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We are taking a break for the summer until futher notice.

Week 1, Day 4

Read Genesis 16.

1. In Genesis 16:1-2, what did Sarai do in her impatience to bear a child?
2. How did Abram respond to Sarai's suggestion? (vv.2-4)
3. What resulted from his decision? (vv.13-16)
4. Who suffered because of this impulsive action? (vv.4-6)

LESSONS AND APPLICATIONS
1. What impatient decision have you made that has yielded frustration and disaster in your life?
2. What can we learn about waiting on the Lord's timing?
3. How can you make your disaster a blessing today?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

My entire life is filled full of examples where I take control of a situation instead of wait on God. It is one of my balancing acts of being strong and independent as a woman yet allowing the will of God to work in my life. As simple as it may sound, I now make decisions with my husband and we pray together over the complications in life BEFORE we act. I now wonder how I could have done it any other way!

Anonymous said...

The hardest thing for me to do is wait. If it can't be done when I want it, I"ll just do it myself. That attitude just brings more stress and heartache. I just wonder how many blessings I have missed out on because of me not waiting on God. I have to realize that it is His timing not mine. I am thankful that He is patient and merciful with me because frankly I would have given up on me.

Anonymous said...

The hardest thing for me to do is wait. If it can't be done when I want it, I"ll just do it myself. That attitude just brings more stress and heartache. I just wonder how many blessings I have missed out on because of me not waiting on God. I have to realize that it is His timing not mine. I am thankful that He is patient and merciful with me because frankly I would have given up on me.

Christina Ketchum said...

I am really trying to learn to turn to God first before taking action on any issue. It isn't that I don't want to turn to Him first, its just not a habit that I have developed... yet. Doing these bible studies are really helping me to focus on God throughout the day. Soon, I hope it becomes second nature for me to turn to God first on every issue in my life before taking action.

Anonymous said...

Currently, I've been praying for God to give me some guidance in two areas by next Thursday. I have to make some decisions really soon about some things and have been praying and asking God to guide me in these areas. By asking God to reveal to me by a deadline, is that working on my time?
Elisa Hyman

Christina Ketchum said...

Elisa,

I am not too sure how to answer your question but I sure would like to know how everything turns out.

Anonymous said...

Christina,
I'll let you know! I want to sell my business and am needing God's confirmation and direction.
Elisa

DA Wagners said...

I've forced myself to wait on God instead of taking the situation in my own hand because I was tired of always botching up something that I knew God could do so much better than I. Finally, I gave a certain (small) situations to God, and I just kicked back and watched Him work. It was awesome. If I would have stepped in, I really would have goofed it all up. And I'm so honored that God trusted me enough to allow me to watch something unfold by His own hand and in His own timing. It was very beautiful, and I didn't have the anxiety of thinking I needed to take on the responsibility. I'm learning that just because I can do something about a situation, it doesn't mean I should. My "good intentions" can actually be harming and so against God's plan.

Barbara said...

Isn't that so human like. Even when our faith was great at first, if we have to wait on God we tend to take matters in our own hands. But eventually we mess everything up and actually take Gods opportunity to do great things, to bless us and other. Thank you LORD that even if we don't wait on your perfect timing, you turn it around for our good. God is so good.
Wow, Alisa I wish I could say that. How did you recognize you had to wait? Because that's often my problem. Afterwards I say "I should have waited."

Anonymous said...

Patience is one of my weak points. I pray for that often. Elisa, let us know what happens with your business. I believe He will let you know in His time.Sometimes, I believe He wants to watch us and let us do our thing. He is always there to help us when we ask, but He also is molding us into the woman he has intended for us to be. On that note, we should be able to make some decisions and those being the right ones because we the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
JenKeller

DA Wagners said...

It's hard to say. I get full of anxiety like I have to do something right away, then I feel a soft nudge from God to do nothing. It was really kind of cool, and hopefully I'll do better at having patience and giving up the control now that I've seen the results.

Sohl Gal said...

I feel again this relates to my son. I tried to force the potty training issue on my timeline. Disaster pretty much sums up the idea. I know God's intention was to teach me His timing, because as soon as I "let go," the time was right. So now, as my husband and I are making an important decision, we're making the contacts, making the moves, but letting God show us the path and the timing.

I think Pastor Bil says it well. We have to wait for God's timing, but we still have do something. We can't sit around forever, waiting for things to fall into place. We do what we can, after much prayer, and He does what only He can do.