Today's Study : )

Unfortunately I won't be able to join you tonight, I will be at home praying that you are blessed. Here is an excerpt from tonight's handout

from Pleasing God by Kay Smith:

When the Lord told Kay Smith that the aim of her life should be to please Him, she began to pray. Here is her account of what God showed her:

“Oh, God, just speak to my heart more about this” And then the name Enoch popped into my mind. I stopped praying and I opened my Bible and looked up Hebrews 11, where I knew Enoch was listed among the heroes of faith and read:

“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5).

When I was a little girl, I learned that Enoch was a “type” or picture representative of the church. Noah was a “type” of the Jewish people that would be protected during the tribulation, but Enoch was a type of the church that would be taken up in the rapture. Enoch could easily have lived and been destroyed in God’s punishment upon the world when He brought the flood. But in Genesis 5:24, it says, “Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him.”

Enoch’s testimony is that he pleased God. And that shout be the testimony of the bride of Christ today— that we live to please God. It should be your testimony too.

Living this way simplifies our lives. We put many things on our “to do” lists. But only one thing is needed--“Lord, I want to please You.” This way in everything you do, from washing dishes, studying for a test, to having a conversation with a friend--people will see you live a life like Enoch.

Satan's Lies

It seems like the instant you decide you are going to live a life to please God, Satan comes along and begins putting thoughts in your mind. He will cause you to think things like, Living that kind of life will be too stifling. I’ll be bored. I’ll be unfulfilled. See those lies for what they are. Satan is the father of lies. Jesus told us that Jesus comes only to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10). Satan wants to steal this truth form you. He wants to kill your joy and destroy the life you can have if you draw closer to God. And as you walk day by day, Satan will whisper these lies to you. Sometimes he doesn’t whisper, though. Sometimes he screams. And if this doesn’t work, Satan will discourage you and tell you that you will fail. Don’t let these lies stop you!!!

For Next Week:
Read:

Ann Kimmel told a story long ago about a young man named Chad. When Chad and his family moved to a new neighborhood he had trouble making friends. Chad was not well liked by the kids. Everyday after school, his mother would see a group of kids walking by the house chatting and laughing together, but Chad would walk all by himself down the street. It broke her heart.
One day Chad came home and said, “Mom, the teacher told us we are all going to make cards for Valentine’s Day. We have thirty-three kids in our class and I want to make one for every kid.”
Chad’s mother looked at him and imagined how much work that would be. Then she thought about how Chad probably wouldn’t get any Valentines back and he would come home brokenhearted. But his face just glowed. So she decided to help him. They spent days working on all the cards.

When Valentine’s Day came, Chad went happily off to school thrilled with his accomplishment. When the time came for the cards to be passed around, Chad received one Valentine.
Afterschool Chad came walking down the street with his head down, all by himself with one Valentine in his hand. When he came inside he smiled and said, “Mom, I didn’t miss one kid!”

That is how we are to live! Let us be so excited about serving God that we don’t even notice life’s disappointments.

Questions for Thought and Prayer:


1. According to Revelation 4:11, we were created for God’s pleasure. If we choose to please ourselves in place of God, what will result?


2. Why does Hebrews 11:5 testify that Enoch pleased God? Also refer to Genesis 5:24 to assist you in your answer.


3. Girls often look to others for approval or appreciation. Why will a fullness of joy result from pleasing God in comparison to pleasing yourself or others?


Remember to write down the verses that speak to you this week in your One Year Bible, and any ideas you have for the EPICgirls Topical Bible.

Love you.