WEBVTT - What’s Holding You Back? 0:00:00.800 --> 0:00:03.640 In day to day living with the biggest challenges in 0:00:03.640 --> 0:00:07.159 your life? Are you relying upon yourself or on God? 0:00:07.440 --> 0:00:10.360 That's the subject today on Bold Steps with Mark job. 0:00:11.000 --> 0:00:14.319 What happens if we're trained, qualified, if we feel like 0:00:14.320 --> 0:00:17.360 we're ready for it? Chances are that we tend to 0:00:17.360 --> 0:00:20.160 depend upon ourselves, and we spend less time in prayer. 0:00:20.640 --> 0:00:25.000 And when our ability and confidence starts to be self-focused, 0:00:25.000 --> 0:00:29.240 then oftentimes it takes away from our God dependence. 0:00:42.320 --> 0:00:45.839 Welcome to Bold Steps with pastor Mark Jobe, president of 0:00:45.880 --> 0:00:48.800 Moody Bible Institute and senior pastor of New Life Community 0:00:48.800 --> 0:00:52.400 Church in Chicago. And I'm Wayne Shepherd Mark at Moody 0:00:52.400 --> 0:00:55.120 Bible Institute in Chicago. There is a regular chapel service 0:00:55.120 --> 0:00:57.640 for students. And of course, you as president, get to 0:00:57.680 --> 0:00:59.600 give that message. And we're going to hear one of 0:00:59.600 --> 0:01:00.200 those now. 0:01:00.240 --> 0:01:02.880 Yeah, Wayne, it's always a delight for me to be 0:01:02.920 --> 0:01:06.559 able to bring the word to the students because they're eager, 0:01:06.560 --> 0:01:10.280 they're excited, they're learning and they're growing. And this message 0:01:10.280 --> 0:01:14.200 in particular, what's holding you back? Here's what I want 0:01:14.200 --> 0:01:20.000 you to hear. Sometimes God wants to downsize our strength 0:01:20.200 --> 0:01:26.040 to prepare us for our greatest battles. And it seems ironic. 0:01:26.040 --> 0:01:28.680 It seems like it doesn't make sense. But sometimes we're 0:01:28.680 --> 0:01:33.000 too strong to face the greatest battles. Because it's in 0:01:33.000 --> 0:01:35.840 our weakness that God's strength is magnified. 0:01:35.959 --> 0:01:38.240 Well, the message was given to students, but really, it 0:01:38.240 --> 0:01:40.480 is for all of us. So let's ask ourselves this 0:01:40.480 --> 0:01:44.480 question as we listen. What's holding us back? Here's Mark Jobe. 0:01:46.280 --> 0:01:53.200 I rented a car in Spain at the airport. I 0:01:53.200 --> 0:01:57.560 was in a hurry. I was driving this car and 0:01:57.560 --> 0:02:00.560 I was thinking, you know, I should have gotten a 0:02:00.560 --> 0:02:05.090 car with a little bit more oomph to it. This 0:02:05.090 --> 0:02:08.970 car drags. I'm trying to pass people, and it's just 0:02:08.970 --> 0:02:12.450 not giving me the energy that I need. It just 0:02:12.450 --> 0:02:15.769 doesn't have the horsepower that I need. I felt like 0:02:15.770 --> 0:02:17.609 we were going up the hills and it was just 0:02:17.610 --> 0:02:20.970 drag and going slow. I'm thinking, ah, next time I'm 0:02:21.010 --> 0:02:24.450 going to rent a car that's bigger, that's more powerful. 0:02:24.690 --> 0:02:28.570 Stop at the gas station. Kind of looked around at 0:02:28.570 --> 0:02:33.530 this car and I realized. Uh-Oh. I had the emergency 0:02:33.530 --> 0:02:41.650 brake on. No wonder this car didn't have the oomph 0:02:41.650 --> 0:02:46.730 that it needed to have. I had something slowing me down. 0:02:47.889 --> 0:02:53.609 I had something that was hindering my progress. Slowing down 0:02:53.610 --> 0:02:58.450 the velocity at which I was trying to reach my destination. 0:02:58.610 --> 0:03:02.490 Not allowing me to pass when I needed to, not 0:03:02.490 --> 0:03:06.369 because it didn't have the horsepower, but because I had 0:03:06.690 --> 0:03:12.890 a hindrance. When I look at Judges chapter seven, the 0:03:12.889 --> 0:03:16.610 last couple of chapters, I've talked out of the story 0:03:16.610 --> 0:03:26.330 of Gideon. Gideon is about to face his first major assignment. 0:03:27.210 --> 0:03:32.410 They've been under the oppressive hands thumb of the Midianites. 0:03:33.450 --> 0:03:40.970 And now, after the supernatural call of God, the testing 0:03:40.970 --> 0:03:45.170 of the fleece, the tearing down of his father's altar, 0:03:46.010 --> 0:03:52.410 the renaming of him, the surge of support behind him, 0:03:53.050 --> 0:03:58.730 he is now about to face the mega battle. This 0:03:58.730 --> 0:04:03.900 is the people of the people of Israel fighting against 0:04:04.180 --> 0:04:11.940 the Midianites. Now it's a huge battle. It tells us 0:04:11.980 --> 0:04:17.460 in judges chapter seven, the Lord said to Gideon, he's 0:04:17.460 --> 0:04:25.820 about to go fight the Midianites. It's 32,000 against 135,000. 0:04:27.420 --> 0:04:31.820 Let me say that again. Gideon is leading an army 0:04:32.300 --> 0:04:36.460 that's been oppressing them. He's leading an army that's of 0:04:36.460 --> 0:04:39.980 people that have been oppressed, that are poor, and they 0:04:39.980 --> 0:04:47.380 are to fight an army with 32,000 against an army 0:04:47.380 --> 0:04:54.660 of 135,000. Already the odds are bad. This is an 0:04:54.660 --> 0:04:59.180 untrained army. This is poor. They don't have the resources. 0:04:59.940 --> 0:05:02.700 And they are to fight the people that's been oppressing them. 0:05:02.700 --> 0:05:05.620 But he says, hey, God, if you're for me, I'm 0:05:05.620 --> 0:05:07.940 going to tackle it. I'm going to go for it. 0:05:08.060 --> 0:05:12.100 The men rally together to say, we're with you. Gideon, 0:05:12.220 --> 0:05:16.659 it's about time we fight this battle. And so as 0:05:16.660 --> 0:05:21.300 they are approaching the battle lines, the Lord says to 0:05:21.339 --> 0:05:27.420 Gideon in Judges seven, verse two, you have too many 0:05:27.420 --> 0:05:34.180 men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. Uh, 0:05:34.180 --> 0:05:47.820 excuse me, Lord. You have too many men for this battle. Lord, 0:05:47.820 --> 0:05:55.500 I think we have 32,000 against 135,000. You have too 0:05:55.500 --> 0:06:02.870 many men for this battle. In order that Israel may 0:06:02.870 --> 0:06:08.550 not boast against me that their own strength has saved her. 0:06:09.550 --> 0:06:16.350 Are too many men for what you are too strong. 0:06:16.990 --> 0:06:19.990 Even though you feel like you're weak, you're still too strong. 0:06:20.310 --> 0:06:26.150 Because if you win this battle, you'll be tempted to say, wow, 0:06:26.190 --> 0:06:30.750 look at our strength. Look at our power. Hey, one 0:06:30.750 --> 0:06:36.510 of us is worth five of them. So he said, 0:06:36.510 --> 0:06:39.909 announce to the people. Anyone who trembles with fear may 0:06:39.950 --> 0:06:46.710 turn back and leave Mount Gilead. So 72,000 men left 0:06:46.990 --> 0:06:53.070 while 10,000 remained. I just want you to know right now. 0:06:53.110 --> 0:06:57.550 Here's what I want you to understand that sometimes God 0:06:57.550 --> 0:07:03.790 wants to downsize your Or strength to prepare you for 0:07:03.790 --> 0:07:07.670 some of the greatest battles in your life. Let me 0:07:07.710 --> 0:07:11.550 say that again. We live in a generation in an 0:07:11.550 --> 0:07:15.910 age where it's all about feeling strong and competent and 0:07:15.910 --> 0:07:21.270 able and disciplined and prepared. And we should be prepared 0:07:21.270 --> 0:07:27.190 as possible. But sometimes God says, I want to make 0:07:27.190 --> 0:07:31.910 sure that you are. Your dependency is not in your preparation, 0:07:31.950 --> 0:07:35.110 not in your strength, not in your talent, not in 0:07:35.110 --> 0:07:40.710 your ability, not in your know how, not in your determination, 0:07:41.390 --> 0:07:48.110 but that your absolute dependency is in me. So sometimes 0:07:48.110 --> 0:07:52.350 you're too strong for the battle you're about to fight. 0:07:53.350 --> 0:07:56.309 And in order to win the battle effectively, you need 0:07:56.310 --> 0:08:01.720 to downsize your strength. Now that flies in the face 0:08:01.720 --> 0:08:06.600 of everything that we know. But let me say this. 0:08:07.080 --> 0:08:11.760 Some of you right now may think, may be a 0:08:11.760 --> 0:08:15.640 little bit too strong for the battles that God has 0:08:15.640 --> 0:08:25.000 for you. God was clear. I want to make sure 0:08:25.000 --> 0:08:27.360 when this battle is won that you can't point to 0:08:27.360 --> 0:08:30.120 your strength, your power, your ability. I want to make 0:08:30.120 --> 0:08:35.120 sure when this battle is done and you have your triumph, 0:08:35.559 --> 0:08:38.560 and people are yelling and screaming in victory, that there's 0:08:38.559 --> 0:08:40.880 only one person to point to, and that's the God 0:08:40.880 --> 0:08:44.880 of heaven. And not patting yourself on the back, not 0:08:44.880 --> 0:08:48.760 celebrating your own ability, but making sure that there's a 0:08:48.760 --> 0:08:52.920 humble disposition that says, God, this is all about you, 0:08:52.960 --> 0:09:00.040 your glory, your name, your fame, and your ability. God 0:09:00.160 --> 0:09:03.160 basically says, I don't like the odds you're too strong 0:09:03.160 --> 0:09:07.240 for your own good. You may be too strong or 0:09:07.240 --> 0:09:13.679 overconfident for God to use you well. So sometimes God 0:09:14.000 --> 0:09:19.760 needs to downsize you. Now God downsizes us in various 0:09:19.760 --> 0:09:25.720 ways with Gideon. He said, if any of you stand 0:09:25.720 --> 0:09:30.280 up in front of your 32,000 men, some of whom 0:09:30.559 --> 0:09:35.720 have very little training in warfare or the military, and 0:09:35.720 --> 0:09:39.080 say to them, if any of you is afraid of 0:09:39.080 --> 0:09:43.880 this battle of 32,000 ill prepared, ill equipped, ill trained 0:09:43.880 --> 0:09:47.600 people against the Midianites who outnumber you and are much 0:09:47.600 --> 0:09:51.120 more prepared. If any of you are afraid, it's okay, 0:09:51.440 --> 0:09:56.200 go home. I'm sure that people kind of looked at 0:09:56.200 --> 0:09:58.840 each other. No one wants to be the first one 0:09:58.840 --> 0:10:03.650 to go Be called a coward. Kind of look around 0:10:04.410 --> 0:10:07.770 and then maybe someone at the back just kind of 0:10:08.690 --> 0:10:13.809 sneaks out. People start whispering. Another person goes, you know 0:10:13.809 --> 0:10:16.850 how it goes. The more people. Well, my cousin's going, 0:10:16.850 --> 0:10:18.570 I'm going to. I don't want him to go alone. 0:10:18.730 --> 0:10:26.089 I'm going to. By the time they're done, there are 0:10:26.090 --> 0:10:33.130 only well, there's 22,000 that leave and 10,000 that remain. 0:10:33.890 --> 0:10:37.410 Think about it. Think if you're one of the 10,000 0:10:37.410 --> 0:10:40.610 standing there. I'm not going to go. I'm not going 0:10:40.650 --> 0:10:44.010 to leave. I'm in here to the end. People start leaving, 0:10:44.330 --> 0:10:48.970 and two thirds of the people leave. You're left now 0:10:48.970 --> 0:10:59.850 with 10,000 against 135,000. But this is exactly, exactly what 0:10:59.890 --> 0:11:09.050 God wanted. The reason for the downsize is very clear 0:11:09.370 --> 0:11:17.050 in verse two. So that Israel will not boast. You 0:11:17.050 --> 0:11:20.010 know what one of my fears is? As you train 0:11:20.010 --> 0:11:23.250 here at the Moody Bible Institute, as you prepare, as 0:11:23.250 --> 0:11:27.850 you take theology classes, as you get experience, as you 0:11:27.850 --> 0:11:32.130 spend hours and hours reading books and gaining knowledge, it's 0:11:32.130 --> 0:11:35.890 important you need to be grounded. It is so vital. 0:11:36.250 --> 0:11:44.010 My fear is. My fear is that you would think 0:11:44.010 --> 0:11:50.010 that you're smarter than what you really are. My fear 0:11:50.010 --> 0:11:52.570 is that a few theology books into it. You think 0:11:52.890 --> 0:11:57.210 I got this? My fear is that you would look 0:11:57.210 --> 0:11:59.690 around at other ministers and say they have no idea 0:11:59.690 --> 0:12:02.220 what they're doing. Wait till I'm on. Wait till I'm 0:12:02.220 --> 0:12:08.860 out there. My fear is that, ah, there's a cockiness 0:12:08.860 --> 0:12:12.460 that can set in. Oh, I know it because I 0:12:12.460 --> 0:12:18.500 was that young 20 year old thinking I got it. 0:12:21.620 --> 0:12:26.820 The Bible says God resists the proud. He resists the proud. Resist. 0:12:27.940 --> 0:12:33.060 It's a repellent to God. It's a repellent to the 0:12:33.059 --> 0:12:37.540 grace of God, the power of God, the favor of God. 0:12:39.420 --> 0:12:44.220 God gets around anything that's proud, arrogant, self-sufficient, too confident. 0:12:44.220 --> 0:12:49.459 And it repels the Spirit of God. But he gives 0:12:49.460 --> 0:12:55.060 more grace to the humble. The person that knows I can't, 0:12:55.540 --> 0:12:59.980 and I'm. I'm unable. God, I need you desperately. What 0:13:00.059 --> 0:13:03.500 happens if we're trained, qualified, if we feel like we're 0:13:03.500 --> 0:13:06.740 ready for it? Chances are that we tend to depend 0:13:06.740 --> 0:13:10.100 upon ourselves and we spend less time in prayer, less 0:13:10.100 --> 0:13:13.980 time seeking God, less time on our knees, less time 0:13:13.980 --> 0:13:19.700 in a position of dependency because we think I've been prepared, equipped, trained. 0:13:19.980 --> 0:13:24.939 I know how to do this. And when our ability 0:13:24.940 --> 0:13:29.420 and confidence starts to be self-focused, then oftentimes it takes 0:13:29.420 --> 0:13:32.140 away from our God dependence. 0:13:41.059 --> 0:13:44.140 This is bold steps with Mark Jobe. Today's message titled 0:13:44.140 --> 0:13:47.260 What's Holding you Back? And will continue Mark's teaching in 0:13:47.260 --> 0:13:49.860 just a moment. But in case you didn't receive this 0:13:49.860 --> 0:13:53.059 past Monday's edition of The Bold Stepper Weekly, you're missing out. 0:13:53.100 --> 0:13:54.740 We want to remind you to sign up today at 0:13:54.740 --> 0:13:55.980 Bold steps.org. 0:13:56.220 --> 0:13:58.740 Yeah, this is free, no cost. It comes to you 0:13:58.740 --> 0:14:03.710 every Monday with the devotional thought a ministry update, something 0:14:03.710 --> 0:14:07.670 that gets your mind focused on God, but also gives 0:14:07.670 --> 0:14:10.750 you an update on what's happening here at Bold Steps. 0:14:10.750 --> 0:14:13.670 So we love to send this to you. Uh, this 0:14:13.670 --> 0:14:19.270 past edition, I talked about the anniversary of my wife's brother, 0:14:19.270 --> 0:14:22.670 who was a Chicago police officer who was shot and killed. 0:14:23.030 --> 0:14:27.190 And we have a real heart for those that serve, 0:14:27.230 --> 0:14:34.790 sometimes in unrecognized, underappreciated jobs like police officers around the country. 0:14:34.830 --> 0:14:37.710 It's been a tough time, but we value those that 0:14:37.710 --> 0:14:42.070 do it with integrity, honesty, and seek to serve and 0:14:42.070 --> 0:14:42.910 protect well. 0:14:42.910 --> 0:14:46.030 There's a lot packed into The Bold Stripper weekly. And 0:14:46.030 --> 0:14:47.870 by the way, it's no accident that it comes out 0:14:47.870 --> 0:14:50.910 early Monday morning because we all need that that jump 0:14:50.950 --> 0:14:53.270 start to the week, don't we? And I appreciate that 0:14:53.270 --> 0:14:55.310 a great deal. So if you'd like to receive The 0:14:55.310 --> 0:14:58.510 Bold Stepper Weekly automatically to your inbox, just sign up 0:14:58.510 --> 0:15:02.520 at Bold Org. Thank you. Mark. Let's continue your message now. 0:15:02.520 --> 0:15:03.960 What's holding you back? 0:15:13.360 --> 0:15:16.240 I've been training pastors and leaders for a long time 0:15:16.240 --> 0:15:21.280 in a very brutal city. And I've seen people that 0:15:21.280 --> 0:15:26.920 were over confident. Invariably, God has to bring them to 0:15:27.000 --> 0:15:33.240 their knees of brokenness. Invariably, then he does it a 0:15:33.240 --> 0:15:38.800 second time. He trims again. Notice in the Lord said 0:15:38.800 --> 0:15:45.400 to Gideon, the people are still too many. Take them 0:15:45.400 --> 0:15:47.120 down to the water. I will test them. You know 0:15:47.120 --> 0:15:50.560 the story. Anyone of them who say to you, then 0:15:50.560 --> 0:15:53.480 this you shall go with me. You shall go. Any 0:15:53.480 --> 0:15:56.440 one of them who say whom I say, this is 0:15:56.440 --> 0:15:58.800 the one who shall not go with me, shall not go. 0:15:59.240 --> 0:16:01.520 So he brought the people down to the water. And 0:16:01.520 --> 0:16:04.160 the Lord said to Gideon, everyone who laps the water 0:16:04.160 --> 0:16:06.840 with his tongue as a dog laps, you shall set 0:16:06.840 --> 0:16:10.720 him aside. Likewise, everyone who kneels down to drink and 0:16:10.720 --> 0:16:12.960 the number of those who lapped putting their hands to 0:16:13.000 --> 0:16:16.200 their mouth was 300 men. But all the rest of 0:16:16.200 --> 0:16:19.440 the people knelt down to drink the water. Now some 0:16:19.440 --> 0:16:22.600 people say, well, those were the most alert men because 0:16:22.880 --> 0:16:26.280 they were lapping up the water. They could see the enemy. 0:16:26.720 --> 0:16:31.640 We have no idea if that's why God decided to 0:16:31.640 --> 0:16:35.720 do it in his arbitrary way. However, he chose to 0:16:35.760 --> 0:16:39.760 do it. The bottom line was, when everything was said 0:16:39.760 --> 0:16:45.760 and done, they went from 32,000 men to 300 men, 0:16:46.160 --> 0:16:52.360 downsizing their strength to the point that it appeared pathetic. 0:16:54.280 --> 0:16:59.880 And then God said, aha! Now you're ready to fight? 0:17:01.640 --> 0:17:06.520 Ready to fight? God, there's 300 against 135,000. This isn't 0:17:06.520 --> 0:17:10.280 even a battle. This is pathetic. We can. No way 0:17:10.320 --> 0:17:13.720 could we win. It would be a miracle if we won. 0:17:13.720 --> 0:17:18.560 It would have to be all God. Uh huh. That's right. 0:17:20.040 --> 0:17:22.480 That oftentimes we're too strong for the battle that we're 0:17:22.480 --> 0:17:25.760 about to fight. And it's in the weakening of ourselves. 0:17:25.760 --> 0:17:30.480 It's in the humility that God brings. It's in the 0:17:30.520 --> 0:17:34.760 recognition of our weakness that oftentimes the strength and power 0:17:34.760 --> 0:17:40.200 of God is actually manifest. In fact, I believe that 0:17:40.200 --> 0:17:44.040 God can use us most when we move forward in 0:17:44.040 --> 0:17:49.000 a place of complete dependence upon him. Hebrews chapter 11, 0:17:49.000 --> 0:17:53.879 verse 34. Speaking of Gideon and others, the writer of 0:17:53.880 --> 0:17:58.360 the Hebrews says, whose weakness was turned to strength, and 0:17:58.359 --> 0:18:04.330 who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Paul 0:18:04.330 --> 0:18:08.050 echoes the same sentiment in First Corinthians chapter 12, verse 0:18:08.050 --> 0:18:11.970 nine But he said to me, my grace is sufficient 0:18:11.970 --> 0:18:14.930 for you, for get it? Here it goes. This is 0:18:14.930 --> 0:18:23.050 powerful for my power, my dunamis. This incredible supernatural power 0:18:23.250 --> 0:18:27.290 that comes from the Most High God is made complete 0:18:27.290 --> 0:18:34.370 or perfect in weakness, where the power of God is fertilized. 0:18:34.890 --> 0:18:38.929 Where the power of God grows. Where the power of 0:18:38.930 --> 0:18:44.730 God increases, where it is made complete is not in 0:18:44.730 --> 0:18:51.450 an atmosphere of pride, confidence, ability where the power of 0:18:51.450 --> 0:18:57.410 God flourishes, where it grows to completeness is in the 0:18:57.410 --> 0:19:07.060 atmosphere of recognized weakness that leads to deep humility, trust, 0:19:07.420 --> 0:19:12.980 and dependence on God. Look down through history and show 0:19:12.980 --> 0:19:17.780 me men or women that have been mightily used of God, supernaturally, 0:19:17.900 --> 0:19:22.420 extraordinarily used of God. And I'll show you people that 0:19:22.420 --> 0:19:27.060 were utterly aware of how weak they were and how 0:19:27.100 --> 0:19:32.060 much they needed the Savior. Can I tell you this, 0:19:32.100 --> 0:19:34.020 that some of the very things that you may look 0:19:34.020 --> 0:19:36.700 as a hindrance in your life right now, those very 0:19:36.700 --> 0:19:38.859 things that you said, hey, I could really be used 0:19:38.859 --> 0:19:41.020 of God if this were not a part of my life. 0:19:41.420 --> 0:19:46.260 A physical hindrance, a a a learning disability, a speech impediment, 0:19:46.260 --> 0:19:49.220 whatever it may be that you look and say, I 0:19:49.260 --> 0:19:51.940 wish I didn't have this because I could be so 0:19:51.940 --> 0:19:55.460 much stronger, so much more used of God if this 0:19:55.460 --> 0:19:58.419 weakness weren't a part of my life. And yet maybe, 0:19:58.700 --> 0:20:05.220 Maybe it's exactly what prepares you for the greatest battles 0:20:06.180 --> 0:20:11.740 a full, complete realization of how weak you are and 0:20:11.740 --> 0:20:19.659 how utterly dependent we are upon God. Therefore, Paul says, 0:20:20.220 --> 0:20:23.820 I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, 0:20:24.660 --> 0:20:29.220 so that Christ's power may rest in me. That is why, 0:20:30.060 --> 0:20:39.100 for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, difficulties. Listen, 0:20:39.580 --> 0:20:42.940 look up at me. This is really important. For when 0:20:42.940 --> 0:20:48.619 I am weak, then and then only am I strong. 0:20:53.500 --> 0:20:57.300 So you may be feeling extremely weak today, and. 0:20:57.300 --> 0:21:01.820 You may look at it as a hindrance. But maybe 0:21:02.020 --> 0:21:08.260 your physical weakness, your challenges that make you feel not 0:21:08.260 --> 0:21:11.900 up to par. They may be exactly what God wants 0:21:11.900 --> 0:21:15.260 you to be going through, because in your weakness, his 0:21:15.260 --> 0:21:19.740 power is made strong. So embrace your weakness and ask 0:21:19.740 --> 0:21:22.260 God to fill you with his strength. 0:21:22.700 --> 0:21:25.379 That's great. Thank you Mark. You're listening to our Bible teacher, 0:21:25.380 --> 0:21:27.859 Mark Jobe, on bold steps. And if you missed any 0:21:27.859 --> 0:21:30.820 part of today's message titled What's Holding You Back? We 0:21:30.820 --> 0:21:32.700 encourage you to go to our website and catch up 0:21:32.700 --> 0:21:36.540 when you can just visit Bold Steps. Mark. 0:21:36.820 --> 0:21:39.540 One of the most important things we can do for 0:21:39.540 --> 0:21:43.580 young girls is help them build their lives on truth. 0:21:43.619 --> 0:21:44.619 That's true. Yes. 0:21:45.020 --> 0:21:48.540 You know, I remember raising my one and only daughter. 0:21:48.540 --> 0:21:53.379 And when she got into almost in the tween years, 0:21:53.500 --> 0:21:54.220 I was just so. 0:21:54.220 --> 0:21:59.219 Concerned because the pressures are amazing, insurmountable. It felt like. 0:21:59.350 --> 0:22:03.190 and felt very protective. So I'm excited that our Bold 0:22:03.190 --> 0:22:07.190 step gift this month tackles this vital topic. 0:22:07.230 --> 0:22:11.429 It's written by Dana Gresh. It's called Lies Girls Believe, 0:22:11.430 --> 0:22:14.150 and it follows up some earlier writing you've done. Dana 0:22:14.150 --> 0:22:17.230 for women. But you've lowered the age group here, haven't you? 0:22:17.270 --> 0:22:20.310 Yeah, because the enemy has lowered the the the the 0:22:20.430 --> 0:22:23.760 target zone. Some of the things that today's 8 to 0:22:23.760 --> 0:22:26.230 12 year old girls are grappling with, there are things 0:22:26.230 --> 0:22:28.670 that we didn't grapple with until we were in our 0:22:28.710 --> 0:22:31.990 well into our teens, 16, 17, 18 years old. And 0:22:31.990 --> 0:22:34.230 one of the things that's really concerning to me is 0:22:34.230 --> 0:22:38.510 how tweens, 8 to 12 year olds, that's the technical 0:22:38.550 --> 0:22:41.910 age group for tweens. They're like the guinea pigs in 0:22:41.910 --> 0:22:46.189 this gender experiment. They're really believing there's no difference between 0:22:46.190 --> 0:22:50.030 boys and girls. They they believe that I surveyed 1500 0:22:50.310 --> 0:22:53.630 church going tween girls to write this book, and I 0:22:53.630 --> 0:22:56.189 did 11 focus groups across the country to talk to 0:22:56.190 --> 0:22:59.870 their moms. And they believe You've. There's not a big 0:22:59.869 --> 0:23:03.870 difference between girls and boys, and that is just one 0:23:03.869 --> 0:23:06.350 stepping stone away from this can be a fluid thing 0:23:06.350 --> 0:23:10.909 in my life. They also, if they do believe there's differences, 0:23:11.150 --> 0:23:13.270 they have a hard time believing that it's great to 0:23:13.270 --> 0:23:16.109 be a girl. You know, they're like, well, you know, 0:23:16.150 --> 0:23:18.390 it's hard to be a girl because of the way 0:23:18.390 --> 0:23:20.150 our bodies work, or it's hard to be a girl 0:23:20.190 --> 0:23:22.790 because we don't have the same opportunities as boys, or 0:23:22.790 --> 0:23:25.189 it's hard to be a girl because I'm athletic and 0:23:25.190 --> 0:23:27.590 I can't shoot hoops with the guys, and that doesn't 0:23:27.590 --> 0:23:30.750 seem fair. So these are really important lies. When you 0:23:30.750 --> 0:23:34.110 look at the fact that going back to Genesis, God 0:23:34.109 --> 0:23:38.470 says in the image of God, he created us male 0:23:38.470 --> 0:23:41.350 and female. He created them. There are so many things 0:23:41.350 --> 0:23:43.430 about us that are God like. Why doesn't he mention 0:23:43.430 --> 0:23:46.030 our ability to compose sonnets? Or the fact that we're 0:23:46.030 --> 0:23:47.830 going to defy gravity and fly to the moon and 0:23:47.830 --> 0:23:50.510 then land rockets again on on planet Earth one day? 0:23:50.510 --> 0:23:54.470 Why doesn't he mention that now? He mentions maleness and femaleness. 0:23:54.710 --> 0:23:57.070 It matters. It's a conversation we've got to have, and 0:23:57.070 --> 0:23:58.950 we've got to have it accurately with our kids. And 0:23:58.950 --> 0:24:01.639 this book is just one tool to help you do that. 0:24:02.000 --> 0:24:05.360 Boy, we could talk hours about this. And if you 0:24:05.640 --> 0:24:10.400 have a daughter, a granddaughter, uh, your son or daughter 0:24:10.400 --> 0:24:14.160 needs is raising a a girl. In today's society, we 0:24:14.160 --> 0:24:16.359 would love to put this book in your hands. 0:24:16.359 --> 0:24:19.000 Yeah. What a great gift to pass on, Dana. Thank you. 0:24:19.160 --> 0:24:21.560 My pleasure. Thank you for letting me be a part 0:24:21.560 --> 0:24:22.320 of your month. 0:24:22.440 --> 0:24:26.120 So request your copy of Lies Girls Believe today along 0:24:26.119 --> 0:24:29.000 with your donation of any amount to Bold Steps. Just 0:24:29.000 --> 0:24:33.359 go online to Bold steps.org or give us a call 0:24:33.359 --> 0:24:37.440 and make your donation over the phone by dialing 800 Moody. 0:24:37.800 --> 0:24:43.479 That's (800) 356-6639. You can also send your gift and request 0:24:43.480 --> 0:24:46.280 Dana's book through the mail by addressing an envelope to 0:24:46.320 --> 0:24:52.280 bold steps. 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. 0:24:52.320 --> 0:24:58.680 Again 820 North LaSalle, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. And before 0:24:58.680 --> 0:25:00.960 we close today's program, we want to remind you that 0:25:00.960 --> 0:25:02.760 the best way to catch up on these messages while 0:25:02.760 --> 0:25:06.040 you're out and about, or to simply listen at another time, 0:25:06.040 --> 0:25:09.359 is by subscribing to the Bold Steps podcast. Open up 0:25:09.359 --> 0:25:12.520 your favorite podcast app on your phone or smart device. 0:25:12.520 --> 0:25:15.480 Search for bold steps with doctor Mark Jobe and click 0:25:15.520 --> 0:25:18.640 the subscribe button. You can also connect with us and 0:25:18.640 --> 0:25:21.840 find even more content on our social media pages, as 0:25:21.840 --> 0:25:25.080 well as March YouTube channel. Just log in to Facebook, 0:25:25.119 --> 0:25:28.879 Instagram or YouTube, search for Bold Steps Radio and tap 0:25:28.880 --> 0:25:32.160 the subscribe or follow button when you get there. I'm 0:25:32.160 --> 0:25:34.800 Wayne Shepherd, inviting you back tomorrow for a special message 0:25:34.800 --> 0:25:38.600 titled Fighting the Battles that Matter. With all the strife 0:25:38.600 --> 0:25:41.240 in our world, what really is worth fighting for? Find 0:25:41.240 --> 0:25:46.520 out Friday on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Bold steps 0:25:46.520 --> 0:25:49.439 is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody 0:25:49.440 --> 0:25:50.560 Bible Institute.