03.14.07
Week Five
1. Read chapter 5, “A Spring of Goodness”. What is something that stood out to you about this chapter? What is something new that you might not have considered before? Was there something particularly convicting?
2. Besides a husband, who is another person/or other people in our lives that we could do goodness and not evil to? (Read Prov. 3:27, Gal. 6:10) What are some practical good things that you might know to do for that person or those people?
3. Where there is a desire to do goodness, there is the temptation to do evil. Elzabeth lists three things in this chapter that can draw us to do evil – a tendency to compare, a growing root of bitterness, a sagging spiritual condition. How have these evils affected your quest to do good all the days of your life? How did you deal with them or how might you deal with them in the future?
4. Is there a relationship or circumstance in your life in which you can PLAN to do good? What is your plan for this week?
5. What are a couple of the ABC’s listed in this chapter that you would like to apply to your own life?
Charissa said,
March 20, 2007 at 9:21 pm
What is something that stood out to you about this chapter? What is something new that you might not have considered before? Was there something particularly convicting?
This chapter has so many good points!! Like Do your husband good at every opportunity. I can’t be negetive toward him if I am wanting to do him good. Also, Being aware of a possible root of bitterness!! It’s so dangerous!! And being aware of sagging spiritual condition! It’s so very easy to get into worldy mindset when my mind isn’t set on God!!!
2. Besides a husband, who is another person/or other people in our lives that we could do goodness and not evil to? (Read Prov. 3:27, Gal. 6:10) What are some practical good things that you might know to do for that person or those people?
I think of my sister. I love her greatly and like to hang out with her, but sometimes she drives me nuts
So remembering to do her good even if I am feeling annoyed. Right now she has to make some decisions about some things, so being patient and faithfully helping her even going out of my way would be good for me to do.
3. Where there is a desire to do goodness, there is the temptation to do evil. Elzabeth lists three things in this chapter that can draw us to do evil – a tendency to compare, a growing root of bitterness, a sagging spiritual condition. How have these evils affected your quest to do good all the days of your life? How did you deal with them or how might you deal with them in the future?
I think I have to be careful not to grow a root of bitterness. It really is a situation of having to remember and make the choice to do good. Otherwise bitterness affects my whole attitude and heart. A sagging spiritual condition is definately something that leads to sinning easier! It’s like I forget the good I know to do when I am not reading it and thinking on it! Every little action or reaction in my daily life is influenced by either good or evil and will therefore be good or evil. And reading the Bible keeps me more alert to what I am doing. And resources like this book! i’m so thankful for these kiinds of books!
5. What are a couple of the ABC’s listed in this chapter that you would like to apply to your own life?
I would like to focus on following my husbands leadership and to bless his name. To speak only kind things about him.
Tanya said,
March 21, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Thanks for your faithful posting, Charissa – it’s really encouraging to me! I’ve been thinking a lot lately along the lines of what you said – that every little action or thought or word in my daily life is influenced by either good or evil. That everything I do or say or think can be for good or for evil. That’s really convicting! I mean, even the little things that no one else ever sees… they’re for good or for evil. They either bring glory to my Father or they don’t. This just shows me again how MUCH I need to live every single moment dependent on Him for all my needs. If I’m not doing that, I can guarantee that what I’m doing or saying or thinking is for evil and not good. Praise Him for His faithfulness to grow each of us in goodness!
Tanya said,
March 21, 2007 at 7:31 pm
1. Read chapter 5, “A Spring of Goodness”. What is something that stood out to you about this chapter? What is something new that you might not have considered before? Was there something particularly convicting?
What wasn’t convicting might be a better question!
It stood out to me that the vrituous woman is Characterized by goodness. She not only does good, but it is a part of who she is. Her good deeds flow out of who she is. And who she is can only be by God’s grace…
2. Besides a husband, who is another person/or other people in our lives that we could do goodness and not evil to? (Read Prov. 3:27, Gal. 6:10) What are some practical good things that you might know to do for that person or those people?
Related to my husband would be my in-laws. While our families were similar in some respects, they are very different in a lot of ways. Which means that a lot of times I am left not understanding why they do some things that they do. One good thing that I need to apply in my life, while it might not be the most practical thing, is to guard my heart against hurt feelings. And to think the best of them (goodness) instead of the worst (evil).
3. Where there is a desire to do goodness, there is the temptation to do evil. Elzabeth lists three things in this chapter that can draw us to do evil – a tendency to compare, a growing root of bitterness, a sagging spiritual condition. How have these evils affected your quest to do good all the days of your life? How did you deal with them or how might you deal with them in the future?
Well, I can tell you that I’ve dealt with each of these things in my life on more than one occassion. They are so intertwined I almost don’t know where one starts and the last one finishes. As I start comparing myself to other people – how I get treated or don’t get treated compared to them, what I have or don’t have compared to them – that root of bitterness sets in really easily. I get upset about what I don’t have that I think I should and it’s easy to be bitter toward both the getter and the giver in whatever situation I’m comparing. And, like Charissa said, both of these sins start much more easily when I am in a sagging spiritual state. As I am in the Word faithfully and meditating on it and seeking to apply it to my life, I can better discern (by God’s grace) when I begin to compare and get bitter. I can catch those “buds” of sin sooner so that they don’t begin to turn into a much larger part of my life and start affecting my thoughts, actions, and others! Also, though, on the flip side, bitterness and comparing can cause my spiritual state to sag. Undealt with sin comes between me and God and stunts my growth in Him.
In the past when I have dealt with these three things, I have found that they really cloud my judgement. My perspective gets really scewed to the point that when my sin shows itself in my actions or speech, someone looking on can see easily that my conclusions make no sense! If I don’t deal with my sin, it will surely affect others. It is discouraging to believers around me and a poor witness to the lost I come in contact with. And do you know who ends up being the most miserable in the whole thing?? ME!
Prayer is the first thing that comes to mind in dealing with these things… As I know that it can be the tendency of my flesh to compare and grow bitter, I need to daily and hourly and minutely guard against such thoughts. And I can’t do that apart from God – He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. I’M not greater, HE is. And it is He who knows my deceitful heart, not I. Being in the Word is also important so that I can be renewing my mind with the truth. If my mind is full of truth, I won’t have as much room for filling it with wrong thoughts.
4. Is there a relationship or circumstance in your life in which you can PLAN to do good? What is your plan for this week?
We are in the process of remodeling a house that we will move into at the end of the month, Lord willing. My husband has been working hard and faithfully for many hours a day for the past month or so to get the remodeling done. There is still a lot of work to be done and I know it is overwhelming to him at times. I am going to plan to watch my words to make sure that I am encouraging to him in the work and not a discouragement, even when things might not be moving as quickly as we would like. I also need to plan to be generous with my praise. I need to plan to not bother him with things that we can deal with after this move is over. I need to be unselfish and not complain about all the hours he spends away from me as I know that he is doing the work at the house with my good in mind.
5. What are a couple of the ABC’s listed in this chapter that you would like to apply to your own life?
A Always contribute spiritually. This ties into K, I think. I can’t contribute spiritually without keeping up my spiritual growth. This means I need to be an encouragement to my husband and not like Job’s wife. This takes work on my part especially when things aren’t going as smoothly as I would like.
E Encourage his dreams. This ties into being an encouragement to him and not a wet blanket. I’m so practically minded sometimes right away, pointing out the possible problems, which can come across like a dark cloud pretty easily.
F Follow his leadership. With a quiet and meek heart!
K Keep up your spiritual growth. I need to be in the Word more and in prayer more.
Charissa said,
March 22, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Thanks Tanya
I know I am encouraged by your entries! – and everyone elses! It’s good to hear each persons responce.
I like what you said in regards to # 4 about not being selfish> It is so hard not to be selfish! I need work in that area myself!!