Demoralization (Day 6.1)
January 1, 2010 by Christine
Filed under BF-Week 06
Welcome back to our study at the Womens Bible Cafe, as we celebrate a new beginning. At the end of the Breaking Free Bible study, you will not be the same woman you were when you started the study five weeks ago. You are breaking free!
In our sixth week of Breaking Free, Updated Edition by Beth Moore, we’re finding beauty from the ashes. Today’s lesson shows the impact of Satan in the lives of modern women and how this impact can lead to strongholds and bondage.
Many of us are in spiritual bondage as a result of societal influence. Note that God’s intent in Isaiah 61:3 is to bestow on you a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
Are you wearing these, and if not, are you participating in this Bible study to regain your crown of beauty, oil of gladness and garment of praise? What a great beginning to the year twenty-ten!
In today’s lesson, Beth shared examples suggesting the demoralization of women in our society, such as:
- Sex based advertising
- Thin airbrushed models
- Teens seeking plastic surgery
- Hatred for men
- Professionalism over femininity
- Disrespect for homemakers
- Homosexuality
Did you know the definition of demoralization is:
- Destroying the moral basis for a doctrine or policy.
- A state of disorder and confusion; “his inconsistency resulted in the demoralization of his staff”
- Depression resulting from an undermining of your morale
Source: Websters Online Dictionary
By definition, the demoralization of women in our society results in destroying our moral basis, creates a state of disorder and confusion, and depression, resulting from an undermining of your morale! As Daughters of the King and Brides of Christ…are we comfortable with this realization. Do you see the lasting imprint that demoralization has on our society and future generations of women. I’m angry enough to want to do something about this-speaking up against demoralization and sharing the truth.
Prayer Requests
Wonderful Father, as we enter this year with the past effects of strongholds and bondage, we seek breaking free and resolve to find our true self created to wear the crown of beauty, oil of gladness and garment of praise. We turn to you Lord in prayer and in petition, committed one-hundred-percent to breaking free from strongholds and bondage. For we know our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but a struggle against the spiritual forces of evil and we are removing those strongholds that bind us to the enemy. We come to your table prepared to wear the crown as we continue to learn and grow in faith. Amen.
Beth Moore Quotes
- She lived the rest of her life believing she could never be restored-Beth Moore
- Those of us who have received Christ are literally daughters of royalty-Beth Moore
- Satan desires to have women in a stronghold of exploitation, sexploitation, distortion and desolation. He knows how effective and influential women can be so he works through society to convince us we are so much less than we are-Beth Moore
Today’s Scripture Verses
Bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:3
I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Daniel 9:3
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12
Group Discussion
What other examples can you think of that reveal how Satan is promoting the demoralization of women?
Breaking free,
You may not want to publish this post because it’s a little off-topic, but I wanted to tell you how grateful I am that I did this study. It was God’s perfect timing that I finished it early and watched Beth’s closing video today. I cried all the way through it! I made a binding covenant like Beth challenged us to do, and it’s going to change my life! It’s something I needed to deal with TODAY, January 1! God bless you for having this website! I hope I’ll get to do another study with you sometime!
It’s perfectly OK to be ahead of the group Kathy-that’s the beauty of online study. After completing this, you may have some great ideas about what we should study in Feb. Please share your thoughts about the next study preference!
Womens Bible Study for 2010
I wish I could have joined you all on this, but I found this group too late. Is there an interest to start up another session? May God bless all of my sisters in Christ.
We’re only half way into the study, so you can join us now. The lessons are easy and you can do 3 per day to catch up, or you can go behind the group and work one lesson a day, coming back here to post your comments. There are two other people in the group who started about 2 weeks ago.
I had a conversation with my 86 year old mother yesterday about the demoralization of marriage . . how it is abnormal nowadays for marriages to survive – - how society has invaded the home and destroyed the family. We have recently faced the heartache of my sons broken marriage – -that was destroyed because of many of the things Beth addressed . . I even looked around my church today and realized how many children came with their grandparents, because their parents are divorced and not attending church.
It is overwhelmingly sad!
I’m new to here and discovered you while looking to see if anyone is doing an online study of Beth Moore’s “Breaking Free” before I order the book through Kindle for PC since shipping to Mexico is not the easiest or safest. And here you are…going through this a second time…already halfway through (which is what chapter?) Anyways, do you think you’re going to do it again? (3rd time?)
I signed up anyways for your enews hoping I’ll know in time.
I wanted to comment though I have not read Beth Moore’s lesson because this is just so timely for me… It’s my blog’s Bible verse…and one I believe God gave me back in 2007 on my trip from MN to MX. as He gave me a vision of “setting the captives free” here in MX and it involves studying for me, researching, and now I’m getting ready to move forward in ministry (God willing & doors opening) with what I consider to be the worst demoralization of women and children: human trafficking. The breakdown in the family and the poverty in Mexico makes this such an available market place for traffickers. It sickens me as my eyes are opened but I know God has a purpose for me with
this and the women & children enslaved. I have been in prayer and learning so much through many resources. I have not linked my regular blog but the one I focus on MISSIONS as I am led. I believe Beth Moore’s study is for me but also for me for them!
Thank you for making this available on line!
Peace & Love in Christ,
Peggy
You’ll want to read Breaking Free Peggy…it is about setting captives free. It’s possible the dream you had is about leading women, and since you’re in Mexico, you may be leading them in another language? I highly suggest you talk to Lifeway Stores about a spanish translation of the book, and also about shipping to Mexico. Maybe you can have a shipment of 10 books sent to a local church, then lead a Bible study there? Before starting this study the second time, I had a similar experience and listened when God said “these are my children and they are lost.”
Thanks Christine! Sounds like a good plan. Would you recommend me completing the study first before leading a study?
Is it too late to jump in at this point?
Are you planning on doing Breaking Free again?
I will check it out in Spanish, but sometimes it’s easier for me to have the English and then the Spanish. The small church here that I go to, has a bookstore so I will have to recommend this. They have Stormie & Max Lucado so, ya’ never know!
You’re welcome. I would not jump in at Chapter 6, this is a study that needs to flow from beginning to end in order to break free. When you lead a group, you may want to read one week ahead of the group, so you know where the study is moving.
With the online study, you can start reading today at chapter one. There are some people reading at week 3 right now, not everyone is in the same place. Then you visit the Bible Cafe, click on the week lesson for your study, and read comments from other women. You can post a comment and we’ll reply.
We’re not going to repeat Breaking Free, we’ll start a new study soon, using a new workbook.
Regarding Lifeway, if you are on Twitter, you can follow @PamCase and ask her for help with workbooks in Mexico. She’ll direct you to the resources. I’ve seen a few studies released in Spanish.