Courageous Life! Hebrews 13:6
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COURAGEOUS LIFE! HEBREWS 13:6 November 1, 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 8 13 Courageous Life Bible Study Where to Send Offering Caribbean Baptist Women’s Union 4 9. 14 Prayer for Courage Asia Baptist Women’s Union European Baptist Women United 5 10 15 Stories of Courageous Women Baptist Women of North America Baptist Women’s Union of Latin America 11 6 Day of Prayer Projects Baptist Women of the Pacific 16 Global BWA Women and Baptist 7 12 World Alliance Creative Ideas Baptist Women’s Union of Africa Life can be challenging for women on many fronts. love God deeply and are living out who God has designed Baptist World Alliance Women began 70 years ago to them to be from the beginning of creation. As women thrive, connect Baptist women around the world in order to bring everyone benefits. encouragement and strength by standing together. BWA Women offers a supportive community of women in 156 Thank you for being part of this special day of standing in countries who are building into lives through connections solidarity with your sisters all across the globe. Sisters are and resourcing so they can become courageous women who praying for each other in over 80 languages! There is no “best way” of observing your Day of See bwawd.org/day-of-prayer-this-year to find more → Prayer. Whichever way you choose, the focus should resources: promotional poster, planning guide, be on praying and giving. Together we are bringing creative ideas for your Day of Prayer experience, the issues and concerns of your sisters around the video greetings from leaders, extra Bible studies, world before a God who can bring hope and healing more stories of courageous women, LIFE theme to all people. Your event can be held for an hour song (lyrics, song sheet and video), photos for use or two, for a full day or a weekend. It can be held with power point, history of Day of Prayer and other in a church, home, coffee shop, or even by video- resources. conference as we found out in 2020! There are a variety of materials to choose from in this guide as This program holds no copyright and is meant to be well as online. Use what you feel would be best suited copied as needed. for the women in your context. LIFE! Solidarity jewelry If you give a personal donation of $35 USD or more, that isn’t specified as Day of Prayer offering, you will receive a beautiful commemorative LIFE pendant, pin, keychain or fridge magnet as a reminder to continue to pray for your global sisters all throughout the year. Wearing this jewelry is a way we can be reminded that we are standing together as we each live out a courageous life of loving God deeply and living out all He has called us to. Find the jewelry on the website at https:// www.bwawd.org/donation-gifts Baptist World Alliance Women See bwawd.org/DOP-Extras for promotional poster, planning guide, photos for use with power 405 N. Washington Street point, the LIFE theme song sound track, history of Day of Prayer, videos and other resources. Falls Church, VA 22046 Tel: +1 (703) 790-8980, Ext. 16 For a deeper understanding of the global reach of Day of Prayer, be sure to check out facebook.com/ [email protected] BWAWomenDepartment/ especially on and following the Day of Prayer. There you will see photos www.bwawd.org of some of the thousands of our global sisters who participate in this experience along with you. 2 2 COURAGEOUS LIFE A BIBLE STUDY BY KAREN WILSON “So, we say with confidence, ‘The Lord times. He had received forty confidently put his trust in the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What lashes 5 times and been beaten was because time and time again can mere mortals do to me?’” with rods 3 times. He had been God’s words resounded in his heart: Hebrews 13:6 attacked with stones and had “I will never fail you. I will never been shipwrecked three times. abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5) He had been in danger from These words are bold and daring. bandits, from natural elements, One of the times when he found They declare a courage that comes and from Jews and Gentiles alike. himself in prison, just after the birth only because the Lord is by our side. He had found himself in danger of the church at Philippi, Paul wrote Courage is not the absence of fear, but in the city, in the country, and at these words: the ability to push through fear. sea. He had often gone without sleep, without food, without “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will The Apostle Paul, when writing these water, and been cold and naked. say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your words, had every reason to be fearful. gentleness be evident to all. The Mere mortals had done him a lot of Paul understood a challenging life! Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious harm. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 we However, even after all this, he found about anything, but in every read a list of things he suffered: the courage to press on. How is that situation, by prayer and petition, possible? with thanksgiving, present your Paul had been in prison, flogged, requests to God. 7 And the peace and exposed to death many I believe the reason Paul could so of God, which transcends all 3 understanding, will guard your of the worst brothels in India and the storm, but sometimes God lets the hearts and your minds in Christ wondering if in such a dark place His storm rage and calms His child. We are Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7) love could be present. As I spoke with exhorted in the Proverbs, “Above all women standing in line waiting for else, guard your heart, for everything Within these verses are four keys to customers, as I shared my heart and you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23) courageous living: held their hands and shared their chai Let His peace rest upon you; let His tea…I realized God was indeed there. peace settle in your heart; breathe 1. Remember to rejoice deeply of His peace that is beyond Praise the Lord despite the 3. Remember to give thanks all understanding (Philippians 4:7) circumstances. A small candle can When we pray, we should begin with and face challenges with a posture of throw great light and a small word of thanks. He is the giver of every good courage. praise can shift a heavy heart. Praise gift (James 1:17) and he loves to bless Him for his comfort, for His presence, His children (Matthew 7:11). Thank Conclusion for His leading, for His strength. Praise Him for all things. Thank Him for Courageous living will require us to be Him for His holiness, His mercy, your health, for His provision, for strong in the Lord and in His mighty His love, and His grace. Praise God salvation, for a meal on the table…the power (Ephesians 6:10); to stand firm continually for who He is – not for list is endless. Join with the Psalmist (Ephesians 6:11); to dress well for the what He can do, but for who He came when he says, “I will praise the LORD battles we will face (Ephesians 6:13- to be to each one of us. at all times. I will constantly speak his 17); to be prayerful and faith-filled praises. I will boast only in the LORD; (Ephesians 6:18) and to fearlessly 2. Remember He is with you let all who are helpless take heart.” make known the mystery of the gospel We are never alone. We can go to the (Psalm 34:1-2) With praise on our lips, to a world in great need (Ephesians darkest places on Earth – God is there. our heart grows in courage. 6:19). We can go to the highest mountains – God is there. We can walk the 4. Remember peace is what guards It will require us to say with those who deepest valleys – God is there. There your heart have gone before, “The Lord is my is nowhere the Spirit of the living God If we live this way, His peace reigns. helper; I will not be afraid.” cannot reach us or cannot go with us. Though the world may fall and He is there and He promises never to troubles may come, (John 16:33) For other Bible Studies on the leave us or forsake us (Matthew 28:20). our peace is not determined by our theme from other continents, I remember walking through some circumstances. Sometimes God calms see bwawd.org/LIFE-Bible-studies PRAYER FOR COURAGE Dear God, give me courage. within me Give me courage to speak out, say I’m not enough To stand up for the right or it can’t be done To stand with those who are vulnerable by me. To stand up for those who need my encouragement I need your courage to change and to grow. Even as I need theirs. I need your courage to thrive Make me a courageous woman who is empowered by Because it is only in thriving that the world will your Spirit see YOU. Your love, your grace, your strength, your To do what you would have me to do power, your glory. To be who you made me to be.