The Resolution for Women Priscilla Shirer A Resolution to be content Day 1 Surprisingly Satisfied These Resolutions are founded squarely on principles that God Himself has established. They are more than just determinations you make within yourself; they are girded about with the power of the Holy Spirit - encouraging you, comforting you, equipping you, empowering you with the strength you need to carry them out, Essentially, these are His resolutions for you. When you think of a resolution do you get excited or skeptical? Why? Have you made a resolution you really wanted to work out, but you didn't follow through? Why do you think you didn't follow through? We make resolutions every single day. Whether you realize it or not you re choosing to treat people a certain way, to stay committed to certain activities, to live a certain life, to be a certain kind of person, to not be a certain kind of person. You are already a woman of resolutions. Now that you read this; is there a resolution of decision in your daily life that you can be proud of? List a few A resolution is more than just saying we want to do something. We need discipline and self-sacrifice. So when we make our next resolution be intentional about it.
What is something you would like to change in your life? This resolution is with God. These are more than just determinations you make within yourself; they are surrounded with the power of the Holy Spirit - encouraging you, comforting you, equipping you, empowering you with the strength you need to carry them out. Essentially, these are His resolutions for you. Also this resolution will have an impact on the people you love. Even if they do not appear to actively support your effecting in making this resolution, you re going to be doing business with God and making decisions based on His Word. And the deep impact this will have on your life will overflow into the experiences of those around you. Are you willing to take this step? Explain. So let s be clear this is about YOU. It is designed not to take into consideration the actions of other people. This is about what you will do, what you will become by God s grace from this day forward. By no means are you promising to be perfect, rather you are making a commitment simply to begin - to journey forward in the direction that particular resolution is pointing you. - Priscilla Shirer
A Resolution to be Content Day 2 Every Bite Counts We should enter every season with expectation and enjoy its blessings. When we try to rush through we miss the blessings God wants you to experience. What in your life have you rushed through? (example: your single season, we rush to have kids and get married without flourishing on our own in our season of singleness. ) Let s take a moment to imagine what is wonderful in each season that you could enjoy or possibly miss out on. Pick two and explain; childhood, teens, 20 s, 30 s, 40 s or older. Singleness, married, parenting, retired, empty nest. Do not only be present in each season really be there, be engaged. Soak it all in, cherishing it, celebrating it, and appreciating it for what it is. Take the time to fully participate and enjoy what is happening at this very moment. What in this current season is something you are enjoying and taking your time with; and what are you rushing? What have you been hurrying to get to?
Discontentment will take over and rob you of your years.then before you know it, you ve missed out on the joys in the journey, the growth that comes from battling through the difficulties, the sweet and savory experience of creating the memories. Where in your life are you not fully content? Let s look in the Bible to see what is said about being content. Read each scripture and explain what you think it means. Job 36:10-12 10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. 11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. 12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword[a] and die without knowledge. Psalm 131: A song of ascents. Of David. 1 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. 3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.
A Resolution to be Content Day 3 The Secret We all know the game telephone that we play at slumber parties; and that the message usually looses its meaning the farther around the circle you go. This has happened to us as women in the line of women through the generations. The meaning of happiness has been blurred; it now says there is always something else, something more, some additional requirement we need before we can really enjoy life the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Caught in a vicious cycle, we consequently feel incomplete, unhappy, uncontrolled, and unfulfilled. Dissatisfied. What in life makes you feel like this? A satisfied woman got the secret message correct. You can tell it by her peace and serenity. She chooses contentment over displeasure. Contentment is not some unique gift given to us all. It is a skill we have to choose, adopt, then master and apply it to our life. Do you tend to think more on the content side or the other? How do you think you can control and improve this skill?
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:11-12 Paul s secret was this; he had resolved to be. Contentment wasn t some unique gift the apostle Pail has been given. It wasn t an automatic facet of his personality. It was a skill he had chosen and adopted, then had mastered and applied to his tumultuous life experience. It all started with this secret that held strong and true even when his external circumstances were hardly conductive to living with a relaxed sense of well being. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-12 He was not in denial of his situation; he was in prison facing death. He readily admited that things looked bad. He just knew a secret. And the secret gave him peace and serenity in the grave situtaion. That same secret we also reach out and grad and hold on to when things are as bad as they get, or even just not what we prefer. The more you believe that God s grace to you is overflowing, the more you ll be convinced that you will always have everything you need. If you don t have it whatever it is its because you don t need it. You may want it, but its not necessary in order to accomplish what He knows is most important for your life today. What desire do you keep asking for that you may not need? or maybe just not need now? Whatever He s given or not given, He s done for a specific reason a reason known only to Him perhaps but one you can trust with full confidence, sight unseen. What in your life have you been given that you do not understand?
A Resolution to be Content Day 4 Overflowing Blessing You can always tell people who are not satisfied. Their are stingy with their time. They are selfish with their resources. They re tight fisted with their energy. They re reluctant to sow of themselves into the lives of others because they are afraid they don t have enough to do it with and still have enough left over for themselves. Not enough time, energy, talent, money, skill, or patience. Do you find yourself having problems with any of these above statements? Why? 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. Luke 6:38 NLT Paraphrase what you think this means.
This doesn t mean you should always without question give yourself at the expense of the relationships and purposes that should be prioritized in your life. If God has endorsed your involvement, you can proceed with complete contentment and willingness, knowing He will always give back far more than ever expected. Do you find yourself worn thin? Saying yes to too many people and things? How can you stop this? How do you know when to help, at those times you feel so low and do not think you can? List 4 things that run out quickly in your life. One example: Money! He will supply you a portion that is abundantly good and beyond what is warranted. That extra is meant to be given out to the ones who are in need. So give and it will be given to you. It appears that the best way to get more of what you need is to give away the little you think you have left - at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way. So make a resolution to be content. Then look toward the heaven with holy anticipation and prepare to catch the overflow He has for you. Love this moment. Pour yourself out. And be prepared for God s overflowing blessing. Do you deep down fear that this one time you step out in faith God will not be paying attention? Do you have examples of when you did step out in faith and you were overwhelmed with blessings? If so share with the group and give them hope!
A Resolution to be Content Day 5 The Balancing Point So how do we balance all this!? How do we balance all of life s wants and needs? Contentment is the balance between the enjoyment of life now and the anticipation of what is to come. Why is it important to have contentment? What do you anticipate for your future? By choosing contentment, you re not getting rid of your desires; you re just demanding that they assume an appropriate, humble position in your life. It means you no longer allow your yearnings and aspirations to control you, to rob from you the full use of and gratitude for what you ve currently been given, leaving unable to enjoy this because He hasn t seen fit to give you that. Contentment is not complacency. What does complacency mean to you? There are always going to be things in your life that annoy you. What are some in your day to day life that drive you crazy?
How can you change some of the above annoyances to a blessing from God? Are you able to see the positive side to them? That s a safe, healthy place when contentment allows you to take root and take up residence. Instead of being manipulated by unrestrained discontent, instead of allowing restlessness to hustle you into decisions, relationships, and opportunities that you re unable to recognize as being faulty from the outset, contentment keeps your mind clear. Looking back; what choices or decisions have you made in a rush and ended up regretting? Surprisingly Satisfied I do solemnly resolve to embrace my current season of life and will maximize my time in it. I will resist the urge to hurry through or circumvent any portion of my journey but will live with a spirit of contentment.