Refer to chapter 7 in A Jewel in His Crown.
EM OF THE Day
‘How many times have you cried and fought for a nickel when God wanted to give you a dime>”(p. 119).
1. What God wants to give us is always far more valuable than what we are asking Him for. Think of an example of a time when God surprised you with His will, and it turned out to be better than what you had wanted.
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2. Sometimes we are clinging so tightly to our own good ideas and plans that we ignore God’s offer to give us something better. We act like a young child refusing to let go of a nickel when offered a dime. When we are too immature to understand God’s ways, we must trust He has our best interests in mind (see Proverbs 3:5-6). How would you describe your level of trust in the Lord in each of the following areas? Be honest with yoursell.
Nickels and Dimes
Finances | Strong | Fair | Wavering |
Relationships | Strong | Fair | Wavering |
Family | Strong | Fair | Wavering |
Career | Strong | Fair | Wavering |
Health | Strong | Fair | Wavering |
“Right now, you can probably think of some guy that has been on your trail jor quite some time and you haven’t given him a second glance. . . .You are passing up the dime because you are more attracted to nickels. ...lam referring to that godly man whom you are skipping over because he is too short or too tall or not fine enough or rich enough for you” (pp. 122-23).
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, hut the Lord looks at the heart. ” 1 Samuel 16:7
3. God’s will is often tied to the unexpected. For example, the employment opportunity we are given may not be what we thought we wanted. Or the man we’re supposed to marry may not look anything like our “type.” Only God knows the behind-the- scenes information, so He wants us to trust Him instead of our instincts. How is this idea evident in 1 Samuel 16:7?
4. The people of the world grossly underestimated Christ’s value when they put Him to death at Calvary. The Bible says they rejected and despised Him—read it for yourself in Isaiah 53:3- What aspects of the person of Jesus were they completely ignoring? What were they paying attention to?
“This is precisely the way that Christ woos us. He loves us when we aren’t remotely intern ested in Him. He loves us anyway and pursues us continually until we finally love Him back” (p. 122).
Nickels and Dimes
5. God loves to amaze us. He longs to do the unexpected in our lives. Even the Messiah’s arrival on earth happened in an unexpected way. Read Luke 2:12, a reference to the birth of Christ. How was Jesus’ arrival packaged differently than people might have expected?
6. What does Isaiah 55:8-9 teach you about God’s mysterious, superior ways?
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7. In light of this study, what situations, relationships, and opportunities may deserve a second look and some serious prayer to determine what God is trying to tell you to do?
8. What are you holding on to right now instead of opening your clenched fist to receive the more valuable plans God has for your life? What causes you to do this? How can you let go?
Nickels and Dimes
9 . What verses or insights from today’s study were particularly significant to you? Write them below and journal about what they mean to you.
10. What will you do differently as a result of today’s study?
Allow these verses to inspire your prayerful response to God today:
□ Jeremiah 29:13 —That I will seek God with all my heart.
□ Lamentations 3:25 —That I will wait for God to do what’s best in my life.
□ Hebrews 11:1 —That I will trust in what I cannot see.
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Nickels and
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Part 21
Nickels and Dimes