Courage for Life for Women - Flipbook - Page 5
INTRODUCTION TO THE
COURAGE FOR LIFE STUDY BIBLE FOR WOMEN
The book you are holding in your hands is completely unique and one of the most fascinating books
of all time. It’s a refuge in troubled times, a storehouse of wise counsel for everyday living, and the
greatest source of encouragement, hope, and inspiration you will ever possess. The Bible is actually
a library of books— sixty-six in all— written over a span of more than 1,500 years. The authors of
these books were historians, poets, farmers, prophets, and preachers who were inspired by God to
write down real-life events and eternal truths that continue to challenge and encourage us on our
journey with God.
The first book of the Bible, Genesis, starts with an overview of the beginning of the universe,
focusing on the creation of our world and of the life that exists here. The last book, Revelation, ends
with a vision of a new heaven and new earth (Rev 21:1).
The Bible is God’s story, and along the way it chronicles the lives of those who, like you and me,
were on a courageous journey—a walk with the Creator, who seeks to reveal himself to his creation.
The lessons God’s Word teaches us can be summed up in this way:
• We were made by a loving God who wants us to know him personally.
• We rebelled against God, desiring to go our own way.
• Our rebellion separated us from God and brought us under the penalty of righteous judgment.
• God seeks us out while we are in our rebellious state and calls us to return to him.
• We can be restored to a right relationship with our loving God and receive forgiveness for our
sins, the gift of abundant life here on earth, and the blessings of eternal life in heaven— but only
if we choose to repent of our sins, believe the Good News about Jesus, trust in him alone for
salvation, and make him Lord of our lives.
This restoration with our Creator comes in an amazing way— God showed his great love for us by
sending his Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to be our sacrificial Savior. This plan is revealed throughout Scripture. The first promise of this restoration can be found in Genesis 3:15, right after the fall of
Adam and Eve. The first mention of a sacrifice to cover the effects of sin is six verses later (Gen 3:21).
Everywhere we look in Scripture, we see God’s redemptive plan in action.
If at some point in your life you realized your need for Jesus and surrendered your life to him, God
accepted you as his daughter and now speaks to your heart and soul in response to your commitment to him. When you surrendered to Jesus, he gave you a new heart, one that mirrors his. You then
began the courageous journey of faith, which you will be on until you pass from this world and enter
the presence of God.
When you believe in Jesus, the Spirit of God resides within you, shaping you into the vessel he
desires you to be as a potter shapes a piece of clay (see Isa 29:16; 64:8; Jer 18:2-6 to learn more).
Studying the Bible is one way to invite the Holy Spirit to help us know God and to bring us closer to
him. This action is a discipline. It does not come naturally or easily. But if you neglect this discipline,
you will experience only slow spiritual growth full of roadblocks. However, when you study and gain
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