by sight. Through eyes of faith, these women began to see themselves differently. They saw their circumstances differently. They saw God differently. Their lives were never again the same because of their Teacher.

Today, women around the world continue to encounter Jesus as their Teacher . . . and their lives are forever changed. Through Jesus, these women have overcome all sorts of obstacles, adversity, and challenges with a strength the world cannot offer them.

Still today, when we allow Christ to redefine our identity and the purpose for which we were created, not only are our lives impacted—but also the lives of those around us. From that place of abundance, we can give to others the way God intended. We will join those who came before us, realizing Jesus laid his life down to fight for our heart, releasing us to live fearlessly for his glory as we look to him as our sole source for life.

Let’s step boldly forward to live out our authentic identity and leave blessings in our wake as we lean into and learn from Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit can teach us truth and package it to make a lasting impact on our hearts.

As we call on our Teacher, we will hold our heads a little higher today. We will walk a little wiser. And we will find direction for our decisions today—as we lean on and look to Jesus as our Teacher.

As we call on our Teacher, we will navigate through this storm today. We will find courage to carry on. And we will understand how to walk through this valley we face today—as we lean on and look to Jesus as our Teacher.

Yes, brave heart, today and every day the Teacher is here to see you. Let us, like women of old, treasure the fact that Jesus wants to teach us as we seek truth through his Word.

ONWARD!

Nourish Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Connect to God’s Word and find the truth you seek. Download Nourishing Your Heart today!

Living with Balance

January 7, 2017 by Aliene

Pause brave heart and pray to find direction and live with intention as you become the woman God created you to be.

Being Pulled in Many Directions

Jesus knows what it feels like to be pulled in many different directions. While he was here on earth there were so many were under his care, so many wanting him and needing him. People pressed in to meet Jesus. Sick people, broken people, and needy people wanting to find relief. With so many needing him, Jesus still paused to pull away in prayer with the Father.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons (Mark 1:35-39).

Jesus received clarity for where to travel after his time in prayer. He depended on God for direction to accomplish sharing the gospel. Likewise, spending time in prayer gives clarity of direction and next steps for our journey to become the woman God created us to be.

God-ordained direction diffuses distractions to make us more productive by living with intention.

Find confidence to say “no” to distractions that can leave you overwhelmed and drawn away from your true course in life.

Pray to find your unique direction for your life and for each day.
Uncover the difference between a “good work” and “God’s work” by seeking God.
Live with intention knowing God has your best intentions for you and those you love.
Guard your time to give yourself fully to God’s Work for your life.

The Key to Living with Balance

The Bible tells us it is only after we renew our minds that we can “test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).” Keeping in step with the Spirit can save us from striving and taking extra steps that are not part of God’s plan for our lives.

When the Lord brings clear focus into our day, our priorities come into place with his perfect will, and we can let go of any responsibilities he is not asking us to bear (Matthew 11:28-29).

The temptation to get involved in many “good things” can distract us from our calling. As we become sensitive to his leading, simplicity and focus come into our day. Our priorities fall into place, and we learn we can stop and take time for the meaningful relationships in our lives. Seek the Lord for simplicity and focus. Ask him to show you his will for your life. Know that adding anything else, however good it may be, to our plate can rob our joy and rob others of opportunities meant for them.

In our podcast this week, gain practical principles to live directed by God instead of driven by distractions. Do less. Be more productive and find time for the ones you love.