The introduction video in each Study link were made for Proverbs21 Ministries online Bible Study, but it has some good thoughts. You can watch them if you want to.

Click here for a free PDF of the first three chapters of the book:

Read Uninvited, Lysa TerKeurst – Chapters 1-3

Following notes are taken from https://uninvitedstudy.wordpress.com/2017/05/21/first-blog-post/

In Case You Missed It:

“Living loved” is the foundation of the Christian faith. Until we understand how truly loved we ARE, right in this very moment, we will never be able to receive all that God has in store for us to the fullest capacity. When we are living tethered and bound by the wounds of past rejections and current negative opinions, we are allowing ourselves to be continuously disappointed and driven by fickle feelings. Rejection steals the best of who I am by reinforcing the worst of what’s been said to me. We can’t expect stability from a broken identity. We must be honest with ourselves and with God and allow Him to come in and shed light into the dark and broken places. We can’t expect imperfect people to fill the deepest yearnings, cravings, and desires of our heart. Only our Creator can do that perfectly. Things of this world will all eventually reveal what incapable anchors they really are.

If our foundation that we build our identity upon is based on the amount of friends we have, the number of Instagram likes, how our husband or children or peers or coworkers are treating us that day… that would be a pretty fragile, flimsy, and faulty foundation. The beliefs we hold should hold us up even when life feels like it’s falling apart. You are LOVED AND WANTED- and according to Colossians 3:12, YOU are “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.” We must align our truth with His truth. We must dig deeper in the Word, and build our lives upon His foundation- the only truth that is solid, unchanging, and stable through and through. Don’t hide the best of who you are behind a wall of insecurity! Therefore, I have to keep my mind focused on what the Holy Spirit whispers, not what my flesh screams. The mind feasts on what it focuses on. What consumes my thinking will be the making or breaking of my identity. God is good at being God. We may live in a sin-saturated world, and we may get our hearts broken from time to time from the result of that- but there is no situation or person too far gone who is out of reach from the gentle, restoring power of the hand of God. Living loved is sourced in the quiet daily surrender to the One who made you.

Matthew 5:1-16 says blessed are the underdogs, blessed are those who suffer for Me for My name’s sake, blessed are the kindred hearts, the poor in spirit, the peacemakers. As children of God, we are ALL blessed. ALL the time. We are blessed even when we don’t feel good. Negative feelings, absence of feelings, or adverse conditions cannot take away the blessedness of those who exist in relationship with God.

–Read Matthew 5:1-16 for yourself and ask yourself these questions… 

• Who does Jesus say are blessed? What surprises you about this list?
• Why might we call these people blessed, even though their circumstances might not be producing happy feelings?
• In what sense are you blessed right now?
• How would your daily life be different if you lived convinced, deep down, that you are blessed, that the kingdom of heaven belongs to you, that your hunger will be satisfied, that you are loved by the Maker of the universe?
• What does God’s word say about times when you feel left out, lonely, or less-than?
• Do you see yourself as the light of the world? Why or why not? How does your perception of yourself affect how you treat others?

-Read Matthew 6:26-27

• Write down what this passage says about God’s deep love for you.

–Read Matthew 7:9-12

• What do these verses say about God’s love for you?

All too often we allow our rejections to scream louder than the truth of God’s word. Read Zephaniah 3:17 out loud: “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

• What do you think it means to be quieted by God’s love?
• Have you rehearsed your hurts more than you’ve rejoiced in God’s love? How can Zephaniah 3:17 help you change that pattern?
• What is a daily way you can dwell in the deep assurance of His love so His voice is the loudest in your life?

We must invest our time in our Heavenly Father. He must be who we run to first when problems arise, when anxieties and worries seem too much to bear. We must let Him into our everyday lives- the messy, the imperfect, the hidden places, the everything. And watch and let God do what only He can do- bring Love and Light and Warmth into the most dismal, cold, barren areas of your heart. The Lord is not trying to trick you and He’s not trying to manipulate you into loving Him. It’s your choice. He longs for you to ask Him for help; He longs to give His children GOOD gifts. He will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly in Him (Psalm 84:11). Let Him love you- and mold you and shape you into everything you were created to be!

“You are the light of the world; a city on a hill cannot be hidden.” ~Matthew 5:14

The post Session 1: Living Loved first appeared on His Magnificent Love.]]> https://www.hismagnificentlove.com/2020/09/23/session-1-living-loved/feed/ 0 https://www.hismagnificentlove.com/2020/09/22/session-2-empty-or-full/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=session-2-empty-or-full https://www.hismagnificentlove.com/2020/09/22/session-2-empty-or-full/#respond Tue, 22 Sep 2020 23:35:51 +0000 http://www.hismagnificentlove.com/?p=637 Introduction to Session 2 Read Uninvited, Lysa TerKeurst – Chapters 4 & 5 Following notes are taken from https://uninvitedstudy.wordpress.com/2017/05/24/session-2-empty-or-full/ In Case You Missed It:  Verse Of The Week  – “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 Sit down with the Lord and Read More ...

Read Uninvited, Lysa TerKeurst – Chapters 6-8

Following notes are taken from https://uninvitedstudy.wordpress.com/2017/06/15/session-3-the-yoke-of-god-is-freedom/

In Case You Missed It: 

Verse Of The Week – “The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is my stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

Ask yourself:

• What insights did you discover in the personal study or in chapter 6-8 of the Uninvited book?
• How did the last session affect your daily life or your relationship with God?

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. We can remember that when we come into situations and handle the rejections we face in this world with the Spirit of the Lord that we will find freedom from the negative emotions that rejection causes.

This week, we talked about closed doors. Has there ever been a door that has been shut, to the point where it’s been locked and the key thrown away? A door of rejection completely slammed in your face? That can look like many things for you…such as an ended friendship, a broken relationship, or even family riffs. It may look like a terminated job, a declined position, or rejection from someone that would’ve furthered your dreams. Instead, you begin to wonder if the dream that God has placed on your heart is worth believing in anymore… because all you’ve been receiving is rejection.

Sometimes God allows a closed door of rejection by man to lead us in a redirection. Rejection by man DOES NOT equal rejection from God. Rejection may be your projection. Sometimes God shuts doors because it’s the only way to get our minds to focus back on Him and His purpose for our lives. We must remember that when we are walking in accordance with the will of the Lord, rejection on this earth may equate to our protection or closed doors that may lead to new opportunities that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise.

There are so many stories  of rejection experienced by people in the Bible that can guide us in how we should respond to our own rejection. King David was no stranger to rejection. His father assumed that any of his other sons was more likely to be royal material than David (1 Samuel 16:1-13). He was overlooked by man, but handpicked by God. Then King Saul drove David out of his court and set about trying to kill him as a rival. David’s men were also no strangers to rejection (1 Samuel 22:1-2).

Read David’s story of rejection in 1 Samuel 25:2-44. 

David got furious at a wealthy landowner named Nabal who rejected him. The man’s wife, Abigail intervened to stop David from killing Nabal and his men. Nabal then died by God’s decree, and David married Abigail because he so admired the way she had handled the tense situation.

David overreacted to Nabal’s rejection and was about to step out of God’s will to take revenge. When Nabal said, “Who is this son of Jesse?” that triggered David’s mind to pull the rejection from his past into this present situation. He was enraged to the point of killing someone. But Abigail intervened. She gave David three gifts in her speech.

• Attention – 1 Samuel 25:25
• Intention – 1 Samuel 25:26-27
• Prevention – 1 Samuel 25:30-31

Abigail got David to shift his attention from the wrong thing to something better. Think of a time when you got rejected. What were you paying attention to? What should you have been paying attention to? Abigail got David to refocus his real intention in the situation (1 Samuel 25:26-27). Remember a time where you reacted poorly to a rejection you experienced. Think about your original intention. What happened to that intention once you were rejected? Did the emotion of the situation make you say or think things that you otherwise would have never expressed? Abigail’s third gift to David was to move him toward prevention. David’s reaction to rejection was anger and desire for revenge. What emotions did you have when you were rejected? How did you need to be prevented from acting on those emotions? Abigail got David to think about what the consequences of his actions might be. What are some consequences you can think of that may help you not react this way in the future?

We, too, need to watch where we pay Attention, remember our true Intention, and enter into Prevention.

David at some point learned that instead of wearing the yoke of rejection, he could wear the yoke of the Lord’s freedom and live in fullness. Late in his life, when a man pursued him with curses, he had a humble reaction without vengefulness (2 Samuel 16:5-14).

Read Psalm 23. 

Psalm 23 embodies a God-focused response to rejection. It says with God there is fullness. There is no lack. Nothing can be added or subtracted by human acceptance or rejection. With the fullness of God we’re free to let humans be humans and let God be God.

The peace of our soul doesn’t rise and fall with unpredictable people or situations. The peace of our soul is tethered to all that God is.

Read Uninvited, Lysa TerKeurst – Chapters 9-11

Following notes are taken from: https://uninvitedstudy.wordpress.com/2017/06/20/session-4-set-apart/

In Case You Missed It:

Verse Of The Week – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

This week, we learned that even when we are rejected, when we humble ourselves before the Lord and make our requests before Him, He will never fail us.

I’m sure we have all had times where we have questioned God and His goodness. Prayers answered with “no” or “wait” can make you feel unnoticed, uninvited. But as you pray through those feelings, see if your situation has more to do with you being prepared than with you being overlooked.

This week’s statement to hold onto: I’m not set aide; I’m set apart

Read 1 Samuel 1:1-20

In Hannah’s day, a woman’s worth was measured by her ability to bear sons for her husband. So in addition to her own natural desire for children, she had to bear the burden of her whole society’s expectations.

• What sorts of provoking things might Peninnah have been saying to Hannah?
• How would you describe Hannah’s attitude toward God in the midst of her pain?

Hannah felt provoked and irritated. Her anguish was so intense that she wouldn’t eat. But she wasn’t set aside. She was set apart. We desperately want something and see the Lord blessing other women in that area. We feel set aside. Why them and not us? If God is good, why isn’t He being good to us in this? 

• In what ways was Hannah set apart, not set aside? How was she being prepared, not overlooked?
• Why is it important for us to note that Hannah’s prayer was not answered immediately but “in the course of time”?

Hannah was actually the first person to have individual prayer in the sanctuary. God’s delay in answering Hannah’s prayer was protection for a high calling, not a rejection. First, Hannah was set apart to be a model of fervent prayer even for Jewish men. She stood alone, determined, intently concentrated on her task, filled with deep faith and a sense of mission. This is what Jewish people try to imitate. Second, Hannah was set apart to pray a thanksgiving song that became a model for Jesus’ mother, Mary (compare 1 Samuel 2:1-11 to Luke 1:46-55). Third, Hannah was set apart to be the mother of Samuel, who played a vital role in Israel’s transition from the time of judges to the time of the kings of Israel. Hannah’s answer to prayer didn’t come right away. It came “in the course of time” (1 Samuel 1:20).

Read pg. 108 to the first paragraph of pg. 110 in Uninvited.

• What do you feel are the differences between humiliation and humility?
• Look up Proverbs 11:2. Why do you think humility is essential for wisdom?
• Why do you think God opposes the proud?
• How did Hannah demonstrate humility?

Think: When God Says No

1. What are the things you’ve prayed for passionately and haven’t yet received?
2. How do you deal with these prayers to which God has said “no” or “wait”?
3. How do you view God in light of these prayers to which He hasn’t say “yes”? Have you grown at all suspicious of Him, doubting His love for you? Or do you have some other view of Him?
4. What possible good may come from your having to wait for the answers to your prayers? How could you grow? What is one good thing you can learn? How could others benefit?
5. What might God be setting you apart for? If you don’t know, what can you do to go about finding out?
6. What do you need to do to boost your courage so that you keep moving forward with God and your life despite this setback?
7. How is it more productive to ask “What” questions like these than to ask “Why is this happening to me? Why has God allowed it? Why is He blessing someone else and not me?”

Whenever you feel the fear of rejection, you can remember this verse:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” –Colossians 3:12

You are chosen and dearly loved by God, and holy (set apart) for His high purposes. The foundation of this identity can enable you to clothe yourself in good ways of treating other people. What feelings or thoughts come to your mind when you think about being chosen? For me, it’s a sense of security, confidence, and inner peace that allows me to treat others the way Jesus would regardless of how they treat me!

Prayer that isn’t answered the way we’d like it to be–or any perceived rejection–doesn’t just cause us to doubt God. It also often causes us to doubt or label ourselves. We may undervalue ourselves and think the problem is that we are unworthy of asking for the thing we long for. We orchestrate a rejection by God, when in reality He isn’t rejecting us at all. He’s merely waiting to answer our prayer at the best time, or He’s saying no because that will be best for us in the long run.

Praising God is a great way to get into a positive frame of mind. Pray aloud these verses and then use it as a springboard to your own prayer for God’s fullness and freedom from your fears.

Psalm 34:1-9, 18

I will extol the LORD at all times;
His praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the LORD;
Let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
Let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
Their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
He saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
And he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
For those who fear him lack nothing . . . .
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Read Uninvited, Lysa TerKeurst – Chapters 12-14

Following notes are taken from: https://uninvitedstudy.wordpress.com/2017/07/13/session-5-remembering-gods-presence/

In Case You Missed It:

Verse of the Week – “My flesh and heart may fail, [BUT GOD] is the strength of my heart and portion forever.” 1 Peter 5:6

What has the devil used to derail you from God’s plan? Has it been a temptation that has driven you off course? A circumstance that has compromised your faith? A rejection that has caused you to question your worth and ability to “live loved”? An unanswered prayer that has hardened your heart? Satan may have attempted to keep you from your destiny- but you are much stronger, faithful, and ABLE to fight any battles that come your way- way more than you think! Greater is He that is in you than ANYTHING that may come against you.

So what do we do when the devil’s tactics seem too much to bear? Get a promise for your problem! Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]”.

This week’s statement to hold onto: Resisting God’s promises will make us forget God’s presence. But resting in God’s promises, and reciting God’s promises, will help us remember God’s presence.

Read Mark 6:30-52. 

Questions To Ponder . . .

• Why did Jesus lead the disciples away to a remote place?
• Why did Jesus change His plans?
• What should the disciples have learned about Jesus from these motivations of His?
• What should they have learned about Him from His feeding of the five thousand?
• What would they have done differently on the lake if they had learned these lessons and applied them to their lives?
• What does Jesus want you to learn and take to heart from this story, so that you don’t have a hardened heart about it?
• Why might you resist applying this story to your life?

The terrified disciples didn’t understand the miracle of the loaves because “their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:52). The word “hardened” here means “unresponsive, completely lacking sensitivity or spiritual perception.” The disciples had witnessed expressions of God, but they hadn’t turned those expressions into personal experiences. We can go to Bible study and amen every point made, but if we don’t apply it to our lives we won’t be changed. Inspiration and information without personal application will never amount to transformation.

Romans 12:2 reminds us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This is the shift in thinking we’ve been talking about, operating out of fullness and living loved despite whatever circumstances may be surrounding us. Anyplace where we have hardened our hearts or refused to let truth touch and transform that part of us, there will be confusion. Sometimes it just takes trusting in His promises, and remaining still. “Terrified” in Mark 6:50 is tarasso, which means: “to set in motion what needs to remain still.” Searching for acceptance outside of God’s presence can lead us to some dangerous places.

But Jesus isn’t running from your mess. He’s climbing into the boat with you.

Here are some good questions to ask ourselves:

• Information >> Have I sought out God’s truth regarding this situation?
• Application >> Have I applied God’s truth without compromise to this situation?
• Transformation >> Do I now own this truth as a personal revelation from God to use in future situations like this?

Many of the promises of Scripture are meant for all believers. Read in your Bible each one of the following promises and think about what it would mean for you to rest in that promise or resist that promise.

1. Romans 8:34
2. Isaiah 43:1-3
3. Jeremiah 29:11-13
4. Philippians 4:19
5. Hebrews 13:5-6
6. James 1:5
7. Ephesians 4:22-24

These are just a few of the many promises that we can rely on!

What happened yesterday can’t be changed, but it can be forgiven. That’s your miracle in the mess. The voices of condemnation, shame, and rejection can come at you, but they no longer have to reside in you. That’s your miracle in the mess. And the temptations that were so hard to resist in your flesh will be overpowered by your truth-transformed mind. That’s your miracle in the mess.

Uninvited, page 170

Identify and describe a messy situation you are facing. What is God’s truth regarding this situation? Which is more challenging for you: identifying the right information about God’s truth or putting that truth into practice with a good application? What makes you hopeful in a messy situation?

The enemy doesn’t take a break. Sometimes it seems like he’s attacking us at all angles with the odds undoubtedly against us. That’s why it is so important to meditate on His promises, immerse yourself in the Word, and run to Him daily for a strength and a peace in the midst of our mess that only He can provide! We are in a daily battle against our flesh, the enemy, and this world. But thanks to Jesus, victory is already won!