A cord of three strands is not quickly broken...
I have to praise the Lord for the gift of solid, Bible-saturated, Christ-centered, glory-of-God-seeking women in my life who encourage me, hold me accountable, and lay their sin on the table seeking the Lord to change their hearts and grant them repentance. The ladies had the most sweet time of fellowship and confession last night during our study together and I think I can probably speak for all of them, we were so encouraged to hear one another's struggles. Now we share sin struggle, but we will also, by God's grace, share victory over the sin that masters all of us! I praise God that He is faithful though we fail so miserably day by day. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:23-25)
When I came home I was so excited about what God was doing in our little group of women, and was so excited about the fellowship I had with the Lord in the car coming home, I spent another hour and a half in the Word in the middle of the night. Then, He woke me up early this morning to study some more! Praise His Name! I was deeply encouraged by a passage in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 that reads, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart." We are encouraged to come alongside one another to support one another. If there are two of us together, we can more likely resist tempation...but the key is the third strand! Who is this third strand? Why it's Jesus, of course! He is the strength of our "strand" and the means by which we may encourage one another! It's only by His power that we will someday see victory! He is the provider of strength to resist temptation. He promises us in John 10:28-29 that He holds us in His hand and that no one, not even ourselves, can snatch us out! Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."
Lord, I thank you for this group of women, for their hearts that desire Your glory and that are broken over sins that master them. May you grant us all godly sorrow and true repentance and victory. May we all be mastered by You alone. May we do all things as unto You. May we be faithful to pray for one another and come alongside one another in support and love. May we be cords of three (and more) so that we are not easily broken by sin and temptation. Change our hearts so that we hate our sin!
"But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today', so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13)
When I came home I was so excited about what God was doing in our little group of women, and was so excited about the fellowship I had with the Lord in the car coming home, I spent another hour and a half in the Word in the middle of the night. Then, He woke me up early this morning to study some more! Praise His Name! I was deeply encouraged by a passage in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 that reads, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart." We are encouraged to come alongside one another to support one another. If there are two of us together, we can more likely resist tempation...but the key is the third strand! Who is this third strand? Why it's Jesus, of course! He is the strength of our "strand" and the means by which we may encourage one another! It's only by His power that we will someday see victory! He is the provider of strength to resist temptation. He promises us in John 10:28-29 that He holds us in His hand and that no one, not even ourselves, can snatch us out! Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."
Lord, I thank you for this group of women, for their hearts that desire Your glory and that are broken over sins that master them. May you grant us all godly sorrow and true repentance and victory. May we all be mastered by You alone. May we do all things as unto You. May we be faithful to pray for one another and come alongside one another in support and love. May we be cords of three (and more) so that we are not easily broken by sin and temptation. Change our hearts so that we hate our sin!
"But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today', so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13)
I love you girl! Our God is a Huge God! I praise His name for sold out sisters as well. May we continue to see the sovereign hand of God working. Praise Him for continuous conviction and the awesome gift of repentance! Let us not underestimate our Jesus! When in the middle of our sin struggles let us remember 1 Peter 4:1 "Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose; For He who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin." Praise the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Praise Him in good times and praise Him in bad times! Always remember He is on the throne! The battle has already been won!!
Love ya girl! Jennifer
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Hey Girl! Praise God for your insight and encouragement! I know that all will be blessed by your faith and yes, He is on the throne! Yes! The battle has been won! Our freedom to "not sin" was bought on the cross!
Love you too Girl! Colleene
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