True beauty comes from the inside. It comes from the heart. This is an everlasting beauty which is most precious to God. It’s a beauty that is gentle and of a quiet spirit. In God’s sight this is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it.                                                                         1 Peter 3: 3-4

 

God is most concerned with what 1 Peter refers to as the ‘hidden person of the heart’. Our heavenly Father understands that out of our hearts, our inner-being, flow the issues of life. He has a way of equipping our hearts for each season of our lives. There are three specific God-given elements to the heart of a woman of excellence: prayer, grace, and forgiveness.

Scripture Memorization

“A sound heart is life to the body” Proverbs 14:30 NKJV

This past winter I read RC Sproul’s book, “The Holiness of God” in his writings he reminds his readers that…The task that is given to us, mankind, is to bear witness to the holiness of God–to be His image bearer. We are made to mirror and reflect the holiness of God. We are made to be His ambassadors.

In this pursuit of excellence we embark upon, Matthew 7:14 tells that the gate is narrow, the path is difficult and only few ever find it.  So this speaks to us, that living God’s way and being His reflection is not easy, especially when life experiences brings constant hurt, emotional turmoil and disappointments. So we must draw from the elements of the heart of prayer, fasting, worship,unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness. To be motivated to do this, you have to be passionate about your faith and intentional about living God’s way. In 1 John 5:3 says living God’s way and keeping His commandments are not troublesome to those who truly adore and love Him.
Living out our faith in love and commitment is seen in the way we conduct ourselves; in our family relationship, our work relationships and our community relationships.

 

The Study

Complete pages 51-52 in  Excellence with Simple Elegance: The Study workbook. 

Both books can be purchased easily by copying &  pasting this website to your browser. Purchase The Study (workbook) for $8.99 and Excellence with Simple Elegance will be Free. 

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Even with our incredible drive, our energy and among our successes we get off track  experiencing exhaustion, discontentment, unfulfillment, maybe even depression and discouragement. I know this has happened to me. Just the other day I must have experienced every emotion that a person can experience.  Instead of laying my concerns at the feet of Jesus, I did the opposite I held on to every obstacle and every worry.  Thinking I could control others and the situation I was facing, my misguided path only successfully put me on a emotional roller coaster ride.

Distracted and Riding a emotional roller coaster?

 In this lesson you have the opportunity to write one of your stories where you were distracted, maybe treated unfairly and hurt. As you write this story. Take time to reread the words you have commited to paper. As you read , you will gain clarity of your struggle then pray for God’s healing. Give it to Jesus.  Lay it down daily. Allow God’s divine strength  move you pass the brokenness. Once again experience emotional health knowing confidently that God has it in His hands.

Between our work lives and our home lives, we all have moments that are chaotic, crazy, stressful, unpredictable and uncomfortable. This is reality. This is life. Life happens and it throws us off track. In all this chaos, there is one thing that I know is true: Women, we desperately need God and His healing touch. There is only One who can steady your heart.  Take time to Worship, Read God’s Word, Pray, Seek His Grace and His Forgiveness. And when you have experienced God’s love, grace and forgiveness; then in His strength you will freely extend love, grace, and forgiveness to others.

“Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity, charity and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.”
―    Mother Teresa,    In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers  

  Promise

“a glad heart has a special supper all the time”

  Blessing

   “May He give you the desire of your heart”