Book Review: THE CONFIDENT WOMAN -by Joyce Meyer

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Reviewed by PHILIPPA ORAEGBU

Title: The Confident Woman.
Author: Joyce Meyer
Publisher: Zondervan Publishing House
Date of Publication: September, 2006.
If you are conversant with christian literature, you must have come across Joyce’s books. She’s a well-known writer and best selling author of many inspirational books. Many of her books (which include Battlefield of the Mind, and How to Hear From God) have greatly impacted many lives.
We may assume that Joyce has a lot to say here; her going through and coming out of a period of abuse and disappointment gives her a kind of perspective on life issues that may be considered helpful. Here, she deals with  vital material: confidence.
“A woman has to be twice as good as a man to go half as far”- so says Fannie Hurst. This doesn’t imply that a woman is no good, without abilities and significance. It simply encapsulates the environment of a world in which women are faced with great hurdles and challenges; In such a world, there’s definitely a need for courage.  Joyce shares her experience of shattered confidence as a result of all she’s been through while growing up. Having been  reformed by God’s restorative power, she offers her understanding of Gods view of women (“God never intended for women to be less than men in anyone’s estimation”), portraying their significance in the ministry. She offers her interpretation of the ever controversial statement made by Apostle Paul in 1Cor. 14 and 1Tim. 2. She describes the Proverbs 31 woman, highlighting ten steps to being a confident woman and further giving ten examples of women who surmounted limitations, doing so courageously. The later chapters of the book also exposes the enemy of confidence – fear-  and how a woman can beat back its hold-seizing advance upon her life. Joyce says that “courage is not the absence of fear but action in the presence of fear”- and encourages the reader to “get the job done” even when in a fear-inspiring situation (reminiscent of an advice she gives in her Battlefield of the Mind).
The book relays an important message to every woman who has been under the bushel of fear, abuse or other difficult situations: to let the fire be a refiner, a thing that makes tough, instead of a paralyzing agent.
However, the use of examples and stories to emphasize and drive home certain points appears excessive, and may bore certain readers. Another point of criticism (a more serious point of contention, I think) is the focus upon building up the self. But while it is true that a self-centered gospel is not biblical, I believe this book gives a different kind of exhortation. It calls for courage, and courage is a very Christian virtue.
To every woman out there: this is a book you should lay your hands on. Its worth the read, even if you’re not a big fan of Joyce’s books. After all, courage is, like I said, a very Christian virtue.

EVERYDAY JESUS washes you

Don’t look at me
Don’t! Please!
My sins are written,
Like chalk on a board
They stand,
Against the wall of my righteousness,
Contrasting with my peace.
Please don’t look at me.
GOD will never forgive me.

I saw opportunities to run,
To flee,
I could have walked free,
Now my reflection points,
At me, accusations.
Like swords set to sink sewers
Into my self sufficient confidence.
I…didn’t flee from evil.
I joined and frolicked in it.
Pleasure took hold of my eyes
Yet I was not so blind
I magnified
delight above The Light.
And so I lost the fight.
I lied, I stole, I fornicated,
God will never forgive me.

You must be feeling sorry for me.

That’s interesting.

In case you think
Ah! I didn’t lie or cheat or steal.
I didn’t fornicate! For real!
Allow me to reintroduce myself
I am human like you
The truth is there are
A lot of Ways to Sin
It doesn’t matter which you’re in.
There are no white lies
No good criminals or legal bribes.
Yes, already you know,
God will never forgive you.

Maybe you’re a devout person
You’ve never played with treason.
You fast and tithe, in good season;
You washed your mouth with Klin.
But you missed one tithe payment;
Or broke a fast early by a minute.
Or You thought deep in your heart
‘I’ll be kinder when I’m a bit richer.’
Don’t think God is from Asia
He won’t forgive sin just like that
So if you’ve never shed blood
And done the rites for your sins
Then you will die and be damned
GOD will never forgive you.

But as I sit, stained by my idiocy
I hear speaking to me gently.
The lashes,
They bled and pulsed with dread.
The Thorns,
They dug beneath his scalp,
creating the craziest head-ache.
The Nails,
They pinned him to logs of wood,
One stuck out of a ticklish place
Turning pleasant giggles
To searing pain.
His Father watched in silence,
Angel Armies standing and staring.

If GOD was speaking to us when he said:..this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more.”

Then: “Christ (the Messiah) has not entered into a sanctuary made with [human] hands, only a copy and pattern and type of the true one, but [He has entered] into heaven itself, now to appear in the [very] presence of God on our behalf.

Nor did He [enter into the heavenly sanctuary to] offer Himself regularly again and again, as the high priest enters the [Holy of] Holies every year with blood not his own.

For then would He often have had to suffer [over and over again] since the foundation of the world. But as it now is, He has once for all at the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put awayand abolish sin by His sacrifice [of Himself].

And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment,

Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him.” also applies to us.

By ‘us’ I mean ‘whosoever believes in him’ from John 3:15-18. He knew… But if you don’t believe all this balderdash its alright.

No matter how many times
You ask GOD for his forgiveness
Without Jesus…
You might have to get a lamb.
Maybe more than one.
Else GOD will never forgive you.

Don’t look at me
Don’t! Please!
My sins are written,
Like chalk on a board
They stand,
Against the wall of my righteousness,
Contrasting with my peace.
So I choose to face my peace
My name is written,
Like a gem in Gold,
It sits,
In the palm of his righteousness.
Please don’t look at me.
Look at him!

And you others like me
Who look to Jesus,
Who believe that he died and rose,
And is coming back for you.
Listen to the Spirit of Jesus
As he whispers in your heart
He won’t speak English,
Or Hausa or Yoruba or Igbo or Edo,
But you’ll see what he’s saying
Because his own hear his voice.
When sin trips you, get up.
You’re dead to sin, don’t die in it.
When you feel guilty, remember;

GOD WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU…BECAUSE HE ALREADY HAS.

#EVERYDAYJESUS is your justification.

EVERYDAY JESUS believes in you

Em… Hope you’re having a day as beautiful as you are…

But, for a moment..

If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [if we are willing to take human authority], the testimony of God is greater (of stronger authority), for this is the testimony of God, even the witness which He has borne regarding His Son.

He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself. He who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him out to be and represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son.

And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.

I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life.

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.

And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

If anyone sees his brother [believer] committing a sin that does not [lead to] death (the extinguishing of life), he will pray and [God] will give him life [yes, He will grant life to all those whose sin is not one leading to death]. There is a sin [that leads] to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin which does not [involve] death [that may be repented of and forgiven].

We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over andprotects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].

We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one.

And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.

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Now, there is a sin [that leads] to death; what do you think it is?

Perhaps you would like to pay attention to other aspects, juicier aspects, of this excerpt?

And before you answer, post with #EVERYDAYJESUS …EVERYWHERE!!!

BEYOND RESULTS…

I happen to find myself in a world where men are assessed and addressed according to their results. Everybody wants to see what you are offering; what you are bringing to the table. If you went to high school in my days, especially in my part of the world, then you have a clue of the pressure I was in always to come out tops in class (though I do not always come out tops). Every time I go below a certain level of performance, I often get to face this question: “Do the other students who performed better than you have more heads than you do?” You know what I am talking about, don’t you?

Results are very important as they form the major defining moments of our lives. We address Barack Obama as the President of the United States of America because he was declared winner of the elections that brought him into power. Bill Gates can be referred to as one of the richest men in the world because his worth is public knowledge. Lionel Messi can be seen as the most prolific footballer in recent history because of the results he has been able to garner. The list goes on.

As much as I am interested in the results, I want to know how you got it. I appreciate the money you always give me, but no offence to your personality, can I also know how you made it? No doubt, I love the ambience and awesome atmosphere of your worship centre. But beyond that, how did you get to this point?

Do not get it twisted, I am by no means envious of your attainments. As a matter of fact, I admire and desire them. I want to know how you got there. If there was anything I learnt in Mathematics, it is to always show how I got my results. Interestingly, I get more marks for my steps than I get for my results.

Friends, if you must do great exploits and ground-breaking achievements, you must not only desire to see results, desire to know the process.

“But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you” 1 Cor. 12:31 (ASV).

#THE PROCESS

Please share with others and let it bless them as it blessed you

Stay blessed.       
  

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(Transforming the World through the Word)
http://www.transformingwordseries.wordpress.com