Dawn R. Deem Stephens

(My reflections after doing week 3 of the Breaking Free Bible Study by Beth Moore)

We have now finished the 3rd week of our study.  The following is what I gained and how I’ve grown. I’m posting my thoughts here, simply to encourage you to do the same.

Week 3 is about removing obstacles in our life. Each day addresses a new obstacle.

Day 1 – The Obstacle of Unbelief – This day I began to realize that even though I know longer struggle with believing how real God is in my life, I do struggle with a belief in what He is doing with and through my life. Which for Him, I’m sure is one in the same. I have seen how I’ve grown in this area through the years, however. I remember when I struggled with believing his very existence and was way too afraid to admit that to any of my Godly friends. Through the years though I’ve seen HIm work in my life and do so many things that now I have no doubt how real He is. My unbelief now comes in when I fail to believe He will continue to do what He has promised. I begin to doubt, convincing myself that I misread Him, or misunderstood things. I get a sense of unbelief about my books or the ministry ahead of me when 2 months ago I stood confident – knowing what He called me to do. I saw how He only works through our faith andhow we limit Him becasue of this unbelief we carry around. I resolved again today to believe and prayed for God to help me through the unbelief I sometimes let settle in because things get harder than I would like.

Day 2 – The Obstacle of Pride Today God showed me how deep my own pride is rooted. This is another obstacle I’ve been trying to knock down for years. And it still seems to come back in my path again and again. Even within my suffering I become prideful at times. My books and ministry glorify God, I know that – but I have had to learn that I can’t share a God-glorifying life. God is God and He will not allow us to share 1st place with anything else but His glory. Even sharing our own fame. It is his fame, His glory – and no matter how successful Little Pot becomes – It has to be God’s.

Day 3 - The obstacle of Idolatry I loved discovering that  dissatisfaction is in my life because God wants to fill those spaces. I have had so many jobs and been in so many places that I think I sometimes breed dissatisfaction. I am a work-aholic and have often made my job the most important thing in my life. It was very convicting to read Isa. 2:8 and realize that God refered to idols as the things man made with his hands. What else is my book except the thing I’ve made with my own hands. I vowed to God today to not let ever become an idol to me. That if I never get Tea Pot book finished or never sell another Little Pot book, that He will remain #1 in my life and nothing else will ever come before Him.

Day 4 -  The Obstacle of Praylessness This lesson made me realize that I can spend too much time in a Bible Study and not enough in prayer. This obstacle keeps us from peace and on  this day I had jsut gotten a rejection letter from another publisher. No matter how much I vow to not expect them to say yes. I hope and pray and when they don’t I am feeling so disappointed. I once again put my hope in the tangible and not in God. Prayer is about the intangible. I so need to learn to live my life more in the world of prayer. Bible study is not a substitute for prayer. It can actually become a tangible thing that gets in out way. Through prayer, I can have hope in my heart no matter what the circumstances bring, And continue to bear fruit. At the end of this lesson I got on my knees (literally) and prayed!

Day 5 – The Obstacle of Legalism Legalism is the rules that we are required to follow and live by for what others believe is our own good. We can become way too focused on the Do’s and Don’ts instead of just knowing and walking with God. Honoring God with our actions and not our hearts is never a good thing. This is the one thing I want to pass down to my children. WE as parents constantly teach right and wrong to our kids – but what is that except legalism. I so just want my kids to have a relationship with Christ for themselves. To walk with Him and serve HIm from their hearts. All the rest of the “do the right thing” then falls into place. So far my daughters are doing a a good job in getting to know their savior. And I get asked quite often how come they are such great girls. it isn’t because of what I’ve taught them to do or say – It  is because they all 3 honor God with their hearts. I pray every day they continue down that path!

If you are doing this Bible study or have done it, I encourage you to share your thoughts below. If you haven’t – I recommend you do.

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To read my thoughts on week two - click here

To read my thoughts from week one – click here