Book Club: What Happens When Women Say Yes To God by Lysa TerKeurst
January 17, 2009 by Amy Bayliss
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God: Experiencing Life in Extraordinary Ways
I will go through each chapter and choose a question or two to answer and expound upon. You may do the same in the comments or in a post on your own blog. Just be sure to leave us the link so we can visit. The questions you choose do not have to be the same as mine. This is just to journal your personal journey through the book.
Chapter One:
Did the story about the man on the airplane and giving him the Bible inspire you? How?
Yes. It was inspiring to me because it confirmed some things in my life that I know God has spoken to my heart. One of which is that God meant for our relationship with Him to be personal but not necessarily private. For her to give away a bible full of her notes and personal revelations from God was not only difficult her to do but so extremely beneficial to the man on the airplane. She had no idea of what was going on behind the scenes in all of this but clearly God used the one event to do significant things.
Is there something you may need to let go of in order to have the freedom to say yes to God?
Of course. The thing I think I need to let go of is fear: fear of success; fear of failure; fear of my inability. I know that it all comes down to my lack of faith in God’s promises. I know that He already has prepared the way for me to do the things He has called me to do and I know that He cannot lie but I have to believe Him. I am working on that every day.
Chapter Two:
List some areas that you may need to sacrifice or change:
I think I need to sacrifice my need for everything to be done by me and up to my standards. I have to let go and trust others and be content in the way they do things. For example, I homeschool so my boys are home all the time. I also work from home so I lose a bit of luxury that comes with having “free time.” Between teaching the boys and making sure everyone is fed and that all work is done, it leaves not much time for cleaning. Of course, I like things cleaned a certain way so if I don’t have time to do it exactly that way then I wait till I do have the time. This is not good. My husband recently suggested that we get someone to come in once a week to help with the cleaning. I got offended. Doesn’t he know that no one will do it as well as me? Doesn’t he know that I like things a certain way? Then God said to me, “Don’t you know that I am using your husband to try to provide help for you so you can continue to do my will?”
I shut up. We are currently searching for someone to take on the job.
Are there some areas where you have conformed to the world’s way of thinking?
I have conformed to the frame of mind that I don’t need help and I can do it all. You know the, “I am woman – hear me roar” syndrome? Well, guess what. I’m not. I can’t do two things at one time much less ten things at once and up to my standards. I am growing and changing my heart. I know that I should be doing what God says and allow Him to provide for me to take care of the rest.
Chapter Three
Is there something that stirred in your heart as you read this chapter that God might be leading you to give up either permanently or for a season?
There was. I used to have a thriving online business designing blogs. The money was good and the work was consistent but it was time consuming and distracting me from the ministries that God had placed in my care. I rationalized that God had given me this “gift” so I could make money. I said this to my husband one night and he said to me that maybe God gave me the gift so I could use it for the ministries He entrusted to me instead of having to pay someone else to do it. I knew at that moment that He was right. I love designing blogs but I never enjoyed doing custom designs. It was always a burden. The truth is that God had been telling me for months that I shouldn’t be spending all of my time doing that but I didn’t listen. When I finally talked to my husband and he said to let him worry about the money and that I needed to listen to God then things started getting better. When I finally stepped out in faith and publicly closed my online business God’s blessings began to pour in.
Chapter Four
Is it a common practice for you to praise the Lord? How could you incorporate more praise into your everyday relationship with God?
I do praise God every day for little things and big things. I have done it for so long now that it is natural to me. However, I do find that I don’t find the time to worship God enough. I don’t do this every day and I should. I will have to purpose to do it and work it into my morning time with the Lord.
What is surely in store for a woman who says yes to God?
I can sum it up in one word: FREEDOM!
Chapter Five
Read Matthew 6:30-32. What does God promise for our provision?
He promises that He will take care of all of our needs.
How can we let go of worries for the future?
We can let go of worries by not only believing in God but “believing” Him as well.
Chapter Six
What does serving God out of duty look like?
Someone who is grumbling and complaining. Maybe they are blaming God for what they have to do or taking credit for it themselves. I have been there! 
What does serving God out of delight look like?
A person who is thankful and praises God for the opportunities that they are given. A person who trusts and believes God that He knows best. I’m trying to get there!
Chapter Seven
Read Philippians 2:14-16. How are we to shine like stars in the universe?
We are to shine by living our lives as an example of Christ. Our day to day life should reflect or shine on the person of Christ. Mere talk will never accomplish that.
How can your life experiences help provide people with glimpses of God?
Because they can look at my life and the way I dealt with things with God’s help and find hope that they too can walk through the same things and be victorious. Also, they can watch my shortcomings and my failures and know that we are all sinners and fall short. They will see that coming to Christ doesn’t require that you first transform your life but instead that coming to Christ is how you transform your life.
Chapter Eight
What does real satisfaction look like?
Peace. Peace. Peace. Peace even among the chaos of life. That to me is satisfaction.
Do you believe God is truly capable of satisfying you?
In my head I know that His word says that it is so and I believe that is true. However, I find myself doubting. I feel like the centurion who said, “I believe Lord but help me with my unbelief.”
Chapter Nine
Overall, I felt a burden lifted upon the completion of this book. My eyes were open to many things. I know my heart knows but I have to act on it so it will become second nature to me. He is all I need and I have to trust Him.
I’d like to thank Lysa for an amazing study of the word and for saying “yes” to God!
I look forward to reading all of your responses!
Married to her best friend and “main squeeze”, Amy Bayliss is a 4th year homeschooling mom to three boys. She enjoys writing about the eclectic teachings that bring a glimmer of curiosity to the eyes of her sons. In addition to being the co-owner of Heart of the Matter, she writes for Internet Cafe Devotions. Be sure to visit her blog, In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 and her family’s homeschool blog: Integrity Academy.
