Never Thirst Again

Introduction The story of the woman at the well has always struck me with it’s significance. When I read her story, I can see, in some way, the life of too many of the women I know. I have seen so many women living unfulfilled or even self-destructive life styles, out of a thirst for acceptance, respect and love. Sadly, many women seek their “completion” in destructive ways and end up in situations that bring them harm either physically or emotionally. It is very sad to see so many women live this way. God’s intent from the beginning was for the man to love, care for and protect the woman. (1Peter 3:7 “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered”). Sin entered, God’s laws were broken and a curse was pronounced (See Genesis 3:16). Consequently, when the love and care women so desperately hunger for is absent, they feel empty, discontentment sets in, and the search for fulfillment begins. It is troubling to me to realize how this need that God has put within us for our good has been distorted and exploited by the enemy. For generations women have been lied to. In the decades preceding the sixties, women generally measured their value through the eyes of the men they loved, the accomplishments of their children, and their skills as homemakers. Then, in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, women were told and sold on the belief that they were victims. They were convinced that they were being treated as second class citizens and that if they wanted to succeed, to have any value, to be as good as men, they better start acting like men. The battle cry rang out from the feminist to take up arms, go out into the world, and "fight for food". Too many women heeded that call so sadly, the lie continues and the family suffers. All this is not said as a judgment against the women who value the role of caring for their families, nor is it a judgment against women who work hard to build a career outside the home. On the contrary, these roles are God honoring and rewarding. The Proverbs 31 woman gives evidence of this calling upon the lives of women. What we as women must come to understand, is that our value is not determined by the titles we wear. Our worth is based not on what we are in the world but solely on who we are in Jesus Christ. If you don’t know “who you are”, or if you need a reminder, I encourage you to spend some time reading the first and second chapters of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In this most glorious writing, Paul describes for us our heritage and our hope. As you begin this study, I pray that you will take the first steps of the journey with anticipation and the expectation of growing as a woman of God. I pray that along the way, you come to fully know who you are in Jesus. I pray that at the end of the journey you will have discovered that all your needs are met in Jesus. In His Love Sandra  Part 1 the purpose, the plan and the provision Lesson 1 the purpose The nameless woman who met Jesus at the well may have lived in a different world and time but her disappointments were no different from our own. Certainly as a young girl she didn’t anticipate having five husbands. Surely she didn’t expect that some day she would have to make covert trips to the well to avoid the whispers of the women in the village. “That Woman!” they would have called her. They would have taunted her with their shouts - “Sinner”! “Adulteress”! “Harlot”! Once a woman full of dreams, she is cast by hard circumstances and wrong choices into a life of shame. The Samaritan woman came to the well that noon for the purpose of getting a jug of water, but God, as you will discover, had a different purpose in mind. Just as God had a purpose for the Samaritan woman, He has a purpose, a design for each of our lives. In this week’s study, we will look at how we can know God’s purpose for us and what we can do to fulfill His purpose.  Day 1 Proverbs 16:9 says “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps”. It can be so hard to trust God with our future. We’re not comfortable letting someone else make decisions for us because we like to feel we’re in control. As one author wrote, we want to be the masters of our own destiny. If you find yourself thinking that way, you need to know …we are not masters of our destiny, God is! That should be wonderful news. We should find great comfort in the knowledge that the God of the universe, the One Who never sleeps or slumbers, the One Who never fails, has established our steps from the beginning. ________________________________________ 1. Read John 4: 4-8. List facts detailed in these verses which reveal that the meeting between Jesus and the woman was not a coincidence but rather God’s providence. 2. Why did Jesus have to go through Samaria? 3. Can you remember a time when events in your life didn’t seem to make sense? Describe. ________________________________________ "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2)  Day 2 I am a child of the 60’s, the generation which set out to “find ourselves.” There are books a plenty to tell us how to find our purpose. Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life has been translated into 59 languages and is reported to have sold more than 30 million copies. The writer of A blog I came across recently promises that by following his prescribed method, you can discover your life’s purpose in fifteen to twenty minutes. Through the ages, man has struggled with the question “what am I here for”? ________________________________________ 1. Read John 4:34-38. What does Jesus say is His food? 2. According to John 6:39-40, what was Jesus’ specific purpose for coming down from heaven? 3. Read Exodus 9:16. What does this verse tell us is God’s ultimate purpose for His followers? 4. What are 3 ways Joshua 1:8 tells us we can know God’s purpose? 5. According to Micah 6:8 what 3 things are required of us if we are to fulfill God’s purpose? 6. Based on what you have learned today, how might you direct the way you spend your time toward attaining your purpose? ________________________________________ I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. (Psalms 57:2)