Daily Treasure

“Then the people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab and camped east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho. Balak son of Zippor, the Moabite king, knew what the Israelites had done to the Amorites. And when they saw how many Israelites there were, he and his people were terrified” (Numbers 22:1-3 NLT).

I’m going to let you in on a little secret.

One that will quite possibly change your world, the worlds of those on whom you have influence and quite possibly the lives of those yet to come.

One that the enemy knows and is more than willing for it to be kept under wraps, ignored or written off as historical data and not 21st century power.

The secret is…

Satan is afraid one day the children of God will come to the realization of who they are, and they’ll take back all the enemy has stolen from them.

Satan is scared to death that every born-again Christian will act on their beliefs.

Satan shivers at the very idea of the army of the Lord will begin marching and won’t stop until the world is reached and lives are touched.

Satan dreads the day the Church begins to live out their commission.

Satan is well aware of this little secret and would just as soon it stayed sealed away, boxed-up and hidden away from those for whom it is promised.

Let me ask you—Is his secret safe with you?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that Satan’s schemes and secrets might be revealed through the preaching of the Word in churches today.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10).

Some dread tax day in April.  Folks in retail dread Black Friday. Customer service employees nationwide dread working their counters the day after Christmas.

Me?  I dread the day each year when I’m expected to read about her—the Proverbs 31 woman.  Ugggh.

Today I’ve decided to focus less on the Super Woman of the Bible and more on King Lemuel’s mother who wanted to provide her son with the most detailed list possible of qualities to look for in a future mate.

I’m no Bible scholar, but I’m just guessing she wasn’t anyone different than you or I.  She wanted the best for her child.  She wanted to give advice that would make her son’s life easier, happier and less stressed.  She wanted to make sure her son repeated no mistakes she or her friends had made.

Down deep, I’m pretty sure of this: She wanted more for her son than she found in herself.  Someone better, smarter, more productive, more business savvy, more generous, more frugal, more supportive, more—well, just more, than what she was.

Hence, the Proverbs 31 gal.

To King Lemuel’s mother, I can relate.  I set much higher aspirations for my son’s future mate than a replica of me.  I desire he marry and spend the rest of his life with someone more lovely, inside and out, than his father’s pick of a wife.

Nope, I’ll never be the Proverbs 31 woman, but I can pray my daughter-in-law will.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Illinois and South Carolina women meeting together in state retreats today.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Today’s verse, as familiar as it may be, is possibly one of the most misquoted and misunderstood Scriptures.  I know from personal experience. The “good” in our verse is actually “that which conforms us to the likeness of His Son.” (The NIV Study Bible)  Until Christ’s return, everything we face in this life is “working together for our good.”  Sure, we’re going to encounter disappointments and heartaches. We’re going to have days when pride creeps into our lives, and He must step in to help us get rid of it.  Consider it all as part of that “conforming” process.

Annie Johnson Flint wrote a beautiful poem entitled “God Hath Not Promised.” I would challenge you to read it. Within it you will find so many ways God has blessed us. In spite of all these blessings, we can still find ourselves caught up in a pride problem. Even though we  aware of its origin, we can find ourselves either arrogant or feeling worthless.

God’s hand in our lives will always be a humbling one. He will help us realize as His children, it will never be all about us. It’s time to drop all those wrappings. Let’s end this month’s study with a prayer from Psalm 139:23-24. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for WNAC President Diana Bryant as she speaks tonight and tomorrow at the Illinois WAC Retreat.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s”  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

When you find yourself faced with circumstances that would make you give in to feelings of self-pity and low self-esteem, remember you are “not your own.”  As a child of God, you belong to Him.  He paid a great price for that adoption. He loved you and sent His only Son to die so you could have eternal life.  That should thrill you every time you think about it.

Unfortunately, we often forget. We need today’s verses to remind us how precious we are to God. We are the temple where God’s Spirit dwells. Remove anything connected with pride, so He will have plenty of room.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for speakers and attendees at the D6 Conference today and tomorrow and for WNAC Executive Director Elizabeth Hodges, as she meets and interacts with women there.

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?…Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:13-14).

Today’s verses are just a few that share who we are in Christ Jesus. Our writer calls this “Christ-esteem.” When we let go of our wrappings, we are transformed from a lifestyle of feeling totally worthless to one of “self-worth” rooted in Christ.”

We can be the salt that doesn’t lose its savor. We can be a light that can shine brightly in a sin-darkened world.

Get over yourself. Stop feeling so defeated. You are valuable to God.  Claim Philippians 4:13, and be all He knows you can be.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that women’s Bible study groups meeting throughout your local area would provide spiritual nourishment and encouragement for believers, helping women be salt and light in your community.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Our study writer, Jan Clay,  shares:  “Low self-esteem, in some cases, can also be a form of pride. When we live consumed with a sense of failure or unfairness about who we are, how we look, our lack of abilities or our lot in life, we are essentially saying we know what we need better than God.”

Why would we choose to wallow in that lifestyle when we can be made new in Christ?          We are God’s masterpiece, His workmanship. His artistry is not limited to only physical aspects.

When we are made a new creature, in Him, we are “created unto good works.”  How much can we accomplish for His glory if we are hindered by self-pity and low self-esteem?  The answer is simple. Instead of our lives being all about us, they must be all about Him. When you have a Christ-centered life, you will always be a winner. That’s how He appointed it to be.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Canada missionaries Jeff and Donna Crabtree (New Brunswick) and Danny and Dawn Elliott, (Quebec).

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it. Why hast thou made me thus?” (Romans 9:20).

This last week of our September Treasure study deals with the word, “esteem.”  After reading the writer’s comments and reading the Scriptures, I now can look at low self-esteem and self-pity from a different perspective. I hadn’t thought of them as connected with pride. However, I could see them tied in with those wrapped up in themselves.  Yes, just in writing this last statement, it’s dawned on me: that’s why they are associated with pride. Let’s see what we can glean as learn and study together this week.

We are often critical of ourselves, especially when we look in a full-length mirror. We wonder why God made us the way He did.  However, we shouldn’t criticize Him for doing so.

I’ve always thought of myself as kind of ordinary. However, someone wise once told me, “You are God’s original. He fashioned you to look just the way you are.”

A few enhancements with hair and makeup do no harm. However, some people feel so down on themselves about their looks that they go to extremes. Don’t sit and brood, wondering what went wrong when God created you. Think about today’s verse and remember: in spite of any flaws you think you may have, God thinks you’re beautiful just the way you are. After all, you are His creation.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Verlin and Debbie Anderson as they face multiple challenges for ministry in Cote d’Ivoire.