Don't faint, but I am finally wrapping up this book study TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I read the last four chapters this morning and then realized I had reached the final page of the book, I felt a sense of urgency to share the closing chapters with you and, at the same time, make a commitment to God to print out the wilderness mentalities and hang them in my bathroom as a reminder of things the devil loves to whisper in my ear......

In his attempt to steal, kill, and destroy.

Chapter 22: My Life is Miserable-I feel sorry for myself because my life is so wretched.

I'd love to say that I never battle with this wilderness mentality, but I would be lying.  I often look back and question why certain things had to happen in my life journey.  I look forward and feel overwhelmed about full-time work and juggling my kids' schedules.  Having a pity party is not difficult for me.  My prayer today is that I will learn from the Israelites' mistakes and determine to trust God NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BE AROUND ME.

Chapter 23: I Don't Deserve God's Blessing because I am Not Worthy

I think the devil loves to beat us up with this thought.  He knows that God created us in His image and that He loves us with an everlasting love, so he tries daily to bring about situations in our life that cause us to feel like failures, disappointments, mistakes, etc.  Decide today to turn to Ephesians 1:4 and copy this verse onto an index card and carry it with you wherever you go!

 For he chose us in him before the creation of

the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

In love  he predestined us for adoption to

sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance

with his pleasure and will-

Chapter 24:  Why shouldn't I be jealous and envious when everyone is better off than I am?

Well, first I don't think we can even imagine how much worse our lives could be.  We can look at pictures of other countries, we can even visit them on mission trips, but until we have lived in utter poverty and persecution, we have no idea what "worse" really is.  Secondly, I have to tell myself time and time again that God uses each of us RIGHT WHERE WE'RE AT and with exactly the gifts He has given us.  Maybe your gift is cooking.  Maybe, like me, it is not.  Maybe your gift is sending cards.  Maybe it is singing.  Whatever it is, USE IT and allow God to bless others through you!!! :)  And stop looking around..LOOK UP!!!!!!  I want to live my life LOOKING UP!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 25:  I'm going to do it my way or not at all.

God has taken me down some painfully winding roads in order to teach me to let go of control.  There is something very freeing about reaching that point of total surrender where you can look at a situation and feel powerless yet KNOW THAT YOU ARE BEING HELD IN THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY, ALL-POWERFUL GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have so much to learn about being exactly the person God longs for me to be, but PRAISE GOD I'm not who I use to be.

If you make a choice today to walk out of the wilderness way of thinking , I believe you will start to see big results in your life!

I  will post all 8 wilderness mentalities this evening in case anyone wants to copy them and print them out for their bathroom wall too!

Together, we will walk towards the Promised Land!

Thankful, so thankful, for each of you!

Love,