“I’m starting my very first Bible study.” It doesn’t matter to me if it’s one of Priscilla Shirer’s, Kelly Minter’s, Jennie Allen’s, Kay Arthur’s, or any other Bible study author’s series. It moves me every time I hear it because nothing has brought me more fascination
and freedom
and wonder
and awe
and joy
and delight
and correction
and direction
and transformation
and liberation
and PURE GOD-BELIEVING FAITH than the Spirit of God stirring up my heart and mind through the pages of Scripture. I have had such a blast with Him there, ruined for less than a lifetime spent with Him in those glorious phrases. When I hear that somebody is just beginning to journey with Christ through a cracked-open Bible, my heart skips a beat and my memory stirs up a whirlwind. I remember my first in-depth journey so well and how a light came on in my soul and how I could hardly stand to shut my Bible at the end of the day or wait to open it the next morning. I’d put my kids on the school bus in the morning and dart back inside and pull out my Bible and the notes I’d taken the day before. I’d somehow stumbled across this thing called a “tabernacle” in the pages of Exodus during my Scripture reading one day and I could not get enough. I read and read, flipping back and forth from the Old Testament to the New. I bought my first Strong’s Concordance and looked up every place I could find the word “tabernacle.” That was all I knew to do but it was enough. Then I started getting commentaries and reading books theologians had written on it. When that journey was over, I fell into honest-to-goodness despair because I was certain I’d never experience anything like that again. I was wrong. Praise God.
“I just finished the last page of _____________________ Bible study.” (Often I’ll get a picture of that final page, complete with their own handwritten answers to questions on it. And don’t think I don’t enlarge them and read them either. I don’t have this nose because I’m not nosy.)
Listen, to finish an in-depth Bible study series is no small accomplishment in this increasingly attention-deficit culture. For people (like me!) who are becoming conditioned to sound bites and a sum total of 140 characters, getting through a Bible study course that demands anywhere from 6-10 weeks of 4-5 hours of homework a week is titanic. You are already an exception to the cultural rule by the time you finish the third week. Somebody needs to tell you what a stud you are for finishing one. So, today, I’m volunteering. You’re a stud.
“I’m doing Breaking Free.” I don’t care who it is, those words get to me every time. That series nearly killed me to write – the warfare was hellacious – but the study also means the most to me personally. I’ll tell you when those words get to me most: when they’re coming from a young woman – college age – who has not yet walked down the aisle with a man carrying more baggage than a 10-armed bellhop. It’s NEVER too late to find liberty in Christ. Never! I don’t care if you’ve been married half a dozen times or you’re on the cusp of your eighty-fourth birthday. But facing and dealing with some bondage prior to decisions that change a whole life-trajectory is less painful by a long shot. Of course, we’ve got to do more than finish a study. We’ve got to actually enter into full fellowship with Christ in those pages and receive His words down into our bones as doers of the Word and not hearers only. In the words of James, “humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21 The NET)
“God got me through cancer treatment with His Word.” I have no greater respect for a sister in Bible study than the one who sticks to it and keeps her face to the page and her heart open to the heavens when her prayers have been answered differently than she hoped and no one would blame her if she shut her Bible. Nothing has moved me more through the years than hearing from a small Bible study group that one of their own who was battling terminal cancer literally studied the Word of God until she could no longer hold her eyes open and God carried her Home. They’ll often send me pictures of her and tell me how they miss her and how she challenged them to be faithful to the very last breath. Flabbergasts me every time and makes me hope and pray to be faithful under such strain and able to say with that sister, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
“I caught the Bible study bug. I’ll study the Scriptures for the rest of my life.” That’s it right there. It doesn’t get better than that. No book is like the Bible because no other book is gorgeously laced with living, breathing words of God. I love Christ’s claim in John 6:63 – “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you — they are full of the Spirit and life.” A lifetime is not long enough to get to the bottom of the immense, unimaginable riches that can be found in Christ “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3) You’ll just never waste a second in the Scriptures. That’s the long and short of it.
“I’m teaching my first Bible study class.” To see God raise up young teachers is one of the greatest highs of my entire life. To see them study hard and start practicing the disciplines that Bible teaching demands and not just seeking a platform is incredibly thrilling to me. There is no short cut to it. Teaching still takes the same kinds of things it took in the first century: spiritual gifting, perseverance, diligent study, the work of the Holy Spirit, profuse prayer and enough people skills for people to be able to stand us. And, on top of that, it subjects us to stricter judgment just like James 3:1 says but, if we’re called, we’ve got to get out there and do it anyway and receive the difficulties as discipline. A fiery passion alone cannot sustain us. We must also have obedience and follow-through and the capacity to get back up especially after we’ve been harshly criticized. And we will be. That’s part of the growing process. That’s part of God testing our mettle. Proving us genuine.
My man needs me so I’m going to have to close. I’ve rambled enough anyway. I meant for this to be about a paragraph long but, of course, y’all know me. That’ll be the day. All this came from one little tweet I got today from a woman who said she’d just finished a Bible study. And I thought to myself,
I never get over hearing that.
Good grief, I love y’all so much. Stay in the Scriptures.
It never ceases to amaze me how God sovereignly puts studies in my life that are on time for the season that I’m in. Breaking Free was the first study of yours that I had done and it wrecked my heart in the best way. I’ll treasure that one forever. James made me dig deep, Esther caused me to reflect, Sacred Secrets brought up a topic I had never thought through, Children of the Day left those precious words imprinted on my heart- “For not all have faith, but the Lord is FAITHFUL!” Priscilla’s studies have meant so much as well. Right now my group is doing Gideon and oh my…the Lord is gripping my heart with His truth. I’ll never be able to fathom how He times these studies so well, but I just can’t get enough. Love you, and am so thankful for you and all of these other dear sisters that write so we can learn the truth of God’s Word.
I have often said the timing is perfect! ! GI Deon nearly killed me..I had dealt with many interruptions and He dealt with many of those thoughts!
Your words are beautiful and true, and great encouragement to stay in the Word. There is no better journey!
Just reading this post makes me hungry for studying the word. Your studies have drawn my face to Jesus time and time again. As a Bible teacher myself, I love it when I see the look on a woman’s face as she connects with The Lord in His word.
Beth, thank you so much for your bible studies. Every time I’ve done one it seems as if God dropped it into my lap and said “you need this right now”. And, I did. All three have stuck with me and each changed me in their own way. Thanks for your guidance. Many blessings to you.
i want to say thank you. So thank you. Your bible studies helped me change my life. You showed through your studies how to get up in God’s word….not just read. Get up in and lean in and wrap myself in and breathe in! Our lives are forever changed Beth Moore! And to you I owe a big thank you! You have used your talent to lead and guide! My husband has even started to study with me! Girlfriend, you have no idea the leap that is!!! THANK YOU!
My 14 year old son quizzed me today on my first two ssmt verses. Maybe when he’s old he’ll remember how he helped his mom memorize scripture. Thanks for your ministry.
COOL!!!!
Love this! I think I’ll do the same with my sons. What a great way to have even more of the Word dwelling in them.
That is soooooo cool!
Reading this blog brought back a memory to me that after 3 years it still moves me into various emotions. The memory isn’t something that I necessarily enjoy except looking back I can actually see God’s gracious loving hand. At the time however that was not always the case. It was the very end of March of 2010 and the Ladies ministry at my church were doing the bible study called “Always True” by James MacDonald. We were in week 3 I beleieve and the Scripture He was having us focus our attention on was
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)
I remember reading those words over and over and thinking to myself what a great promise in Scripture specially coming from an upbringing from my dad abandoning me when I was a very young child. At that moment in time reading that it didn’t change me but that was about to change. On April 1st I woke up and the moment I woke up I realized the disease that God has so graciously decided I can handle was in a full on flare-up. I could barely walk by April 4th and on April 5th my son call me out of the blue to give me some news that no God fearing mother wants to hear. By this time I could barely walk so there was no way I was going to be driving to Bible study. It took ever ounce of strength to dig into my Bible but honestly that’s all I could do. There was a very God loving woman at our church who drove 15 minutes out of he way to come and pick me up for bible study (she lived right around the corner from church). She was the most compassionate person I have ever to this day met. She would pick me up and then drive me home.
May came around and on the 14th of May 2010 my mom passed away. I was just about in a full on depression and that Scripture in Deuteronomy 31:6 kept playing in my mind. I posted that Scripture on my bathroom mirror and every time satan would come to remind me of what I was going through I would quote that Scripture. It took every ounce of strength to hold onto that hope that that Scripture promised. God was faithful to His promise and it took that Scripture completely engraved in me during that difficult time for me to realize that just because my earthly father abandoned me did not mean that my heavenly Father would. He was loving me through everything that was happening in my life through the people in my life like the woman who knew that what I needed most was the Bible study and to be around the women in our ladies ministry.
A few years back she lost her battle with cancer and I was able to visit her while she was in the process of her last days and she asked me if I would sing her a hymn from her hymn book (I can’t hold a tune) I told her it would be my pleasure. I was able to share with her that in those dark days in my life that I saw Jesus in her. She was a truly amazing woman who lived to serve Christ.
I love your Bible studies Beth and am so Thankful for all your service to the Lord as well.
Lori,
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful testimony. I so admire your tenacity in hanging onto Jesus in such a difficult time. Your Heavenly Father must be so proud to call you His own. If ever I wonder why the heart of our sweet siesta Mama is tendered to the woman who are on this blog, all I have to remember are beautiful words such as these in testimony of our faithful God. Blessings to you. Mary G.
Well, I think this is the perfect opportunity to let you know that I just finished my FIRST Beth Moore study, Children of the Day! I loved it and cannot wait to start another! I am So inspired for your love and passion for our Lord! Thank you for encouraging me and lighting an insatiable desire to read his word!
Thanks for that, Beth. You are amazing and how I thank God for you and how you got me into studying the Word. It is life giving to the max.
I pray for you and your family every Sunday and more.
I love getting notices that my pray requests have been prayed for after posting a request.
Your ministry means the world to me and I thank God for you and your preciousness and faithfulness to serve us all. May you be forever blessed!!!
Thanks for your words today. What an encouragement.Our book club is reading Get out of that pit. Just we we need right now…
You were the one that taught me how to do bible study and since then I’ve led a lot of ladies through your studies. Now I helping some older ladies read the bible for the first time. I love seeing them so excited. I love their questions and new insight.
God bless you Beth! <3 DM
Thanks Beth….I needed to be reminded tonight….when you’ve walked with The LORD for any length of time you can take some things for granted….and the passions of the early years of your salvation are not always what they should be.
Lord Jesus keep my passion for you
I still remember doing Breaking Free. Oh how I wept through that one. It seems so long ago. I also had the book. I gave it to a precious sister struggling with PTSD, that turned into conversion disorder. Yesterday a co-worker gave me the gift of the book Breaking Free. I wondered Lord, do I need to take this journey once again? Do you have something new to show me, something to tell me? I know there is a broken place that needs some healing. Maybe this is how God would like to do that. I don’t mind. It’s a beautiful journey to take. There’s a wound that could use some salve. Not long ago, after years of trying to earn my mother’s love – she said to me you are not my daughter. I am so glad God never changes how He feels about me, and I will always be His child. The story of Tamar will always have a special place in my heart. I know she felt having been raped as a child repeatedly, never feeling loved by my family. But Jesus He comes and lifts our chin off the ground and lets us know we are loved by Him. Whenever I do one of your studies Beth more than anything it reminds me I am loved beyond measure by my Savior and Lord. His love never changes.
So sorry for your pain. So refreshing to hear despite all the “unlove” and abuse you have had, that you know you are loved by JESUS! I love and am blessed by your words: “But Jesus He comes and lifts our chin off the ground and lets us know we are loved by Him. Whenever I do one of your studies Beth more than anything it reminds me I am loved beyond measure by my Savior and Lord. His love never changes.”
Beth has helped me learn this too and coming from an abusive background also, The TRUTH of GOD’s LOVE has been a foundational anchor to my soul.
Thanks for sharing.
Hello Mary, what an encouraging testimony you have shared. I remember growing up not really knowing what real love was. My mom raised me and my siblings and yes she loved us as a mother should but it was not a nurturing love, it was more of a hard love because that is how she was taught to love. Shortly after my mom passed away I decided to take a journey with the Lord searching out all the Scripture in my concordance about the way He loves me. I wrote down every Scripture that spoke about His love towards me. About a year into my journey one day the sky parted and the heavens opened and it finally set in to my ver soul how much we are loved. His love for us just amazes me and excites me.
I have read Breaking Free twice now and the last time brought me healing and understanding about an area of bondage I had been in that I didn’t understand the first time I read it. There is always something new the Lord is ready to touch if we just come with a willing heart and an open ear to listen.
Thanks Lori. I actually stopped at Lifeway bookstore and picked up the bible study book for the updated study of Breaking Free. I am going to start it this weekend. Will watch the sessions online. Can’t wait to see what God has for me. Jesus has most assuredly been your strong tower during some difficult times. God Bless you sister.
Hi Mary, I was wondering where you go to watch online? Thank you for your very sweet encouragement 🙂
I love you, mama Beth. Can I call you that? I consider you that, spiritually. You have taught me so much over the years and you will never know what that means to my heart. The first study of yours I ever completed was Daniel, and I never looked back. I thank God that He gives you the words to write and I pray for you often, that He will continue to guide you in this journey.
Beth, I love Bible studies. I have been fortunate enough to be in a few that radically transformed me and my walk with the Lord and my walk with the people around me. It is still so fascinating to me when God allows me to really “get it” and my life is impacted over and over again. Mind blowing! I have to say thank you at this point because some of the Bible studies on my change your life forever list were written by some crazy blonde lady whose love for Jesus and the Word is infectious. Baby, you’re the best! Love you.
James was my first and I will always be grateful to you Beth. The Holy Spirit truly jumped inside me and the ladies at my table saw it. James was always a Christian Jew. I so needed that because I was raised Catholic. And in some ways I’ll always be a Cathoic Christian. Thank you Beth… So blessed to have found you and Lifeway. The resources, encouragement and truth you make readily available is so appreciated by this lady.
Dear Beth
Can I just say your love for God and His precious word made me want what you had with Him. My first study was Believing God and I wore that blue yarn bracelet for months and I wanted more and more of God. My sweet bible study gals and I are getting ready to dig into another study of yours Jesus the one and only. We can’t wait to see what God has got in store for us. I get so tickled when it is time for me and God to visit every day so I just want to thank you for opening my world and helping me see that God will feed my hunger for Him through his precious words to me.
You made my day! I’ve done probably 8 or 9 of your studies. I’ve loved each one and hold them dear to my heart. I have been to several live events but today was the first time I tweeted Beth Moore! Super fun and made me smile!! Thank you for what you do! It is for sure that my life has been altered for the better having studied The Word of God with you over the years.
Love you too, Beth! Your Patriarchs bible study was my first ever. That was 8 years ago, and I have been in love and thrilled by God’s word ever since. Your studies have directed not only me toward a relationship with Jesus, but also my 3 children, praise God. I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
For some reason, these blog posts always get to my email inbox around bedtime. I’m a single mom right now and this time of day can be so sweet bc the kids are in bed, but also a lonely time. I love checking my email and seeing that there is a new post up. I cry every time I read one whether it’s funny or serious. I was raised in the scriptures and thought I knew it all and had become bored with the Bible to be honest. But 3 yrs ago when my world crumbled and I found myself face down on the floor crying out to him, He showed first of all, that I didn’t know a thing and also that the Bible could be fresh and new to me. I’ve done a some of your Bible studies and Priscilla Shrier’s. Whew, what a blessing yall have been to me. His word came alive to me in my own studying and what a blessing it is when a familiar passage becomes new. I had a verse just the other day that I had memorized and heard countless times, but it was like I was just actually getting what He was really saying. It was so fun.
I don’t interact with everyone as much as I would like, but I sure love y’all and enjoy being a part of it all. This will be my second time doing the SSMT and it is such a blast. Thanks for everything. Xoxox
Mindy, your comment touched my heart deeply. You be encouraged, young lady. Your Savior sees you, empowers you, parents with you, and is present not only within you through His Holy Spirit but also right at your side. He loves you so much. You are called and chosen.
A stud x’s 10! 😉 Thank you very much!
My very first in-depth study was Kay Arthur’s “Philippians”. Our sweet leader was so challenged with us whining newby’s, but oh did it take hold of us. That was back in maybe 1982 or so (I think I was pregnant with my 4th child). I’ve never stopped since then. Those indepth studies changed my life and I can’t live without studying God’s word. This semester I’m leading a group of 19 in Margaret Feinburg’s “Fight Back with Joy.” Two of my daughters are joining us (my heart is leaping). Since I’m the leader I’ve gotten a sneak peek. I can’t wait and am already fighting back with joy (that’s the Joy of the Lord) need I say. My mission since that 1st study is to tell women how life-changing studying God’s word is. I’ve done so many of your studies sweet Beth. I can’t imagine where I’d be today without the Word ingrained in me. I lost my son to an accident in 1990 and having God’s word as a solid foundation, I lived through that and knew God would heal my broken heart. I kept going back to the sovereignty of God that I learned about from Kay Arthur. Your post struck a cord in my heart.
“whining newbys” made me so happy. Keep serving, mighty woman of God! I’m hearing such fabulous things about Margaret’s book. I have a copy but I have not yet had a chance to read it. Soon!
You are going to love doing Margaret’s “Fight Back With Joy”! I just finished reading the book. I gave it 5*s on Amazon. It’s great that you have so many joining you in the study, and especially your 2 daughters. God is truly blessing you!
I feel so thankful that I have had the honor to have said so many of those things! I thrup too!!
Beth,
I would be honored if you watched my story. I hit rock bottom. My divorce sent me into a tailspin down. My first bible study was Breaking Free. It changed everything.
http://www.vimeo.com/97046153
Thank you. I have learned so much and had that fire lit under your bible studies. I agree there is nothing more satisfying than jumping into a brand new study. Or being with a group of women studying the bible. Just plain fun with such dear benefits from our Lord.
May God continue to bless you and all the other wonderful teachers out there. Hope Keith is on the mend. Siestaville has been praying. Thank you again for you and your ministry. God bless.
Thank you. Your passion and life supports your words. Thank you. Your encouragement is refreshing and helpful to me. Thank you.
I have done so many Bible Studies, stacks of them literally. Discovering the lifeline and treasure of THE WORD and that it truly is alive and active and applies to my life daily has been the most exceptional help and indescribable gift of my life. I want this for everyone. Breaking Free, Believing God, James, Children of the Day, JESUS the One and Only, A Woman’s Heart God’s Dwelling Place, Nehemiah and The Covenant are my favorites. Yet for all the riches, and they are enormous, for me the studying can be hard. Like getting into a cold pool on an early morning when I was a swimmer in training, it can be a challenge to enter that pool but once I warm up I am always glad I took the plunge. I cannot go by my feelings on it and have to be aware of this. It is often a tenacious determination that gets me into study. Plus I know the results will be worth it. The connection and communion… is worth the efforts and challenges. I do seek JESUS. He is gracious to be so available. Even though sometimes this too is by faith not feelings. He knows I come to hear from Him and also for relief. Sometimes sadly I want relief too much. I have stayed faithfully in His Word daily and even though I seem to lack great joy in it at times, I am thankful God has graced me to be consistently teachable and present to be so. I know I would be dead without His Word and the Hope and Help He provides. He is my life and pressing into Him is my lifestyle.
Thank you for your enthusiasm and encouragement. I want and pray for more desire and delight in the pursuit of His Word like you and others have. It is a joy to hear of this. Your ministry has kept me encouraged and extended the right arm of fellowship for me that I have needed. Thank you.
I am praying for you and your husband. I pray The Lord heals, restores and strengthens you both. Thank you for being committed TO LOVE and forgiving (living the Gospel)! Yes God is worthy! For the places nobody sees but Him …in those places being faithful, definitely please THE LORD. Thank you for doing all you do that nobody but Him sees. GOD IS WITH YOU AND HIS FAVOR RESTS ON YOU! Thankful for you and your examples of living proof that HE IS WORTHY!
Good morning Beth! I write from the other side of the Atlantic and have to share with you that there is a Beth Moore Bible Study revolution going on in my church and I’m pleased to say that I started the fire! From a newly saved babe in Christ, whom I had the pleasure of leading to Jesus, to one of my elder’s wives. God is using your studies to deepen our love for Him and a passion for His Word in many, many lives in my church. One lady will have a ‘go’ and do one study, is so overwhelmed with the joy of in – depth Bible study, she buys 3 or 4 copies to give to her closest friends, and on and on. Folks have been joking with me that I must be getting a commission from Living Proof for promoting your studies. 😉 I personally have done about 8 or 9 and I’m just now doing Breaking Free for the second time, having done it many years ago with many more in between. My husband is also doing Breaking Free! And my best friend’s hubby is too after she was raving about it so much! One friend said sincerely recently,’I sure hope and pray Beth Moore lives to a ripe old age, We need her to write many more Bible studies!’ Indeed we are praying for long life and exuberant health for you! So dear sister, you have many British sisters who are so grateful to the Lord for you. Thank Keith for us too for releasing you into this God – ordained ministry. Praying just now that he is fully healed from his infection. Onwards and upwards with the fishing!
Regina, this has thrilled me to no end! I am so proud of you. Look what Jesus is using you to do! You tell those beautiful British sisters that I am so happy to have served them in any way and I so appreciate them having a go at it. May Christ continue to astound all of you with His gracious presence and power.
We’ll be looking out for your next visit to the UK! Wherever you speak in the British Isles I’ll bring a group of hungry ladies! Blessings!
Also wanted to thank you for the way the LORD has your ministry EQUIPPING THE SAINTS with HIS WORD! Receiving His Word brings forth Abundant life and victory! How the Body needs this essential for life! EPH. 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[a] and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
THE LORD is doing this through HIS WORD and the ministry of CHRIST you all bring forth. Teaching us to LOVE THE LORD with all we are…Great gifts! Thank you again!
Amen!!! Thank you, Beth, for all you have done to encourage us to dig into and immerse ourselves in God’s Word. There is nothing like it. Glory. And amen once again.
Reading this is such an encouragement, I heard Christine Caine say she had done all your studies so I decided to make a start at 50! Last year you gave us some ebooks for free, thank you, I looked at the list and asked Him to guide me in the order. I decided Believing God was the beginning and it changed my life, literally. After I finished my approach to His Word has been quite different, not least in that I have been checking myself to actually believe what I read. When I start I had suffered with depression on and off for 30 or so years. I finished the study and was at a conference where the speaker said he believed God wanted to heal people from depression, once and for all. He asked us to stand if we had anyone in our life who was suffering, I stood, mainly because of my dad and my daughter but I knew God was challenging me, could I believe He could do it for me too? Once and for all??? I stood and accepted it and echoed the father of the demon possessed boy, I believe, help me in my unbelief. I left it in His hands. When I returned home I then began Breaking Free and was so aware of the chains falling. What I also found liberating was the memory verses. I saw fragments of my life being pieced together by God as I read and learned them.
As the year drew to a close I was given the opportunity to be baptised after 33 years a Christian I wondered if it was still worth it, then I realised what God had done, the depression? GONE, ONCE AND FOR ALL!!! I am overwhelmed with gratitude, to no ?longer have that stalking me is so amazing, there are no words to describe it, just, there’s light. Beautiful, clear, shining light. As I start this year I have started the Siesta memory verses and I am following a plan to read the bible in a year. Many times attempted but this year I am free. I have realised just how important His Word is and I will not let go.
Thank you Beth for your willingness to share. I am going to Colour Conference in London in the Spring and I am really excited to hear you speak, bringing my mum too who will be 78 by then 🙂
Love to you from a grateful sister
Darrel xx
I cannot truly say that I’ve ever done a personal, in depth Bible study. I’ve just recently begun looking into that.
Even right now as I moderate your comment, the blood is flowing faster through my veins. You have such an adventure ahead, Ganise!!! Pray and I will pray with you that God leads you to exactly the one you need. Get into an in-depth Bible study and ask God to grant you supernatural understanding and affection for His Word and His heart through the power of His Holy Spirit. So glad you’re in this community.
Beth, this is exactly how I feel and what I know about studying the Word of God!! From my first study (Lord, Heal My Hurts by Kay Arthur) through every single one of your studies (God used Breaking Free to change my life in a miraculous way!) and now BSF. I just cannot get enough of the scriptures. You have challenged me to think about God in ways I never dreamed were possible! Thank you for “turning on” that Light for me so long ago and helping me to learn how to quench the thirst to know Him more day by day. I have always told people that for me, doing one of your Bible studies is like sitting down in a cozy room that has a fire in the fireplace with your favorite drink and seeing your sister who seems to know everything about you sitting across from you…then talking for hours about Who God is and why we love Him so and why He has made such a profound difference in our lives. The two words “Thank you!” just don’t seem to capture my heartfelt gratitude to so many people who have written such wonderful Bible studies! My cup runneth over!!!
Beth, You lov to write the Bible Studies, I Lov to gather the women together to Study your Bible Studies. We live on a tiny Barrier Island off the coast of SC called Edisto. All the women of different churches do everything together. This winter we are doing Children of the Day. We usually hav about 20 women…but this session we have 39 women! We are on our 4th week and they lov it & we are so thrilled to have this opportunity to study and worship together. Thank you for your lov & passion for Jesus! We are being changed to reflect Jesus’light! Hugs & kisses from all of us on Edisto!
Thank you, Beth, for giving us so many awesome studies and introducing us to different authors as well. Can’t hardly wait to see what this year’s Siesta Sister Summer Study will be. At the moment, I have no small group to study with, so online studies are much appreciated.
The Word of God is my lifeline, my passion and my calling. It has pulled me out of so many pits of fear, depression and anxiety. 10 years ago I had a serious emotional breakdown, and it was only studying the Bible, specifically studying the Names of God, that brought me through that 2 year-long season of utter darkness. I would sit at my table and look up the Hebrew names of God, find the word in my concordance and sob as I wrote prayers to every Name I discovered. Those journal pages are smudged and wrinkled from my tears and they are precious to me.
My first Bible study was 18 years ago, doing the Masterlife series with a small group. A few years later I started teaching a ladies class and now teach 3 classes a week and am a seminary student (at 54!) pursing a degree in Biblical Studies and writing.
Not only did the Scriptures change my life, they literally saved my life too!
You GO GIRL !! Your testimony is inspirational to me. I am so proud of you and what you are accomplishing. My baby sister has battled depression/bipolar disease for too many years. I would love to see God give her the strength and perserverence and desire to seek Him first instead of focusing on herself. I know she longs to feel better and I know God is working this for good. May God’s GRACE continue to light your path. Your story is wonderful. Your sister in Christ
Such a special time of the day to curl up and listen to what He has to say. Thank you Beth, for your commitment to share his truth and the joy that comes with it!
How timely! I’m leading my first Bible study this morning. A 22 week study of Acts. I’m excited and scared and praying that I can be effective, especially with some ladies who are new to our faith. I was raised in the church and am stunned at all I don’t know about the Bible; it’s so humbling. Also very humbling to be entrusted by God with these precious women. Thank you for your encouragement!
Bible Study saved my life. That’s the truth! I know you hear that all the time and its always the truth. I guess because the Word is the Truth. The first in depth for real, for real bible study I done was Gideon with you and Priscilla. I have been hooked ever since. I just finished Children of the Day and fixing to start a new one. Esther was my favorite but COTD is now. I cried and cried when I finished that one. I love you Beth Moore, you will never know what kind of impact you have had on my life and the lives of other women. Be Blessed faithful woman of God. Press on! Have a wonderful weekend!
Breaking Free was my very first Bible study ever, and I have since done several of your studies, Beth. Breaking Free is what brought me back to God, out of a deep 2 year depression over the loss of my father, and the beginning of the courage to walk away from an abusive relationship. Thank you so much for using the gifts God gave you to share his ministry. God bless you!
Hi Beth! I loved this post…it brought back a flood of wonderful memories!! The first best thing that ever happened to me was the introduction to in depth Bible Study through Breaking Free!! It set off a hunger for His Word like none other!! I started a Pinterest board the other day called “Bible Studies I have Done” because now it is so many that I didn’t want to forget a single one!! **BUT** The second best thing to ever happen to me is a new thing that happened recently….the Remember Me App!! Oh – My – Goodness!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this app!! BECAUSE I LOVE LOVE LOVE God’s Word!! I struggled with Scripture memorization before and honestly never finished a years worth of Scripture memorization with the SSMT. This was baffling to me because I thought I LOVE doing Bible study why shouldn’t I love memorizing His Word? I brushed it off, and put another notch in the good intentions belt of unfinished goals in my life.:( BUT… let me tell you about the Remember Me App because that was the point of this post!! BEST APP EVER INVENTED….EVER!! I posted about this before, but it was in the wrong place and no one ever got to see it…so I hope the word will spread with this post!! You have three pages to work with in the app “New”, “Due”, “Known”. The “New” page is where you add your verses and you can edit, share,listen, and choose what version you want to work with. You can also practice them in various ways on this page. Actually the practice feature is on any page after you’ve added your verse. So on to the “Due” page this is where you do the work of memorizing the verses with the practice tools on the app. Your can use the “Cloud” which will blank out words in the verse and then you practice by filling them back in. Also, you have the “Puzzle” practice tool where you choose the next word of the verse at the bottom from a list of words until you have filled in the whole verse. Next you have what I call “First Letter” practice tool. When you click on this one it gives you the first letter of each word of the verse and reference and you can click “next word” or “next line” to be filled in while you practice. Next is the practice tool I call “Typing” when you click on this it gives you a clean slate and you have to begin typing the verse with the key pad, but you only have to type the first letter of each word and the app fills it in for you! BUT, even with all of those fun features, those are not my favorite parts of the app…the FLASH CARDS work the BEST for me!! You have the Flash Cards options in both “Due” and “Known” pages. The first flash card is my MOST FAVORITE… and it is where you are given a random reference to one of the verses you put in and you have to push a microphone button at the bottom and record yourself saying the verse from memory and then when done you tap the screen and the flash card flips over and you hear yourself while you read the actual verse on the screen to check how you did!!! If you got it right you swipe the verse up and move on to the next random verse. If you got it wrong you swipe the verse down and move on to the next verse and the verse you got wrong will be given to you again at the end to try again. The app will also put it back on the “Due” page for you to practice it again tomorrow!! This is how I use the app the most at home. In public I use the other flash cards where the app gives you the words of the verse and you have to guess the reference location (no voice record) and then you tap the screen for the card to flip over to see if you were right with the same swipe process if you were right or wrong!!!!! I wish I could give you a screen shot of my app right now!!!! I have 6 on the new page, and 14 on the due page, and 56 🙂 on the Known page!!!!! I am using it to help me complete my first full year of SSMT Scripture Memorizing and I have no doubt I will make it to the end this year!!!! I am one happy Siesta!!! Thanks for reading…check it out, you will be glad you did!! It is available for both Android and Iphones!!
My “Sisters in Chirst” Bible Study group just finished
Children of the Day…. I want to send you a picture of our hands..
but I don’t know where to post it…?
For not all has faith Beth, but our Lord is so faithful !!!!
Wow! What a true message! I can not explain what doing various bible studies has done for me! Everyone of them! We recently did your “A Woman’s Heart-The Tabernacle” and it opened my eyes to the true signifigance of the Tabernacle andthe many coorelations between the Old and New Testaments!! It left me awestruck! Love you Beth! Thank you for all your teaching, your spirit and true love for Jesus!
It’s funny that you wrote this specifically today. I’m finishing up 90 days with a Heart Like His and one of the final questions is about the legacy I want to leave. That is something I work on daily! I have broken through the wretched generational sin. I am the only member down both sides of my family that got in church and stayed there. My kids know their Bibles better than many adults!!
My older 2 are saved and baptized and my youngest (he’s 5) prays for everyone. I’ve never heard a child pray like he does…it’s precious and so honest. I don’t know why God rescued me out of my family mess…its hard at times being the only. I’m grateful God continues to call me. He has developed a hunger in me and I’m studying whatever I can get my hands on
ps…im getting a group together for the Children of the Day.
Here is what I’ll never get over…when I read one of your blog posts how I can hear your sweet voice in every word…especially when you get to the salutation…”good grief, I love y’all so much. Stay in the Scriptures” – brings the biggest smile to my face. We love YOU so much, too! Thanks for loving God, loving His Word and being such an encouragement for each of us!
My ladies’ group is in week 2 of Living Beyond Yourself, and I’m just finishing Breath–The life of God in Us. First of all let me say that I LOVE the way precious Melissa provided such deep stuff between the videos of Breath! It was like a double bonus!
But to study the Holy Spirit from two eras of LPM is a confirmation in my soul! Living Beyond Yourself is so basic and foundational, and Breath is like the enrichment class!
Thank you for teaching me to love and seek this third part of the Trinity, and showing me how important He is in my daily life and in the big picture.
I love reading your musings, they are so full of joy and wonder and they keep my heart in pace with the heartbeat of God. You, Beth Moore, are such a gift to us and I just love studying my Bible with you! My first study was “A Woman’s Heart” and it so blessed me, in that, I was excited to get into the Word and stay there for sooo many years, it changed my life forever! My relationship with my Savior is the ONE THING that I reeped from your love of God. Thank you for being you 🙂
Beth, your words are such a gift from The Lord! Even your Blog is so inspiring!
I’ve completed a number of your studies and am always so wonderfully Blessed with miracles and the Holy Spirit speaking along the way. We are all praying that The Lord continues to put new words on your heart to continue writing, sharing with us, and inspiring so many.
God Bless, DeLene
Oh Beth!!!! There’s this journey I’ve been on with you & Priscilla Shirer. I love you ladies to pieces. My church is doing a 21 Day Prayer and Fast, the theme is Free Indeed! So, yeah, I’m reading Breaking Free Day by Day and Breaking Free, the trade book. My pastor’s wife led, Living Beyond Yourself in our last session of small groups, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it~as always!!!
You’re awesome!!
My first taste of bible study was “Stepping UP”. The church I was attending at the time did this study when it first came out and I was hooked! I fell in love with the word during that study and praise be to God the thirstfor it has never been quenched. I finished up Children of the Day a few months ago. Now I am working in Kelly Minter’s new study What Love Is! My world has been rocked by this study! Each day brings me to tears one minute and laughter the next!