Lay it down! a new year—a new beginning Minister Felicha Fisher In word and in deed women ministry Presents: a new year—a new beginning   Lay it down! Minister Felicha Fisher “A Bitter Soul, But Keep Praying” (1 Samuel 1:8-18) January 19, 2013

a new year—a new beginning   Lessons From Hannah “A Bitter Soul, But Keep Praying” (1 Samuel 1:8-18) Apply the 3 “A”s: Attitude – Hannah never exemplified a negative attitude towards God, her husband or her rival. Availability – Hannah made herself available to be used by God in spite of her condition. Affirmation – Hannah affirmed who God is and what He will do if you keep your mind stayed on Him.

A new year—a new beginning Why Lay It Down “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)

A new year—a new beginning Why Lay It Down “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you.” (Jeremiah 1:5) “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

A new year—a new beginning Why Lay It Down “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10) “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:26, 34)

A new year—a new beginning Why Lay It Down Is Not All How To Lay It Down Is Just As Important

A new year—a new beginning How To Lay It Down Be Humble – Be Bold “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2) “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

A new year—a new beginning How To Lay It Down By Surrendering To God Completely “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin.” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:34-35, 38)

A new year—a new beginning How To Lay It Down By Having Faith In God Totally “Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak.” She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter, He said, “your faith has healed you.” (Matthew 9:20-22)

A new year—a new beginning How To Lay It Down By Having Confidence in God No Matter What The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. “My head! My head!” he said to his father.” His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. “Look! There’s the Shunammite! Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’” “Everything is all right,” she said. (2 Kings 4:18-20, 26)

A new year—a new beginning How To Lay It Down By Trusting and Believing in God Regardless “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast with me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:13-16)

A new year—a new beginning How To Lay It Down By Standing On God’s Promises Without Compromising Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations, and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:4-6, 16-18)

A new year—a new beginning How To Lay It Down By Making Your Will God’s Will In Spite of Discomfort Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:36-39)

A new year—a new beginning No matter what has you with a “bitter soul” in this season--- KEEP PRAYING!!! Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies for I delight in Your deliverance.” “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides You, there is no Rock like our GOD. Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him deeds are weighed.” “ And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.” (I Samuel 2:1-3, 21)

A new year—a new beginning Jesus nailed EVERYTHING to the cross. Because He did, you can … LAY IT DOWN!!!