Courage for Life for Women - Flipbook - Page 6
A18 • INTRODUC TION TO THE COUR AGE FOR LIFE ™ STUDY BIBLE FOR WOMEN
an understanding of God’s Word— learning who God is and how he wants you to live your life—you will
begin to exchange stagnant, slow-paced spiritual growth for growth that brings glory to God and produces transformation in your life.
As we journey together, discovering God’s truth for ourselves, remember that studying the Bible is different from reading the Bible. Studying means giving greater attention to what you’re reading. In doing
so, you’ll discover ancient cultures that will fascinate you, confront ideas that will challenge and transform
you, read some of the greatest poetry ever written, and come to know the Creator of the universe up close
and personally. You will see just how great God’s love for you truly is. Studying the Bible will usher you into
the adventure of a lifetime, and your submission to its truth will change your life forever.
But Bible study is not just for your own moral and spiritual development, as important as that is. Jesus
told his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15). To obey
this command, you must be prepared. And Bible study is one of the primary ways you can ready yourself
to share God’s truth with others. The apostle Paul tells us, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to
teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives” (2 Tim 3:16).
The Need for Courage
So now you realize that studying the Bible is essential to having a thriving relationship with your loving
God. But where does courage fit into the equation? Why would you need to be courageous to learn what
God wants to say to you through the Scriptures?
Because God’s Word is life- changing, you will most certainly encounter resistance as you study the
Bible and apply its truth to your life. Therefore, you will need to embrace your God-given courage during
the process.
According to the author of the book of Hebrews, “our God is a devouring fire” (Heb 12:29), a jealous
God who calls everyone to worship him and him alone. And though God told Moses on Mount Sinai, “No
one may see me and live” (Exod 33:20), he lovingly invites all people to enter an intimate relationship with
him through his Son, Jesus, and to grow in their relationship with him by studying his Word. Therefore, we
need great courage to come before God and meet him face-to-face in the Bible. Thankfully, Jesus allows
us to enter God’s presence, and the Holy Spirit is our guide.
One of the primary reasons we need courage is that the Bible functions as a mirror to our hearts and
souls. When we read God’s Word, we see our real selves, without all our masks and pretenses—a sight
that, if we’re honest, can be somewhat startling at times. It takes courage to face our true selves, yet this
is a vital step toward fully embracing the abundant life God has planned for us.
The NT book of James clearly articulates this truth: “For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like
glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look
carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard,
then God will bless you for doing it” (Jas 1:23-25).
You need courage to face the person the Bible reveals you to be. It takes courage to embrace the transformative process to become the person God created you to be. It will take courage to do what the Word
says instead of merely hearing it. And without taking these courageous steps, you will never fully experience the abundant blessings God so graciously has in store for you. But first, let’s learn what I believe to
be the best method of studying the Bible.
