2016 Book Review #43: Becoming a Woman Whose God is Enough

The small group I lead used this as our study this past school year.

Sadly, there were only 2 of us for the remaining 2 weeks of study, but the first part of the school year, there were 5 of us and it was a great time of discussion, prayer, growth, learning from each other, and encouraging one another.

STUDY SUMMARY

This study was broken into three sections:  the basic lesson of "God is enough" which taught us that God is Creator/Giver of all things; our Shepherd; and is for us not against us.  This was the easy part of the study...the "milk" for most of us.

The second section dealt with the barriers to learning that God is enough.  There are 4 major barriers:  having little faith, seeking satisfaction in idols (a very convicting chapter as today's idols really pull at us (Facebook, blogs, tv, movies, materialism, works, etc), being satisfied with self (not fully realizing our lives need God!), and taking offense (when things don't go our way/God has different plans for us).

The third section dealt with the blessings that come with learning that God is enough for us:  He chooses for us (His ways are best); Contentment; Humility; and Divine Fellowship with Him (intimacy).  

There were study questions based on a short reading as well as many Scriptures to look up and discuss in question format.  I liked that there were only about 7-12 questions on average per chapter and not a lot of reading.  I absolutely loved the author's personal reflection at the end of each reading.  The book also included several very good quotes by more famous Christians such as A.W. Tozer or Spurgeon.

MY THOUGHTS

This was probably my favorite study as a leader from the last 6 years.  I am actually stepping down from being a leader for at least a year, and this Bible study was a good one to end with, particularly the section on the Blessings.  It summed up so much of what I've been meditating on and praying about personally and for my family.

Some of the things I've learned were:

"God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him"~Samuel Storms~ 

I take this to mean that I can glorify God in all circumstances...and be truly content because if I am following Him fully, I know that His ways are best.  His plans and purposes for my life at each moment of the day...each breath I take, every waking hour and every thought and deed, is for my best.  And in that, there is true contentment.  I won't need ANYONE else but God.  And through that, He will be glorified! 

We can trust and rest in God's sufficiency.  He is definitely more than enough for us.  

As I cultivate the disciplines of prayer, Scripture reading, meditation and just being still to hear His Voice, I will in turn be humbled, content, full of the joy of the Lord as I walk the path He leads me on, pressing in to Him when the trials and storms come (and they will!!), and having that deep inner peace that only a real relationship, a solid understanding that I am a sinner in need of His mercy and grace, forgiveness and free gift of salvation, can bring.  He is enough when we allow Him to take control of every thought, action, deed.  And Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort and be there for us.  There is true joy when we are satisfied with God.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"You don't realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have." ~Timothy Keller~

"The last and greatest lesson that the soul has to learn is the fact that God and God alone, is enough for all its needs.  This is the lesson that all His dealings with us are meant to teach; and this is the crowning discovery of our whole Christian life.  God is enough"  ~Hannah Whitell Smith~

 

And the following quote probably is the one that really struck my heartstrings.  It is just so amazing to know this:

"God has charged Himself with full responsibility for our eternal happiness and stands ready to take over the management of our lives the moment we turn in faith to Him." ~A.W.Tozer~

 God is our Shepherd, Creator, Redeemer, Provider, Protector. 

 We know His great love and grace.

We comprehend  that His purpose in our lives is Christlikeness.  We are to be like Jesus.

God is the Almighty God.  Only He...the One who created us...can know what's best for us.

And that is enough for me!!

In my opinion, this study book is appropriate for ages 17 and older.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.