Grab a girlfriend and get ready for The Victor’s Cry 1st Ever Online Bible Study hosted by Joy herself. She will meet with us each week via video bringing to light discussion topics and some fun things especially planned for our online community!
Joy has written a women's Bible study designed to lead the reader into a deeper walk with the Lord. The Victor's Cry is a seven-week Bible study centered on loving the Lord with all of one's heart, soul, mind and strength. Each day has a selected bible reading and a target thought and verse. Beginning with the life of Abraham and Sarah, the topics include "Living out God's Promises" "Effective Obedience," and "Heart Repair."
Joy states, "Giving the Lord God all of your mind, heart, and soul gaining strength as God enables you to conquer your battles and experiencing victory in your life will destroy the strongholds Satan depserately wants to keep you in. Allowing all of your heart to be given to the One who created you will free you from your past and you will be overwhelmed by the perfect love that restores your heart through grace, mercy, peace and joy."
This study is designed for women of any age seeking God's heart, desiring to break strongholds, and longing for a victorious life through applying God's Word in practical ways.
I am so excited about what God has planned for you, dear friend! He deeply desires for you to walk in victory, experiencing Banner Moments.
Order books directly from Joy (place your order through email) at www.joymchale.com, or www.pleasantword.com, and www.amazon.com
Please post a comment and share with Joy who you are (first name only), where you live... lets get to know all of the "Victor's Cry Gals"
There are some words in the English language that cause me to wince, because these words create accountability. Words like exercise, budget, never, always, submit, surrender… I’m sure you can add to the list. You get my point. When we talk about exercise, we are either telling someone the “reasons” we don’t or why we do. When we discuss the budget we are explaining why we are not responsible with our money or what we gain from sticking to a budget. When we say words like never and always we usually speak in the context of a promise that must be followed through with action. When we cough out that word submit, we have to take responsibility for our issues with authority. And when we speak of surrender we, at some point, have to admit our selfishness.
Surrender at one point or another is all about Me. I know, we are told in the Christian community that it is not about me. At some point when I or you are considering surrender, Me, Myself and I am the only barrier. To surrender, I have to get over Me. To reap the blessings of surrender I have to let go of Me.
Surrender is not settling for “whatever”. Surrender is not giving up. Surrender is not giving up who I am. Surrender is much more. Surrender is: doing whatever. Surrender is: growing up. Surrender is: discovering who I am. Surrender begins with the attitude. True surrender is birthed in our heart. The process of surrender challenges our core belief system.
Abraham’s life (chronicled in Genesis) is the picture of surrender. Abraham was tested in every area and surrendered every area. He did not live a perfect life. He did not have a perfect marriage. He was not a perfect parent. He was, however, choosing to live a life of surrender. In Genesis 22, Abraham faced his greatest test. Abraham battled himself. His faith, his beliefs about God, his trust with God, his desires, hopes and dreams and his family were tested and either Abraham would not get over himself or He would surrender it all and discover something about God that could only be discovered through compete surrender.
When Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son, the battle of surrender began. He had to surrender his desires. He finally had the son that God had promised. And now, God was asking the ultimate - to let go of the one thing that meant everything. The darkest hour in the battle of surrender that is fought in the depths of our being is when we make the choice to let go of “the one thing” that means everything.
Abraham made the choice - to let go of the one thing that meant everything - believing God. It was that moment that Abraham experienced the presence of Jehovah-jireh. When you and I surrender, it is then and only then that we can experience the presence of the Almighty God. He will show Himself, otherwise unseen, when we surrender.
I have a large extended family. When we are together for the annual family reunion (which I never know everyone there… I just know somehow we are related) or I am with the family I do know at Christmas and Thanksgiving; at some point someone will say, “Let’s say grace so we can eat!” Those words are music to my ears! My grandmother tells the story of my interrupting the meal time prayer because as a two year old, I thought the prayer was too long. Most of us understand and were taught as children to understand to come to the dinner table with a grateful heart and thank the Lord for His goodness.
In Revelation 3:20, we are told of God’s purpose. He wants to have great fellowship with us. How much better to do that than to share a meal! How we approach our time with our Savior is crucial to our spiritual satisfaction. Do we come to our time with Him ready to not only say grace (a deeply felt gratitude) but are we ready to live grace.
In Exodus 33:13 Moses asks, “… if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight…” As you and I seek God’s grace, He shows us His ways. Seeking grace will bring light into our lives and our circumstances. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 84:11, For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. The Lord wants to give us His good things. He wants us to experience His goodness; to be in tune with His character. John 1:14 reveals to us the benefit of spending time with our Lord. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”. As we take part in a wonderful dining experience with our Savior, He imparts grace and truth. Spending unhurried time with our Savior brings the realization that “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9) There is plenty of His grace! His grace satisfies. This verse in 2 Corinthians is comforting. I have always known that when my grandmother (or as I lovingly call her, “Granny Grunt) cooks a meal; there is plenty! She will say, “Take as much as you want. There is plenty more!” The great “I AM” promises the same. There is always plenty of grace. Dig in and help yourself!
Grace is given at salvation. It is only by grace that we are saved. (Eph. 2:8) We cannot buy grace. We can’t bottle grace. We cannot demand grace. Grace is a gift. We receive grace and experience grace when we enter into and remain in His fellowship. What is amazing about this bountiful grace is that as we partake of His grace; grace transforms our life. Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Grace is not only a necessary nutrition to spiritual health and wholeness; it is a primary season that flavors our life. A grace-filled life will affect the outflow of our heart. Hebrews. 4:16, Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Grace opens the door to a relationship with the Holy God. Grace transforms our life. Grace motivates us to come boldly before the throne.
He knocks. We open. He comes. He dines with us and gives us plenty of grace. It is satisfying and it is the most amazing meal! Sit down at the table He has prepared for you. Spread your napkin in your lap. Say ‘Grace’ and help yourself. His grace will give a helping of direction, a side dish of His goodness, a main dish of grace and truth, served with a satisfying experience of His strength in my weakness and a wonderful, pleasurable dessert that lingers on my tongue and brings sweetness to the lives of those I am surrounded by. When this meal is over; I can begin to prepare for the next meal spent with my Savior… I can go before His throne and grace will meet me there.
Revelation 3:20, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
I love the promise given to us, "I will come in". Our Savior desires to have a relationship with me and you. He is waiting for the invitation. Have you ever invited someone into your home and after visiting with them, you felt relaxed. I have friends that are relaxing to me. When my husband and I lived in Pennsylvania and now in Georgia, I had then and am blessed to have now several dear friends, but there are a particular few when I spent time with them I always feel refreshed and relaxed. it could be a wonderful dinner, a lunch date so our children can all play together or a fabulous cup of coffee. Whatever the reason for the visit; I welcome time spent with these dear friends.
Jesus gives the same result of spending time with Him. He tells us in Matthew 11:28, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. He knocks. We open. He comes in and begins to soothe and give rest to our soul.
Are you weary? Is the busy life that you live everyday exausting to your soul? Are you overwhelmed by all that God is doing in your life and you simply want to linger in His presence? Whatever your reason for answeriing His knock and inviting Him in; His purpose is to give you rest.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
Have you ever knocked on someone’s door and they said to you, “it’s open! Come in”. Maybe you have said that to someone when they knocked on your door. The invitation to come in or welcoming someone with that invitation reveals the type of relationship with the person that is knocking. I would not say that to the UPS man nor would I say that to an uninvited guest.
Many opportunities will knock on our hearts door. Satan will also try to gain access to areas of our life. Just because there is a knock does not mean we should respond and invite. I am choosy with who comes into my house. I should also be choosy about what I let into my life. This does not mean I am judgmental. It only means that I am discerning and cautious.
When we answer Christ’s knock and invite Him in. We give Him access to every area or do we? Growing up, I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s house. I was given complete liberty to walk into and play in any room of the house. I was never told, you cannot go in this or that part of the house. Yet, I am afraid, that we do put limits on where Christ can go in our “house”. Do you ever think or have the attitude that I will only give God this much of my life. I will not surrender this area of my heart. Do we open up the door when He knocks and invite Him in and then only allow Him limited access?
Do you fear what Christ will say to us if He opened up “that door” or “that closet”? Are you afraid that He will be disappointed or angry? Are you living in shame because there are secrets you keep hidden? Our relationship with Christ is never about what we can hide while He inspects. If we respond to Christ that way, we will have a superficial relationship with Him. He simply wants to be invited into our life to transform us. (Rom 12:1-2) Christ never shames us to get us to surrender. Christ loves us to transform us to a life of victory.
I want to encourage you to completely open your life to Christ. Allow Him access to every area. When you completely open up every area and invite Him into the messy parts; you will discover the security, comfort and unfailing love of your wonderful Savior. Trust Him to transform you. Trust that He will love you unconditionally.
Stay open to Him. When you hear Him knocking, don’t hang your head or get nervous of what he may discover when he comes in. Rest in knowing that He will restore you, strengthen you, and use you for His glory. Be open to the only relationship that can ultimately transform your life.
Knock! Knock! Who’s There?
We have two children and they love “knock, knock jokes”. As you know these jokes take two people and both have to participate for the joke to work and be enjoyable. (Although, by the time my children are telling me the tenth plus joke, I am not finding them as cute and funny.)
Revelation 3:20, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. When I was growing up, I only heard this verse in the context of a salvation verse. In fact, this verse is directed to the saved, not the lost. Several words stand out to me in this verse and challenge me.
KNOCK OPENS COME DINE
When I focused on the word, “knock” in this verse. I realized two things; first, “knock” is an action verb. Second, to hear the knocking we have to be aware. Jesus Christ is not passive. He is action and demands action. This verse does not say He stands and waits quietly on my porch and hopes I will open the door and invite him in. He Knocks! He will do whatever He must do to get our attention. He will do whatever it takes to have a relationship with us. His knocking is his initiating a much desired relationship with you and me!
When I go to visit friends at their home, even if they know I am coming, I still knock. I would not just open the door… Jesus will knock, even though I expect His arrival, He still knocks. He doesn’t force Himself into my life… He respects my choice to answer His knock. I know that every day and I expect to have communication with my Savior every day. He still knocks.
Secondly, I need to be constantly aware of the knocking at the door of my heart. Sometimes, the busy-ness of our life can be so noisy that it drowns out the sound of Jesus’ knocking. Someone may be reading this and thinking I don’t hear Him anymore. Trust me, He is there. The challenge to us is why we don’t hear Him knocking. Awareness is important!
As a cancer survivor having been diagnosed with Melanoma over 6 years ago, I have learned the importance of awareness. I pay attention to my skin and I watch for anything that is unusual. This same keen awareness is critical to our relationship with Jesus Christ: pay attention and watch. Since He initiates by knocking, I must be aware of His imminent visit. This does not mean that my house has to be in order. This doesn’t mean that I have to be stressed that something may be out of order or messy. This only means that I am aware. The more time I spend with my Savior, the more comfortable I become, realizing that He loves me just the way I am.
My dearest friends have seen my house untidy. They have seen my house clean. They have seen laundry piled on my couch waiting to be folded. They have seen the dirty dishes and they have seen me dressed in my “yard clothes”, no make-up, and a bad hair day. I am confident in the relationship and I am comfortable in their presence.
Jesus does not knock with the intent to come in to your life and torture you with the “white glove test” He is ok with your mess. He knows we live in the world… He just asks that we are not of this world. In other words, He does not want us to use worldly philosophy and culture as a standard.
Be aware of His knock. Turn down the noise of your busy life so you can hear Him when He knocks. Relax, knowing that He does not want to come in and inspect your life; He wants to really spend time with you. He loves you and He anticipates a wonderful visit.
